The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-10-02

fought at Stone River, reinforced by two
divisions (Brannan's and Reyholds) of
Thomas cOrns and Starkuoothor,o hr; no do

OF Baird's division. But counterbalancing
these to some extent, Posts brigade of Da-
Wis division, and Wagner's of Woods,
were both absent. We might or might
not also rely for assistance upon Stead
mans division of Gen. Changers corps.
Opposed to these was the old Army of
the Tennessee, which Bragg has so long
commanded; LOngstreet's formidable corps
from Virginia; One-half of Johnston's ar
my from Mississippi; Buckner's division
from East Tennessee; Dabney Maury's
division from Mobile Brig. General Lees
command from Atlanta, and from twelve
to fifteen thousand fresh troops in the SER
vice of the State of Georgia i'm all
amounting to at least seventy-five thou
SAND men. The Union army confronting
them was certainly not more than fifty-fve
thousand strong.
The firing which had begun on our left,
swelled almost Immediately into dread
ful roar, which filled even the souls of the
bravest with awe. Nothing that l have
yet listened to since the breaking out of
the war, exceeded it in continuity and
volume of sound. 1t was not tumult,
which now RACES and now subsidies; but
one which for two long hours rolled in
cessantly all along the lines of Thomas
seemingly devoted corps. So loud was
the crash of musketry, that the repeated
discharges Of cannon, following each other
in quick succession, could with difficulty
be distinguished, and seemed only like
more emphatic passages in the grand dia-
pason of thunderous harmony which burst
from the vast clouds, of smoke and dust
enveloping the contending hosts.
The fight upon the left commenced by a
desperate assault Of the enemy upon Gen.
John Beatty's brigade of Negley's divis-
ion. The brigade, as well as it's famous
leader, stood their ground nobly; but be-
ing somewhat isolated from the remainder
of the line, finally retired. It will be re-
membered that the other brigades of Neg
ley's division were posted much further to
the right. A desire to reunite the two
portions of his command induced Gen.
Rosecrans to send Gen. Wood to take
Gen. Negley's place in line until tie latter
should effect the reunion of his brigades.
Wood proceeded Immediately to execute
the order: filing up the gap as Negley re-
tired. The rebels, understanding this
movement OF Negleys to be a retreat, inn
mediately advanced their skirmishers, not
only here, but all along the left, and the
fighting at once became terrific, as have
described. The rebels, however, soon
ceased to attack Gen. Woods front, and
for q time appeared to devote their entire
attention to Gen. Thomas. | went down
to the extreme left Of Gen. Woods posi-
ton about this time, and, looking thence
into some corn fields, could see the despe-
rate efforts of the enemy to break the
lines OF Brannan and Reynolds. The SOL
diers of these two noble divisions were
lying behind rude breastworks of logs and
rails constructed the night before; their
artillery in the rear fired over their heads
and it really seemed as if that long line
OF detenses was some immense serpent,
instinct with hideous life and breathing
continually from his huge rough sides VOL
umes of smoke and flame.
Again and again the rebel lines, adj
vancing from the cover of the woods into
the open cornfields, charged with impetu-
Gus fury and terrific yells toward the
breastwork OF logs and rails, but each
time the fiery blasts from our batteries
and battalions swept over and around
them, and their ranks were crumbled and
swept away as a bank of loose clay washed
by rushing flood. But as fast as one
line fell off another appeared, rushing
sternly on over the dead and bleeding
bodies Of their fallen comrades. Long
streets corps was seeking to regain it's
lost laurels OF yesterday. D. H. Hill, at
the head of Hardee's old corps, was lead
ing them to the assistance of a division,
and Buckner's troops were throwing their
weight into the scale. Thomas fought
only with his forces of Saturday, weak
ened by Saturdays heavy losses. 1t was
an unequal contest, and a pang of agony
shot through my heart, as | saw our ex-
hausted veterans begin to waver. To wa
yer in the face of the charging, shouting,
laundering host which confronted them,
was to lose all, and the next moment wave
after wave of the rebel sea came surging
down toward the breastworks, dashing
madly against and over the barrier, and
greedily swallowing up it's defenders, with
all their ammunition and materiel. Never
was resistance more stubborn and deter
mined, but never was attack prosecuted
with more devilish pertinacity.
Meantime, as Gen Reynolds was so
sorely pressed, Gen. Wood was ordered to
march instantly by the left flank, pass
Brannan, and go to his relief. Davis and
Sheridan were to shift over to the left,
and thus close up the line. AS the occa-
sion was urgent, Gen. Wood drew in his
skirmishers with considerable haste, and
the rebels, for the second time installing
withdrawal for flight, pressed forward
like torrent and poured into the TANKS
of Gen. Wood storm of musket balls,
canister and grape. Moving upon the
double-quick, our men endeavored for
time to keep their files in order, but, as
that pitiless storm of lead and iron contin-
ued to be hurled against them, the regi-
ments began to spread out like a fan,
wider and wider, until finally they were
torn to flinders. This was especially the
case with the brigade commanded by Col.
Buell.. The undaunted Wood, with Hank
er'S brigade, comparatively intact, passed
on to his destinations.
Here was the great turning point in the
battle. Here, indeed, the battle was lost.
Davis coming up to fill the vacancy oc
casioned by Woods withdrawal, was
caught upon the left flank by the fiery