History of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry

by R. C. Rankin

Now the country became mountainous and the valleys were reduced to narrow passes between hills, and the enemy became more stubborn and resentful taking possession of every available position to plant their batteries, and impede our progress, and in short when they reached the broken country they did not drive worth a cent.

But by moving through the woods, thickets and underbrush and over the hills and rocks, and tearing our clothes almost at every step we succeeded in driving them about six miles beyond Pulaski.

At this point they made a bold stand upon a high hill, and behind barricades of logs and rails.

Some time was spent in skirmishing and getting the brigade into position. The 7th was on the right and not finding anything formidable in our front we mounted and moved by file down a very steep hill. On the opposite side of the valley, two-thirds of the way up met a few skirmishers.

The regiment was then thrown into columns of squadrons, preparatory to fighting on foot.

Capt. Rankin’s battalion being in advance moved out by the right and at once engaged the enemy’s skirmishers which were not more than thirty yards in advance of his line, and finding that the enemy’s line extended far beyond his right, reported the same to Col. Garrard.

Here the Col. ordered him to take company F in order to extend his line further out.

This company had hardly been put in position when our line gave way on the left and center and a grand rush was made by the enemy on our right causing us to drop back. Now the driving was all on the other side.

We had found out for the first time that our line was not more than thirty yards from their main line, and our led horses two hundred and fifty yards from their battery which had all been concealed up to this time. This battery opened fire cutting the timber over our horses and at the same time a charge was made upon us.

The enemy proved to be eight brigades of infantry as we learned from a prisoner who was a little more daring than his comrades and followed a little too close on our retreating line. Upon noticing him, one of the boys ’bout faced and took the chap in.