Colonel Moore rode forward between the lines, where he met the delegation of rebel officers, who appealed to him with marked courtesy and diplomacy, urging the surrender of his command, and promising kind treatment, as their only interest was to move forward on their course. Colonel Moore replied: "Present my compliments to General Morgan, and say to him that, this being the 4th of July, I cannot entertain the proposition to surrender."

Col. Allston, Morgan's chief of staff, said: I hope you will not consider me as dictatorial on this occasion; I will be frank; you see the breach we have made upon your work with our battery; you cannot expect to repulse. General Morgan's whole division with your little command; you have resisted us gallantly and deserve credit for it, and now I hope you will save useless bloodshed by reconsidering the message to General Morgan. To this the Colonel replied: Sir, when you assume to know my strength you assume too much; I have a duty to perform to my country, and therefore cannot reconsider my reply to General Morgan. The rebel officer seemed moved by these remarks, extended his hand, and, with a moist eye, said: "Goodbye, Col. Moore; God only knows which of us may fall first." They turned their horses and galloped in opposite directions, and at once renewed the conflict. No sooner had the rebel battery re-opened fire than Col. Moore commanded the force to "rise up and pick those gunners at the battery." No sooner was the command given than a deliberate and deadly fire by rank was delivered, which silenced the battery. Col. Johnson's brigade then charged the work, and the little command abandoned it, as previously instructed; and when the rebels reached it they found that it availed them nothing against the deadly fire which was poured into them from the main force on the battle line in the timber.

The rebel foe, with a hideous yell, charged across the open field a number of times in the face of a terrific fire, which repulsed them on each occasion, with severe loss. The conflict was almost a hand-to-hand struggle with nothing but a line of felled trees separating the combatants. At the same time the rebels were engaged in cutting out a gorge leading through the precipitory bluff into the river bottom, which had been obstructed with felled timber. The entrance was finally effected, and a regiment, commanded by Col. Chenault, opened fire upon the right flank of the line of Union troops. This was a most critical and trying moment; the rebels had gained an important point; to defeat it was of the utmost importance; a company had been held in reserve for any emergency which might arise during the battle; it was now brought forward, deployed as skirmishers across the river bottom, with the right flank extending beyond the rebel line, and presented the appearance of being the advance line of reinforcements.

The strength of Col. Moore's command was a matter of doubt with the rebels, rendered more so by his having instructed his men to keep quiet and pour in as rapid and deadly a fire as possible. As cheering was suppressed nothing but the efficacy of the firing afforded ground for estimating their strength, and when Col. Moore brought forward and manoeuvered the reserve company with the shrill notes of his bugle, it had the desired effect of impressing the rebels with the idea that reinforcements of cavalry or artillery were advancing, and by the bold front and deliberate firing of the line of skirmishers the rebel command in the river bottom was routed, the rebel colonel commanding killed, and they were promptly driven back through the gorge through which they entered, disheartened and defeated. New courage inspired the heroic little band who had sustained eight determined charges upon their front when the attack upon their right flank was de

feated. The enemy, having met with a heavy loss after a battle of four hours' duration, retreated, leaving a number of killed and wounded upon. the field greater than the entire number of the patriotic little band that opposed them. Among the number of killed and wounded were twentytwo commissioned officers.

The rebel command effected a crossing six miles down the river and proceeded on their march. It was his intention, as General Morgan declared, to capture the city of Louisville, but this unexpected and terrible repulse cost him more than twelve hours delay, and caused him, which fact he stated, to change his plans and to abandon his attack upon Louisville. By this brilliantly fought battle the city of Louisville was saved from sack and pillage and the Government from the loss of an immense amount of property, consisting of munitions of war and army supplies amounting to the value of several millions of dollars. This splendid victory was acknowledged by Major-General Hartsuff in the following order:

General Order, No. 12.

HEADQUARTERS 23D ARMY CORPS,
LEXINGTON, KY., July 17, 1863.

The general commanding the corps extends his thanks to the two hundred officers and soldiers of the 25th Michigan regiment, under Col. O. H. Moore, who so successfully resisted by their gallant and heroic bravery the attacks of a vastly superior force of the enemy under the rebel Gen. John Morgan, at Tebbs' Bend, on Green river, on the 4th of July, 1863, in which they killed one-fourth as many of the enemy as their own little band amounted to and wounded a number equal to their own.

By command of Major-General Hartsuff:

GEO. B. DRAKE, A. A. G.

The Legislature of Kentucky also acknowledged the services of Colonel Moore and his command on that occasion in complimentary resolutions. Rev. John S. C. Abbott, the historian, has written a beautiful description of this battle in the August number of Harper's Magazine, 1865.

The rebel General John Morgan admired Col. Moore's generalship so much in conducting this battle that he sent him complimentary messages and declared that he was worthy of promotion, and accordingly announced that he promoted him to the rank of brigadier-general.

Col. Allston, the chief of Morgan's staff, was captured a few days after the battle, and with him his private journal, which was published, and in speaking of this battle of the 4th of July, he says:

"Gen. Morgan sent in a flag of truce and demanded the surrender, but the colonel quietly remarked, 'if it was any other day he might consider the demand, but the 4th of July was a bad day to talk about surrender, and he must therefore decline.' The colonel is a gallant man, and the entire arrangement of his defence entitles him to the highest credit for military skill. We would mark such a man in our army for promotion."

The movements of the regiment during the summer campaign of 1864, in Georgia, were identified with those of the Army of the Ohio, which formed a part of the army under command of General Sherman. During this campaign the regiment participated in the various engagements at Rocky Face Ridge, May 19th; Resaca, May 14th; Altoona, May 26th to May 29th; Pine Mountain, June 15th; Culp's Farm, June 22d, and Nickajack Creek, July 1st. On the 9th of July the regiment crossed the Chattahoochie river, and on the 22d appeared in front of Atlanta. It took an

active part in the siege of that place. On the 6th of August it charged and assisted in carrying the enemy's works near East Point. The regiment also participated in the flank movement west and south of Atlanta, to Jonesboro, which was followed by the evacuation of Atlanta by the rebel

army.

The regiment was most conspicuously distinguished at Resaca, where, in command of Lieutenant-Colonel Benjamin F. Orcutt, it participated in the desperate charge made by Judah's division, of the 23d corps, and Newton's, of the 4th corps, driving the enemy from a strong and well fortified position, and, although not held, enabled General Sherman to advance his lines and get his artillery into such a position as to render it impossible for the enemy to again occupy the place. This charge was made under a most murderous fire of musketry and artillery, first across an open field, and then over a stream, with the water near waist deep, and bordered with thick bushes and vines, cut and lopped down in such a manner as to entangle the troops. In the charge the regiment lost about fifty men in a very few minutes. Among the killed was Adjutant E. M. Prutzman.

At Nickajack Creek, near Kenesaw, on the 1st of July following, the 25th, still in command of Lieutenant-Colonel Orcutt, again most signally maintained its fighting qualities as a regiment, while making a flank movement with its division (Hascall's) to the extreme right of General Sherman's army, the regiment advancing seven miles during an intensely hot day, continually under fire of musketry and artillery from early in the forenoon until dark, and being engaged in two brilliant and successful charges during the day, driving the enemy from every position, securing the desired point known as the cross roads, near Nickajack creek. The position thus obtained was held and strongly fortified during the night, and the force increased early on the morning of the 2d by the coming up of the 17th corps. The result of this movement was the evacuation by General Johnston of his strong position on Kenesaw Mountain and abandonment of all his works between that place and the Chattahoochie.

On the 1st of November, 1864, this regiment was near Rome, Ga., serving in the 1st brigade, 2d division, 23d corps, and on the 2d marched to Resaca, then took rail to Johnsonville, Tenn., where it arrived on the 5th, and remained there until the 14th, when, with its brigade, it marched to Centreville to guard several important fords on Duck river. It was engaged at Pine Creek on the 26th and at Franklin on the 30th, and soon after the engagement at the latter place it was ordered with its brigade to Nashville, but owing to the rebel General Hood having invested that place, it was compelled to make a circuitous march of two hundred and fifty miles by way of Clarksville to reach that point, and at one time was within the rebel lines, but under cover of a dark night made its way out and arrived at Nashville December 8th, and on the 15th and 16th took part in the battle before that city, with a loss of one killed and seven wounded. The regiment was afterwards identified with all the movements of the 23d corps in its march to Columbia in pursuit of Hood's army. From Columbia the regiment marched to Clifton, on the Tennessee river, distant two hundred and fifty miles, where it embarked on steamers for Cincinnati, and thence proceeded by rail to Washington, D. C., and soon after took transports for North Carolina, where it participated in the movements of General Schofield's army.

After the surrender of the rebel forces under Johnston, the 25th was sent to Salisbury, where it remained until June 24th, when it was mustered out of service.

THE TWENTY-SIXTH INFANTRY.

The 26th-the celebrated skirmish regiment of the 1st brigade, 1st division, 2d corps-left Jackson for the field in Virginia on December 13, 1862, in command of Colonel Judson S. Farrar, under whose direction it had been recruited. Soon after the arrival of the regiment at Washington, it was ordered on provost duty at Alexandria, Va. It remained thus employed until April 20, 1863, when the regiment proceeded to Suffolk, Va. It participated in the several expeditions subsequently made to the Blackwater. In one of these, May 23d, a portion of the regiment became engaged in a skirmish in the vicinity of Windsor, losing Captain John C. Culver, mortally wounded, who died next day.

The 26th had acquitted itself with much credit in several battles when it entered on the great campaign of 1864 with the Army of the Potomac, bravely fighting through the Wilderness and at Corbin's Bridge and Nye River, and then most signally distinguishing itself at Po River and Spottsylvania. On May 9, 1864, the regiment, in command of Major L. Saviers, marched to Po river, crossed, deployed as skirmishers, and advanced about two miles, captured a few stragglers, halted, and laid in skirmish line all night, in close proximity to the enemy, who was busy throwing up works. On Tuesday morning, the 10th, General Grant's army occupied the same position as on the previous day. His line stretched about six miles on the northerly bank of the Po, and took the general form of a crescent, the wings being thrown forward. The 2d corps, across the Po, now held a line on the right, nearly parallel to the road from Shady Grove Church to the Court-house. The 5th corps held the centre, being on the east side of the Po, and the 6th corps held the left, facing toward the Court-house. Further on the left was the 9th corps, under General Burnside. In front was a dense forest. The enemy held Spottsylvania and the region north of the Court-house; his position was well supported by breastworks, and along the centre was the forest and underbrush, lining a marsh partially drained by a run. The conflict opened in the morning by a terrific fire of artillery, which was incessant all the forenoon. A most vigorous and gallant attack was made by the 5th corps and by Generals Gibbon's and Birney's division of the 2d corps on the centre of General Lee's army. In the meantime the enemy had turned General Barlow's division, (1st,) of the 2d corps, on the right, but it was finally extricated without much loss. In this movement of the enemy the 26th was attacked from the rear, and after a spirited resistance was compelled to move out by the left flank, and took a position to cover the recrossing of the troops, and when accomplished, crossed to the opposite side of the river. On the next day (Wednesday, the 11th) the position of the two armies was nearly the same as on the previous day. During the morning there was brisk skirmishing. The regiment, in command of Major L. Saviers, was sent out to reconnoitre the enemy's position, moved up the north bank of the Po about two miles, crossed, deployed as skirmishers, and advanced down the south bank to find his left and develop his force, attacked and drove in his pickets, charged a strong skirmish line, driving them into their works, gaining and holding a position under a heavy fire for half an hour, within three hundred yards of the enemy's intrenchments. Having accomplished the object of the reconnoissance, the regiment recrossed the river and returned to the picket line, with a loss of three killed and fifteen wounded. It was determined during the day to make an assault early the next morning on the

enemy's left, where their batteries were so strongly posted as to annoy General Grant's lines. The 2d corps was selected to make this movement. Soon after midnight, in the darkness and storm, General Hancock changed the position of his corps from the extreme right to the left, filling up the space between Generals Wright and Burnside. It was then near ground well commanded by the enemy, and requiring a quick advance in the morning. At 11 P. M. the 26th, having been relieved from the picket line, commenced the movement to the left of the 6th corps at Spottsylvania, where the division had preceded it, and in the darkness being misled, had marched all night, only reaching the ground where the division, being in the first line, was massed for the assault, just in time for the regiment to form in column without halting, aligning its ranks as it advanced. The regiment moved up in gallant style, and was the first to reach the rebel works, (striking them at an angle,) which were carried after a hand-tohand fight with the bayonet, capturing two brass guns immediately in rear of the enemy's line, which had been fired only once, and just as the works were entered. The regiment passed on without halting, and soon became mingled with the other regiments coming up in left and in rear, and with these charged along the rebel line at a run, rolling it up for more than a mile, capturing a large number of prisoners, guns, and colors. When about a mile from the angle referred to, another line, running nearly perpendicular to the line being rolled up, was encountered, which sharply contested the advance. Having unavoidably become much broken up, and being opened on by a heavy fire from the woods on the right and left, were obliged to fall back, losing half the ground gained, though the men who thronged their works had been made prisoners and sent to the rear. Several pieces of the captured artillery were left in the hands of the enemy, as they could not be drawn off. The regiment was reformed and moved with the brigade to the woods on the left, where rifle-pits were constructed. The enemy having, by repeated and desperate assaults, retaken the works on the left, near the angle, the regiment was ordered to that; creeping along by the right flank on the outside of the works, until it overlapped the rebel line about half the length of the regiment, its right resting near the point where a large oak tree, twenty-two inches in diameter, standing almost on the first line of rebel works, was literally cut down by musket bullets, partly coming from the 26th.

In the Richmond Examiner's account of the battle of Spottsylvania occurs the following:

"A TREE HEWN DOWN BY BULLETS.-Most people have doubted the literal accuracy of the dispatch concerning the battle of Spottsylvania, which alleged that trees were cut down under the concentrated fire of Minie balls. We doubted the literal fact ourselves, and would doubt it still but for the indisputable testimony of Dr. Charles McGill, an eye-witness of the battle. The tree stood near our breastworks at a point upon which at one time the most murderous musketry fire that ever was heard of was directed. The tree fell inside our works, and injured several of our men. After the battle Dr. McGill measured the trunk, and found it twenty-two inches through, and sixty-one inches in circumference, actually hacked through by the awful avalanche of bullets packing against it. The foliage of the tree was trimmed away as effectually as though an army of locusts had swarmed on its branches. A grasshopper could not have lived through the pelting of that leaden storm; and but for the fact that our troops were protected by breast works they would have been swept away to a man."

The regiment fought for more than one hour over the rebel works, almost