The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-10-01

forces II was at this point Of time that
| Mcclellan sent him the order above given.
Burnside obeycd IL most calamity
Getting his troops well in hand, and
sending a portion Of his artillery TO the
/ front, he advanced them with rapidity
and the most determined vigor, straight
/ up the bill in front, on top Of which the
rebels had maintained their most dan
/ gerous battery. The movement was in
/ plain view Of McClellan's position, and
as Franklin, on the other side sent his
batteries into the field about the same
! time, the battle seemed TO open in all
| directions with greater activity than
ever.
The fight in the ravine was in full
| progress, the batteries which Porter sup
1 ported were firing with new vigor,
l franklin was blazing away on the bill
\ top, ridge and woods along the whole
line was Ncated and veilcd with white
clouds of smGke
There are two hills on the left of the
road the farthesi and lowest. The rebels
have batteries on Moth. Burnside is or
dered TO carry the nearest 10 him, which
| is iarthest from the road. His guns open
ed first from this new position in front,
more entirely controlled and silenccd
the enemy's artillery. The infantry
came on at once, moving rapidly and
steadily up long, dark lanes, Snd broad
dark recesscs, being plainly visible with
| out glass as they moved over the green
| hillside.
The next moment the road in which
the rebel battery was planted was can-
opted with clouds Of dust swiftly de-
scending into the vallcry Underneath
was \ tumult of wagons, guns. horses,
and men Lying at speed down the road.
Blue flashes of smoke burst now and then
among them, horse or a man or half
dozen went down, and then the whirl-
wind swept on
The hill was carried, but could il be
held? The rebel columns before seen
moving TO the left, inoreascdj their pace.
The guns, on the hill above, send an an
cry tempest of shell down among Burn
sides guns and men. lie had formed his
columns apparently in the near angles of
two fields bordering on the road-high
ground about them every where except
in rear.
In another moment, n rebel battle line
appears on the brow of the ridge above
them, moves swiftly down in the most
perfect order and though met by inces
SAINT discharges of musketry, of which
we plainly see the flashes, does not fire a
gun. White spaces show where men are
falling, but they close up instantly, and
still the advances. The brigades Of Burn
side are in heavy column; they will not
give way before bayonet charge in line.
The rebels think twice before they dash
into these hostile masses
There is halt, the rebel left gives wav
and scatters over the field, the rest stand
fast and fire. More infantry comes up.
Burnside is Outnumbered fanked, com
PEELED to yield the hill he took so brave
ly. His position is no longer one of al e
tack; he defends himself with unialter
ing trmness, but he sends TO Mcclellan
for help. McClellan's glass for the last
half hour has seldom been turned away
from the left.
He sees clearly enough that Burnside
is prcsscd-nceds no messenger to tell
him that. His face grows darker will
anxious thought Looking down into
the valley where 1900 troops are lying
he turns a half questioning look on Fit
} John Porter, who stands by his side
grayely scanning the field. They arr
, POrtcr's troops below, are fresh and only
impatient to share in this fight. Blu
/ Porter slowly shakes his head and on,
may believe that the same thought il
1 passing through the minds Of both Gen.
? erals, "Thcy are the only heroes Of thr
\ army; they cannot be spared"
3 Mcclellan remounts his horse, and will
Porter and a dozen officers of his staff
rides away to the left in Burnside's di
, rection. Sykes meets them on the roat
d "A good soldier, whose opinion is WORT
q taking. The three Generals talk brienr
c together. Ii is easy TO see that the mo
e ment has come when everything ma,
turn on one order given or withheld
3 when the history of the battle is only {
o. be written in thoughts, and purposes, an
1 words of the General.
k Burnsidc's messenger rode up. III
20 message is, / want troops and guns.
II You do not send them | cannot hold m
70 position for half an hour
d McClellan's only answer for the mo
ment is a glance at the western SIX,
70 Then he turns and speaks very SLOWLY
y ANlA NlfhtlAA bNIUNiht lIlNl lIllS
n the battle of the war. He must hold hi
Is ground till dark at any cost Twill sen
g him Miller's battery / can do nothin
20 more. | have no infantry"
n Then, az the messenger was ridin
% away, he called him back:
IT Tell him IL he cannot hold his gfoun
then the bridge 10 the last man "a
Is ways the bridge Ill the bridge is los
.c all is lostr
n, The sun 10 already down; not half a
h hour of daylight ia left Till Burnside
n message came il had seemed plain
Re every one that the battle could be lin
H ished to-day, None suspected how nea
,r was the peril OF defeat, of sudden altag
70 ON exhausted forces, how vital 10 d
10 safety of the army aud the nation w,
is those Fifteen thousand waiting troops
ye Fiiz-John Porter in the hollow But n
nj Rebels halted instead of pushing O
sn their vindictiye Canuonading died ava
ly "a the light faded, Before il was qui
30 dark the battle was over. Only sol
Ia tary gun0 Bunsidcs numbered again
NJ the enemy, and presently this All
pn ceased and the field was sill
The peril came very near, but it HI
en- passed, and in spite Of thc peril, al d
~, close Of the day was partly q success
re not a victory, but an advantage had be-
HE gained Hooker, Sumner aud Frank
MS held all the ground they had gained. al
1g Burnside sull held the bridge and /
u- position beyond Everything was
ON yorablo for a renewal of the ight i'm /
bel morning II the plau Of the baftla