No. 166. report of Capt. George W. Kirk, Fourteenth Ohio Infantry, of operations September 1.
At 5.27 p. m. the regiment, consisting of 19 officers and 309 enlisted men, was in line, without knapsacks, and moving forward on the rebel works. The brigade was in double line and the Fourteenth occupying the left of the second line and immediately in rear of the Thirty-eighth Ohio. The moving of the troops in the open field was slow in advancing, so that when we were ready to charge the men were. in splendid line and unfatigued. The charge was a brilliant success, in which we carried two lines of the enemy's works, OaAP. L.] reports etc.--Army of the Cumberland. [821] and killed, wounded, or captured the whole rebel line in our front. The charge was m.ade in splendid style, and with a will that could not fail of success. Every officer and every man appeared to be determined to break the rebel line. The loss of the regiment in the charge was 2 commissioned officers and 14 enlisted men killed, and 6 officers and 68 men wounded. Accompanying is a list of casualties. 1 The rebel line of works was not completed, but was near enough to be effective against infantry. Nothing but infantry was in our immediate front, who fought stubbornly, and continued fighting until our lines reached the works with their bayonets. After reaching the works the rebels still held the line left of where our line reached, protected by traverses and enfiladed our lines severely for half an hour. In the early part of the action Maj. John W. Wilson had his leg broken, which prevented him from superintending the movement of the regiment. It is impossible to make special mention of any officer of the regiment for deeds of gallantry, for all did their whole duty nobly. Of the enlisted men, I would make honorable mention of Private Joseph E. Warner, of Company A, for deeds of bravery and noble daring, who bore the colors and was among the first and foremost to reach the second line of rebel works, where he planted the colors on their top; but no sooner planted than he was shot and the colors fell. Corpl. John Beely, of Company H, of the color guard, seized them immediately and was severely wounded; Corpl. John S. Snook, of Company G, of the color guard, then caught them and planted them again upon the works, and by his own hand held them there till the victory was won. Sergt. Maj. Jesse Trapp was severely wounded in the arm at the opening of the charge, but remained upon the field doing his duty bravely till the works were taken.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
, Comdg. Third Brig., Third Div., 14th Army Corps.
