Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-01-14

lets of the enemy fell amongst them. anC
scores were shot down /; but still the mum
Der constantly increased by reason of tn,
iresh crowds which burst every momen
from the thickets. 1t was with the great
est dlfhculty that some of the regiment
which had been massed together as a sor-
OF torlorn hope, to withstand, and if posi-
Bile drive back the victorious cohorts o
treason, could prevent their ranks from
beng crushed or broken by the mass o
fugitives.
RECEPTIONS OF THE REBBLs-TgRRIBLI
SLAUGHTER.
with cool, calm courage, General Crit
tenden awaited the coming storm and
conspicuous among all the rest, was the
well-built form of the Commanding Gen
eral, countenance unmoved by the tumulI
around him, and his thoughtful and ami
mated features expressing n high and
patriotic hope, which acted like an inspi
ration upon every one that beheld him
As he cast his eye over the grand array
which he had mustered to repel the foe,
he already felt himself master of the sit.
uation.
Sat last the long lines Of the enemy
emerged from the woods, rank behind
rank, and with a demoniac yell, intended
to strike terror into the souls of Yankees
who stood before them, and charged with
fearful energy almost to the very muzzles
of the cannon whose dark mouths yawn.
ed upon them.
"a dazzling sheet of flame burst from
the ranks of the Union forces. An awful
roar shook the earth a crash rent the
atmosphere. The foremost lines of the
rebel host were literally swept from the
field, and seemed to melt away like snow
fakes before a fame; and then both
armies were enveloped in a vast cloud of
smoke which hid everything from the
eye.
"In the still visible ground between
the pike and the railroad, the tumult re-
doubled. Not knowing what would be
the result of the strife which was raging
under the great canopy of smoke that
concealed the combatants, the flight of
those in charge of wagons and ambulan-
ces, became still more rapid and disorder
ed. Thousands of fugitives from the
broken right wing mingled with the
teams and frequently a mass of men,
horses and wagons would be crushed and
ground together. Every conceivable form
of deadly missile whizzed and whirled
and burst amid the crowd, and terror and
dismay ruled uncontrolably. The whole
disordered mass rushed down as fast as
possible toward the river, into which it
plunged, pushing and struggling to the
other side.
THE combat under that great cloud of
smoke was somewhat similar to that in
the woods. No one knows exactly what
occurred. There was a shout, a charge,
a rush of fire, a ~recoil. and then all for a
time disappeared. For ten minutes the
thunder of battle burst forth from the
cloud. When our battalions advanced
they found no rebels between the woods
and turnpike. except the dead, the dy-
ing and the disabled. There were hun
dreds of these. and their blood soaked
and Redeemed tn ground. Since the an
Inhalation of the old Guard" in their
charge at Waterloo, there has probably
not been an instance of so great a slaugh-
ter in so short a time rs during this re-
pulse of the rebel left at Murfreesboro';
and it will hereafter be celebrated in his
tory as much as is the fiery combat which
crushed forever the power and prospects
Of Napoleon"
With equal desperation and reckless
ness the rebels hurled themselves upon
he center and left, but were ~repulsed
With murderous yolleys of artillery and
nusketry. 1t seemed as if there was not
! square yard of the battle field that was
rec from fire. The rattle of musketry
md the roar of artillery was deafening,
till the General rode through it all I'M
Members of his staff were kill
ID, wounded, and endorsed. but he was
Inmoved. Garesche, the chief of staff,
vas galloping by the side of the General,
when a solid shot carried away his head.
blood was scattered upon the staff
Horses. frantic with anguish of wounds,
md wild with the furious tumult, were
bounding in their leashes with desperate
energy, seeking to fly the field. Dozens
IF them were torn to shreds. A single
hell crashed through three noble beasts.
md piled them in dreadful confusion,
lnder a shattered timber. A solid shot
against a gun carriage and glanc-
ID off the head of another horse. One
lost t~wenty-eight horses, another
HOW THE REBELS FOUGHT.
The hostile array on the other side
impaired an awful sublimity to the spec
acle. Great masses of rebel troops
moved steadily over the field, careless of
'ur battery play, which tore open their
and scattered them bleeding upon
he soil. But they marched up through
he destroying storm dauntlessly. Their
arteries wheeled into position splendidly
were worked with telling Effect
hare Uoo nainf harua-ar hauonA |
Thich even their desperadoes could not
e urged Battle ragged two hours with
orrid slaughter, and neither side rece-
ed until nearly FIVE o'clock, when the
exhausted armies suspended ope-
atoms for the night, excepting the play
f a few batteries"
v OF OUR HARGEs
The enemy had compelled us to change
ont completely. General Rosecrans
imself executed it at awful personal
azard. There was not a point in the
cry front of battle which he did not Wis ;
(. Taking advantage of a commanding !
'est on the left of the pike, he posted |
he batteries, and some twenty or thirty
lns opened with prodigious volume.-'
bid shot and shell crashed through the :
opulous forest IN a tumult of destructive .
Try. The cloud of smoke for some min I
les completely e~nveloped the gunners,
obscured them from. view. Now, c
ZEN, we charge. Down through the
lid and across the road, the General in J
Ie lead. Bitterly whistled the Ieaden /
Ill. A soldier falls dead under the very
'ofs of the commanders horse. Ad- $
nee the llne-charge Them" and our U
liant lads, fired with the wild enthusi-
m of the moment, madly push up the Z
II. The forests are splintered with the II
volume of fire. On they 90. Yon
lie of grey and steel, halts, staggers, .
els. There they CO." shouts the gal =
leader. Now drive them home" j.
eat God, what tumult in the brain :
nse reels with the intoxicating frenzy. y
Iere was a line of dead blue-coats |"
Iere the charge was so calamity made o.
{ the corpses of the foe were scattered 2:
through those woods. Beatty's y