confusion, the regiment being a new one. For 100 yards in front of them the ground was clear. The rebels were advancing in and protected by the woods beyond. They commenced pouring a heavy fire into the ranks of the One hundred and twenty-third, to which they nobly responded. Parsons' battery immediately took position in the rear of the One hundred and twenty-third. Six of his guns were brought to bear upon the enemy and drove them back. At this instant General Jackson was shot dead. He, with General Terrill, had been standing to the left of Parsons' battery, encouraging the men to stand to their places.

A heavy force of the enemy was now seen advancing upon both of our flanks. The One hundred and fifth Ohio Volunteers was ordered to meet them upon the left and the Eightieth Illinois Volunteers, with Colonel Garrard's detachment, upon the right. The One hundred and fifth were marching unfortunately like and thrown into line in the same form as the One hundred and twenty-third Illinois Volunteers, viz, rear rank in front. They at once opened fire upon the enemy, but did not succeed in stopping their advance. They moved up to within 100 yards of our line without discharging a musket. They then opened a deadly fire. In spite of the efforts of the officers most of our men broke and fell back in great confusion. Lieutenant Parsons at the time was placing his seventh gun into position, when every man at the piece deserted him. He was then ordered by General Terrill to withdraw his battery. He succeeded in bringing away but one gun, four caissons, and two limbers, the horses in the other carriages being killed or disabled.

General Terrill, assisted by some of the officers, succeeded in rallying about 200 men of the One hundred and fifth Ohio Volunteers and One hundred and twenty-third Illinois Volunteers at a fence about 100 yards in the rear of our first position. Here to conduct of some of the officers, I am sorry to report, was disgraceful. The Eightieth Illinois and Colonel Garrard's detachment behaved well. When the left gave way they were obliged to fall back, which they did in good order. The general ordered the fragment of the One hundred and fifth and One hundred and twenty-third to fall back, which they did in good order. He ordered me to find General McCook and to tell him his position and to ask for re-enforcements. General McCook informed me every regiment he had was in the hottest of the fight, but that he had asked for re-enforcements from General Gilbert, and as soon as they arrived General Terrill should be supplied.

Had the enemy pursued his advantage at this crisis the most disastrous results must have followed his vigor. Nothing but a very small, disorganized fragment of the division remained to dispute his possession of the Mackville road, upon which lay our ammunition train, ambulances, and such supplies as had accompanied us. Trusting that re-enforcements might yet reach him, General Terrill rallied the few troops he had left near the place where Bush's battery had taken position. While thus engaged he fell mortally wounded and was carried from the field. Although the command of the division devolved upon General Terrill after the death of General Jackson he fell before he assumed the command.

The brigade was in action less than an hour. Its loss during this time was very severe, as will be seen by the report of Colonel Hall, who assumed command upon the fall of General Terrill.

The conduct of First Lieut. C. C. Parsons, Fourth Artillery, who commanded and eight-gun battery manned by volunteers, cannot be too