The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1863-11-06
CnArrAxooGA. Ten, Oct. sth.

| EpIroN JrFFERsoN1AN The part
which the heroic 10th Ohio acted in
the late battle before Chattanooga, on
lChickamauga River, Northern Gcor-
gia, is worthy Of special notice.
After month Of latigueing march.
es through heat anil dust, during
which we crossed the Cumberland
Mountains, Sand Mountain and their
intervening valleys, and Lookout
Mountain three times. we reached
Catlett's Valley late in the night Of
the 18th OF September. tits needless
to say that the men were very weary,
and vet there was no complaining.
Directly East of us, running from
South to North lay Pigeon Mountain,
along the base of which meandered
quietly, amid dense foliage, thc
Chicllamauga River, which events
have since rendered as classical and
impcrsbablc rs that of Brandywinc
or Stone River, Along the thicily
wooded gentle slopes Of Pigeon
Mountain, the army of Bragg, which
I'VE had so often met in battle and al
wsys conquered mrd driven before us,
was said to be in force, with large adj
ditions from the armies Of Lee and
Johnston. No doubts were now en-
tertained ms to whether Bragg would
fight us: tue he had fallen back from
Chattanooga, but it was only that he
might draw us into position where,
with his greatly superior numbers he
might the more easily destroy us,
and thereby not only regain Eastern
Tennessee with Chattanooga, the key
of the Confedcracy, but all Central
and Eastern Tennessee with The whole
of Kentucky.
At the extreme right, which We
occupied, some demonstrations have
been made. with view, IA our Cen
eral believed. 10 divert us from the
real point Of attack far to thc left and
! in the direction Of Chattanooga. Du-
ring all the night Of the 18th troops
were pushed to the left. At daylight
on the ever memorable morning OF
the 18th Of September, and before We
, had time to take our "hard tack an.l
. coffee" the order crme to "march i'm
: mediately," and away we went quietly
. but in unusual haste. The faithful
company COOKS might be seen bearing
! away in large coffee boilers the coffee
, snatchcd from blazing camp fires, de
= tcrinincd that their bvooo eornponiana
t should have it, the first time the
a words "halt and rest was heard from
, their commander.
J As we advanced the cannonading
l grew more rapid and distinct, giving
- evidence that terrible battle was in
$ progress. By IL o'clock we reached
| the battle field. where we were met by
t General Thomas and our division
/ which had been separated from tn,
balance Of McCook's corps, and wa,
= ordered to form line OF battle and
4 move forward and attack, The III
= vision was formed by its commanding
t General Johnson, 10y placing vii
{ Itch brigade Oh the right and Bald
{ wins on the left, with Dodge's IN re.
- serve. Which . brigade was t0rmc,
. with the 32nd Indiana and 10th Ohio
# protected by skirmishcrs in trout, al,
: the 18th Ohio and the S0th Illinois il
q the second line, with Capt. Good
" speeds battery in the rear Of the in
: fantry Major Gray, Of the 10Th, de
- ploycd Companies 4 and B as shir
l. mishers to cover his front, and Com
Il panics f and G rs supports. In thi
IL order the several commands move,
k forward amid the deafening roar an
:, terrible crash OF musketry and artil
q lery. The skirmishers moved but
q little distance when they engaged til
II enemy, and the companies in supper
l. were moved up in fine style. Til
,f fight ut once became general an
if ragged with terrific fury along til
?. whole line. The enemy, by the fierce
If ness OF the attack and superior mum
p bers, intended to oyerwhelm ns, bu
,, the heroes of Shiloh and Stone Rive
l. understood their work, and believe,
T.; in the justice Of their cause, and .
ls they moved. and on, and on, drivin
n them as they had always done, unit
+. they reached point where the groun
N descended, when the enemy opened
ID battery upon them directly in thci
lie front and in close range. No soone
'e was this condition OF things discover
ID ed by the quick perception Of on
lie commander than he ordered his me
II, to lie down, when up came the BRAY
I'd Goodspeed with section OF hia ba
'e terry and opened npon the enemy
he guns. a brief but spirited artillcr
le duel ensucd when Gen. Willch OF
n dered his whole brigade to make
- bayonet charge. Away the heroc
lie dashed on the double quick Will
4 their triumphal shout is heard far OF
IN above the roar of battle. This chare
n, was executed with q skill characte
n, istic OF that noble brigade, and tl
ls onemy was driven panic-stricken tl
e, ristMhce of one mile and FIVE pieces
k artillery captured. Two Of the
If. were taken by the 10th Ohio. Hel
Il. they stood victors, far in advance
lg the troops on their right, which, II,
a fortunately, did not move up. tt
ed result was that after holding the
ay position until near dark they we
&c. sorcly pressed upon both flanks an
ey center and compelled to relinquish
lat part of the ground gained during Il
to afternoon. 1t was now dark and Il
all regiment, being relieved, bivouackt