The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1862-11-14
Conduct of Cneatilam,s Division.

No letters have been published during the
war which have been more eagerly sought
after than those Of Ora" the Army CORES
pendent of the Mobile Register. In very
truth, when he writes of a campaign, he
might append to all his statements of incl
dents and battles the old saying, Quorum
pors fui." Here is his sketch of the conduct
of Cheatham's Division in the battle Of Per-
ryville:
1t was about P. NJ, on the day of the
9Th, that Gen. Polk ordered Cheathams diyii
sion, which had moved in the morning from
our extreme left to the extreme sight, to adj
vance in line Of battle in front of the enemy
and drive back bis columns. Cheatham's d.
vision, on this occasion, consisted uf only
Donelson,s. Stewards and Maney's brigadesi
Preston Smiths being absent, as also With
.ers-divisioh, with Gem Kirby Smith.
The enemy occupied rolling ridge, or hill;
immediately in front of our extreme right,
and Col. Wharton, wifi his. gallant Texan
Rangers, was ordered to charge the enemy
and drive them fros, it. which was done in
most glorious sty!e.-Chea,ham division
closely following ap and taking possession of
the hill 1T this moment Gen. Cheatham
ordered Capt: M. Smith; Chief Of Artillery,
to'bring up his battery and open on the enc
my. who, although falling back, was still keep
ing. up a CALLING fire. Smiths battery"
which was in the rear, was Immediately adj
yanced at gallop, aid in no time opened d
terrible enflading FIRE, with she'll and CAMS.
ter; at not more than two hundred and fifty
yards distance. A battery of twelve Founders
OF the enemy replied to us, and for more than
an hour the fire was kept up without inter-
mission on both Sides Our troops at the
same time had steadily advanced, driving
PACK the efemy, and were not so far in front
as to become endangered by the fire of our
battery. Gen.: Cheatham here rode up and
ordered our battery to cease firing" as our
forces were about to charge the enemJ's lines,
winch had been reformed on succeeding
rage. under cover Of a thick woods.
Some SIXTY yards to the rear Of these woods,
ana a., on the left, there were several cornfelds.
'ihen came the terrible charge of the barefoot
ed brave Tennesseeans. Rising from the hol-
low 10 and breasting the hillside, they rushed
forward like mighty ocean wave, sweeping
1 :, enemy>s ranks like grain before the scythe
!. roar q. after roar of musketry now echoed over
the nils until 1t became one continuous crash.
zap after gap was made in our ranks, but
Whlcn Were Immediately closed up like rail-
ing OF IRON, while the green hill-sides became
oyed with human gore. Driving the enemy
steadily back from the cover of the woods.
our men pushed forward to the omen corn
neids, where four Of their batteries opened
on US terrible FIRE, which was responded to
Dy our own guns, shaking tho earth with the
thunder 7, OF artillery. Through that dense
cloud OF batsle-smoke. lighted by the lurid
glare OF the flames which leaped from the
mouth, onward came the fearless
ana ssaiwart Iennesseeans Of gallant Maney's
brigade, and charging over hecatombs Of the
snemy's dead, drove the Abolition foe from
battery OF eight brass pieces, Napoleon IL
FOUNDERS. TIE slaughter was frightful.-
VIC more batteries were taken, but we could
aot hold the third.
zen. cheatham's division in this fight was
opposed by 10000 men! His loss in the
'nree brigades which batted against and
whipped this superior force, was ,44O killed
Ina wounded out of 1850 men! Maney's
brigade lost over 600 !-more than one half!,
md the gallant Col. John HI. Savage. of the
lotn Tennessee, who was wounded, lost 1879
men out OF BIG! Such fighting against such
earful odds is unparalleled in the history Of
: That night the gallant and heroic
japt. Smith brought off the field seven Of the
captured Napoleon guns, destroying two
'aissons OF ammunition, the enemy having
'arrled off the limbers.
The gallant Gen. John H. Morgan was born
Huntsville, Ala. in the year 1897. and is
consequently about 35 years of acc