en that it must be
held even if it cost the last man we had. I immediately sent in the
26th Ohio, commanded by the gallant Major Wm. H. Squires, to take
position on the right of the 3d Kentucky, and support it, and
dispatched an aid for the 18th Indiana battery to come to this point
and open on the enemy. No sooner had the 26th Ohio got in position
than they became hotly engaged, and the numerous dead and wounded
that were immediately brought to the rear told how desperate was the
contest. The gallant Lieut. McClellan of that regiment was brought to
the rear mortally wounded, and expired by my side in less than five
minutes from the time the regiment took position. Still the fight
went on, and still brave men went down. The 3d Kentucky, now reduced
to less than one-half its original number, with ten officers out of
its fourteen remaining ones, badly wounded, was still bravely at
work. In less than ten minutes after the fall of Lieut. Col. McKee,
the gallant Major Daniel R. Collier, of that regiment, received two
severe wounds, one in the leg and one in the breast. Adjutant Bullitt
had his horse shot from under him, but nothing could induce either of
them to leave the field. Equally conspicuous and meritorious was the
conduct of Major Squires and Adjutant Franklin, of the 26th Ohio.
Major Squires' horse was three times shot through the neck;
nevertheless, he and all his officers stood by throughout and most
gallantly sustained and encouraged their men.

Estep's battery came up in due time, and taking a position on a
little rise of ground in the rear of the 26th Ohio, and 3d Kentucky,
opened a terrific fire of shot and shell over the heads of our
infantry. About one hour after the 26th Ohio got into position, this
terrible attack of the enemy was repulsed, and they drew back into
the woods, and under cover of an intervening hill, to reform their
shattered columns and renew the attack. I now took a survey of the
situation, and found that along the entire line to the right and left
of the railroad, which had not yet been carried by the enemy, I was
the only general officer present, and was therefore in command, and
responsible for the conduct of affairs. Col. Hazen, commanding a
brigade in Gen. Palmer's division, was present with his brigade to
the left of the railroad. Col. Gross, commanding another brigade in
the sa