Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1863-10-01

w OOH, INC ClcHlJ, ulscE tHc jupSc vi au
hour or SO, seemed to concentrate their
main strength upon the centre, now a
gain commanded by Thomas.
During the night our troops had con-
structed along the line barriers of logs
and fence rails, and thus comparatively
sheltered, they kept continuous, muir
dcrous musketry fire upon the enemy.
Our artillery was planted upon higher
ground in the rear, and fired over the
infantry. Destructive as our fire from
small arms and cannon was, it did not
stay the advance Ct the rebels At tire'
they staggered, but only to rally and
push again forward toward our line
With frantic yells, Longstrcet and Hills
corps both came rolling steadily on, in
columns by battallions. Our cent.c,
weakened to the extent Of almost one
third, was not strong enough for success
in this unequal contest. Closer and closer
approached the shouting hostile masses,
ana at last forced Brannans division to
yield its position.
Meantime, as Gen. Reynolds was Sc
vcrely pressed, Gen. Wood was ordered
to march Instantly to the left flank, pass
Brannan, and go to his relief Davis
and Sheridan were to shift over to the
left, and thus close up the line. As the
occasion was urgent, General Wood drew
in his skirmishcrs with considerable
haste, and the rebels, for n second time,
mistaking withdrawal for fight, pres
scd forward like torrent, and poured
muskctry canister and grape into tee
flank Of the division, moving upon a
double quick. The men endeavorcd for
time to keep their files in order, but
as the pitilcss storm of lead and iron con-
tinucd to be hurled against them, the
regiments began to spread out like fan
wider and wider, until finally they ere
torn to flinders. This was especially tho
case with the brigade commanded by
Col. Buell.. Parkers brigade alone pas
sed on to its destination comparatively
intact.
The battle now extended upon its most
critical phase. The breaks temporarily
caused by the shifting of divisions from
one point Of the line to another were so
promptly perceived aud turned to advan-
tage by the enemy that they proved fatal,
and cost the loss Of the day, Davis di-
vision coming up TO take Woods posi-
ton on the extreme left, was taken with
great suddcnncss and fury by the left
faux, and pushed to the right in utt +
disorder. simultaneously the weak rem
nant of Van Clcve's and Palmer's divis-
ions, exposed By the withdrawal of Da-
Wis, were attacked with equal vchcmence
on the right, and forced lack in great
confusion.
1hc rout on the left and right was now
complete, and even the exerIons Of zen.
/ Rosecran9 and Staff, who, with drawn
swords, attempted to restore order, were
Of no avail Streams of dcmoraizcd,
uncomfortable men, fleeing toward the
rear, were all that remained Of a large
portion of the army
After that fatal break our line of bat
tie was not again reformed during the
day. The army, was, in fact, cut in
two, with Davis. Sheridan ard Wilder
thrown off to the right, Crittenden, cx-
ccpt one brigade Of Woods, Icing bro
ken in pieces, aud Thomas with his
indomitablc corps, and Johnson's divs-
ion Of NJ Cooks, remaining alone upon
the left Thom;ss divisions -Nogley's
Brannan's and Bnird's-had been fear
fully shaken and mach scattered by the
fight over the log works, and Reynolds
WIS the on " one that retired in tocrablc
order.
Retreat was now the only resort left.
aud the whole disorganized mass of our
troops fell back over the road to Ross
Vile. Crowds of strag elers, in mob like
disorder, made good speed toward Chat
tanooga, with the exception Of Sheridan
Davis and Wilder who, cut off from the
centre, still struggled as best theJ could.
On the right, the divisions of Baird,
Reynolds, NcgIcy and Brannan, and
Iiarkcrs brigade Of Woods division, a
lcnc retained cohcsivcness, and took
position along the base of Missionary
| Mountains, where the Rossyillc road de-
bouches from them, for another fight
The line was formed so that the left rest
ed upon the Lafayette road, and the
right at the gap represented an arc of
circle, and The southeast hill about the
centre formed key to its position.
The pursuit of the enemy was here
checked. They came repeatedly to the
attack, but were driven back with severe
loss, by the ten thousand men who had
taken strong position, and thus saved
the army.
While the struggle of Saturday en-
dcd in a drawn battle, that of Sunday
resulted in disasterous defeat. The
failure Of the day was partly due to the
greater numerical strength of the enemy
aud partly to the deficient formation Of
our line Of battle.
That Of the second is Justly ascribed to
improper tactics on the battlefield, and
above ali to the absence of comma nd.
The inspiring example set and influence
exercised by the commander-in Chief at
stone river were wanting, he having
been compelled to leave the field and re.
turn to Chattanooga before the action was
over. ..-..r
The early disappearance of two corps
i. Al 1 y