Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-10-08

sreedilT swallowing up It's defenders, with all
thsiT ammunition and MATERIAL Never was
resistance more stubborn and determined,
but never was attack prosecuted With mora
ds7iliah pertinacity.
Meantime, as Gen. Reynolds was 50 soraly
pressed, Gen. Wood was ordered to march
| instantly BY the left flank, pass BTannan, and
go to his relief Davis and Sheridan were 10
shift over to the left and thus close up the
line. As the occasion was urgent, Gen.
Wood drew in his skirmishers with consider
able haste, and the rebels, for the second
time, mistaking withdrawal for fight,
pressed forward like torrent and poured
into the TANKS Of Gen. Wood a storm of mus
ket balls, canister and grape. Moving upon
the dOuble-quick, the men endeavored for a
time to keep their files in order, but as that
pitiless storm of lead and iron continued to
be hurled against them, the regiments began
spread out like a fan, wider and wider, until
finally they were torn TO flinders. This was
especially the case with the brigade com
manded by Colonel Buell.. The undaunted
Wood, with Harkers brigade, comparatively
intact, passed on to his destination.
Here was the great turning point III the
battle Here, indeed, the battle was lost
Davis coming up to fill the vacancy occa-
stoned by Woods withdrawal, was caught
upon the left flank by the fiery rebel torrent
now pouring through the opening, and pushed
off toward the right in utter diSorde r, like
door which is swung back upon its hinges. and
shattered by the same blow Van Cleve and
what remained of Palmer, were struck upon
the other side, and shiyered as sapling bv
thunderbolt. Even the personal exertions of
Rosecrans himself, who, with drawn sword,
at 20 Of
Ored to check the rout, were Intellectual
After that fatal break our line of battle
was not again reformed during the dav. The
army was in fact cut in two; McCook, with
Davis, Sheridan and Wilder, being thrown off
to the right, Crittenden Except one brigade
OF Wood's) being broken in pieccsl and
Thomas, with his indomitable corps, and
Johnson's division of McCooks, remaining
alone upon the left In the fierce tornado
which had swept over his log breastwork,
Thomas had been much shaken all his divis-
ions fighting desperately, all rallying at the
earliest practical moment, but only Gen. Reyn-
olds' retiring from the works toward the hills
in anything like tolerable order
As soon, however, as the corps had reached
the foot of Mission Ridge, it formed anew its
broken ranks with an alacrity and rapidity
only less remarkable than the obstinacY with
which it SO long endured the assaults of the
enemy upon the level ground below. The
great leader himself, Gen. Thomas, assisted
by Baird, Reynolds, Brannan, Scribner, Har-
ker, Negley, John Beatty, Wood and Turchin,
reorganized the brigades with wonderful ce-
lerity and Immediately began making head
against the enemy.
From this time McCook disappeared from
the general history of the battle; as, indeed.
extrcating himself from his demoralized and
routed corps, he headed toward Chattanoo-
ga, and, at about one o'clock, disappeared
entirely from the field. His two divisions,
Davis and Sheridan's forced off toward the
right, far behind their original position, were
assalled by Immense squadrOns Of the enemy,
and fearfully battered. Each had but nand
full left as it retired, toward nightfall, upon
the Rossville road, but the men must have
done gallant fighting, or they would not have
come off as well as they did. In fact, where
ever Sheridan is, whether isolated or in COM
pany, and whether the odds against him be
one or many there is certain to be fight.
1t was about half past twelve, when, hear
ing heavy cannonade upon upon the right,
| galloped over in that direction to see what
it might mean. A longitudinal gap in Mis-
sion Ridge admits the Ro5sville road into
Chattanooga valley, and skirts along a large
cornfeld at the mouth of the gap. Looking
across the corntcld from the gap, YOU see
lick woods upon the other side. The corn
field itself is a sort of % cove" in the ridge
and here were numbers of all sorts of army
vehicles mingled with The debris of disman
tied and discounted batteries. Fragments of
Davis flying squadrons had also lodged in
this field.
While stood gazing upon this scene from
the summit of the ridge, some rebel Skin
mishers appeared in the skirts of the woods
opposite the gap have mentioned, and flung
perhaps dozen musket balls into the field.
Instantly, men, animals cehjclcS became mass
Of struggling, cursing, shouting, frightened
life. Everything and everybody appeared to
dash headlOng for the narrow gap, and men,
horses, mules, ambulances, baggage wagons,
ammunition wagons, artillery carriages and
caissons were rolled and tumbled together in
a confused, inextricable, and finally motion
less mass, completely blocking up the mouth
of the gaps. Nearly all this booty subse-
quently fell into the hands of the enemy.
Sickened and disguised by the spectacle, [
turned away to watch the operations of Gen
Thomas corps, upon which alone depended
the safety Of the army.
Gen. Thomas had Withdrawn his men al
most entirely from the Valley, and taken I'D
position on the side of Mission Ridge. His
left still rested upon the Lafayette road, and
his right upon the ridge near the gap | have
already spoken of Here were collected the
scattered remains Of the powerful corps which
had so long breasted the fierce assaults of the
enemy in the forenoon. Here was johnson,
who seems to have done better work to-day
and yesterday than ever before Here was
the uncOnquerable Wood, with Harker's
brigade, and here were also such fragments
OF Crttenden's corps as could be induced to
venture upon another stand. The whole
were drawn up in line forming d circular
curve, facing the southeast A hill near the
middle of the curve was the kew to the posi-
ton, and Harker's brigade was appointed to
defend the same. Soon after the hill was oc-
cupied, house upon its summit was set on
fire by the enemy's shells, and continued to
burn for long time with great fury.
Not long was the new line of battle per-
mitted to remain idle. Cannon beloved
against it; missiles of every kind were hurl-
ed into it; 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 quarter, and that right speedily, it must
at length succumb, for the rebel leaders, en-
boldened by the rout of McCook and Crit
tenden, were gathering their hosts to hurl
them in a last mighty effort against the fee
bic band that confronted them Whence
should that succOr come?
Suddenly a vast cloud of dust was seen to
rise above the trees, away to the left, and
few minutes afterward long lines of men
emerged from the woods, crossed the Lafay-
cite road and began advancing toward US over
the fields. Their discipline seemed -ecy per-
feet, and it was an imposing pageant when,