reat extent winded, having made the last three or four hundred
yards double quick. We moved up the hills slowly, loading and firing,
taking advantage of such protection as was available. The enemy was at
this time largely overshooting us and the 15th Indiana, in our rear, was
suffering heavily. When half or two-thirds the way up the ridge they came
forward to our assistance where they could take part in the shooting.
Lieutenant Wm. B. Johnson of company E went down with a shattered leg and
ordered his First Sergeant to go on with the company, but to see that he
was cared for that night. We reached the enemy's works and captured them,
taking a few prisoners, most of the enemy escaping down the eastern slope
of the ridge, which was not so precipitous as the western which we had
come up. The road leading from General Bragg's headquarters, (about three
hundred yards south of where our regiment reached the top), going east
down the slope, was the only way available for the Confederates' artillery
to make their escape. General Sheridan, quick to seize and hold the
advantage, came to the left of his division and ordered Colonel Young,
with his 26th Ohio and the 15th Indiana, to hasten northeast down the
slope and capture all we could reach or head from the road mentioned. This
we did for nearly a mile, gaining two brass guns at one place, four brass
and two Parrott guns, several caissons and limbers at another. The troops
of Wood's division to our left advanced but a short distance after
reaching the top of the ridge and were recalled. A quarter of a mile or
more of gap now existed between our right and the brigade, which was
advancing in line along the road mentioned and became heavily engaged.
Sheridan sent orders for us to oblique to the right. It was now dark and
under Colonel Young's directions we moved carefully and slowly over
ravines, through brush, guided by the sound of battle, striking the
enemy's line on an abrupt knob, which we, without hesitation or any delay,
charged, and captured two more pieces of artillery and many wagons.
General Sheridan, in his official report of the battle, in speaking of
this part of the engagement states: "But a few moments elapsed ere the
26th Ohio and 15th Indiana carried the crest. When the head of the column
reached the summit of the hill the moon rose from behind and a medallion
view of the column was disclosed as it crossed the moon's disk and
attacked the enemy."
Our part in the
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