Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-09-25

Rosecrans rode the whole length Of our line.
Soon after the battle commenced, General
Thomas who held the left called for reinforce
ments. aud about ~ o'clock m, word came
that he had been forced to retire to the second
line. Reinfo. cements we're then sent him,
and McCook's corps, which was on the right
and a reserve in the ceItre wa. sent 10 his
assistance. Gen. Wood and Van Cleve we're
also ordered to the left where the fury of
the cannouading showed that the euemy's
force was massed. Their places were filled
by Davis and Steridon. but hardly had these
divisions taken Their places in the line when
the rebel FIRE. which had slackened, burst
out in immense volleys upon the centre
This lasted about twenty minutes, aud then
Van Cleve's and Thomas right was seen to
give way. but in tolerable order. Soon efter
the lines Of Sheridan aud Davis broke in dis
order THESE two divisions were the only
divisions thrown into mucn disorder. Those
OF Van Cleve aud Negley soon rallied and
held their pace, the first on the left and the
second on the right Of Thomas. Davis and
Sheridan later in the day succeeded in rally
ms 900 Of their forces. and joined Thomas.
Gen. lhOmas, finding himself cot off from the
light, brought his division in position for in
dependent lighting, bis line assuming the
form Of horseshoe. He was soon Iin,
by Granger with brigade Of Gen. McCook :
and Stedmans divisions, and firmly main
tanned the fight tIll after dark
Our troops were as immovable IS the rocks
they stood on. The enemy repeatedly hurl-
ed against them the dense columns which
had routed Davis and Sheridan but we're re-
? pulsed with terrible slaughter. Gen. Thomas
seemed TO have filed every sold er with his
own frmness and Gen. Granger, his hat
torn by bullets, rode like ion wherever the
combat was thickest Parker forming his
men in one line made them lie down until
the enemy was close upon them, when sud-
denly they arose and delivered their fire with
such effect that the assaulting column fell
back in confusion, leaving the ground cover
ed with killed When night came this body
Of heroes stood on the same ground occupied
by them in the morning.
The general summing up is that after two
days Of severe fighting, in which Gen. Rose
Grams with greatly inferior forces, bore the
shock Of lao 600 rebels, comprising the armies
Of Bragg and Johnston, half Of Lees army
and all of Pemberton's scattered troops that
could be gathered together, he deemed it pru-
dent to fail back upon Chattanooga, which he
did in good order.
Gen. Thomas ielegra7hs on Monday fore
noon that the troops are IN high spirits. lie
brought off oh his wounded The number
of prisoners taken by the enemy will hardly
surpass POGO. besides the wounded, Of whom
not more than 100 could have fallen into
their hands OF the rebel prisoners, we have
sent 1900 to Nashville. Most Of our losses
in artillery were occasionpd he the killing of
all the horses. Gen. Thomas retired to Ross
Vile on Sunday night. After the battle Gen
Rosecrans ordered his troops to concentrate
with the forces OF Chattanooga.
The latest information that has reached
Washington is from Chattanooga Monday
evening, and was to The effect that Rosecrans
would concentrate at Chattanooga. General
Thomas had been engaged. There were in
dications that the enemy we're contemplating
a demonstration on another part of our lines
ast evening 1t was questionable whether
Thomas would be able to reach Chattanooga
iaht ntUht