The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-10-03

enemy had intended to attack us he would,
following his usual tactics, have fallen
upon us at daybreak.'
Two hours more had gone by, and some
dropping musketry began to be heard along
the various parts OF our line. Finally, at
about 10 O'Clock, there were several fierce
| yolleys, and the loud booming of half a
dozen pieces of artillery announced that
| the enemy had again, as on the day before,
assaulted our left.
And now that the battle has begun, let
us glance one moment at the contendine
forces. on one side is our old army which
fought at Stone river, reinforced bv two di-.
visions (Brannan's and ReynoId:s.1 of
Thomas, corps, and Starkweathers brigade
of Baird's division. But counterbalancing
these to some extent. Posts brigade of Da-
vis.division, and Wagner's of Woods were
both absent. We might or might not also
rely Tor assistance upon Steadmans divis-
ion OF Gen. Granger's corps.
| Opposed to these was the old army of the
Tennessee, which Bragg had so long COM
manded; Longstreets formidable corps
from Virginia; one-halt of Johnston's S army
from Mississippi; Buckner's division from
East Tennessee; Dabney Maurys division
from Mobile; Brigadier General Lees COM
mand from Atlanta, and from twelve to
| fifteen thousand fresh troops in the service
OF the State Of Georgia; in all, amounting
to at least seventy five thousand men. The
Union army confronting them was GER
tainly not more than tifty-five thousand
strong. f.. .
The firing, which had begun on our left,
swelled almost Immediately into dread
ful roar, which filled even the souls of the
bravest with awe. Nothing that I have yet
/ listened to since the breaking out of the
war exceeded it in continuity and volume
| Of sound. 1t was not tumult which now
RACES and now subsidies; but one which,
for two long hours, rolled necessarily ali
along the lines of Thomas seemingly de-
4 voted corps. So loud was the crash of mus
kerry, that the repeated discharges of can
non following each other in quick success
sion could with difficulty be distinguished,
and seemed only like more emphatic pas
sages in the grand diapason Of thunderous
harmony which burst from the vast clouds
of smoke and dust enveloping the contend
ing hosts.
The fight upon the extreme left commen-
ced by desperate assault of the enemy
upon Gen'l John Beatty's brigade of Neg
leys division. The brigade, as well as its
famous leader, stood their ground nobly;
but being somewhat isolated from the re-
lnainder of the line, finally retired. 1t will
be remembered that the other brigades of
Negley's division were posted much further
to the right. A desire to re-unite the two
portions of his command induced General
Rosecrans to send Gen. Wood to take Gen.
Negley's place in line until the latter sho' q
effect the reunion of his brigades. Wood
proceeded Immediately to execute the or
der, filling up the gap as Negley retired.
The rebels understanding this movement
of Negley's to be retreat, Immediately
advanced their skirmishers, not only here,
but all along the left, and the fighting at
once became terrific, as l have described
The rebels, however, soon ceased to attack
Gen. Woods front, and for time appeared
to devote their entire attention to General
Thomas. went down to the extreme left
of Gen. Woods position about this time
and looking thence into some corntields
could see the desperate efforts of the enemy
to break the lines of Brannan and Reynolds
The soldiers Of these two noble divisions
were lying behind rude breastworks of logs
and rails constructed the night before; their
artillery in the rear fired over their heads
and it really seemed as if that long line Of
defenses was one immense serpent, lnstlnc'
with hideous life and breathing continually
from his huge rough sides volumes o.
smoke and flames. Col. Vanderveer, 35tt
Ohio, of Brannan's division, was fighting
here with a brigade second to but few ir
: the service. The Colonel himself, is true
hero and the command and commander
are worthy of each other. Here also was
, the brave and able Turchin with brigade
composed principally Of Ohio troops, who
won for themselves and the State that sen
them forth immortal honor during the con
, flicts of that day.
, Again and again the rebel lines, advanc
. ing from the cover of the woods into thu
: open corn-tields, charged with impetuou!
fury and terrific yells toward the breast
! works of logs and rails, but each time th'
q fiery blasts from our batteries and battal
: ions swept over and around them, ant
q their ranks were crumbled and swept away
as bank Of loose clay washed by rush
ing flood But as fast as one line fell OF
p another appeared, rushing sternly on owe
+ the dead and bleeding bodies of their falle1
comrades. Longstreet's corps was seeking
! to regain its lost laurels of Yesterday. u
! II. Hill at the head Of Hardee's old corps
o was lending them the assistance Of divis
: ion, and Buckner's troops were THROWN.
8 their weight into the scale. Thoma
- fonght only with his forces of Saturday
weakened by Saturdays heavy losses. l
9 was an unequal contest, and pang of ago
+ ny shot through my heart as saw our ex
yer in the face of the charging, shouting
= laundering host which confronted them
: was to lose all, and the next moment wav
after wave of the rebel sea came surgln.
:, down toward the breastworks, dashlnI
! madly against and oper the barrier, an!
= greedily swallowing up it's defenders, Wit
! all their ammunition and material. Neve
n
9 mined, but never was attack prosecute'
= = with more devilish pertinacity.
9 Meantime, as Gen; Reynolds @ was sseaS So sore e
e march instantly by the left flank, pas
2 Brannan, and go to his relief. Davis ant
4 Sheridan were to shift over to the left, ant
: thus close upt the line. AS the occasion wa
1 urgent, Gen. Wood drew in his skirmish
e ers with considerable haste, and the rebels
e for the second time, mistaking withdraw
5 al for fight, pressed forward like tor
e rent and poured into the fianks Of Genera
, Wood storm of musket balls, canister an, nE
: grape. Moving upon the double,aqh1ek; 5eoe ha;
!, files file in order, but as that pitiless storm 0
lead and iron continued ,t to be e lnndet hurlet
ont like a fan, wider and wider, until final
t ly W they n were torn to flinders. This was es
pecialiy the case with the b brigade sns9a com
Z Wood, with Harker's brigade, compare
? tively intact, passed on to his destination
] Here was the great turning point OF tht
l., <ho l,off1 lost