From Fort Henry to CorinthForce, M. F. (Manning Ferguson)
History
From Fort Henry to Corinth
Force, M. F. (Manning Ferguson)
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Campaigns
Meanwhile, Jackson's brigade, the Third Brigade of Withers' division,
marched to attack McArthur. The assault was gallantly made; but the
troops, unable to stand the steady fire which they encountered, fell
back. Being rallied after a rest, they renewed the attack. For a long
time the fate of the obstinate struggle was undecided. At length
McArthur's two regiments, pounded by well-posted batteries, yielded to
Jackson's persistent attack, after the Ninth Illinois had lost 61 killed
and 287 wounded, and withdrew, steadily and in order, to a new position.
Withers' First Brigade--Gladden's having been disordered in its first
attack on Prentiss, when General Gladden was killed--remained an hour at
halt in Prentiss' camp. After its sharp repulse in the later attack, the
brigade drifted to its right, following the course of preceding
brigades, came in front of Hurlbut's line, and moved to the attack.
Lauman's brigade, of Hurlbut's division, had remained undisturbed for an
hour after taking position. A skirmish line which he had posted in front
reported an advance of the enemy. Artillery from a distance in front
opened fire. At the first shot which fell in the Thirteenth Ohio
Battery, posted in the field to Lauman's left, with the right of
Williams' brigade, the entire battery deserted their guns and fled.
Shortly after the battle the men were, by order, distributed among other
batteries; the Thirteenth was blotted out, and on Ohio's roster its
place remained a blank throughout the war.
Soon, a line of gleaming steel was seen above the dense undergrowth in
Lauman's front. It advanced steadily till about one hundred yards from
his line. A sheet of fire blazed from the front of the brigade. The men,
restrained till then, fired rapidly but coolly. The fire could not be
resisted or endured. Gladden's brigade, now commanded by Colonel Adams,
was arrested in its march, broken, and fell back. Three times the
brigade rallied and returned to the assault. Once, a portion advanced to
within a few paces of the Thirty-first Indiana. But every charge was
vain, and Colonel Adams, the commander, being wounded, the brigade,
discomfited, withdrew.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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