Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1863-10-28

and few minutes anerward long lines of
men emerged from the woods, crossed
The Lafayette road and began advancing
toward us over the fields Their discipline
seemed very perfect, aud it was an impo.
sing pageant when as they came on. their
banners tuttered above their heads and
their glitIering arms flashed back the sun
light through the thick clouds of dust.
Capt. Johnson OF Gen. Negley's staff,
who on being severed from his own diris-
on, bad immediately reported 10 Gen.
Thomas for duty, had already, At great
personal risk, ascertaiued that tho advan-
eng battallions We're infantry, and uow
the question arose, wa, IL our own or the
enemy's. Hope and fear alteruate Gig 11i.a.
ted our bosous, untli at last loUhl1g l4ro'
our glasses, we could clearly dstuglsh
the ref and biue with thewhi' G c1-,e-nt
IL was the battle flag of General Granger,
aud the troops we saw were two brIgtles,
Mitcheli's and Whilaker's Of Steadmsn's
strong division. These were comphatige-
" fresh troops True, they had marched
some weary miles over roads ankle deep
with dust. True, they had hurried along
rapidly 10 succoT their comrades and par
licipale in the fight Gu. they bad not
rs yet been engaget inol day and hence
they could indeed u9 considered help 10
the batile-sCarred Veterans who hc.d The
hill.
As soon as General Changer had report
ed TO General Thomas ior duty, he W..
sent by The latter to bring over au tnma.
milton train from the Rcssvlie ROAD. TIE
train had fallen into the hands .9e ere-
my, but the march in search a. il hrouEut
StGadman at once into contact wi.' The
rebels and desperate conflict muaaa.e-
| iy ensued. 1t was now that the Du.nanl
courage Of Col John 6. Mitchell, com
manding one of Gen. Steadman's brigales
became conspicuous. Now General Whit
5 aker had an opportunity of bapising in
= glory The star recently placed upon lis
shoulder and now the troops OF the Re
serve Corps, comparatively unused 10 bat
; tie, had an opportunity OF testing their
metlle. Nobly did all pass through The
ordeal, and although once thrown into
confusion by the concentrated fire from
Il score Of rebel regiments and balt as
many hltteries they ratified under the hrs
, and drove the enemy from u bill almost
G as formidable as that which formed the
o key Of General Thomas position, The
rebels made one desperate endeavor tore
take this position, but were bloodily re-
d pulsed, and almost for the first time since
4 the fight began there was luN IN the
An hour passed 10y, and it became ev.,
3 dent that Bragg would not be to.led in
I his attempt TO annihllate our gallant army
O without another effort. Polk's corps, as
sisted by the Georgia State troops, by
Dabney Maury's division, and 10y various
detached fragments Of the rebel army
i were to try their hands upon the heroic
e band, as the iorlorn hope Of the army still
held the hill. The thinned Eattallions
were brought closer together, The dozen
pieces Of artillery we're planted to sweep
, all approaches to the Hill f; and each man
, looking at his reighbnr vowed, some nom
= tally, and others audiby, TO die right
: there if it were necessary for their country,
= their freedom, and for mankind
All along the woods skirtlng tho
+ cleared fields at tho southeastern foot
= of the hill in the hollows aud ravines
l. to the right and away TO the left,
e upon and beyond the Lafayette road
y the rebel legions were seen gather
= ing for the onset
:. Just before the storm broke, the
4 brave and high-souled Garfield, was
:. perceived making his way to the
> headquarters of Gen. Thomas, he
had come to be present at the l.a.
% contest, and in order TO do 50, h1d
rode all the way from Chattanooga,
n passing through fiery ordeal npol
n the road His horse was shot undcr
=. him, and his orderly was killed by nls
e side, Still he had came througAj uo
If scarce knew how, and here he wa TO
q inspire fresh courage into the hea. Is
,r of the brave soldiers who wero hold.
!, ing the enemy at bay, to bring taon
: words of greeting from Gen h.-o
y Grams. and to inform them that the a..
10 ter was reorganizing the scattering
y troops and as fast as possible, would
70 hurry them forward to their reliof.
r At last shell came hustling
h through the air, and burst with a
&c loud explosion over the hill, This
- was the signal for rebel attack, and
q at once the bullets flew thick and fast
A amongst us. Ny companion, the cor
- respondent of the New York Herald,
- was struck by spent ball and tum-
:, bled from his horse, and although him
i" and / thought the chances were bad
N N against our living to describe the con.
s test, we felt that we could net do
'g aught than watch it to its close.
Just upon the side of the bull to the
r left, and i'll the rear of the still sm0b-
ID ing ruins of the house, was gathered
re a group whose names are destined to
Ie become historical--Thomas, Whita-
Il ker, Granger, Garfield, Steedman,
" Wood. Calmly they whatched the
>, progress of the tempest, speculated
H. upon its duration and strength, and
m devised methods TO break its fury.
II The future annalist will delight to
el dwell upon the characteristics and
C achievments of each member Of this
ir group, and even the historian Of the