Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-05-09

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hands, congratulated him over the victory.
From Gen. MltchsIrs Army--The Battle Al
Bridgeport.
No officer in command during the war has
been more brilliantly successful in his move
ments than General Mitchell. We
hsve before advsrted to bis effect
i've style of fighting and marching, and
to his former achievements he has now add
ed the descent upon the rebels at Bridge.
port, as he briefly reported by telegraph. In
three days his force marched thirty miles,
and built two bridges, dragging with them,
BY hand, two pieces of artillery, With their
caissOns While on the march, they reached
Widow Greek, usually a small stream, but
then three hundred feet in width. General
Mitchell speedily made pontOOn bridge of
cotton bales and planks, over which three
thousand men and the two pieces of artil-
lery crossed. In speaking Of this feat cor
respondent says:
Gen. Mitchell has more energy, more in
genuity, more mechanical genius more re-
sources and g more mobile division than any
General Of his standing in the volunteer ser
vice Of the United States.
The rebel force at Bridgeport was four
regiments of infantry and two of cavalry,
with strongly constructed fort and breast
works. They were there to save the Bridge
port bridge over the Tennessee. General
Mitchell wanted to whip them, and st the
same time prevent them from destroying the
bridge. he pushed along the railroad until
the enemy's pickets B-e driven in He then
made rapid detour of mile of the rail-
road, and came down upon the enemy un-
perceived while they were expecting him by
the railroad. A correspondent of the Gin
cinnsti Commercial thus describes the sur
prise and victory:
Quickly pursuing his way, Gen Mitchell,
after two hours hard work and difficult
marching, came upon the enemy. The road
rose over a slight hill, at the bottom of which
VIC uEu LQEulHu AllC VI DuhhAo1 4l4 MlGA uChA
the top of this we saw them. They had
doubtIeH been in line of battle in their ride
pits, at the time, for their arms we're stacked
near the front of their line of works. But
as the alarm had proven false, they had en-.
gagged at the time in the delightful task Of
disposing Of the evening meal Of hard bread
and coffee. As two pieces of LOOMS battery
came up the hill, they-he ssys-instinotive
ly turned nose on the feasting crowd, and
demanded to be let loose. The whole line
halted as they saw the enemy before them,
and each man drew good breath and shook
him self-a very natural movement, I assure
you. Captain Loomis stepped forward on
the summit of the hill, and within ten or
twenty feet of him were the guards. In an
instant their shot guns were leveled at his
breast, bEt when be drew his revolver the
two rebels fed towards the camp to give the
alarm. But Captain LoOmis had sWitter
messengers than the guards, and the rebels
were apprised of their danger long before
the latter messengers reached them. Simulta-
nous with the cry of alarm uttered by the
guards, the s'bull dogs" spoke, and the can
mister and shell fell in the midst Of them,
scattering death amongst them and creating
a CONSERVATION that was comicsl to behold.
They grabbed their muskets and ran in every
direction, some even coming in the diree-
tion of the line of battle which we had form.
ed.
A few attempted to stand, and did, until
the second round, when away they went
after the main body, which had fed to the
bridge for safety. The order was now Civ
en- and away We went down the hill for q
charge, and with 8 yell I concluded my
self to keep little in the rear, and saw
the grand charge through the fields and
into the very bFesstForks Of the enemy
But the enemy had gone, and had too fine 3
start ever to be caught except by Captain
Loomis, who finding that they had gotten
beyond the range Of canister, tried them
with she'll. This only accelerated their
speed, and they hardly stopped to FIRE the
bridge sfBotuslly. They left the portion
Of the bridge west Of the island untouched
but fred that part beyond. General Mitchell
sent men to the island and saved the most
Of il, Capt. Loomis continued to pour In
his shell, snd the enemy to put in taeir best
Heks. A locomotive and train disappeared
in the distance with q toot, tOot, toOt ex-
cessiVely unpleasant to hear when q man
feels he's too late for the train, snd no
doubt felt so by the rebels, the sggavation
being increased By the knowledge that they
haG done their best running to catch it.
No sooner had the enemy disappeared on
the further shore than Capt Loomis ran his
pieces into the valley, and ACROSS it into the
rebel breastworks. BE placed them in posi-
ton and waited the appearance Of the sd
vance. he had not long to wait. Down the
road at double quick came infantry and cav
alry-the latter in splendid style, and look
ing very imposing. They had heard the
firing, and had come down to engage il It.
But when the men In the intrenchments
opened upon them, they were more astonish-
cd than the reserve had been. An officer or
two ran forward and cried out not to FIRE on
our own men, but they quickly saw their
mistake when Capt. LOomis let them have
another round Of canister, and the infantry
a round of musketry. Away they went,
helter skelter, and our men after them.
The battle had lasted twenty minutes, per-
haps, not more, but the pursuit is not yet
finished. We shall take not less than five
or six hundred prisoners, and their dead and
wounded will amount TO seventy or eighty.
The two pieces Of artillery which they had
are in our possession, and the whole force is
dispersed forever and 8 day. There is large
onantity of stores beYOnd the river in reb-