Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-10-02
III. Rntles of Chatanoogn.

Tn Blttles of Chattanooga.
The following additional details Of the
battles have been received
I.arrears that two brigsies Of the reserve
corps arrived On Friday the sth, and were or
derel 20 make reconnaissance toward BinEolI.
They came upon the advance Of Longstrett's
corrs. pushed il back for some distance. took a
number at prisoners from il and fully proved
the uuticip ipIted concentration u the enemy in
front ofour len All day Friday the cavalry
covering Cur front, skirmished with different
bodies Of the enemy issuing from the various
gaps o. the Pigeon mountains AMI advancing
upon aud again retiring from cur line. NJ SEE
ri0us collision. however, occurred Our line
was shifted towards Chattanooga, and ou SltIr-
day morning appeared as follows
On the extreme lcN Gen. Brauuau. acxt
Baird and Reynolds with johnson in reserve
iu The centre Palmer on the right Of Reynolds.
aui Van Dleye on his left.
About 70 O'Clock saturday forenoon a long
mas. of rebel infantry was seen advancing upon
Banuau's division on the extreme left II first
the "a brigade, Col CaJtou cong, came upon
soon forced it back despite its determined rc-.s-
taucc The two other hri-aies # the division
40 once came 90 IL, assistance, and succeeded iu
checking the progress Of the rebels and 10 driving
them back but their column being IN turn
strongly reinforced they advanced again with
wild veil. - powerful was this assault that
they pushed Brlnuau back 20 and beyond his
position IN the line. and thus uncovered the left
of Bairl's division Making prompt use of
their advantage they changed their course 90
the len. and speedily euyelopel Scribner'- and
Kings hriEldes. the latter Of regular
ia D
10 ii-euuu-lc themselves after fearful loss.
Tie crushin. rebel masses next came upon
Johnsou's division and rolled il upon Gen. Rey-
uolIs. which also became speedily involved in
the desperate stgu --le. The stubborn resistance
of these divisions however. AMI the sweeping
FIRE OF some batteries, posted under the personal
.urtryi-ou of Gen. Eosccrlus. ARRESTED 40 last
their sweeping advance The divisions Of Bran
an AMI Baird having been rallied Gen. Thomas
orlered a general advance Of the right and soon
the tilc ~ battle was decidedly turned In our
favor With cheers our line advanced. haltng
only at times 20 shatter the enemy with mus
kerry Several times the latter's retreating line
stopped ami vaiuly tried 10 retain their ground,
bur steadily they were driven from position 10
position and by o'clock nearly all the ground
Lost was recovered
The rebel troops engaging Gen. Thomas be-
4UfI-INA 10 flNheI anu l4NA-lAEtA- NNluAltAAA-
Several batteries belonging to Gems Baird
aul Branuan's division, whose horses had been
killed and supports swept away, were re-taken
and several hundred prisoners were captured.
The enemy left all their dead and nearly all their
wounded on the feli-at least 900 Of the for
mT.
At the time the struggle was turning IN our
f,,or on the left, Bragg army proper, consist
iu- OF the corps Of Polk and Hill, formerly Har-
dec. novel % a well executed attack upon Pal
l1er's and Van Cleve's divisions IN the centre.
lts object was 70 relieve the endangered rebel
right Timely reiuiorcements at first had the
effect Of checking the enemy and restoring our
line, but the rebel attack was speedily renewed
with greater numbers, AMI the centre was COM
PEELED to yield.
Davis was forced TO the right and Van Cleve
TO the left, and the enemy advanced through the
opening made in our line, threatening to make the
centre and right by their fanks as they had done
on the lef.
At this critical juncture, Sheridan's division
appeared and was at once thrown upon the en-
envy II stood its ground calamity for while,
but becoming soon exposed 10 a destructive flank
fire. was also compelled to fall back
Fortunately the divisions Of Generals Wool and
Nerley that hal been early withdrawn from
Gordon Mills when the rebel attack on the left
threatened to be successful, now came to the
r, sue
Alter brief contest the rebels found them
selves at last matched, and commenced giving
away in their turn. Gen. Reynolds having also
been sent 10 the assistance OF the centre, after
the repulse Of the rebel right, an advance was
ordered, and the original position regained about
sunset.
About dark the enemy made another demon
s,ration with a heavy artillery and musketry
fire upon the centre, but elieiting a lively res
pouse, they soon abandoned this last effort Of the
dav. This ended the battle Of the 18th II had
been defensive one on our part, and although
We LOST no ground, and probably less men and
material than the enemy, its results could Ihard-
" be claimed as triumph of Union arms No
substantial advantage had been won, and a
large portion Of our army was badly shattered.
During the night the disposition Of our forces
was changed The line was made to rest along
a cross road running northeast and southwest
and connecting the Rossville and Lafayette roads
By this disposition our extreme right was made
To rest on Missionary Ridge. The line was a
mile shorter than that Of the day before. The
different divisions were disposed in this order
from right to left One brigade Of Negley's,
Johnson's brigade, Palmer's, Reynolds, two
brgades Of Negleys, Woods, Sheridan's, Davis,
Bannan's and Van Cleyes formed the reserve
The mounted brigades of Wilder and Minty COW
cred the right flank.
Sunday morning, about Q O'Clock, few shots
were heard at the various points Of our front,
but it was only little before 10 that the report
Of whole vollies announced the resumption Of the
fight II good earnest The firing at once assum-
ed the hercest character. Desiring to unite the
two portions Of Negley's command, Gen. Rose
Grams ordered Gen. Woods division to take the
position of the two brigsdes stationed further to
the right The rebels perceiving the withdraw
al Of Negley, and believing it to be a retreat in
good earnest, quickly also moved upon the cen
tire and the action speedily became general.
Finding themselves unable to make any impress
ion upon Wood, the enemy, after the lapse Of an