The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-10-10
NASHVILLE TFNNFSsFF SATURDAY.. OCTOBER TO- 963

Palmer had, by desperate lighting against
heavy odds, repulsed the enemy from his
front
Meanwhile the attack swept steadily
toward the centre, and was every where
stayed until the opening, which Negley
had left on the right of Brannan, was
reached, and which the troops on the
right, by some unexplained blunder, had
failed to fl.
Into this. vacant space the rebels
pushed their columns, and cut Off the
four divisions Of tue right and gained
the rear of Brsnnan's division. Two Of
the divisions thus cut off broke in con-
fusion the others mAinttined their
organization, though forced to retire
and leave the field thus early in the
daV
The first and second bIigades of Bran
mans division maintained their line
bravely, aud had repulsed the attack in
their front, when the rebels appearing in
their right and rear, threw them into
confusion, and forced General Brannan
10 retire his line to a ridge some FIVE
hundred yards 10 his rear. This ro,i.
tiOu be occupied and held with the first
and second brig ides until Oh. iight closed
at O'Clock, p. NJ aud.unti tue arrival
of Steadman at o'clock, be formed he
right OF the army then remaining in the
field.
Previous to the Withdrawal of the Sd
brigade, Col Vandeveer, commanding,
had been ordered to the left 10 support
Baird, who was then heavily engaged.
The brigade moved rapidly in two lines
deployed; the I'd Maine on the right and
the 97th Indiana on the left of the front
line, the 9th Ohio on the right, and
the 35th Ohio on the left in the second
line.
The brigade had jast gained its posi-
| ton in the rear of Reynolds liue, when,
without q moments warning, it received
a CALLING fire directly in it's flank from
what proved to be the rebel General
| BreckInridge's division, which had passed
entirely around Che lett Ofour arms, and
was advancing at double quick to turn
| Reynolds flank. This movement had
been concealed by a thick growt of
| young pines, and the rebels had reached
q point only hundred yards from our
flank, in good order and VITA compact
lines. The brigade had never fatered
| yet, and it did not waVer now, but under
this fierce fire changed its front, faced
the foe, poured ia a deadly fire from the
front line, which checked the advance I;
and then the rear line, pressing on run
10 the front, starred off on u charge, fol-
lowed by the front line. The OH Ohio
on the right led by Col. Ksmmerlung
and Adiutant Harris the 35th uhio on
the left, led by its commanding officers
all riding fifty yards in front OF their
men, dashed on, the troops in full run.
The rebels fed in wild confusion, fol-
lowed for full third of a mile by the
rush of the famous charge. Across
large cornield into the woods, three
hundred yards beyond, the brigade drove
the scattered rebels, charging up to with
in hundred yards of their battery,
| planted in the middle of the wide open
road, which the 35 covered with it's
left wing, and along which it charged
Here In these woods the rebels were held
at bay by the Sd brigade until it fell
back to allow relief brigade to CONS
to front obliquely to attack the
rebel flank. Slowly that brigade came
back, line rising after line, aud passing
those in rear, and laying down to load
and wait its turn to fire again Thus
under sharp tire the lines withdrew /;
the rebels mistaking the movement for
retreat, followed closely aud poured in &
deadly fire, but the relief brigade having
gained position, attacked, aud the fight
here was over.
On this charge the Sd brigade had
no artillery. Gen. Negley having ordered
1t to follow him when his own division
broke.
This whole move from the movement
of the rebel attack until BceckinrIdge
was routed, was uadeI the sole direction
| of Col. Vandeveer, who with hia staff,
displayed such GOODNESS and courage as
cannot be too highly spoken of, while the
| offic rs and men of every regiment en-
gagged, maintained the reputation they
had won in the battle of tue day before.
The brigade then returned TO the po
sition from which IL began the charge
Here it rested for about an hour, exposed
mean while to a sharp fire of shell and
canister from two batteries, one of which
was overshoOtng another portion Of our
line, and the other one planned on Reyn-
olds' right
From this point the Sd brigade moved
half mile TO the right and repor ed 10
| General Thomas, who still held the posi-
tion General Bowman had occupied
when his line first Withdrew. just At
this juncture Gen Steadman also arrived,
and together these troops moved up TO
the crest of the hill, which the rebels
were attempting 20 cary by assault
With a defiant cheer these newly arrived
troops rushed 70 the cress, and the con-
fllct was renewed with terrible earnest
ness. The whole army, from II adm In
on the right 10 the extreme lett, vas
now engaged, and the roar Of the conflict
was such as never before had resOunded
in the ears Of those who stood along that
line.
And this whole line was held against
tremendous ODDS until night had ended
the fight, aud the rebels had retired
This IS strictly true, aud on its truth we
base our claims 70 success. The Army
of the Cumberland hal fought tue Souta-
ern Oonfedsraoy for Two days, tue sole
object and aim Of the enemy being tC
cut US of from ChattanOOgs, aud theI
over whelm us in tho mountains. A
tue cl jse Of the second day We held tn'
field, aud had open Communication viii
Chattanooga, with our army 30 disposed
as TO secure the road. IL was necessary
to take adyAntAgs Of ths success 10 reach
: the uver, and that nignt tho army with
drew 70 Rossville, and there held tn'
! enemy 81 bay for another day, aud lh'
second night reached Chattanooga II