The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1863-01-13

vision to be captured by sudden attacl
OF the enemy, which had somewhat de
moralized the troops. This was obvious
The brave General Sill, one Of ou
best officers, was killed Gen. Kirk, Sc
verely wounded, and Gen. Willich killet
or missing, besides other valuable Off
GERS.
Gen. Rosecrans sent word pressing
Nc Cook to hold the front he would hell
him and it would all work right. HI
now galloped to the front of Crittenden'E
left with his staff, to order the line o
battle, when the enemy opened ful
battery and emptIed two saddles Of the
escort.
Van Cleve's division was sent to the
right, Col. Beatty's brigade in 'front.'
The fire continued to approach on the
right with alarming rapidity, extending
to the centre, and it was clear that the
right was doubling upon the left. The
enemy had compelled us TO make com
plete change of front on that wing, and
were pressing the centre. Gen. Rose.
Grams, with splendid daring, dashed into
the furious fire, and sending his staff
along the lines, started Bauy's brigade
Some six batteries opened and sustained
magnificent fire.
Directly treme ndous shout was rails
ed along the whole line. The enemy
began TO fall back rapidly. The Gener-
al himself urged the troops forward. The
rebels, thoroughly punished, were driven
back fully mile, The same splendid
bravery was displayed in the centre, and
the whole line advanced.
Meantime, the enemy made formida-
BILE demonstrations upon our left. while
they prepared for another onslaught on
our right.
Meanwhile orders had been issued to
move our left upon The enemy. Before
they had time to execute them, they
burst upon our centre with awful fury,
and it began TO break. Rousseau's di,
vision was carried into the breach mag
niiticently by their glorious leader, and
the enemy again retreated hastily into
the dense cedar thicket
Again they essayed our right and
again we were driven back. This time
The number of stragglers were formida,
bIe, aud the prospect wes discouraging
bur there was no panic. The General.
confident Of success, continued 10 visit
every point of the field. and, with the
aid of Thomas, McCook, Crittenden,
Rousseau, NegIey and Wood, the tide OF
battle was again turned
Early in The day we were severely EN-
barrassed by the enterprise OF rebel cav
airy, who made some serious dashes up
on some OF McCook's ammunition and
subsistence trains, capturing a number
of wagons and artillery. Ammunition
was alarmingly scarce. AT one time il
was announced that not singh wagon
load Of il could be found. Some of OUT
batteries were quiet on that account
This misfortune was caused by the cap.
ture Of Nc Cooks train.
Ate O'clock the battle had shifted
again from right to left. The enemy
discovering the impossibility of succeed
ing in their main design. had suddenly
massed his forces on the LETT. crossing th,
river, or moving under cover of higl
bluffs from his rght,and for about tw,
hours the fight ragged with unremiltin!
fury, to the advantage of the enemy, 70
a considerable length of time, when the,
were checked by our murderous Ere o
both musketry and artillery. The seen
at this period was magnifcently terrible
The whole battle was in full view th
enemy deploying right and left, bring
ing up their batteries in fine style on
own vomiting smoke and iron missile
upon them with awful fury. and our gal
liant fellows moving to the front with un
flinching courage, or lying fiat upor
their faces TO escape the rebel fire unit
the moment for action. There was no
a place on the field that did not Civ
men satisfactory idea of hot fire
Solid shot, shells and MIME balls rattle,
around like hail. Rosecrans himself wa
necessarily exposed. 1t is wonderful
, that he escaped, HIS chief of staff, tn
noble Lieut.. Col. Garesche, had hs hea
taken off by round shot, and the bloc
spattered the General and some of th
staff. Lieut.. Lyman, just behind hin
was lifted clear out of his saddle by
bullet, which shattered his let arm
Three 0rderles, and gallant Sergear
Richmond, Of the 4th United States ca,
airy, were killed not ten feet from III
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