Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-09-28

I facing toe sOulOcdet- - utli lcaI tue mhuulc Vi
the curve was the key of the position. and Hark-
er's brigade was appointed to defend the same.
Soon after the bill was occupied, a house upon
its summit was set on fire by the enemy's shells
and continued to burn for q long time with great
fury.
Not long was the new line of battle permitted
to remain idle. Cannon beloved against it.;
missiles Of every kind were hurled into il: shells
burst above it; rife balls went tearing through it:
but still it remained firm.
1t was certain, however, as truth itself. that
unless assistance should reach it from some quar-
ter, and that right speedily. it must at length
succumb.
Suddenly a vast cloud Of dust was seen to rise
above the trees away TO the left, and a few min
utes afterward long lines Of men emerged from
tire woods, crossed the Lafayette road and began
advancing toward us over the fields.
Capt. johnson, of Negley's staff, who. on
being severed from his own division. had imme
diately reported to Gen. Thomas for duty, had
already, at great personal risk, ascertained that
the advancing battalions were infantry, and now
the question arose, was it our own or the enc
my's? Hope ana fear alternately agitated our
bosoms, until at last, looking through our glasses,
we could clearly distinguish the red and blue.
with the white crescent 1t was the battle-lag
of Gen. Granger, and the troops We saw were
two brigades, Mitchell's and Whitaker's, of
Steadman's strong division. These were com
paratively fresh troops.
As soon as Granger had reported to Thomas
he was sent to bring over an ammunition train
from the Rossville road. The train bad fallen
into the hands of the enemy, but the march in
search of it brought Steadman at once into a
contact with the rebels and a desperate conflict
Immediately ensued. 1t was now that the bril-
liant courage of Col. John c.. Mitchell, com
manding one OF Steadman's brigades, became
conspicuous. Now Gen. Whitaker had an op
poriunity of baptizing in glory the star recently
placed upon his shoulder; and now the troops of
the reserve corps, comparatively unused to battle,
had an opportunity of testing their mettle. Molly
did all pass through the ordeal, and although
once thrown into confusion by the concentrated
fire from a score Of rebel regiments and half as
many batteries, they rallied under the fire and
drove the enemy from a hill almost as formidable
as that which formed the KEY of Gen. Thomas
position. The rebels made one desperate en-
deavor to retake this position, but we're bloodily
repulsed, and almost for the first time since
the fight began there was a lull in the fearful
storm.
An hour passed by, then it became evident that
Bragg would not be foiled in his attempt to ami
hilate our gallant army without another effort.
Folks corps, assisted by the Georgia State
troops, by Dabney Maury's division. and by va
rious detached fragments of the rebel army, were
to try their hands upon the heroic band who, as
the forlorn hope OF the Amy. still held the hill
Our feeble ranks were gathered up. The thInned
battalions were brought closer together. The
dozen pieces of artillery we're planted to sweep
all approaches to the hill: and each mau looking
at his neighbOr bowed. some mentally, and others
audibly, to die right there if it were necessary FOR
their country. for freedom and for mankindi
All along the woods skirting the cleared fields
at the southeastern foot of the hill; in the hollows
and ravines to the right. and away to the left,
upon and beyond the Lafayette road. the rebel
legions were seen gathering for the onset.
At last a shell came hustling through the air,
and burst with a loud explosion over the hill.
This was the signal for rebel attack. and at once
the bullets flew thick and fast amongst us.
The fight around the hill now ragged with ter
ror inexperienced before, even upon this terrible
day. Our soldiers were formed in two lines, and
as each marched up to the crest and fred a
deadly vOlley at the advancing foe. it fell back a
little ways, the men lay down upon the ground
to load their guns, and the second llue advanced
to their placed They, too, in their turn retired.
and thus the lines kept marching back and forth,
and delivering their whitening volleys till the
very brain grew dizzy as it watched them. And
all the time not a man wavered. Every motion
was executed with as much precision as though
the troops were on a holiday parade, notwith-
standing the flower of the rebel army were swarm
ing round the foot of the hill. and a score of can
DDu were luuuOcFlDB NOm luTtt clutS upOu u.
Every attempt of the enemy to scale it was re-
pulsed.
But our troops are no longer satisfied with the
defensive. Gen. Turchin, at the head OF his bri
gade, charged into the rebel lines and cut his
way out again. bringing with him three hundred
prisoners. Other portions of this brave band fol
lowed Turchin's example, until the legions Of the
enemy were fairly driven back to the ground
they occupied previous to commencing the last
| 6uhf Thus did fuolvo 0r ST oan thoueand
minated by heroic impulses and inspired by
worthy leaders, save from destruction the Army
of the Cumberland. Let the nation honor them
as they deserve.
At night, Gen. Thomas fell back to Rossville,
four miles from Chattanooga, around and in
which city the army lies to night.
Our losses have been most severe, and can
scarcely fall short of loo killed and 5000
wounded. Col. Barnett tells me that our loss in
artillery will not fall short of fifty pieces. Our
deficiency in transportation and baggage cannot
now be estimated
But the enemy has suffered as severely as we
have in that which be can least afford-human
life and limb. He intended by massing all his
available forces together, TO annhilate the Army
OF the Cumberland. He has failed to do SO, and
although it would be childish TO deny or conceal
our own fearful losses. vet we may console our
selves by the assurance that in his circumstances
his failure tn destroy US, is for us a signal victory
aud for MIN an irreparable defeat. Y. s
INDIANA KILLED.
Col. Crosse. commanding brigade in Palamer's
division.
Eighty seventh Regiment.-Capt. J. NJ. HALL
day. company X: Lieut. s. d Martin. company
n; Lieut.. E NJ Rennett, company E; Lieut.. A.
f. Andrews. company |.
Seventy fourth Regiment-Lieut. X. II. Hall
company 4; Lieutenant Thomas Bodley, com
pany d.
Thirtieth Regiment.-Lieut. j. Eberly. com
panyH.
INDIANA WOUNDED
Eighty second Regiment.-Capt. w. @. Slime
beck, company @, severely.
Eighty seventh Regiment.-Capt. E. Mitchell,
company G.; Lieut.. W. B. Biddle, company /,
slightly; Capt NJ. d. Ellis. company O.; Major
E. P. Hammond; Adjutant F.. Ryland; Captain
Long. company F, wounded and missing; Capt
Hughes. company D.. wounded and missing; Lieut..
Beeber, company T; Lieut.. Brown, company G,
company h; Capt Baker, company B, wounded
and missing; Col. Newell. wounded and missing
Lieut. Northend. company B; Lieut. N. B. eros
by, company f.
Thirty eighth Regiment.-Lieut. r. B. Carr,
company A. slightly; Capt. John Sim, company
1. slightly; Lieut.. w. o. Butler, company d. Sc
verely; Lieut. George Mulligan, company H,
slightly; James Patterson. company II, mortallv
Lieut. Col. o H p. Cary, slightly; Capt. w. F
Lanfers, company H.
Sixth Regiment Lieut.. Col. H. Trip
Eleventh Battery-Lieut. Henry Williams
severely.
Seventy fifth .Regiment.-Lieut. Col. VIM
O'Bryan. Lieut. Chamneth. company g.. slightly