Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 4.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[416] their fire consisted principally of balls and canister. It is singular that while supporting Tirrell, when we were under the heaviest fire, there was only one man injured-a member of company A. What few we lost besides, was by the skirmishing companies. I could not imagine why Nelson, who has always professed such a high regard for the regiment, should give it no more honorable position than that of supporting a battery. But I was satisfied before we were through, for though others may sneer at what the Guthries have done, I know that Nelson, whose good opinion we value more highly than that of a whole brigade of men who have not patriotism enough to serve-their country themselves, still has the same favorable opinion of us. The battle. for a long time was desperate, the musketry was one prolonged roar, neither traitor nor patriot would give way; but now our men seemed to be in confusion; they commenced a retreat toward us. Gen. N. had us immediately wheeled to the right to face them, and our comrades who were retreating, seeing a regiment just behind, ready to aid them when needed, received fresh courage, and returning, drove the rebels before them. Nelson evidently regarded this as a critical moment; he rode along the front of the regiment, and looking almost every member in the face, addressed them with his abrupt sentences. (He is no speech-maker.) When passing our company, he exclaimed: “Men of the Sixth Ohio, I'm proud of you. I may be mistaken, but I think I can depend on you. That's the reason why I don't send you out — I want you here.” Shortly afterward, we were ordered to take a rebel battery at the point of the bayonet; the General gave the order himself, and started us out at double-quick. The whole regiment went at it with a yell, but before going many yards we were halted by the General, for what reason I am unable to understand. About three o'clock the rebels began to give way, and soon retreated from the field. They were not pursued by our infantry, though report said that several cavalry regiments were after them. After hostilities had ceased, our brigade marched out beyond the furthermost camps, again in our possession, but presenting a scene of desolation. The tents had not been wantonly destroyed by the rebels, for after their success of Sunday, they were sure of retaining possession of them, and wanted them for their own use. But the chivalry had made sad havoc with the contents, especially of the sutler shops. We were not permitted to occupy the camps of regiments which had been “cut to pieces,” (as every battalion which had been scattered in the first day's panic was pleased to express its condition,) but were formed in line of battle, and having stacked arms, were permitted to rest near our guns. Soon all were busy preparing supper from provisions of the commissaries, which luckily had not all been seized on by the enemy. I am not a friend to fat pork, but it tasted sweet to me that evening. While preparing our meal, a flag of truce, consisting of a yellow handkerchief tied to a sapling pole, emerged from the woods beyond us. It was carried by a tall Alabamian, who brought with it the wounded Lieutenant-Colonel of the Fiftieth Illinois, borne on a litter. The bearers all had tied on their arms a piece of white rag, which by questioning the wearers, I learned that it designated a detail for hospital duty. I am glad to be able to say something good of an army of traitors; “we will give the devil his due.” No instance came to my know ledge in which our dead or wounded were treated in so diabolical a manner as they were reported to be at Manassas and Pea Ridge. They were invariably, wherever practicable, kindly cared for. A. Hickenlooper tells me that one of his corporals, who was wounded, received many attentions from them. An officer handed him a rubber blanket, saying that himself needed it bad enough, but the wounded man needed it worse. Others brought him food and water, and wrapped him up in woolen blankets. Such instances were common, and among the hundreds of dead and wounded I have looked upon, not one showed signs of the barbarities which the rebels are commonly supposed to practise on the patriots.

I captured an overcoat and blanket on the field, and expected to pass Monday night more comfortably than that of Sunday. Throwing the cape of the cloak over my head, and rolling myself in the blanket, I was soon in a deep sleep; the only dream I had was that every soldier was shaking with the ague, in the midst of which I awoke to find the rain pouring in torrents, and myself lying in a pool of water. Fires were not allowed, and we shivered through the remainder of the night.

Tuesday, April 8.--We all were up early and ready formed to meet the enemy, should they again attack us; but after standing for a couple of hours to no purpose, arms were stacked and we set to work to make ourselves as comfortable as circumstances would permit.

Great praise is due to all the general and staff-officers of the Fourth division. Nelson was constantly riding up and down, a conspicuous mark for sharpshooters, and his aids were flying about in all directions in the thickest of the fight. Buell also attended to his business like a true general, riding about all parts of the field. “Old Jake Ammen,” our acting Brigadier, took matters as quietly as if he was drilling his brigade, and once having found a pile of corn, sat down coolly to husk it for his horse, not even deigning to escape the showers of balls by seeking the shelter of a tree. The sight of the dead and wounded was not at all pleasant to look upon; the slaughter was terrible. The Fourth division, according to the official reports, has seven hundred and thirty killed, wounded, and missing, or something about nine per cent of the number engaged. Our own loss is very small. I can only count four out of the regiment killed.

Monday morning, when we started out to meet the enemy, we began to find the dead and wounded at a very short distance from our starting-point. We were halted just before two of the Union wounded who had lain out in the rain all