Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1862-03-27

the infantry, while the officers were some
times seen defending themselves agains
the advancing bayonet of the common sol
diers.
A superhuman effort on The part of thu
enemy, and third time the Federalist
were surrounded.
Firmer and frmer were the rebels clos
ing round the five or six hundred braves
who were evidently going TO the wall.
The sun of hope seemed sinking, though
that of Nature was shining clear from ou
the quiet sky.
! Sigel saw the smile of Heaven, only, ant
would not despond. His eye flashed, anc
his form expanded, as the shouts of the en-
emy rose above the din of the struggle
| Only one way was left.
"Follow mel" Numbered Seigel, and hi
proud steed trampled an approaching req
ell under his naughty feet.
| A deep, strong, earnest cry from th'
Unionists and they met the foe with tn
rush of determination and the energy o
dispair. f.-.
The Secession line could not endure the
shock. 1t recoiled, was thrown into con
fusion, and retired from position that wa
as immovable as an alpine rock.
And Sigel was victorious, with the sur
still beamiDg clearly out of the quiet sky
The train was saved. The first day wa:
won.
The prestige of success was established
and the future looked blue with hope a:
the violet Of the early year.
THE SECOND DAYS BATTLE.
The enemy during the night and early
in the morning, poured in from the Ben
tonville road, and gathered in heavy force
to our rear, sweeping round to the right
and occupying both sides of the keetsvllle
road, position from which it was aoso-
lutely necessary to dislodge them, or sur
render all hope Of success.
Truly, before the second days engage
ment began, the prospect was very dark.
Defeat seemed to stare us in the face,
and the solo thing possible appeared a
struggle to prevent too disastrous dis
comfit fire.
The way to Missouri was defended by
thirty thousand of tho enemy; and we had
little more than one-third the number to
dispute the perilous passage. On the
south were The Boston Mountains. To the
east or west we could not 60. Were we
not hemmed in by nature and the enemy
Could we longer resist9 Could we say
we were contending only for victory when
the shadows were l=ngthening and deepen
ing in our hearts?
Gen. Cars division was sent by Gen.
Curtis 10 force the enemy from their posi-
tion, and about 10 o'clock in the morning
the battle was renewed with increased ar
dor, and soon the batteries on both sides
were replying to each other with death
dealing voices. The main action in the
morning was to the right Of our encamp
ment, and tor seven hours the field was
holly contested.
Gen. Carr made spirited and heavy
charge upon the enemy under McCuloch
and Price. The musket and liie firing
was very sharp, and every few seconds the
boom of the batteries burst across the coun-
try, and the iron ball swept down the
stream of life, and filled the surging and
noisy waves with spectral corpses.
The rebels reeed as we went against
them, but their column did not break
The charge was repeated. Still the foe
stood firm, opening a gallant fire from two
batteries whose presence had not before
been known. Our troops were thrown in
to confusion, and the three companies of
infantry aud Col. Ellis cavalry were or
dered to silence the destructive guns.
Like Tightening our men leaped forth
prompt 10 the word, and ragged about the
rebel batteries as rayenous wolves around
a sheep-fold.
Everywhere the strife roared; every
where the smoke crept; everywhere the
ground shook.
The sunbeams glanced of from the
swords and bayonets; but they ceased to
shine for many eyes on that blood stained
day.
Carr's column advanced and fell back
and advanced again, and beyond them, up
the hill, the cavalry and infantry were
struggling to capture the delested guns
The regiment which protected the batter
les met them fairly and freely, and, for
half an hour, the two combatants were SO
comminged that they almost failed to rec
ognize one another.
"Our men have the batteries" was an
nounced and the Federals rent the welkiu
with their huzzas. t
Yes, it was so!
Through the blue curling vapors our men
could be seen dragging the guns after
them. Ere they had gone hundred
wards the rebels were behind them strug-
Cling like Hercules for the recovery of their
pieces. -
Blood streamed anew, and shouts, and
groans, and prayers and curses, went up
with the gigantic forms of smoke in the up
per air. @
Appropriate incense to watt the elements
of battle to the skies. @
No noise now. '-a15 zifi 1
All as silent as when men are holding
their breath for deadly purpose. The
suspense is awful. 1t cannot last. i
Do you hear thousand hearts beat a.
cross the plain! Anxiety has made the
roar of battle almost inaudible, SO keenly
is the sense upon the rack o.as
Five thousand throats are roaring with
triumph. cd . a1 aa.a
Brief triumph. The batteries are lost.
Our men have been overpowered by num-
bers. They retire, and blood marks their