The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1862-03-06
FRIDAY NIGHT.

reao W3th tnrlAnuS interest,"
FRIDAY NIGHT.
That night was passed as the preee-
ding ones, without tents, each man en-
dcavoriHg to forget by courting sleep
an his blanket, that he was chilled to
the bone and the cold increasing -
Other things, too, were occurring to
trouble the soldiers rest. In the re-
doubt, only a couple Of hundred yards
distant, were sounds Of an enemy bust
ly nt work, evidently plying at night
his means for attack or escape. A hun.
drcd axes and spades broke the still,
aess, bat no other sound, not even a
murmur, came from beyond the valley.
There was something strange as VIC lay
there, in the souLl of the spades strk-
ing the stony soil. 1t seemed q if an ar
my Of sections were bUsily at work bu.
rying their dead, or a body of miners
Aclviug ia darkness for treasure. Find
ing sleep impossible, two Of us left our
companions in their blankets, oRd
went out from the shed of boughs we
had thrown up. This was on the ex-
treme right wing of the Union army,
where the end of its half circle rested
almost in the town of Dover andclose to
rebel rcdoubt If wishing to escape,
there would be more likely place chan
any other to attempt an exit, enabling
the garrison to retreat up the river
Part of Gen. McClernand's division held
the position, supported by McAllisters,
Taylor's aud SchwartE's batteries, The
ground was covered with snow, aud
while walking up and down to keep
warm, any object moving could be seen
rlaiHly for some distance. OFF, unde
the walls of the redoubt, two or thre c
figures we're visabic, crouching and
gliding along, aHd once, for a moment
dark object, like man, rose upon the
wall. Aleng the Union lines nothing
could be heard, except, occasC nal y, q
sharp crash in the snow as a sentinel
changed his position. At that spot Q
few hours after, was fought one of the
hardest battles Of the war.
THE BATTLE ON SATURDAY.
1t was just four o'clock as the sound.
of rebel industry ceased, and daylight
had hardly dawned when the woods OF
our extreme right were discovered
swarming with the enemy, aad they
hurled themselves desperately upon thu
end Of the Union line. From ever,
bush beyond sped bullets, while two
guns from the redoubt threw grape anC
canister. Col. Oglesby's brigade was
the one attacked, and the nature of the
positioa allowed but a single regimen
In action at time.
Back toward tho redoubt our troop
drove tho enemy, the firing on boil
sides being terrible. Men fell by doz
ems on every side, yet not pause o
falter from the Union troops. Sudden
Iy rein(orcements poured out from tn
r0doubt, aud slowly, every foot disputed
each remnant of the regiments fel
back. Their leaders lay dead or woun d
ed, whole companies seemed annihila
ted, every bnsh by their side blaze
with the FIRE directed at them, but ther
was no cQpfnsion--not a man fed froI
the thinned ranks. They fred thei
last volley; their ammunition was ex
hausted, the foe pTocOiVed il, aud
rebel cavalry leader shouted to his mer
''charge.' 1t was moment Of sus
pense, Reinforcements we're hundred
of yards away; the last bullet had bee
fred, and the cavalry came thunderin
on. Suddenly there was an iastantan
eous fash of steel, and forest of bay
onets rose up. Yhe foo hesitated a
tho sharp points, braced by resolui
hands, barred their wayl faltered a me
ment as il undecided, and waiting fc
wayOring in tho lines Of gleening steo
then retreated,
- The infantry renewed their Gre NOR