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where it remained doing excellent service until ordered to change position.
Officers and men could not have behaved better.
More coolness could not have been expected from veterans than the officers and men of this battery displayed.
They changed position four times under my own observation and on each occasion the gallant commander displayed his competency for the prominent part he acted in this severest part of the field. . . . At one time the undaunted Trull with his battery was hotly engaged on the right with a full battery of the enemy which had approached within 150 yards (supposed to have been the celebrated Simmes' Battery), but the 6th Michigan moved up to the support of Nims' Battery in elegant order.
Its assistance came most fortunately for it was clear the enemy intended to outflank us at this point. . . . At this juncture of the conflict I ordered Lieutenant Trull to fire his three left pieces across the fronts of the Indiana 21st, Massachusetts 30th, and 7th Vermont.
This was the turning point of the right wing.
The galling fire of canister effectually silenced the enemy's fire and they retreated to the rear.β
At one time the guns became so hot that it was impossible to use them and it became necessary to wait.
While water was being brought to cool them a fierce attack was made by the enemy, but proved unsuccessful.
βAt another time the enemy advanced bearing the Stars and Stripes until they were within 25 yards of the battery who supposed them to be their own men, but soon their artillery and infantry opened a tremendous fire, too high, however, to do much damage.
In an instant the guns were discharged and the enemy mowed down like grass, the first fire killing over 100.
Great cheers and praises for Nims' boys could be heard all over the battlefield.β
Diary of J. S. Knowlton.
A correspondent of the Boston Journal gives the following description of the battle.
The Rumford Press, Concord, N. H., 1912.
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