Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1863-01-21

- Il MS war mas not witnessed SC grand
scene as that of Cen RosECRANs turning
the tide of battle on the decisive day at Muir
frccsboro. Early in the morning his right.
under McCook, was surprised, terribly DE
feated, and fleeing in wild disorder The de-
ciSive day seemed lost al the outset, and the
startling news brought RosEcRANs and his
staff TO their saddles. We let a correspon-
dent Of the Tribune tell the story:
Pursuing his swift career toward the right.
and directly behind the line Of battle. while
bullets and artillery charges hurled in the at
mOsphere his eyes gathered the features of
the field rapidly. and his mind directed dis
Fos tions 10 stop the torrent which was well
nigh overwhelming us. Ne complaint s..
capped him. That was no moment for re-
preach. But il was obvious that lie was pro-
Ioundly moved. His eye blazcd with sudden
fire. but his fo-id face had paled AVID lost its
ruddy luster One moments hesitation or va
cil'a'ion noV. ana all were lost. Human
tongue nor pen can describe the yearning
anxiety of those who rode with him in that
-ittA iiii' t>tit'ii VI you tbs W as
firm as iron and fixed as fate. Clearly he
did rot deem the battle lost In the midst Of
that storm OF missiles which were cutting
scores of brave n7cn to the earth. new line of
battle was quickly formed The men were
upon their bellies TO escape the torrent until
their time sllouh come. The Ruling Spirit
Of the battle waited until the moment to
strike. The enemy tipped over the crest of
the last hill in our front. and then dashing his
rowcls into his foaming steed he plunged
down into the woods up TO The lines until his
horse almost trampled upon the men. and with
nervous gesture shouted " Now Let the
Charge them home !" One Of his faithful
soldiers fell with shudder al his feet. They
were falling on the right, in his front. on the
left Of him. Right and left rode his staff
Up and down the gallant lines his sturdy or
derles. hat in hand and shouting cheerily-
Oh. ii was wild. passionate moment A
great shout rolled along the front. The line
rose TO lis knees poured in dreadful volley
reloaded swiftly sprang 10 its feet darted
up the hill knelt again and drove another
Yolley home The savage rebels flushed with
victory. were 10th TO move, but il was not in
human nature to resist that awful storm
They halt. they reel at last they fly with
shattered broken tanks, back into the cedars.
over the hill, and struggle TO escape. Shot
and shell pursue them with hideous shrieks.
crashing through the brittle timber-a des-
troying Nemesis. The glory Of the shout
which went up is a recollection to be treasur-
ed forever. The heart will always throb with
great rapture when memory recalls it, And
such spectacle That gallant leader daunt-
less, and upright in saddle, with countenance
Inspired light of battle in his features
as fairly unmnyed by the death ter
ror around him, pursuing with calrl dctcrmi-
nation the one thought Of success. The ardor
OF the gallant line which so splendidly turned
the sweeping tide of battle the Iurid. mali
cious blaze and furious stream of sparkling
fire viclously emitting from thousands Of trus-
~ mrskets the blue haze of smoke eddying
in eircling currents and spreading an azure
shade among the thick branches of those flu
nereal cedars the fierce rattle of rifle voleys;
the deafning uproar of more than fifty cam
mons working. with awful swiftness. in can
opy of smoke which obscured the batteries
and magnifed the gunners into great shadows
Oh who that was in it can ever forget