The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-10-24


BILE disaster of the day
The retreat Of the Sd OHIO and 18th
Kentucky had left the right wing of the
10th uncovered, and q whole brigade of the
enemy, forming in mass, advanced toward
them over ground Of such a nature that if
the 10th did not receive warning from some
source, the rebel column would be upon
them and annihilate them before they cOnld
rise from their faces and change front. Col
Lyle was expecting the enemy to appear
in his front, over the crest Of the hill, and
had intended to have the gallant 10th
charge them with the bayonet
And they still lay upon their faces, while
the enemy was advancing upon their flank,
stealthly as cat steals upon her prey
Nearer and nearer they come. Great
heavens! will no one tell the 10th Of their
fearful peril? Where is eagle eye which
ought to overlook the field, and send swift
footed couriers to save this illustrious band
from destruction +? Alas there is none!
The heroes of Carnifex are doomed! The
mass Of rebels, which the rising ground
just to the right of the tenth has hitherto
concealed from view, rush upon the hap
less regiment, and from the distance of 100
yards pour into it an annihilating fire,
even while the men are still upon their
faces! Overwhelmed and COMPOUNDED they
leap to their feet and vanly endeavor to
change front and meet the enemy. 1t is
impossible to do it beneath that whitening.
murderous fire; and for the first time in
its history the 10th regiment turns its back
upon the enemy. They will not run; they
only molh' away, and they are moved
down by scores as they do so.
The noble, gifted, generous Lytle, the
Chevalier Bayard of the Ohio troops, was
pierced with bullets, and fell where the
storm was tiercest. One of his sergeants
lifted him in his arms and was endeavor-
ing to bear him from the field "YOu may
do some good yet" said the hero; 81
can do no more; let me die here" He
was left there and fell into the hands of
the enemy. 1t is fervently hoped that his
wounds were not mortal, and that he may
yet again be restored to us to fight for the
cause he loved so we'll The brave Major
Moore was badly wounded while doing all
in his power to retrieve the terrible blum
der which some one had made. Lieut.
age, endeavored to rally his men, succeed
ing at last, and forming the shattered H.
mains of the 10th in line OF battle a con
siderable distance to the left
During all these bloody conflicts. Gen.
Rousseau seemed every where present,
and, as if he possessed charmed life, rode
tearlessly amidst the iron hail, directing
II bo 10,
and bloody ground'' had furnished for the
Union army only two such men as Pope
and Rousseau, the patriot might cry eX-
ultingly, ''Well done, Kentucky :"
ATTACK ON sIIERTDASs's DIVISION.
While the 10th Ohio was being so terri
bly, cut up, another immense body ofreb-
els filed off to the left, disappeared behind
the woods fronting General Sheridan's di-
vision, and soon after commenced des-
perate assault upon our right and right
centre. But Mitchell and Sheridan were
ready to receive them, and the high hill
to the right of the road, occupied by the
latter in the morning, instantly became
a huge volcano, belching forth from every
quarter volumes of fire and smoke, and
tiinging into the midst of the dismayed
and staggering traitors, 5000 projectiles,
deadly as volley of stones shot from the
crater of Etna. After vainly endeavoring
to storm the hill, the shattered masses Of
the enemy gave way, and were pursued bv
General Mitchell beyond Perryville.
And now, while the 18th brigade was
still struggling glOriously, and even after
its trightfnl losses, was actually holding the
rebels in check, the 9th and 2Sth brigades,
both of which had borne distinguished
part so far, came 10 the rescue. A half
dozen regiments rushed up along the crest
of an eminencc situated to the left, and
with loud shouts bore down upon the
enemy. Around a farm house to the left
of the brigade, and in woods in front of
it 0he same under cover Of which the rebels
had advanced in their assault upon Jack
sons division), the combat ragged with IN
intermitted fury for more than ha f an honr.
But when the attack upon our right was
repulsed, the enemy retired from this por-
ton Of the field.
Just about shutdown last disparing et-
fort of the baf1led foe, was made upon the
right of Rousseau's division. Our line of
battle in all this part of the field, had now
completely changed direction, ranging
from north to south, instead Of from east
to west as in the beginning Of the day,
A battery, which believe was Captain
LOOMS repulsed this last assault. But
the firing of artillery continued half an
hour into tho night, forming scene aw-
fully sublime. At last its thunder ceased
as by mutual consent, and the Union army
lay down upon its arms, while the rebel
hordes silently and rapidly resumed their
retreat, leaving us in possession of the field
of battle, and large numbers of their dead
and wounded in our hands.
l visited the various hospitals the next
morning, and rode over the field of battle,
where numbers of the slain and too many
of the wounded were still lying; and es-
innate our loss at 500 killed and 1920
wounded, although l am perhaps the only
person that has yet made an estimate, who
puts it so low
do not believe the enemy's loss is grea
ter, but l think it was equally severe. A
few hundred prisoners were taken by each
side. Welo seven pieces of cannon, and
cantured q number of wagons and ambu-