The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1863-10-03

ana w ilder, being thrown oil to the right;
Crittenden, except one brigade of Woods
beng broken in poices, and Thomas,
with his indomlta5le corps, and Johu-
sons division of McCook's, remaining
alone upon The left. Thomas's divisions
Negley's, Brannan's, and Baird, s-had
been fearfully shaken and much scatter
ed by the fight over the log works, and
ReynolIs's was the only one that re-
tired in tolcrable order. Retreat was
now The only resort left, and the whole
dlsorganzed mass of our troops fell
back over the road to Rossvile. Crowds
Of stragglers, i'll mobilize disorder, made
good speed toward Chattanooga, with
the exception of Sheridan, Davis, and
Wilder, who, cut off from the center,
sill struggled as best they could.
On the right the divisions of Bard,
Reynolds, NegIey, and Brannan, and
Harker's brigade of Woods division,
alone retained cohesiveness, and took a
position along the base of Missionary
Mountains, where the Rossville road de.
bouches from them, for another Fl ht.
The line was formed 50 that the left rested
upon the Lafay cite road, and the right
at the gap4represcnted an arc of circle,
and southeast hill about its center
formed the key to the position. Between
, and 3 O'Clock the enemy appeared on
the Lafayette road, and moving by the
left flank, soon formed for another at
tack.
At first they directed heavy fire of
musketry and artillery upon our posi-
ton, as though menacing 10 despirit its
defenders before coming to an assault,
but the 10000 or $4,000 men that con-
from ed them felt that the fate of the ar
my of the Cumberland, and, in a great
measure, that of the Union, depended
upon the repulse Of the enemy, and
when the Rebel lines finally came re-
peatedly to the attack, they advanced
but to recoil wi h severe loss. Our
troops were formed in two lines upon
the crest, and, firing one after the other,
they kept up an unbroken fusilade with
telling effect. The enemy, consis ing of
Folks Corps, were not only repealed,
but thrown into such disorder that Tur.
chln's brigade and other portions of the
line followed, and took several hun
dred prisoners Toward sunset the
enemy were driven back to the posi- ion
they took when filing out of the Lafay-
cite road, and abandoned the contest.
When Thomas's Division were almost
sorely pressed during the afternoon,
and 1T looked at one time as though they
would again have 20 succomb to superior
numbers, they were gladdened and en-
couraged by the adyen, on the right of
MuchclPs and Whitaker's Brigades, of
the reserve corr S, under the command Of
General, Gordon Granger, himself.
" It'll the &C ,ession of strength, our
abii ty to maintain our position was no
longer doubted. Soon at cr Gen. Gran
ger had reported to Gen. Thomas, his
Two brgades were sent out on the road,
under command of Gen. Stcadnian, to
retake an ammunition train that had fallen
INTO the hands of the enemy. They
came upon a large Rebel force, and
at err severe conhic', drove them away.
~ INV otu' L iiOHidS was NAMING HIS
gallant fight, Sheridan and Davis man
aged, after being much eat up, to work
their way to the RsssviIle road with the
remnants of ter divisions, and fall
back in the direction of Chattanooga
At nigh Gen. Thomas fe back to Ross
vile, fonr miles from Chattanooga, after
bringing away all the wounded, trans
portatlon, and other material within
reach.
" lille the struggle of Saturday ended
,, III Il drawn battle, tina of Sunday result
ed III Il disastrous defeat. The failure
of the first day was partly due to The
greater numerical strength OF he enemy,
and partly to the deficient formation Of
our line of battle. That of the second
is justly ascribed to improper tactics on
the battle field, and above all to the alb
scence of command. The inspiring ex-
ample set and influence exercised BY the
Commander-ln- Chef at Stone River
were wanting-he having been compelled
to leave the field and Return to Chat
tanooga befohe the action was over.