Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1863-09-28

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lines.
This state of things continued until one
o'clock, when Van Cleve moved from his
place in line, and took position upon
Woods left, while Palmer, marching by
the left flank, came into communication
with Woods right This made an i'm.
mense opening between General Critten-
den's corps and the left wing of General
Thomas, which was eventually filled by
another general shifting from south to
north.
Meantime the sound of a brisk can
nonade in the direction of Ringgold in
dicated either that our mounted troops.
or Gen. Granger S corps, were engaged
with the enemy. From halfpast one to
three, couriers came dashing past, now
from Minty and now from Wilder, bear
ing dispatches to Wood, or Crittenden,
or Rosecrans, the general tenor of which
was that they were fighting the enemy
briskly, and although meeting with some
losses, s,-were firmly holding~their ground
In fact, there were to-day three sepa-
rate affairs, each one of which is of suffi-
cient Importance to engage for a moment
the attention of the historian.
BY marching on the east side of the
Tennessee, from Bridgeport Immediately
to the rear and left of Gen. Crittenden,
Gen. Gordon Granger, with the reserve
corps, had reached a position few miles
south of Chattanooga. On Friday morn
ing he sent Gen. Steadman with two of
his brigades, Col Dan. McCooks and
| CO.! John G. Mitchelrs, to beat up the
| enemys quarters in the vicinity of Reid s
bridge over the Chickamauga, and dis
cover his intentions in that direction.
The movement vas successful. Col. Nc
Cook claims to have first encountered
Longstreet's men; and the fact that he
brought in some twenty-five prisoners
from McNary's brigade of Hoods divi-
sion, is pretty solid evidence that his
claim is well founded Advancing to-
ward Ringgold, the two brigades, after
some skirmishing, were about to engage
a much larger force of rebels when a
peremptory order arrived for them to
fall back Immediately to their old posi-
ton. The whole affair was well man
aged, and reflects credit upon General
Steadman as we ] as the officers and men
is himself an officer of no mean ability,
and may well be proud of such brigade
commanders as Mitchell and McCook. |
have watched the course of the latter
very carefully for the past year, and have
never known aught to fail in his hands.
Of Col Mitchell shall have occasion to
speak hereafter.
On Thursday Mintv and W;Ider ,yo-a
at Reds bridge, but on Friday morning
Wilder moved to Anderson's bridge.
higher up the creek. During the day
the latter closely watched the enemys
movements, and observed a troop of
rebel cavalry come through Napier's gap
in Pigeon Mountain, and move toward
General Woods position at Gordon's
Mill. AT the same time a strong column
come over, directly in front of Wilder,
and apniher -enlnmn haldlv ad dvare;s.r. ~,
Both attacked simultaneously. Wilder
succeeded in repulsing his opponents, but
Minty's flank being turned by the rebels,
he was considerably distressed, until the
more fortunate Wilder sent two regi-
mints and section of artillery to his as
sistance. With the help of these he
maintained his ground; but the same
movement by which the rebels had sue
ceeded in turning Minty' right flank en-
abled them to get upon Wilder left, and
in his rear. Under these disadvantage
Gus circumstances the latter was COM
pelled to renew the fight; but although
} severely pressed, he succeeded in holding
the bridge till near dark. Then fresh
, forces of the enemy coming up, and hi:
own men being entirely exhausted, Viii
: der began to fall back The rebels per
ceiving this, made determined effort tt
: cut him off He slowly retired, resisting
d at every step, until he arrived within !
|, a mile and a half of Gordon Mill, wher
/ the 44th Indiana and 59th Ohio comm
's to his assistance, he was enabled t
t. check the rebels and encamp for tn
a night. During the night his OWE picket
t and those of the enemy actually graspe
y each others guns in the darkness, an
re several times engaged IN fierce struggle
IS for their possession
at Before daylight, Wilder was ordere
W to the Lafayette road and take positit
ne there, which he did, throwing up for h
IN protection breastwork of rails.
Is IS When Friday night came, few expe'
y, ed battle next day; but the movemer
nj of Thomas and McCook toward the lie
Us commenced this time and carried on u
10 der cover of the darkness, indicated
p" the rejecting that the rebel foe was ST
'a menacing our line of communicate
d, az with Chattanooga, and that a final pc
ne ne ton. was about to be taken up for
IL purpose of defending this line and glvl
Assn battle to the enemy if he desired it;
ar it was not our intention to fight If
m could Just as well avoid it. | say
IN with great confidence OF course G
:. Rosecrans has not told me of his deslg
illo neither has any one whom L might
1to 1 slider authorized to speak for him..
MS so great is my reliance upon the wisd
an and generalship of Rosecrans; so m
.seo in our case was to be gained by del
lgn' so evident was it that the enemy
.ne iE massed against US almost half OF his
llIn- tire available force, making him for
ol oln- time too strong for us; so plain wa
zen that behind the Notifications at Cha
aueS nooga was our best position for deten
eIo purposes; so obvious indeed was
ohiy dred reasons why we should just
NY have avoided battle, that L think L
'no no hazard of contradiction from OH
sources when l assert, that if Ger
tnan Roseerans could have honorably
!, ! can poned an engagement with the Ell
n a. he would unquestionably have don
lorin But the enemy had collected what h
lg 70, lieved to be sufficient force to (
'ouiu our gallant army; the necessities
Ah situation would not allow him to
diam he could easily turn our TANKS by II
from e - sr,,or;or numbers. he knew
les of VI aonId not afford under any ci,
d NAG stances to allow him to get betwe
ell OF and Chattanooga; he saw his op
K e4;- sey- nifty, and he determined to seize it
'On 'OnStt ~. All night long on Friday mig
AZ ,hs hut Iut movement of Thomas corps cont
Io ;Io OU' Crittenden's was already in the pt
10 10 NO. it was intended to hold the next d
.ro ,,o spts p that Thomas passed it by and plat
! =, were Vre division upon the left of the line.