Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1863-12-09


and thousands Of men were marching by
within few PAGES of where il rested.
Cleburne was .intrusted with the COM
mand Of the rear guard to-day, Walkers
division having been relieved. The Fede-
raj pursuing column, numbering, it is esti.
mated, about $1,000 men of all arms, as.
saulted him before he reached Tunnel Hill.
This column consisted of picked troops who
moved rapidly and fought galIantly hut
| Cleburne succeeded in restraining them
whenever he encountered them. But they
were becoming quite troublesome, SO he
ambusoaded them BY. concealing his forces,
including his artillery, until the eIemy got
within a faw PAGES of his guns, when they
poured grape and canister into them with
the most destructive effect. The road was
filed with their dead and wounded. Orr
infantry then sprung forward from their
covert on either side of the road, and lite.
rally moved them down by their we'll d.
rected shot. The enemy fed in confusion,
leaving $50 prisoners and three flags (the
latter taken by the artillerists,) in our hands,
and from 1000 to 1,50O killed and woun.
ded in the road. The Federals kept at q
respectful distance from Pat Cleburne after
that. and were FIVE hours marching one mile
on our track. g. 80,
A prisoner taken near Ringgold reports
that Osterhaus, Of Sherman's corps, is in
command Of the pursuing column. He
says that Osterhaus crossed the Chickamau.
ga on hastily constructed bridge, and that
Grant was building wide, substantial mil.
itary bridge at Red House ford, by which
to cross over his whole army, and that he
intended to make clean sweep of the Con.
fedsrates This last achievement, the bea.
ten hero Of Shiloh will find more difficult
than he imagines. -. -.
But in conclusion The battle Of Mis-.
sionary Ridge was a great misfortune, not
on account of the loss Of men, which was
inconsiderable, nor the loss of territory,
which is far more serious; but chiefly on
account of the loss Of the moral strength
and confidence Of the army and the coun-
try. Let US not, then, add to our calami-
ties by beginning war of abuse and con.
demnation against the Chief Of the beaten
army or the head of the government. Let
us rather strive to reanimate the hopes of
the people and the army, bring forward all
cur strength; and pray that Heaven will
yet give us the final victory.
In few days I shall prepare review Of
the whole campaign in Northern Georgia,
beginning with the evacuation of Chattan-
ooga in September, and closing with the
present retreat; and while I shall not gloss
oVerthe errors of any one I shall be- able to
show that Gen. Bragg has had a most diff.
cult task to perform that he behaved with
unsurpassed, courage on the field, and that
if he has been unfortunate, he has also been
devoted to the cause. P. W. A. :,
A correspondent Of the Atlanta Intel1i.
gencer, writes thus:
Gen. Hardee assumes the temporary COM
mand of the army. It is supposed that
Beauregard or Johnston will be put in com.
mand. lsss&
The late sad reverse of our arms before
Ghattanooga cannot be, attributed to the
fault of Gen. Bragg. Had our troops not
given way and become ,psnic.stricken, it
would have been impossible for the enemy
to have carried Missionary Ridge. Gen.
Bragg acted heroioally in trying to rally
his troops, exposing himself in front of the
enemy's fire, who were not forty yards dis,
tant from him, and he was almost ,surroun-
ded, and came near being taken prisoner,
when he was compelled to retire from the
Ridge.
The defeat of our troops at the battle be-
fore Chattanooga was owing in great mea-
sure to the reorganization of the army which
had been effected but a few days previous.
Brigade commanders we're changed, and
brigades were separated from each other
and placed in other divisions, where all
we're strangers, which produced great dis,
satisfaction and want of confidence.
Grants army, already exhausted, is in.
no condition to. advance, he having fallen
back to Chickamauga, after burning por-
ton of Ringgold and destroying the rail-
road and bridges as he retreated. The
fact that he has sent two divisions across
the Tennessee at Cotton Port and Kingston
to watch Longstreet and prevent his falling
on Grants rear, and also that the enemy's
cavalry are in Cleveland, and was advan.
cling towards Charleston, where heavy firing
was heard q few days ago, would seea to
indicate that Grants operations for the
present will be confined to that, quarter. ,
DALTON, Dec. 2.-The following order
has been issued from headquarters: :.
GENERAL ORDER, No. 2l4.
Upon renewed application to the Presi-
dent his consent has been obtained for the
REIMBURSEMENT of the command of this ar
my. It is accordingly transferred to Lieut..
Gen. Hardee. > s-.-
The announcement Of this separation is
made with unfeigned regret. An associa-
tion of more than two years which bind TO-
gether commander and his trusted troops,
cannot be severed without deep emotion
Fol. common cause, dangers shared on
man, hard fought fields have cemented
bonds which time can never impair. The
circumstances which render this step prop.
er will be appreciated BY every good soldier
and true patriot: The last appeal the Gen.
go, SASss IL q s,,o llo n 3 ort,ou 20 hsoh