Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-12-11
Yours. as a patriot soldier.
BATTLE AT RINooLD, TENNESSEE.

/ The Herald contains the particulars OF Gen
| Hooker's fight at Riuggold, Nov. q:
On Friday morning at $40 Gen. Hooker'i
column moved up the Rossvile Road towart
! Rnggold, and became engaged. AS we press
ed forward with rapdity and obstinacy, Os
terhaus' division being in front, the enem,
slowly fell back through the town Of Ring
| gold, and towards the gap, being closely fol
lowed up.
! Surprising the enemy to be in small force
! Gen. Osterhaus pressed forward in line o
battle, with great gallantry. The enemy OPP
ened scattering musketry FIRE from the toI
! OF the Ridge, and also brought into actor
] four pieces Of artillery that swept the gap anc
| threw their shells into the town and oui
| lines. Notwithstanding this Gen. Osterhaus
men kept on their course at quick step mp
/ to the slope on both sides Of he gbp. They
had almost gained the summit when the enc
my showed his strength by delivering terri.
bic fire from the mountain top, at the same
time succeeding in throwing a brigade each
/ on the night and left Of our lines OR men
stood their ground well, but at last had to
slowly retreat in consequence Of the enemy $
superior strength and position.
The enemy, finding our men falling back,
followed them up with great persstency and
attempted to drive them across the railroad
line by making charge, but did not succeed.
as Gen. Osterhaus' men bravely held their
own and kept their line unbroken. In this
EN- rgency Gen Geary's division Of the 18th
corps was ordered into action. Gen. Geary
at once ordered Col Canby's brigade, COM
n ded at the time Of this engagement by
oil. Creighton. around on our left to advance
up he slope for the purpose Of turning the
enemy's right The Generals orders were
promptly obeyed. The brigade got within
about thiriy-ei Iht yards Of the crest, the 7th
Ohio being in the extreme advance. Their
administers had even got on the crest when
the enemy, by quick movement, massed a
superior force against It and succeeded in de-
livering cross fire, successfully enslading
.heir line.
The enemy's FIRE was so heavy and rapid
that IL was totally impossible for so small
force to withstand it any length Of time with
out being almost totally annihilated. Sui
they stood their ground nobly and firmly,
whom Gen. Geary, seeing it was OF no use for
them to remain any longer under such heavy
fire, they were Withdrawn by his orders.
In this advance the 9TH Ohio lost oil its
officers, the regiment coming out Of action
under command OF lieutenant Col Creigh
ton was killed in leading the advance. Lieut.
Col. Crane was also Killed.
The enemy continuing to press our lines,
two sections OF knapps Pennsylvania battery
were got into position and opened rapid fire
on the right and left OF the rebel line. At
this time the I'd and Sd brigades Of Geaty's
division were ordered up. Our line then be-
came extended in view OF making grand as
sault. The decisive moment came at last
The grand movement was made. Slowly our
toward the gan and nm the mountain slopes
Our artillery Kent M stendy R-e. almost
Immediately silehcing at of the enemy.
Gen Osterhaus' division occupied the centre.
one brigade of Gesry's was on the extreme
right and the other two on the extreme left
After much patient effort we outhanked the
rebels on the right and left and gained the
hills and drove the remaining rebels from the
gap and held the latter position. The rebels
then retreated in the most dlsorderly manner.
They did not all get away as we took some
500 prisoners.
1t also appears that on the 9th, after Gen.