The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1863-10-23
LcoRREsDEsoE OF THE TRBuSE.1
THE CUMBERLAND ARMY.
CHATTANOOGA, TESNEssEE,l

Oct. 9Th, 1863.
| The part which the heroic a9th Ohio
acted in the late battle before Chatta.
nooga, on Chicknmauga River, northern
Georgia, is worthy Of special notice.
/ Atcr a month of fatiguing through
heat and dust, during which we crossed
the Cumberland Mountains, Sand noun.
tain and their intervening vullies and
Lookout Mountain (for some .accounta-
bic reason) three times, we reached Cat
let's valley, late in the night of the nth
OF September. II is needless to say, the
men were very weary, and yet, there was
no complaining.
Directly East Of us and running from
South to North, lay Pigeon Mountain,
along the base of VIII ich menndsrcd quiet
ly amid dense foliage, the Chicamauga
River which eyrnts have since rendered
as classical aad imperishable as that of
Brandywiue or Stone River. Along the
thickly wooded gentle slopes of Pigeon
Mountain, the army of Bragg which we
had 50 often met in battle and always
conquered, and driven before us, was
said to be in force, with large additions
! from the armies of Lee and Johnson. No
doubts were now entertained as to wheth-
er Bragg would fight us. True, he had
given up Eastern Tennessee and fallen
back from Chattanooga, but il was only
that he might draw us into a position,
where with his greatly superior numbers
he might the more easily overwhelm and
destroy, aud thereby MT only regain
Eastern Tennessee and Chattanooga,
the key of the confcderacy, but the whole
Of middle and western Tennessee with
all Of Kcntu by.
At the extreme right OF the line which
we now occupied, some demonstrations
had been made, with view doubtless,
TO direct us from the real point of attack
for to our left in the direction of Chatt1-
nooga. During all the night Of the 18th
troops were being pIshed to the left
At daylight on the morning of the ever
memorable 10th Of September, ard be-
fore w6 had time to take of our "hurd-
tack aud coffee" the oidcr came from
head quarters, TO L" march imme diatcly,
and away we went, quietly but in unusu.
al haste. The faithful company cooks
might be seen bearing away in large coi-
fee boilers, the ready made coffee snatch
cd from blazing camp fires, determined
that their brave companions should have
it the first time the words "hult and rest
should be heard from their commander.
As we advanced the cannonading grew
more rapid aud distinct, giving evidence
that a terrible battle was already in pro.
grcss.
BY l3 NJ. we reached the field of the
contcnding armies, where we were met
by General Thomas, and our Division
which had been detached from McCook's
corps und attached to that of Thomas
was ordered to form line of battle and at
tack. The Division was formed by its
commander General Johnson, by placing
Willick's Brigade on the right and Bald
wins on the left with Dodges in reserve
Willick's Brigade was formed with
the 32d Indiana Volunteers, Lieutenant
Col. Erdelmeycr commanding, and 49ih
Ohio Volunteers, Major Gray command
ing, protected by skirmishes in front; and
the 18th Ohio Volunteers, Lieutenant
Colonel Askew commanding. and s9th
Illinois, Lieutenant Colonel Hall com.
manding, in the second line, with Captain
Goodspecds Battery in the rear of the in
fan,ry. Major Gray 49th Ohio, deployct
companies A. and b. Captains Hartsough
and Mccormack us skirmishes TO cover his
front, and companies +. and c., Lieuten-
ants Woolf and Pool as supports. In
this order the several commands moved
forward Omd the defending roar and ter.
rible crash of musketry and artillery.
/ The skirmishcrs advanced but little
distance when they gcd the enemy
ard the companies in support were
brought up in fine style. The tight al
once became general and ragged with
terrific fury along the whole line. The
enemy, with his superior numbers in
tended by the iicrccncss of the attack To
overwhelm us at once, but the heroes OF
Shiloh aud Stone River understood the il
work, and on they moved without a
waver driving the foe as they had always
done, until they reached a position where
the ground dcccndcd, when the enemy
opened battery upon them directly in
their front and in close range. No soon
er was this condition Of things discovered
by the quick perception Of our skillfu
rcPimental commander, Major Gray
than he ordered his men to lie down
when up came the brave Goodspeed will
n section of his Battery and opened upor
the enemies guns. A brief, but spirited
artillery duel ensucd, when that able nnt
experienced commander, General viii
lick, ordered his whole Brigade to max,
u bayonet charge. Away the heroes
dashed on the double quick, while iheil
triumphant shout was heard far out abov,
the roar of battle. This charge was exc
culed with skill characteristics Of tina
noble Brigade, aud the enemy was driver
; panic stricken for more than mile, an,
five pieces Of artillery captured, two o
which were taken by the 4sth Ohio
This was proud hour to our noble men
There they stood yictors far in advanc,
of tho troone IN their rio,ht x,hieh an