Page:Journal history of the Twenty-ninth Ohio veteran volunteers, 1861-1865.djvu/106

 now beginning to grow dark, and the impetuous rush of the men soon brought them within a short distance of a line of brush-covered work which concealed the enemy's batteries, who at once opened a terrific and deadly fire of grape and canister into our ranks. Instantly falling on the ground, we deliver so destructive a fire on their cannoniers that their guns are soon silenced. Our left being without support, an attempt to carry their works was extremely hazardous. The regiment on our right had already retired some distance to our right rear, making the situation of the Twenty-ninth regiment one of great danger, but owing to the darkness we knew nothing of it until an officer of Geary's staff came forward with an order to fall back, when we retired to a position some forty paces from the rebel line.

The enemy had now ceased firing, and perfect silence reigned, only broken by the groans of the wounded and dying. The Twenty-ninth regiment had suffered severe loss, and only the favorable depression in its front saved it from annihilation. W. F. Stevens, captain of company B, was wounded in this action.

The Fifth Ohio, on our right on higher ground, suffered fearfully from the masked batteries, one company being almost entirely decimated. This caused the regiment to retire to the knoll. Colonel Patrick, a most gallant officer of the Fifth, was killed, also seventy-five of his men killed and wounded. The loss of the Twenty-ninth Ohio in this charge was forty killed and wounded, shot down in almost the short space of time required to record it.

It was not long before we heard tremendous cheering in the distance on our right front, which was caused by Sherman moving a force in that direction, turning the rebel flank, which was soon in full retreat. Immediately