home.”

On the 9th, General Thayer came up, and on the 10th... left for Prairie D'Ane at 3 p.m.
Like an oasis lies this beautiful prairie in the midst of dense forests and almost impassable
swamps, a relief for the eye of the traveler, who has for many days hardly seen anything but rocks
crowned by dark pines or the gloomy cypress swamp. The prairie, elevated above the
surrounding country, rises gradually toward its center. A ridge running along the northern edge,
slightly covered with brush, was occupied by a strong force of the enemy's sharpshooters, who
kept up an annoying fire on our lines, they being well protected by the crest of the eminence and
the low brushes, while we were standing low and without cover. ...the rebels in haste fell back
upon their main force. This we saw now half a mile farther south drawn up in a long line along
the crest of another and somewhat higher ridge.... Now the enemy's battery opened and our
artillery... replied promptly and with telling effect. For half an hour the artillery kept up a brisk
fire, then a general advance was ordered, but as soon as our forces commenced ascending the
slope of the hitherto contested ridge the enemy's line began to waver.... the enemy... under cover
of the twilight, hastily retreated in a southwestern direction... Night had already come when our
line was formed in the new position, and there we rested on our arms.

About 8:00 the enemy planted two pieces of artillery behind the brow of the nearest ridge,
half a mile distant... and for about an hour a lively exchange of shells took place ...°””

... on the evening of the 9th, sharp, rapid, and heavy firing on the Elkins Ferry and Camden road
warned me that an advance in force was being made on our [Confederate] position... The melee
of the battle approached rapidly.... I opened fire on the enemy's cloud of skirmishers. Captain
Collins had but two guns to fight the grand advance of Steele's army, and as battery after battery
rushed up from the [Union] rear and opened upon him he never changed his position, but held his
men...with calm and daring courage. The artillery duel was terrible and magnificent. The broad
prairie stretched away smoothly as a sea of glass. The long lines of cavalry on either side of the
guns, and over all the bursting bombs and the white powder clouds, came fast and furious. For
three hours the fight went on. Collins fought their eighteen guns, and his supports never wavered
for a moment... At dark General Marmakuke ordered me to retire, which was done in perfect
order. After falling back a mile I found the enemy advancing stubbornly upon me, and I knew
that if he was not checked at once he would command our fortified position with his artillery
before daylight. I ordered Collins once more in position on the naked prairie and deployed about
400 men as skirmishers along their entire front, and a real night battle began. For three hours
more the fight went on, the whole heavens lit up with bursting bombs and the falling flames of
muskets. Their advance was checked for the night, and at 12 p.m. I drew off, after eight hours

 

°° Evergreen City Times, Sheboygan, April 9, 1864, p. 1/2.

*°7 James Harris Atkinson, "Forty Days of Disaster", p. 9, quoting from the report of Lt.
Col. Adolph Dengler (Union forces).

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