Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-09-30

OF the picture Making that venture, |
saw that morning both ils sides, aud that
portion Of the picture beyond the curtain
where the rebels struggled can never be
Obliterated from my mind, which retains
that magnificent scene in nil its grandeur
aud terrible fascination. AlOuR General
Reynolds lines all remained for the time
quiet, and full view OF the battle on the
left could be distinctly bad. The rebels
had made one charge ere had gained this
position on leaving the one had occupied
Immediately in the rear of the coatending
forces, aud they were just moving up 10 a
second charge when fortunately located
myself where could see alt.
The assSulting force was exceedingly
heavy; but from my position could not
tell the formation OF their line or count the
depths; but it appeared 10 me TO be simply
three parallel lines, accommodating them
selves 10 our own defen nsive line, with few
pieces of artillery plaRted On, ,sminences In
The rear. The lines were not long, but
conveyed rather the idea OF compactness
Gnd depth. They came uptO within rench
OF our mUsketry in most admirable order
but here the whole front line grew appA-
reully nervous, aud rs 1t halted tor a mo-
ment there went thrill along that betray-
ed The nervousness Of there men. The
other lines in rear were adjusted ut proper
distances, aud at given order all advanced.
In moment more, trOm right to left, along
tie entire front of the enemy now visible,
ran sheet Of flame, aud again from the
works OF IhumAS, on Reynolds left, went
back the deafeninG reply OF ihe cAnnon's
roar and the musket's roll. The rebel sec
oud line laid down but the first continued
to advance, loading and firing with great
rapidly, aud pushing rapidly TO the front.
We could see them dropping upon the field
by doIsns-llmping TO the rear by hun
dreds; but still our line continued merci-
lessly TO pour among them the death mis-
siles Of musket aud cannon. The frst line
came TO within perhaps a hundred yards,
and were met with y terrible rAkiug FIRE,
under which, beginning ia the centre, it
began to crumble, waVered and rallied tor
3 moment, and then, in . broken mass, in
an instant, erumbling from stately line OF
soldiers to q shapeless crowd Of terror
stricken wretches, it turned aud tied, aud
disappeared in the woods, aud behind the
second line. which, seemingly unaffected
by this result to the first, rose in perfect
order, and were soon under ere, advancing
slowly and with great gsllantry, and firing
vOlley after voiley upon our works. had
noticed that the extreme right Of the first
rebel line had advanced further aud retired
in much better order than had its centre
aud lefC, and now saw that the rebel
right on the second line extended somewhat
over 6fty yards beyond our left, aud that
really there WAS no force in its immediate
front The rebels were thus really upon
that flank, fact which they Immediately
saw and took Advantage Of, and ere the
had done = rebel bAttsFy had heSn posted
upon OurIsft, and was soon throwing shot
aud sheIl upon US, efecting cross tire that
threatened to be dangerous. But with the
OF the second line, more Sc
verely punished than the first had heen, the
battery also retired aud remained quiet.
The third line of the rebels, rising up
for a moment as a great shield to the brok-
en- aud demoraliEed mass which rushed
over it, did not Immediately advance, but
eouteuted itself with driving back the vic
tors who had inVoluntArily rushed forward
after the retreating columns, and then
again laid down. There were new lines 10
form-defeated and broken columns to re.
adjust In the meantime our artillery con-
tinued without iutermissiOn to she'll the
woods where the rebels were just visible,
and a copious shower Of lead from the long
range mnskets Of our sharpsbooters added
to the difficulty of reforming them.
THOAAb LUQhb MS
Gen. Thomas had noticed that the rebels
had thrown their line to bis left, and saw
With, doubtless. some anxiety, that they
persisted in this movement upon that flank.
To lose control over the road to RossVille
was not only to cut the army of from
proper liue OF retreat, and have it to cross
the mountains by routes imPassa6le tor
artillery, but also to cut it of from the sup
port Of Grauger's reserve corps at Ross
Vile With view tO guard against a
more formidable flank movement, General
Thomas sent word TO BrAnnan to move his
reserve brigade to the left 10 the support OF
NeRIey's brigade, and TO hold 1t in read'-
ness to take up position as "a defensive
crotchet on theleft flank. Brannau prompt
" obeyed, moving into position about the
time the last attack began.
Thomas had not been deceived as TO the
intsn,iou of the rebels TO get upon his leit;
hut he uuderestitnated the importance
which the rebels gave the movement 10
their rlans, and the strength OF the force
which they bad determined to thro" upon
IL, The third aud last assault came, and
the pressure upon the left became very ter:
rible indeed. 10 ten minutes after 1t had
begun, and the engagement had become
general all along Thomas line, TO the lett
~ ReyuoIds, the situation became preca-
p,oas ~ ms and S under heavy cross Ere Of ar.
tillery and mHsketry our men suffered
more iu Ave minutes than they had Prevl'
ously done during the hour aud haIts
coTbat., Soldiers have holy horror OF
sank movements and attacks, and not with
ont good reason. The left wavered con-
sidesably. and there was reason to fear
that the lin. would be doubled up. Cen
stai Thomas sent young Kellogg, his aid
as gallant a man as braved the field that
SsT-to Brannan, still 10 reserve. "Gen'
erSI, ;" be exclaimed, "General Thomas d. 1a.
reefs that you go in Immediately on the
'''ai awi.h my whole division 2" asked Bran.
nan "He certainly does not wish me TO
take away my two brigades from hey-