Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 5.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[420] cavalry, who promptly gave chase, when Col. Metcalfe's men again turned tail, leaving their gallant commander to bring up the rear. This time, however, they did not run without firing a gun; but they might as well have done so, for when they turned in their saddles and emptied their rifles, they only endangered the life of their gallant leader, who was thus between two fires. On his return, Col. Metcalfe was so disgusted with his regiment, that he refused to have any thing more to do with such a pack of arrant cowards, whereupon Lieut.-Col. Odin followed his example, leaving the fragment of the command in charge of Major Faulkner, a brave and dashing officer, who would have retrieved the disgrace into which his men had fallen, if there had been any fight in them.

The rebel cavalry, accompanied by a few six-pound howitzers, each drawn by a single mule, continued to advance toward Rogersville, a little village about five miles south of Richmond, where they were met by a section of Andrews's Michigan battery and the brigade of Brig.-General Manson, composed of the Fifty-fifth, Sixty-sixth, Sixty-ninth and Seventy-first Indiana regiments. A small artillery duel immediately ensued, which resulted in the capture of one of the enemy's howitzers, after which they withdrew. There is no doubt now that the enemy baited their hook with this insignificant piece of artillery — that they permitted our men to capture it, in order to encourage them to make a stand, and, if possible, induce them to penetrate the country still farther from their base. In this they were partially successful, for although Gen. Manson did not pursue the retreating foe, he ordered his brigade to pass the night where they were, on their arms.

Early the next morning our scouts reported the enemy advancing in force toward Rogersville. Our pickets were soon after driven in, and about half-past 7 o'clock a furious cannonading ensued, which continued for more than an hour. Like every body else, I could not think it possible the rebels were moving upon us with a very heavy force; and as soon as I heard the first discharge of artillery, I hastened to the field. Louder and faster grew the reports as I neared the scene of action. I could clearly distinguish the sharp, crashing thunder of our Rodman guns from that produced by the enemy's pieces, and was well satisfied that our artillerists were doing their duty.

The Sixteenth Indiana, from General Cruft's brigade, which was composed of the Twelfth and Sixteenth Indiana, Ninety-fifth Ohio and Eighteenth Kentucky, had already advanced toward the scene of action, and was thrown on our extreme left, while the Sixty-ninth Indiana occupied the extreme right. It was now evident that a general engagement must ensue, and the Ninety-fifth Ohio and Eighteenth Kentucky were also ordered up, leaving the Twelfth Indiana as a reserve. The Ninety-fifth Ohio, headed by its galant leader, Col. McMillen, moved rapidly down he road to the inspiriting sound of the drum and fife, but few men dropping out of the ranks, not withstanding the oppressive heat. The Eighteenth Kentucky soon after followed, its fine brass band playing “Yankee Doodle,” and as soon as possible both regiments were in line of battle.

The Ninety-fifth Ohio was posted near the centre, and before the men had time to catch their breaths after their fatiguing march, they were ordered to charge a battery, well supported by infantry, on the enemy's left. For a raw regiment, who were smelling gunpowder for the first time, this was asking a good deal, but it could not be helped. All the regiments were raw; it was deemed necessary to silence the battery; and it was no harder that one should do it than another. The brave fellows prepared to execute the command, but when within a short distance of the thundering guns, they were met by a murderous cross-fire, which cut them up badly, and caused considerable confusion in their ranks. It was now apparent that the enemy fearfully outnumbered us, as usual, and the Ninety-fifth was ordered to fall back, which they did in not very good order, while the Sixty-sixth Indiana, into whose lines they fell, acted upon the example set them.

The enemy had now fairly flanked both our wings, and were pouring into our ill-fated fellows a shower of bullets from three sides. In all my experience, I have never heard any thing like the firing on our left. It was also heavy on the centre and right, but the principal fighting seemed to be on the left, where the Sixteenth and Seventy-first Indiana and Eighteenth Kentucky were stationed. The musketry was sharp, quick, rattling, crashing, almost deafening, surpassing any thing I had ever conceived in the way of infantry firing. To add to the horror of the scene, the wounded were now pouring in rapidly, covering the floors of Mr. Rogers's dwelling and the smooth lawn in its front. One poor fellow had been shot through the head, and was just breathing his last. Another was most shockingly disfigured in the face. Another had lost his good right hand, and was nursing the bloody stump. Another-but why dwell upon these sickening details? They are the same in every battle.

About nine o'clock, a number of mounted civilians, who had ridden out to see the fight, took the alarm, and turning their horses' heads in the direction of town, galloped back at the top of their speed. The drivers of ambulances, too, caught the infection, and could not be persuaded to return to the field. To add to the confusion, our artillery, now out of ammunition, had to be withdrawn to prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy. This seemed to destroy what little confidence remained, and in a few minutes the scene wore very much the appearance of a stampede. A number of our men were seen flying across the fields, and a moment after, the rebels rending the air with loud cheers, were swarming about the woods and corn-fields which skirted the road on both sides.

It was a mystery to me then why the enemy did not at once push on and take advantage of