In a few moments we were closely engaged with the enemy, commanded by a Kentuckian, Captain Carter, afterward killed or shot by a member of Company B. Carter fought his force well, being shielded by the houses; but as soon as he was wounded they retreated. He, with other wounded, fell in our hands. As only a brave man can do, he talked with the soldier who visited him a few minutes before he died, telling the Confederate that he was a gallant soldier and that he shot him in self-defense and while in the service of his country. The gallant Captain surely met his fate soldierly.
Supplying our wants we left town and marched within two miles of Green River bridge (not the railroad bridge), which was defended by a regiment of Yankee infantry inside of a strong stockade. Placing our picket out, we encamped for the night.
The next morning, the Fourth of July, by some error of the A. A. G., two regiments were put in advance of the Fourteenth, and by a further misconstruction of orders they advanced against the stockade, which on this side of the river was impregnable, and there were obstacles of every description to impede a charge. Nevertheless, our troops hurled themselves against it with great gallantry and fought desperately until the General had them withdrawn. The troops were cut up badly, and many of our “best and bravest” fell in this engagement, among them being Colonel Shenault of the Seventh Kentucky, Major Brent of the Sixth, First Lieut. Chas. Kirtley of the Thirteenth Kentucky, commanding his company at the time, and many other gallant men and officers.
I cannot say who was the author of this movement, which was not a skilful move certainly, for we had to flank it finally to gain the pike beyond. By using our artillery on the opposite side they could have been shelled into submission, beyond reach of their rifles.
The brigade halted to feed at Campbellsville. Mounting again at dark, we did not halt until in front of Lebanon, about three o’clock in the morning. At daylight we advanced on the force garrisoning the town, which was the Twentieth Kentucky Yankee Infantry under Col. Chas. Hanson, a brother of the colonel of the Second Kentucky Infantry, afterward a general in our service, killed at Murfreesboro.
The garrison, as we advanced into town, had posted themselves in brick houses, depot buildings, and churches. But forming our line in a circle enclosing the town we moved to the attack. A street fight is one of the most desperate modes of warfare known to a soldier. The advantage is strongly against the storming party.
The Fourteenth charged mounted to within seventy-five yards of the railroad depot, and dismounted under the most deadly fire that we ever saw. The artillery took position on our right, opening on the depot in dead earnest. At every report the boys would cheer, the building tumbling at every discharge. Before the General commenced the assault he sent in a flag of truce to Colonel Hanson, demanding an immediate surrender; but if he would not consent, a limited time would be allowed to him to remove all non-combatants. He would not permit the inhabitants to leave, however, thinking they might prove to be a protection to his force, as we would probably not cannonade the town while the women and children remained. In that the Colonel was badly mistaken. His troops numbered about six hundred, and all fought desperately to keep the boys out of the houses. But the cavalry would go up and in. Some of our troops would frequently run their guns and pistols through the windows and fire, while others would storm the doors and gain their entrance.
The fight was raging terribly when Thos. H. Morgan, first lieutenant of Company I, Duke’s regiment, a brother of the General, while acting aide-de-camp and gallantly bearing orders, was shot through the head, causing his instant death. This happened in sight of the General, who became so enraged at such inhuman fighting that he sent his aides flying with orders to burn and destroy, which soon brought our brutal foe to a sense of feeling.
The whole town was quickly in a blaze and getting disagreeably hot. The engagement had lasted from morning until noon, and but for the burning would have lasted longer, at a great sacrifice of life. The white flag appeared in many places at the same time. Before it was discovered or acknowledged they were nearly “rare done.” Everything but hot stoves suffered that day. The troopers, not without cause, were much enraged, and they could scarcely be controlled by their officers.
During the taking of Lebanon two Yankee regiments were within two miles of the town, but would not and did not come to the rescue. The officer in command was afterward relieved for his timid and cowardly action. It was proven that he was half a day marching seven miles.