whose left
extended far beyond our lines, on the other side of the
town. Two companies of my regiment were stationed on the
opposite side of the river from Hood's right, and kept up an
annoying musketry fire. Lieutenant Gillett, of Company G,
was mortally wounded by a cannon ball, and some of the
enlisted men were hurt. One private soldier in Company B,
who had taken position in a tree as sharpshooter, had his
right arm broken by a ball. Captain Romeyn said to him, 'You
would better come down from there, go to the rear, and find
the surgeon.' 'Oh no, Captain!' he replied, 'I can fire with
my left arm,' and so he did.

"Another soldier of Company B, was walking along the road,
when hearing an approaching cannon ball, he dropped flat
upon the ground, and was almost instantly well nigh covered
with the dirt plowed up by it, as it struck the ground near
by. Captain Romeyn, who witnessed the incident, and who was
greatly amused by the fellow's trepidation, asked him if he
was frightened? His reply was, 'Fore God, Captain, I thought
I was a dead man, sure!'

"Friday, Oct. 28th, 1864, at twelve o'clock, at the head of
355 men, in obedience to orders from General Granger, I
charged and took a battery, with a loss of sixty officers
and men killed and wounded. After capturing the battery, and
spiking the guns, which we were unable to remove, we retired
to our former place in the line of defense. The conduct of
the men on this occasion was most admirable, and drew forth
high praise from Generals Granger and Thomas.

"Hood, having decided to push on to Nashville without
assaulting Decatur, withdrew. As soon as I missed his troops
from my front, I notified the General commanding, and was
ordered to pursue, with the view of finding where he was.
About ten o'clock the next morning, my skirmishers came up
with his rear guard, which opened upon us a brisk infantry
fire. Lieutenant Woodworth, standing at my side, fell dead,
pierced through the face. General Granger ordered me to
retire inside of the works, and the regiment, although
exposed to a sharp fire, came off in splendid order. As we
marched inside the works, the white soldiers, who had
watched the manoeuvre, gave us three rousing cheers. I
have heard the Pope's famous choir at