The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-10-01
Special Dispatch to the n. Y. Tribune.
The Battle at Chattanooga.

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had discovered the weak points of our
position, and were massing their forces
IN front of our left centre and left, for
the manifest purpose of crushing those
parts of our lines, or getting between
them and Chattanooga.
On the morning of the 18th a posi-
ton of the expected reinforcements.
consisted of two brigades of the re-
serve corps, respectively commanded
by Col. McCook and Mitchell, made
their appearance near Chattanooga, and
were Immediately ordered to make a
reconnaissance towards Ringgold and
develop the intentions of the enemy
from that quarter. They came upon
the advance of Longstreet's corps,
pushed it back for some distance and
took a numberof prisoners from it, and
fully established, anticipated the con.
centration of the enemy in trout of our
left.
"All day Friday the cavalry cover
ing our front skir,nished with different
brigades of the enemy. Friday night,
the divisions of Braman and Braid, to-
gether with .Johnson's of McCook's
corps, moved from the rear TO the left
of Crittenden's corps. They were in
their new positions at daybreak. The
two other divisions of McCook's corps,
Davis and Sheridan's, We're to move
into the position abandoned by Thomas
corps, but had not time to assume il
fully, before the commencement of the
action. The morning and forenoon
passed away without forewarning of
the approaching conflict, but shortly
before II O'Clock, the storm that hal
been brewing all the morning on the
rebel side, burst forth in the expected
direction.
CAT that time long mass of rebel
infantry was seen advancing upon
sBrannon's division, or the extreme
left. 1t first came upon the second
brigade, Col. Croxton, and soon forced
j. back, despite its determined resis-
lance. The two other brigades of the
division at once came to its assistance,
and succeeded in checking the progress
of the rebels, and driving them back.
but their column being in time strongly
reinforced, they advanced again with
mad yells. So powerful was this as
sault, that they pushed Brannon back
to and beyond his position in the line,
and thus uncovered the left of Baird's
division. Making a prompt use of
their advantage, they changed their
course to the left, and speedily enveloped
Scribner's and Kings Brigades-the
latter regulars. They were almost sur
rounded, but managed to disentangle
themselves after fearful loss. The reb
Ell masses next came upon JohnsOn's
Division, and rolled it upon Reynolds
which also became speedily enveIoped
in the struggle.
"Ihe resistance of these divisions,
and the sweeping fire of some batteries
posted under the personal supervision
of Gen. Rosecrans, arrested at last
their advance. The divisions of Bran
non and Baird having been rallied,
Gen. Thomas ordered a general ad-
vance of the right, and soon the tide
of battle decidedly turned in our favor.
With cheers our line advanced, hating
only at times to sbatter the enemy with
musketry. Several times the latter's
retreating line stopped and vainly tried
to retain their ground. They were
driven from position to position, and
by 4 o'clock all the ground lost was
nearly recovered. Several batteries
belonging to Gems. Baird's and Bran
mons divisions, whose horses had been
killed and pports-swept away, were
retaken and several hundred prisoners
captured.
"The enemy left all their dead and
nearly all their wounded en- the field.
There were at least 500 of the former.
The rebel troops engaging Thomas be-
long to Buckner and Longstreet's COM
mand. At the time the struggle was
turning in our favor on the left, Bragg's
army proper, consisting of the corps
of Polk and Hill and Hardee moved
to most determined attack upon Pal
mer and Van Cleve's divisions in the
centre. The object was TO retrieve the
defeated rebel right. Palmer and Van
Cleve soon found themselves overpow
cred and their divisions breaking
Their complete rout was imminent
when Davis division came to their
support on Van Cleve's right. These
timely reinforcements at first had the
effect of checking the enemy and re.
storing our line, but the rebel attack
was speedily renewed with greater
numbers, and the centre again COM
PEELED to yield. Davis was forced to
right and Van Cleve to lett, and the
enemy advancing through the opening
made in our line, threatening to take
our centre and right by their TANKS,
as they had done our left.
SAT this critical juncture Sheridan s
division appeared, and was at once
thrown upon the enemy. 1t stood its
ground gallantly tor while, but be.
coming soon exposed to a destructive
flank fire, was also compelled tn fall
beck. Fortunately, the divisions oil
Gems. Wood and Negley, that had
been early Withdrawn from Gordon's
Mills, when the rebel attack on the left
threatened to be successful, now came
to the rescue. After a brief contest the
rebels at last found themselves matched
and commenced giving way in thei