ee columns. Hot work ahead and many
may fall. May I be able to discharge my duty.

[Sidenote: 1863 In Battle]

Jackson, Miss., Thursday, May 14. Considerable rain during the night and
indications of more. Moved on without much hindrance about four miles,
when we came upon them in force, the rain falling in torrents. The
infantry went forward and formed in line, a rebel battery throwing
shells from the right at them. 1st and 2nd Brigades on the right, 3rd on
the left. Batteries moved forward leaving the caissons behind. The 1st
Missouri Battery took a position on the right and was hotly engaged with
the enemy's guns for half an hour.

Meanwhile we were waiting in the road in range of their shells, which
were flying over us and dropping either side, but luckily none took
effect. The enemy's infantry in line in front doing sharp work, when the
whole line of infantry prepared to make a charge, 1st Section ordered
out to support them. They unslung their knapsacks and went in with a
shout, when the crash of musketry was terrific, volley after volley,
the bullets flying thick around, all lying as close to the ground as
practicable, when the cry "They run! They run!" was heard and after them
they went in all directions. We were ordered forward and we did go at
double quick across the charging ground. Dead rebels--and many of them
lay there wounded and bleeding. The infantry followed them up the hill,
then fell back and we came into battery, when Captain Dillon said, "6th
Wisconsin Battery, I am here--open fire on them". And we did. The six
pieces went off almost simultaneously, and we were enveloped in a cloud
of powder smoke, then another, until nearly all the shells were gone,
when we ceased firing, and they were gone. Cheer after cheer went up
from the infantry as McPherson went galloping by. I never before could
see how men could cheer on the battlefield, but I never felt more like
it in my life. Such is victory.

At 2 o'clock we moved forward, the infantry in line and the artillery in
column on the road. As we advanced, a man came from the right, where we
could see that Sherman had sharp work to-day, reporting that he had
entered Jackson and taken 5000 prisoners. It could hardly be credited,
but at last we were convinced of it as we entered their ineffective
earthworks with their pieces, caissons, etc. left uninjured; they had
left everything, Sherman's shells having scared them out of the capital
of one of the stron