wounded and several thousands taken prisoners.
At this battle General Crook's command was in reserve, with Hayes's brigade at the extreme right of the infantry. In order to reach the position assigned to them, the Twenty-third Ohio had to cross a swampy cedar brake where some of the soldier boys sank into mud up to their ankles.
Soon began the distant roar of cannon and the rattle of musketry, and in less than an hour the battle waxed hot and furious on all sides.
"Forward!" came the cry, and forward went the Ohio boys, through the cedar brake and across several open fields, where they received a scattering fire from some of the enemy hidden in a distant wood. But they pushed on bravely, and at last reached the brow of a slight hill, from which the Confederate infantry could be seen off on the left.
No sooner did the Twenty-third Ohio come into view than the Confederate light artillery opened upon them, making sad gaps in the ranks of all the leading companies. But undaunted by this, the Union-
