The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-10-06
THE BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUcA.
Further Particulars Of the Ffght-Scenes on The
Battle Field.

= r1T"er TdTttcHdrs O the Ftght-Scenes on tn
Battle Field
The Atlanta papers contain some additional par
tculars of the battle OF Chckamauga The ac
counts include some meagre description of the
light of Sunday. We give letter from the Intel
igencer =,
The preliminary fight commenced, it may be
said, on Friday, the 18th inst, at Alexander
bridge, eight miles west of Ringgold. Walthall's
brigade was principally engaged aud suffered most
one regiment losing 70 killed and wounded Gen
Bushrod Johnsons brigade moved up at the time
from Ringgold, crossing the Chickamauga above
at Reeds bridge, the enemy falling back before us
ana marshalling their forces in line of battle
Ihelr advance on Georgia soil had been so sue
cessfu and easy that they seemed surprised at the
ldea OF being checked, contemplating n triumph
ant entrance into Atlanta
On Saturday, the 10Th, the two contendine
armies confronted each other in battle array. Our
line extended from Reeds bridge to Lee and
Gordon's mills, distance of between seven and
ten miles, over a rugged, barren country Of hill
and dale. Between 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 bate
res of Forests and Walkers divisions, and the
reserve Capt Lumdens battery, in command of
Major Palmer, Chief of Artillery, keeping up a
perfect roar of fire, which was fully returned by
and fro like the advancing and receding waves of
the sea. Cheatham's division soon became under
ire, with its artillery under command of Major
Melanthon Smith. The fight was kept up with
varied success, when the gallant division of
General Cleburne charged tbe enemy after dark,
by moonlight, and drove them two miles from their
hrst line of battle and in front of Alexanders bridge.
1t was here the brave Gen Preston Smith fell
After this victorious and most brilliant achieve
ment our army rested on their arms for the night
During the fight Capt Carne's battery was cap
tured all the horses being killed, and all the ar
,illerists being either killed or wounded This
battery was afterwards retaken by General Smiths
brigade, and also one or two other places which
had been abandoned, the horses being killed
That day we took the enemy's celebrated Loomis
battery Of six guns, and four other pieces, and
1900 prisoners.
The fight on Saturday commenced on this side
of the Chckamau9a river, extending from the
right of Lee and Gordon's mills to what is known
as the new bridge that stream, distance of
about five miles, with 1anking force we'll out on
either wing In the evening the Yankees re-
treated across that stream, burning the bridge
behind them, the river dividing the two armies
for the night.
That night the Yankees were hard at work
digging entrenchments, and threw up three lines
Of works towards the Missionary Ridge
Sunday morning, the goth, before day, the
banks were dug down on each side of the stream,
just below the point where the bridge had been
burned and our forces forded the stream and drew
up in line of battle about o'clock.
Cen Polk, who commanded the right, had a
hot days work before him, but he Felt confident
of success The battle field was an unduating or
rolling, open wood, much that artillery had
room and range enough for full play. The attack
was commenced by our forces shortly after nine
o'clock A. NJ Our line of battle was four miles
west of Chickamauga, and half mile east of the
main road leading from Lafayette to Chattanooga
We pressed the enemy sorely from the start, who,
though strongly contestng the ground inch by
inch, gradually fell back before our braves
Charge after charge made on the enemy, and
one vocferating yell prevailed our ranks, we turn
ing their left on their centre, and driving back
his right at the same time. In the afternoon the
enemy attempted to throw renforcements from the
left to the right an open field and the Chat
tanooga road. Major Williams battery was con-
centrated on this road and cut off the enemy, the
whole forest being completely moved down with
grape, canister, shrapnel, and SHE'LL it at this
time we took several thousand prisoners. 1t was
after dark that Gen Polk carried the last line of
the enemv's entertainments, when a thrilling yell
of triumph rang out on the air, which told OF ouI
glorious victory.
The enemy was completely routed, and in full
retreat. Gen. Brecknridges division, and Gen.
Preston's of Buckner's corps, also bore most
gallant part in the charging Of the enemy's en-
treHchments, who were driven three miles, back to
Missionary Ridge, and from which the enemy we're
driven to within FIVE miles of Chattanooga Gen.
Bragg was on tile field with the troops, night and
day. aud in riding down the lines in front Of Gen.
Breckinridge's division the night of victory he
was most enthusiastically cteered by Breckinrdge
and his brave Kentucky, Louisiana, Alabama aud
Florida troops.
The battle field extended about ten miles, and
the carnage was the most frightful yet witnessed,
far exceeding Charlottesville, Gettysburg, MUIR
freesboro, or Shiloh. The constant and terrific
roar of artillery never was exceeded The fighting
of our men on Sunday evening in carrying the
enemy's entertainments was magnificent, grand and
terrible They faced the whirlwind of lead and
iron with the steadiness and composure of a sum
msr's rain. Then came charge after CHARGE the
frightfal gaps in our lines being Immediately
closed up, and with the yell of demons our battle
cry arose above the and crash of musketry and
artillery, while the tenorstricken foe fell back
aghast as our braves mounted and carried their
eutrenchmcnts, line after line, over the dead
earcasses Of the Abolition foe, Who fell 10 heaps In
the pits they had but dug for themselves.
The battle field that night by moonlight-the
slittering beams shining on the ghastly faces of
the dead. distorted in expression from the wounds
of their torn aad manglcd bodies, with heaps OF
the wounded and dying, with scattered arms
strewn everywhere, broken artillery carriages and
dood horras and all sfhat unakos nm the