The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-10-23

IIactu SpVefat INES upon sioplng
ground, in such way that the whole
conld fire at once, and although the ar
rangemrnt enabled our batteries to op
crate with more deadly effect, it created
such havoc in our single line of battle
as no soldiers could endure. A por.
ti"n Of the 21st Wisconsin, supporting
Stnne's battery, broke and fed.
Our line being thus broken, the en-
tire division retreaied, perhaps quar-
ter of mile. where it halted. and held
its ground until the battle ceased.
The partial success Of the rebels
npon this division, encouraged them to
re commences the attack upon Rousseau.
and now began one of the bloodiest
passages at arms which has occurred
dnring the war. ~
THE ATTACK ON LYTLE's COMMAND.
The 18th Brigade, Col. w. H. Lytle
of The 10Th Ohio commanding, formed,
as have said. the right Of ROpsspau's
ldivlsion, and it was against this that
the rebel leaders directed their fiercesi
assault. The Third Ohio. Col. John
Beatty, sustained the heaviest fire. aud
as long as il remained up"n the hill its
ranks were continually plowed by the
terrible discharges from the enemy's
artillery. .,s 81 aff
Bnt while it remained there, land it
remained until third of its number
strewpd tine field.) it never for an in
slant ceased tn belch forth volley nf
fame into the face of the foe, nor conld
the rebel lrgions, with all their desper
atom, Summon courage to charge II.
Every officer stood like rock to his
posi, and the gallant Colonel Beatty.
lismOnnting from his nnmanauahle
horse. placed himself coolv and calm
~ in the center Of his regiment, cheered
both nv voice and example his daunt
less men. and seemed totally uncon
scions that death was everywhere
around and abnnt him.
At last shell from the rebel cannon
set fire to pile of straw, the flames of
which instantly communicated to a
large barn upon which the right wing
of the Third Ohio rested. In a mo
tltHt tue NH'lt WAS wv 'siLS tuS
heat herame intense and uncomfortable :;
and though some of the heroes stood
until their faces were blistered rather
than break their ranks, they were com
PEELED at length ia retire in confusion
upon the center and left of his regiment.
which they also threw int" disorder.
Slowly and rplnrtantly the officers he
gan to follow their men down the hill
at the foot of which they Immediately
reformed the torn and bleeding ranks.
All this tim the 10Th Ohio were ~
ing upon their faces tn the left of the
Sd. near the summit of the same hill
and upon the .'ther side of lane as |
have hefnre mentioned.
The retreat of the 81 Ohio and 18th
kentucky had left the right wing Of
the cnemv, forming i'm 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 an
nihilate them before they could rise
| from their faces and change trent. Col.
Lytle was expecting the enemy to ap
pear in his fraDt, over the crest of the
hill, and had intended % have the gal
liant 10th charge them with the bayo-
net.
Aud they still lay upon their faces.
while the enemy was advancing upon
their flank, steallhiIy "a cat steals
np"n her prey. Nearer and nearer
they come! Great Heavens! will ~.
one tell the 10Th nf their fearful peril I?
Where is the eagle eye which ought to
overlonk the field and send swift footed
courlers to save this ilIustrious band
from destruction? Alas, these is none !!
The heroes of Carnittx are doomed
The mass of rebels, which a rising
ground jnst tn the right of the 10th
has hitherto concealed from view, rnsh
upon the hapless regiment, and from
the distance of hundred yard pour
into it AN annihilating fire, even while
the men are still upon their faces !!
Overwhelmed and c"nfo'inded, they
leap to their feet and vainly endeavor
To change front aud meet The enemy.
II is impossible to do 1t beneath that
murdrrpus fire; and for the first time
in IFS history the 10th regiment turns
It's back npon the enemy. They will
not run; the only walk away, and they
are moved down by scores as they do
I'so.
THE ATTACK ON sHER1DAN's DIVISION.
While the 10th Ohio was being so
terrible cut up, another immense body
of rebels filed off tn the left, disap
prared behind the woods fronting Gen.
Sirridan's division, and soon after
commenced desperate assault upon
our right and right centre. But Mitch
ell 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 hinge vol
canu, belching forth from every quarter
volumes of fire and smoke, and finging
into the midst of the di~mayed and
Struggling traitors, ten thousand pro
jrctilrs, deadly as volley of stones
shot from the crater of Eina. After
vainly endeavoring to storm the hill,
the shattered masses of the enemy
gave way, and were pursued by Gen.
Mitchell beyond Perrysvilie.
just about snnlown last despairing
effort of The baff1ed foe, was made upon,
the right of Roussean's division. Onr
It. A Il.