The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1863-01-09


nificent tire-directly tremendou:
shou, was raised along the whole
line. The enemy began to fall back
rapidly. The General himself urged
the troops forward. The rebels
thoroughly punished, were driven
back fully a mile. The same splen-
did bravery was displayed in the
renter, and the whole line advanced
Meantime the enemy made formid-
able demonstrations on our left,
While they prepared for another
Onslaught on our right. Meantime
orders had been issued to move our
let upon the enemy. Before they
had time to execute it they burst
upon our center with awful furv.
and it began to break. Rousseau g
divisions were carried into the
breach magniticent.y by their glori-
Gus leader, and tho enemy again re-
tre ated hastily into the deuse cedar
thickets. Again they ess aged our
right, and again we wGrs driven
back. This time tho number Of our
s,ragglers was formidable, aud the
prospect was discoursging, but there
was no panic. The General, conf
dent OF success, continued to visit
every part OF the field, and with the
aidioi Thomas, McCook, Orittenden,
Rousseau, Negley and Wood, the
tide OF battle was again turned.
Early in the day, we were serious.
ly embarrassed by the enterprise OF
rebel cavalry, who made some seri
Gus dashes upon some OF McCook's
ammunition and subsistence trains,
capturing number Of wagons; and
artillery ammunition was alarming
y scarce. At one time it was an
nounced that not single wagon
load of it could be found. Some OF
our batteries were quiet on that &C
count. This misfortune was caused
by the capture of General McOook's
trains.
About two O'Clock the battle had
shifted again from right to left; the
enemy discovering the impossibillty
OF succeeding in their main design,
had suddenly massed his forces on
the left, cross ng the river or moving
under cover OF high bluffs from his
right, and Tor about two hours the
tight ragged with unrenitting iury.-
The advantage WAS with the enemy
for a considerable length OF time,
when they were checked by our
murderous fire of both musketry and
artillery. The scene at this point
was magnificent and terrible. The
VIII jle battle was in full view, the
enemy deploying right and lett,
bringing up their batteries in fine
style, our own vomiting smoke and
iron missiles upon them with awiu'
fury, and our gallant fellows moving
to the front with untlinching cour
age, or lying fat upon their faces to
escape the rebel fire, until the mo-
ment for action.
ThIre was not a place on the
field that did not give men q salts.
factory idea OF ths manner OF hot
fire, solid shot, shell and Mimic balls
which ratified around like hail.
Rosecrans himself w,s necessarily
exposed-it ia wonderful that he es
caped. His chief of staff, Lieuten-
ant Colonel Garesche, had his head
taken of by round shot, and the
blood spattered the Genera! aud
some OF the staff. Lieut.. Lyman
Kirk, just behind him was lifted
clear out OF his lett arm. Three or
derlies aud the gallant Sergeanr
Richmond, OF the 4 h United States
Cavalry, were kIlIel within few
iees OF him, aud five or SIX horses
in the staff and escort were struck.
Betwe.n four and five o'c ock, tha
enemy apparently exhausted by his
rapid incessant assault, took up
po.ition not sssailable without abun-
dant artillery, and the fire on both
sides slackened and finally ceased
at dark, the battle having ragged elev
en- hours. The loss of lite on our
side is considerable. The field is
comparatively limited. The whole
casualty list that day, excluding
captures, did not exceed perhaps one
thousand and five hundred, Of whom
not more than one fourth were kill
ed. This is attributable to the care
taken to mSke our men lie down.
the enemy's loss must have been
more severe; but among our lossas
we mourn such noble souls as Gen.
Sill, Col. Garesche, Col. Minor Nil
ikin, Let Ohio cavalry, Col. Haw
kins, 18th Onio; Col. Mckee, 3rd
Kentucky, Col. German, 18th Ken
lucky, Col. Kell, 81 Ohio; Lieut..
Col. Shepard, 18th Regulars; Mai
Carpenter, 10Th r 'gulsrs; Captain
Edgerson, 1st Ohio battery and his
two Lieutenants, and many more.
No other General hurt Among
our wounded are Gen. Kirk, Gen.
Van Cleve, 80 reported. Ool. Moo
dy, 74th Ohio, who established a
splendid reputation; Col. Cassily
Goth Ohio, Gel. King, Let regiment
Regulars; Majors Foot, Richer,
Slenmers, 1lth regiment; Captains
Bell, Wise, Barry, Mcdonnell, Pow
er and York, and Lieut.. McAllistel
18th Regulars; Maj To snsend, lStt
Regulars; Capt. Lang, 4th Regula
cavalry; Lieuts. Mcclellan, Miller