U.S.A.
Brigadier General Lew Wallace's Division
Colonel Charles Cruft's Brigade

ON FEBRUARY 15, 1862. AFTER WITHDRAWING FROM THE FIRST POSITION FARTHER EAST, THIS BRIGADE OCCUPIED AND SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDED A SECOND LINE ALONG THIS RIDGE ABOUT ONE MILE SOUTHEAST FROM THIS POINT AND FRUSTRATED A CONFEDRATE ATTEMPT TO TURN THE RIGHT FLANK. AFTER THEIR INEFFECTUAL ATTACK, THE CONFEDERATES RETIRED TO A RIDGE ABOUT ONE-HALF MILE FARTHER SOUTH. THIS THREW THE CONFEDERATE FORCE TO THE RIGHT AND REAR OF CRUFT'S BRIGADE AND ENDANGERED THE HOSPITAL BUILDINGS IN REAR. UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH GENERAL WALLACE, CRUFT''S BRIGADE WITHDREW AND OCCUPIED A POSITION ALONG THE WOODED RIDGE JUST NORTH OF THE HOSPITAL BUILDINGS WITH A VIEW OF PROTECTING THEM. IN THAT POSITION, ABOUT A MILE SOUTH OF THIS POINT THE BRIGADE RESTED FOR SOME TIME AFTER HAVING BEEN HOTLY ENGAGED WITH THE CONFEDERATES AT INTERVALS FOR MORE THAN THREE HOURS..
AT 3P.M. GENERAL GRANT ORDERED AN ATTACK AGAINST THE CONFEDERATE LEFT WHILE GENERAL SMITH'S DIVISION ATTACKED THE RIGHT. COLONEL MORGAN L. SMITHS'S BRIGADE FORMED AT THE HEAD OF THE ATTACK. CRUFT'S BRIGADE IN SUPPORT FORMED ON THE RIGHT OF THE LINE EXCEPT THE 44TH INDIANA, AND FIVE COMPANIES OF THE 31ST INDIANA. WHICH WENT INTO ACTION ON THE EXTREME LEFT OF MORGAN L. SMITH'S BRIGADE. CHARGING UP THE HILL IN A LINE ALMOST AT A RIGHT ANGLE TO THE MAIN ATTACK, CRUFT'S BRIGADE STRUCK THE CONFEDERATE FORCE. UNDER COLONEL DRAKE IN THE FLANK AND, AFTER A SHARP AND DESPERATE FIGHT, CARRIED THE HILL IN CONJUNCTION WITH MORGAN L. SMITH'S BRIGADE. PURSUING THE RETREATING CONFEDERATES TO THE OPEN GROUND IN FRONT OF THE INTRENCHMENTS, CRUFTS BRIGADE RECEIVED ORDERS TO FALL BACK TO THE HILL JUST TAKEN WHERE HIS TROOPS WENT INTO CAMP FOR THE NIGHT.