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

battery, Capt. Hotchkiss, came up nearly
at the same time with the I'd Missouri in
fantry, and by delivering a well directed
fire upon the flank of the rebels, assisted
materially in driving them from the woods.
This preliminary battle, as have said,
confirmed rs in the impression that here
the enemy was about to make a grand eff
fort to drive back our army. But as a di-
vision or two only had arrived, we felt it
highly imprudent to ASSET him at once,
and hence resolved to remain in order of
battle with what forces we had, and wait
for the remainder TO come up. .......
=, But the enemy could not wait The
head OF our column had not rushed into the
trap which he had set for it he had al
ready lost time in his retreat without ac-
comprising anything, and in his exaspe-
ration he determined to assail and over
whelm that portion of our forces which
had arrived even though they were drawn
up and ready to receive him.
! /. at about II o'clock, A. H., artillery fir
| ing commenced. .,.......'
ARTILLERY FIGHT ON THE LEFT
Upon the left where Jackson's division
feeling for the enemy. No response was
| elected, however, nor did a battery con-
| nected with Mitchell 8 division, which came
up about this time and took position upon
the right of Sheridans, meet with any bet
ter success.
Capt LOOMS Michigan battery, posted
on hill which overlooked the whole space
between our advance bodies and the wooded
hills where the enemy's legions lay massed,
also threw few sheels toward these height
and Capt Simonson (5th Indiana battery
did the same. But the enemy gave no
sign. The position occupied by these two
batteries was peculiarly favorable for oper-
ating against the enemy should he endeav-
or to cross the open space in front Of them,
| but it was at the same time exposed and
dangerous if the enemy should, previous
to charging, open fire with his artillery
from his position upon the hills.
was talking with Capt Loomis, who
stood beside his guns, just previous to the
commencement of the terrible struggle
which was to drench the ground on which
/ stood with blood. Personally acquainted
with every officer, and almost every man
in both these batteries, having gone with
them through Gen. O. NJ Mitchell's long
campaign in Tennessee and Alabama, /
could not avoid feeling of sadness as /
looked around upon them, and reflected
that. perhaps, ere the setting of the sun,
the mingled corpses of some of them wonld
be stretched beside their guns. Yet no
sadness was visible upon their countenances.
No! They had long. ardently wished the
time to come when they might measure
strength with the rebel hordes, and now, az
there seemed an immediate prospect that
their wishes might be gratifed, their hearts
leaped .joyfully in their bosoms, and their
countenances beamed with animation.
Both SimOnson and LOOMS were as cool
as though no enemy were within one hun
dred miles, although they both confidently
expected, each passing minute, that before
its expiration the thunder of the rebel Ar
tillery would open fiercely upon them.
Captain Simonton was in the midst Of a
very vivid description which he was giving
me Of the operations about Stevenson, AL
ALBANIA, in which his battery bore distin-
guished part, when spherical shot buried
itself deep in the side Of the hill, just be-
low where We were standing, and a half
dozen more whistled fiercely away over
head, and raised great clouds of dust as
they struck in the dried-up fields beyond,
At this time but two pieces of LOOMS bat
terry were in position upon the hill, the re-
mainder being stationed upon another en-
inence some distance in the rear.
These were at once ordered up, the shot
and shell Of the enemy's guns meantime
continuing to pillow up the ground in our
vicinity, and to crush through the branches
of some half dozen trees, which were
grouped together on the hill Immediately
to the right Of Loomis' position.
Captain Loolnis," said /, as he was rid
/ ing back toward the main portion of his
battery upon the hill behind, "dont you
intend to reply to that fire?" "Yes, "said
he, "I'll fetch EN-" Simonson's battery
had opened in the meantime, and another
away off to the right of the road.
All LOOMS pieces were now in position
and laundering away with the sharp, quick,
deadly report which rited PARROTS always
make To the extreme left another bate
ry Immediately opened, and the enemy re-
piled from at least half dozen different
positions, and shot and shell Of every de-
scription, flew in all directions. The enc
my's artillery seemed very badly managed.
Their missiles struck everywhere except
where they intended them to strike, and it
actually seemed that the safest points
which could be selected for circuit of
two or three miles were in the very midst
of our batteries.
ROUssEAUs DlvIsION-LYTLRs BRIGADE.
At the foot Of the hill, Just behind the
batteries, were stationed Rousseau's divi-
sion, the 18th brigade, Colonel Lytle, to
the right, and most Of it upon the east of
the right of our whole line, being to the
east of narrow lane which ran north and
south, and opened out into the field where
Loomis was posted, just where stood the
group of trees have mentioned. The 9th
brigade, Colonel Harris of the I'd Ohio
commanding, was on the left of the lane,
on somewhat higher ground, partly in the
open field and partly in a neck of woods,
which extended into the cleared ground,
and further to the left was the 2Sth bri-
gade, Colonel Starkweather of the lst Wis
| cOnSin cOmmandinr