Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-01-10

be beaten and Overthrown. 1t was not in
consequence of superior physical courage
mat remained there, but of tho mental
imposslbility Of doing otherwise.
Ihe flower Of our troops were ranged in
order here; and had no fears for the re-
suit unless Que of those uuaccountable
panlcs, which sometimes ruin even an ar
my OF veterans, should seize upon our vet
nnbroken battalions. Yet there were men
not liable to pauic-men whose lofty cour-
age and devotion to their country's cause.
OvercNme and extinguished fear. Colonel
Loomis WAS there with his immortal First
Michigan Battery and there was Stokes.
with the guns and equipments furnished by
the chicago RoRrd of Trade and Menden-
ball and Guiuther, with their regular ar
tlllery and the troops led by Gen Wood
comprising some of the finest ia the SER
vice; and the three famous briRades be.
longing to tue old third division, (the 9th.
the 18th, aud the regulars } which the dar-
Ing valOr OF Rousseau, assisted by the nn-
.hinchtng courage Of Col. Scriber, of the
3Sth Indiana. commanding the 9th brigade.
aud by the spleudid abilities of Col. John
Beatty, of the Sd Ohio, commanding tho
l7th, had eItricated from the woods where
they had been sent to check the progress
OF tho enemy, IN n comparatively uubroken
and undemoraiized coalition "a result
which, to one who knows something Of the
nature OF that fearful compst in the woods,
seems little short of miraculous. Other
lIsustrious corps were there also, whose
patriotism and courage should be glad,
even at this early day, to celebrate. If one
individual could have known and observed
them all. Their zeal and 5acrifices will
yet be known and appreciated by grOte-
ful nation.
With cool, calm courage, Gen. Critteu.
den awaited the coming storm; and, con-
sp!cuous among Nll the rest, was the we'll.
built form of the Commanding General, his
couutenauce uumoved by the tumult around
hlm, aud his thoughtful and animated feA-
lures expressing high aud patriotic hone.
which acted like au inspiration upon every
one that beheld him. AS he cast his eve
over the grand array which he had muster
ed to repel the foe, he already felt himself
master OF the situation.
AT last the long lines of the enemy
emerged from the woods, rank behind rank,
and with demoniac yell, intended to strike
terror into tbs souls of the "Yankees" who
stood before them, and charged with fearful
energy almost to the very muzzles of the
them.
a dazzling sheet of fame burst from the
ranks of the UuiOn forces. An awful roar
shook tue eRrth Il crash rent the atmos- I
phSre. The foremost lines of the rebel host
were literally swept from the field, and
seemed to melt away like snow fakes be-
fore flame; aud then both armies were
enVelopel in vast cloud of smoke which
hid everything from the eye.
In the still visible ground between tbs
pike and the railroad, the tumult redoub-
led. Not knowing what. would be the re.
suit of the strife which was raging under
the great canopy of smoke that concealed
the comhatants, the flight of those in |
charge of wagons and ambulauces, BECAME
still more rapid and disordered. Thou |
sands of fugitives from the broken right
wing mingled with the teams; and fire. !
quently q mass of men, horses and wagons
would be crushed aud ground together
Every conceIVahle form Of deadly missile
whizzed aud whirled and burst amid the |
crowd, and terror sud dismay ruled uucou-
trollably. The whole disordered mass
rushed down as fast as possible toward the |
river, into which it plunged, pushing aud
struggling to tue other side.
The combat under that great cloud of
smoke was similar to that ia the woods. |
No one knows exactly what occurred. |
There was shout, charge, a rush OF FIRE, !
a recoil, and then all for time disnp. |
peared. For ten minutes the thunder of |
battle burst forth from the cloud. When
our battalions advanced they found no re-
bels between the woods aud the turnpike,
except the dead, the dying, and the dtsa
bled- There were hundreds of these, and |
their lite-blood soaked and Redeemed the |
ground. Since the annihilation of the
:, Old Guard" in their charge at Waterloo,
there has probably not been an instance Of
so great a slaughter in SO short time as
during this repulse of the rebel left at
Murtreesboro; and it will hereafter be Gel
ebrated in history MS much as is the fiery
combat which crushed forever the power
and prospects Of Napoleon.