General Franklin was in command of the troops here and the signal corps had established a ‘verbal telegraph line’ from the front to his quarters. Men were placed within speaking distance of each other and messages were constantly transmitted by them, one to the other, such as ‘The enemy is showing in force on the right,’ ‘Heavy firing on the left,’ ‘Enemy advancing in force on the centre, reinforcements needed,’ ‘Centre hard pressed,’ etc.
One peculiar message thus transmitted was ‘Send a man to take Daniel Webster's place.’ This was another Daniel Webster, however, not the ‘Expounder of the Constitution.’
Toward night the regiment formed in line of battle and advanced a short distance into the woods at the left of the line, Company C being thrown forward about a quarter of a mile as skirmishers, and posted along a ridge in the woods as pickets. On the following morning the line was withdrawn and the regiment returned to the brigade.
