Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-10-23

The partial success Of the rebels upon this
division, encouraged them 70 recOmmence the
attack upon Rousseau, and now began one of
the bloodiest passages at arms which has oc-
Cured during the war Near the foot of the
slope of hills, the wooded crests of which had
formed their original position, they planted
dozen pieces of artillery, raklng the 81 Ohio
and i2d Indiana, which now advanced TO the
summit of the hill upon which LOOMS and
Smmonson's batteries were posted at the be-
ginning Of the aoton), in order that they
might meet the dense masses of the enemy's
infantry, which were advancing under cover Of
the fire from their artillery As soon as these
two gallant regiments appeared upon the crest
they were saluted with a tempest Of bullets
from the muZzles of at least 1000 muskets, al
the same time that the cannon of the enemy
Numbered upon their front and flank. The Sd
Ohio, Col. John Beatty, sustained the heaviest
fire, and as long as it remained upon the bill
its ranks were continually plowed by the ter
rible discharges from the enemy's artillery
But while II remained there, land it remained
until a third of its number strewed the field, }
it never for an instant ceased to belch forth a
volley of flame into the face Of the foe, nor
could the rebel legons, with all their despera-
ton, summon courage 10 charge it. Every of
icer stood like rock % his post, and the gal
liant Col. Beatty, dlsmounting from his unman-
ageable horse, placed himself coolly and calmly
IN the center OF his regiment, cheered both by
voice and example his dauntless men, and
seemed totally unconscious that death was ev-
erywhere around and about him. At last a
shell from the rebel cannon set fire to pile of
straw, the flame of which instantly communi-
Gated to a large barn upon which the right
wing Of the Sd Ohio rested. In moment the
whole was in blaze; the heat became intense
and unendurable and though some of the he
roes stood uutil their faces were bstered rath-
er than break their ranks, they were compell-
ed at length to retire in confusion upon the cen
ter and left of the regiment, which they also
threw into disorder. Slowly and reluctantly
the officers began to follow their men down the
hill, at the foot of which they Immediately re-
formed the torn and bleeding ranks.
During this time the 18th Kentacky (Col.
Cuwan Pope,) which was in the rear of the Sd
Ohio and under shelter of the hill, became in
tensely anxious to advance, and more than
once sent up to ask the Sd Ohio to retire, and
allow them for a time to face the foe. As soon
as the disaster of the burning barn threw the
Sd into disorder, Col Pope shouted forward"
to his regiment, and with the utmost alacrlty
1T rushed up the eminence. No matter that
muskets, rifles, and cannons hurled Immediately
against it every deadly missels of war no
matter that the roar of musketry and artillery
which greeted its appearance sounded not like
| the continued rattle of 10000 drums Nc
matter that its ranks were decimated ere il
had been there a single minute; it stood like
wall until Lieut.. Col Jouett and Major
| Campbell were both killed, and Col. Pope wa.
wounded and his horse shot from under him
| Then it retired, and rallied at the foot of tn,
| hill. a. 4a
All this time the 10th Ohio were living up
| on their faces to the left of the Sd, near thu
summit of the same hill, and upon the othe
side of lane, as | have before mentioned
And now occurred the most terrible disaster q
the day. The retreat of the Sd Ohio and l5t
Kentucky had left the right wing of the lot
uncovered, and whole brigade of the enemy
forming in mass, advanced toward them owe
ground of such nature that if the 10th di
not receive warning from some source, the reb
ell column would be upon them and annihilat
them before they could rise from their force
and change front. Col. Lytle was expecting III
enemy TO appear in his front, over the crest G
the hill, and had intended to have the gallan
10th charge them with the bayonet. Tn
mass of the rebels, which a rising ground jus
to the right of the 10th has hitherto conceale
from view, rush upon the hel pless regiment
and from the distance of hundred yards pou
Into it an annihilating fire even while the ME
are still upon their faces. Overwhelmed an
COMPOUNDED, they leap to their feet and VAR
" endeayor to change front and meet the ent
my. 1t is impossible to do it beneath thu
whitening, murderous fire and for the frs
time in its history the 10th regiment turns il
back upon the enemy. They will not run
they only walk away, and they are move
down by scores as they do so.
While the 10th Ohio Was being so terribl
cut up, another immense body of rebels file
Otto the left, disappeared behind the wood
fronting Gen. Sheridan's division, and soon aftt
commenced desperate assault upon our RICH
and right centre. But Mitchell and Sheridia
were ready to receive them, and the high hi
to the right of the road, occupied by the latt,
in the morning, instantly became huge vo
cano, belching forth from every quarter vo
umes of fire and smoke, and dinging into Il
midst of the dismayed and staggering traitor
, ten thousand projectiles, deadly as volley
stones shot from the crater of Etna Aft
vainly endeavoring to storm the hill, the sha
tered masses of the enemy gave way, and we
pursued by Gen. Mitchell beyond Perryvill
And now while the 18th brigade was SIT
: struggling gloriously, and even after its frigh
! full losses, was actually holding the rebels
check, the 9th and 2Sth brgadss, both Of whit
, had borne a distinguished part so far, came
4 the rescue. A half dozen regiments rush,
up along the crest of an eminence situated
: the left, and with loud shouts bore down upt
!, the enemy. Around a farmhouse to the Il
! of the 18th brigade, and in wood in front
it the same under cover of which the rebt
had advanced in their assault upon Jackson
7 divisions) the combat ragged with unintermitt
fury for more than half an hour. But VIII
the attack upon our right was repulsed, the e
!, envy retired from his position on the field
!, Just about shutdown last despairing effort
! ! the baffled foe was made upon the right
Rousseau's division. A battery, which | b