The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-10-14
From sthe Cincinnati Gazette.
The Battles OF chickamauga.
ENGAGEMENTS of SAT
URDAY AN ID SUNDAY.
Graphic Description of the Bloody
Contest.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE CUMBERLAND,1
MONDAY, Sept 21, 1863.

Graphic Descriptions of the Bloody
Contest.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE CUMBERLAND,3
MONDAY, Sept 2l, 1868.
THE ARMY OVERWHELMED.
Another battle, and would that could say,
another victory but, alas truth compels me
to declare that, after series of tremendous
struggles, unsurpassed by anyth ng similar in
the present war, the Army of the Cumber-
land has been overwhelmed by numbers; has
suffered immense losses in men and material,
and has fallen back to new position. 1t may
console us to know, however that it has saw
ed its honor, kept its naughty foe at bay, and
has inflicted upon the enemy as severe blows
as it received.
BRIEF REHABILITATION.
The rebel army, after evacuating Chatta-
nooga, retired to Lafayette, twenty ght
miles to the southwark, concentrated his
troops at that point, restored their courage
and hopes by the promise of reinforcements,
and awaited the arrival of the same Mean
time he took possession of the gaps in Pigeon
mountain (Which Gen. -Roseerans must cross
in order to reach the Georgia State Road and
the great railroad which formed Bragg's line
of communication with Atlanta and careful
| ly fortified them. This obstruction delayed
for some days the advance of our forces
| which had already crossed the Raccoon and
| Lookout Mountains, and gave the enemy moi
only time to recover their spirits, but to re-
ceive a portion of their reinforcements. Hth-
erto our army had been marching in three
great columns-Crittenden, followed by Gran.
ger, by way of Chattanooga; Thomas by way
| of Trenton; and McCook, with Stanley.
cavalry, still further to the southwark Tht
daily increasing numbers and boldness OF thu
enemy compelled a concentration of our fore
es as rapidly as the nature of the case woulc
/ admit, and by evening of the 10th inst. th
whole army was in line along the West Chick
4 amauga, between the Lookout and Pigeol
j Mountains, and just to the east of that lov
chain of wooded hills called Mission Ridge
On Thursday, the 18th, the army shifted to
ward the north, contractedits lines, and as tn
enemy's demonstrations became each hou
more threatening, prepared for battle.
~ ON FRIDAY.
On Friday morning the extreme left of tn
army rested on the Chickamauga, at Gordon
Mill, the point where the Lafayette roa
crosses the Chickamauga. The right coul
only be loosely defined, and was in constar
state of preparation to shift northward, in Of
der to battle the rebels, who seemed bent uE
on turning our ISlt anu SettiuS HoS9NSOA
and Chattanooga.
During Friday there were three minor Ell
gaeements-one between Gen. Steadman,
: Gen. Gordon Grapger's division, (Which ha
+ position few miles south of Chattanooga
and Longstreet, which was well managed, an
reflects credit upon Gen. Steadman and h
e force; another between Gen. Wilder and rel
c ell cavalry, near Napier's Gap, in Pigec
mountains and third near the same plaC
between Gen. Minty and part of the san
rebel force. Wilder and Minty were drive
$ for time, but being reinforced made star
e and encamped for the night. Duling Il
q night Wilders own pickets and those of Il
enemy actually grasped each others guns
y the darkness, and several times engaged
n fierce struggles for their possession !
n During Friday night preparations we
d made to fight, if battle could not be avoi
ed. Our cause would have been greatly be
.! efitted by delay, and if Rosecrans could he
orably have postponed an engagement.
= would undoubtedly have done so. But Il
o. enemy saw his opportunity, and determine
# to seize it. Our troops were being sent to 4
left so as to complete the line of battle.
THE NIGHT MARCH. has
. A night march of large body of troops
or solemn thing The soldiers scarcely spe
b. word to each other; the animals move wi
as dull, mechanical motion, which hardly !
m sembles life; the rattle of the wagon whe'
, seems strangely muffled and almost the on
u sound YOU recognize is the heavy, measure
te AWFUL tramp of thousands of living men
I rode for considerable portion of t
march at the head of the renowned LIST Mic
: igan Battery, engaged in alow cenversati
oi with the manly and intelligent officer W
t. commanded it, Lieut. Van Pelt. He seem
I'd more than usually confident and cheerful, ]
m tie anticipating, poor fellow the fate viii
!. awaited him on the morrow.
az be |" Do you think,p said he to me, that
ne shall engage the enemy ?"
yo .If we can avoid it,'' I replied, !" +
Il; pretty sure we will not" 5...s5.
j" Why then this movernent?' he sked
Doubtless . said /, "to prevent the ei
nv from turning our left flank, which I'll
en- have all day been threatening to do"
ID He looked at me earnestly. "Fhen J