Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-10-05
The C~hickamauga Battle.
FULLER PARTIcUfARs.
CAMP NEAR BATTLEFIELD OF

war trail of the enemy, has at last be
GENE, with her sister STAGES, dyed in the
blood of the revolution, while on the
banks of the "River of Death" (Chick.
amauga) lie the bones of the in6del foe,
who have been slaughtered by our braves
by hundreds. Notwithstanding all the
boosted strategy of Rosehcrans, Gen.
Bragg has won over him one of the great
est victories Of the war, and once more
the Confederacy may rejoice over the in
science and presumption Of the abolition
foe. At such a time it is impossible to
give you more than an outline of the bat
tie, which has already been anticipated
by the kilograms | have sent you.
!. The preliminary fight commenced, it
may be said, on Friday, the 18th inst.
at A~lexander's bridge, s miles west Of
Ringgold. Walthall's brigade was prin
cipally engaged, and suffered most, one
regiment losing 70 killed and wounded.
Gen. Bushrod Johnson's brigade moved
up at the time from Ringgold, crossing
the Chickamauga above at Reeds bridge,
the enemy falling back before US, and
marshaling their forces in line of battle.
Their advance on Georgia soil had been
SO successful and easy, that they seemed
surprised at the idea of being checked,
contemplating a triumphant entrance in
to Atlanta. x,
On Saturday the 10Th, the two conten.
ding armies confronted each other in bat.
tie array. Our line extended from Reeds
bridge to Lee and Gordon's Mills, a dis
lance of between seven and ten miles
over a rugged, barren country of hill and
dale. Between s and 9 o'clock a. m, the
battle opened on our right. In the course
of an hour the firing became heavy and
rapid, the batteries of Forests and
Walkers divisions, and the reserve, Capt
Lumsden's battery, in command of Maj.
Palmer, Chief of Artillery, keeping up
a perfect roar of fire, which was fully
returned by the enemy. The lines o.
both armies moved to and fro like the
advancing and receding waves Of the sea
Cheatham's division soon became under
fire, with it's artillery, under com
mand of Major Melanthon Smith. The
fight was kept up with varied success
when the gallant division of Gen. Oie.
burne charged the enemy after dark, BY
moonlight, and drove them two miles
from their first line Of battle, and in from
of -Alexander's bridge. 1t was here thu
brave Gen. Preston Smith fell. Afte1
this victorious and most brilliant achieve
ment, our army rested on their arms du
ring the night. During the fight, Capt
.Carnes' battery was captured, all tn
the horses being killed, and all the ar
t~illerists being either killed or wounded
This hattery WAS afterwards retakell by
Gen. Smith's brigade, and also Ole o.
two other pieces which had been aban
doned, the horses being killed. ITha
day we took the enemy's celebrated
LOOMS battery of six guns, and fou
other pieces and 1900 prisoners.
; That nightthe Yankees were hard a
work digging entertainments, and thre'
up three lines of works towards the Mis-
sionary Ridge.
On Sunday morning, the. Goth, on
TT oops were in fine spirits and eager t
grapple again with the foe. Gen. Poll
: who commanded the right, had a h
days's work before him, but he felt cor
fdent of success. The battle field wa
on an undulating or rolling open wood
SO much so, that artillery had room an
range enough for full play. The attac
was commenced by our forces short
after 9 o'clock, a. m. Our line OF bait
was four miles west of Chickamauga, ar
half a mile east'of the main road leadir
from Lafay cite to Chattanooga. v
pressed the enemy sorely from the star
who, though strongly contesting tt
ground inch by inch, gradually fell BAT
before our braves. Charge after char
was made on the enemy, and one vocife
ating yell prevailed our ranks, we tur
ing their left on their centre, and drivll
back his right at the same time. In t
afternoon the enemy attempted to thro
reinforcsments from the left to the rig
across an open field and the Chattanoo
road. Maj. Williams battery was &C
centrated on this road, and cut off
enemy, the whole forest being complet
" moved down with grape, canist
shrapnel, and shell; it was at this til
we toek several thousand prisoner.
was after dark that Gen. Polk CARR
the line of the enemy's entrenchmen
when a thrilling roar of triumph rang {
on the air, which told of our glorie
victory,
The enemy was completely routed, a
In full retreat. Gen. Breckinridge's
vision, and Gen. Preston's of Buckne
corps, also bore a gallant part in I
charging of the enemy's entrenchmer