left of the Ninety-eighth Ohio, but was subsequently ordered to support Parsons' battery; but owing to some considerable delay in arriving at the point designated they failed to be of any material assistance in defending the battery. Indeed, before the regiment had been formed in line upon the hill the battery had been taken and the enemy were approaching in very considerable force. The One hundred and twenty-first abandoned their position in bad order, but were subsequently partially reformed some distance to the rear and fought in a creditable manner. I deem it due to Colonel Reid to here state that he acted bravely and used his utmost exertions to rally his men, as also did the officers of his command; and I would further state that I believe it to be no fault of Colonel Reid's that his regiment did not reach the point assigned them in sufficient time, but it was owing to a misconception of the position on the part of the guide.

About 3 p. m. the left wing of the Ninety-eighth Ohio was ordered to the left to support Parsons' battery; but upon arriving at the point designated were ordered back to their original position.

The cannonading and fire of musketry had been for some time and continued to be until the close of the engagement exceedingly severe and destructive. A rebel battery, posted on a hill half a mile distant to the right of Harris' battery, occupying a position nearly enfilading the Ninety-eighth Ohio and Eightieth Indiana Regiments, caused considerable loss in both of these regiments.

In justice to Captain Harris I would state that a well-directed shot from his battery (the shell exploding directly over the rebel battery) silenced it effectively; at least no more shots were fired from that position. The Fiftieth Ohio, with a few exceptions, perhaps 50 men, behaved gallantly, and drove the enemy back as they attempted to gain the summit of the hill and the woods to the left of the Nineteenth Battery, and those men who ran were rallied by their field officers and fought well afterward. The Eightieth Indiana, while occupying the position on the hill to the left of the Nineteenth Battery, and pouring in a steady deadly fire upon the enemy, was marched over by the Second Ohio, which had fallen back upon their line. By order of Colonel Webster the Eightieth changed from front to right flank, the left resting where the right had rested on the battery. They were subsequently ordered to take a new position some 200 yards in the rear of the position they first occupied. This regiment changed position several times under heavy fire, and both officers and men acted gallantly and well throughout. Lieutenant-Colonel Brooks took command of the Second Ohio, which remained with the Eightieth Indiana, and acted with him until nearly the close of the engagement.

After the return of the left wing of the Ninety-eighth Ohio from the position it had been assigned to take in support of Parsons' battery they formed in line to meet the enemy, who had already gained a position to the right of the Nineteenth Battery in a corn field. They were opened upon by the Ninety-eighth Ohio, assisted for a time by the Eightieth Indiana, and in a very few moments that field was covered with the rebel dead. The Ninety-eighth changed position several times under a most murderous fire. For the coolness and steadiness with which these evolutions were performed the service is much indebted to Lieutenant-Colonel Poorman, commanding the Ninety-eighth, who acted as a brave and gallant officer and deserves especial notice. In the mean time two of the guns of the Nineteenth Battery had been taken off the field by the artillerists; four were left. These four guns were fired a number of times by members of the Ninety-eighth after they had been abandoned.