The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-10-09
TIE BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA.
REBEL ACCOUNTS.
From the Richmond Enquirer, 'ept 2s.

| From the Richmond Enquirer, >ept 2S.
The news from the late ,ictury over Rose
Grams by Gen. Bragg begins t" como i'll
slowly. the Chattanooga Rebel of the
22d says that the battle of Chickamauga
has proven the most extensive and despe-
rate struggle of the western campaign,
and it is not yet over. The fatality among
the field officers is unprecedented. Every
train and almost every dispatch from the
front has brought the announcement of
the fall Of another and still another PROM
inent officer, indicating the desperate ma
ture of the conflict, the splendid and I'M
petuous charges of our own troops, and
the stubborn and desperate resistance of
the foe. Already Major General and
several Brigadier Generals are numbered
among the noble dead OF our side. 1t is
impossible to get any accurate account of
the enemy's losses; but the field was lit
terally strewn with their dead, and doubt
less the mortality among their officers has
been equal if not greater than ours, not
withstanding the enemy have trained
'harpshooters fer the express purpose Of
picking off our commanders.
The latest advices from Chattanooga
state that the enemy occupied the place
in force, and that another fight WIS hour
ly expected. The Federals were certain
ly in possession of the place at one O'Clock
on Wednesday.
Mr. Ru~hton, agent Of the East Tenres-
see and Georgia Railroad, endeavored to
reach Chattanooga with an engine for the
purpose of ascertaining tie condition of
the track Uin Cleveland The report
made of this reconnaissance, at Dalton
Wednesday evening, was, that on reach
ing point within five miles of ChattanOO-
ga they met Pegram's cavalry, about one
o'clock yesterday, who ordered the party
back to Dalton, and informed them that
the Federals were still in the town. Pc
gram lad received orders to fall back to
Chichamauga. When the engine passed
Cleveland, On its return, Birds brigade
of Federal cavalry were reported within
six miles of the town. Our forces station.
ed there, being small in numbers, were
obliged to leave.
1t is evident we must have another strug-
gle before Rosecrans is driven across the
river.
The two hostile forces engaged were
larger in number than any Others that
have heretofore met in the West The
battle was fought in Catoosa county, about
seven or eight miles west of RinggOld, and
between Pea Vine Greek and Chicka-
mauga, opening in series of sharp shir-
mishes Friday evening, and resuming the
following day in continuous and nces-
SAINT battle from O'Clock A. M. briskly all
along our lines until 5 O'Clock P. NJ. Our
right was in the direction of Ringgold,
under Longstreet, Hill in the centre, and
Polk and Buckner on the left.
On Friday, the 18th, at II NJ, the ar
tllery opened on the extreme lett, and
Patton Anderson's division was engaged
with the enemy in series of skirmishes,
under hill On the lett, until evening. The
next day, Saturday, the 18th, the fighting
commenced along the whole line at about
z in the morning, and lasted until far into
the night. 1t was one inces>ani roar of
artillery and rattle OF small arms all day
long-no cessation. At 5 p. NJ. there was
a temporary lull, the firing ceased, and it
was believed the days work was over
without any decisive results to either side,
and a heavy list of casualties on both In
a short time after five Gen. Polk again
ordered an advance to drive the enemy
from strong position he had taken, and
it was in this charge that Preston Smith
was killed. Turner's Battery fought splen-
didly. The artillery fire from that bat
terry is said to have excelled anything of
of the sort ever before witnessed in its
terrible effect upon the enemy. The bat
terry was publicly complimented by Gen
Cheatham. Immediately after the action
the General and his staff rode Up and ex-
pressed the thanks of the whole division
for the valuable services they had rem
dered.
On Sunday the first guns opened at 8
O'Clock in the morning. 1t was intended
to begin the fight at daylight; but, through
some mistake of the courier, the order
was not received that early. The fighting
was not so incessant as on Saturday, but
quite as desperate at times, and the en-
emy was driven from every strong posi-
ton. We have not learned the result of
yesterdays fighting, but we are assured
by friends from the front that everything
is favorable to our arms. The confidence,
and spirit, and enthusiasm of the troops is
unbounded, and every one seems to feel
sure of a victory.
The Atlanta Appeal of the Oath says:
Everything now indicates an early battle
on the Tennessee, and the shock may
take place at any hour. We are confront
ing the enemy two miles from Chattanoo-
ga, tl,is morning, is the worst word from
above; and, as we know our troops are
eagerly painting for another opportunity
to punish their foe, and think our COM
manders appreciate the Importance of no
longer delaying, we look for another bat
tie at once.