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Narrative of the western theatre in the American Civil War, 1880s

16_Narrative Page 16

C F Smiths division (W.H.L Wallace) marched to the left of the Church and right of Prentiss. 
forming a line of battle at right angles with the Purdy road in a deep and worn ruts of an old and abandoned road held his position until about 5:30 P.M. until Sherman and McClernard on the right had fallen back and Hulbert on the extreem left had been forced back and Gen Prentiss with about 2000 of his men had been captured. 
Gen. Tuttle (official report. 
{newspaper clipping} 
I rode along my line and told the officers that we were standing between our army and total destruction, and that we must stay where we were and fight them as long as there was any chance.  In repulsing the second charge, we had a protracted struggle.  They got within twenty or thirty yards of my lines in some places.  I called on my men to drive them back, and never did soldiers respond more gallantly.  They pelted them fearfully.  I had no stragglers.  My troops fought better then I ever saw men fight before.  Mine was not a raw brigade; they had stood up to their work manfully, on the left, at Donelson, and now, realizing the desperate condition of our army they fought like heroes.  When the enemy got within fifty yards of us I could see them begin to stagger.  As usual in battle, one captain would rush his men up, and another, not quite so valiant, would not keep up; this we called "worm-fencing."  When their front line broke the second line caught them in good shape and brought them on again to the attack; but my men kept up an incessant fire, aiming low, and, in the end, back they went, leaving the ground covered with dead and wounded.  Up to this time we had few casualties, and my men wanted to charge.  But I said "No; you are doing splendidly; stay right here."  Colonel Geddes now came up with the 8th Iowa, and formed on the left of my line, connecting on his left with General Prentiss.

Saving...

C F Smiths division (W.H.L Wallace) marched to the left of the Church and right of Prentiss. forming a line of battle at right angles with the Purdy road in a deep and worn ruts of an old and abandoned road held his position until about 5:30 P.M. until Sherman and McClernard on the right had fallen back and Hulbert on the extreem left had been forced back and Gen Prentiss with about 2000 of his men had been captured. Gen. Tuttle (official report. {newspaper clipping} I rode along my line and told the officers that we were standing between our army and total destruction, and that we must stay where we were and fight them as long as there was any chance. In repulsing the second charge, we had a protracted struggle. They got within twenty or thirty yards of my lines in some places. I called on my men to drive them back, and never did soldiers respond more gallantly. They pelted them fearfully. I had no stragglers. My troops fought better then I ever saw men fight before. Mine was not a raw brigade; they had stood up to their work manfully, on the left, at Donelson, and now, realizing the desperate condition of our army they fought like heroes. When the enemy got within fifty yards of us I could see them begin to stagger. As usual in battle, one captain would rush his men up, and another, not quite so valiant, would not keep up; this we called "worm-fencing." When their front line broke the second line caught them in good shape and brought them on again to the attack; but my men kept up an incessant fire, aiming low, and, in the end, back they went, leaving the ground covered with dead and wounded. Up to this time we had few casualties, and my men wanted to charge. But I said "No; you are doing splendidly; stay right here." Colonel Geddes now came up with the 8th Iowa, and formed on the left of my line, connecting on his left with General Prentiss.