Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-09-26


OF these tao noble divisions we're lying behind
rude breastworks OF logs and rails constructed
the night before: their artillery in the fred
over their heads: and il really seemed II that
long line Of defenses was some immense serpent.
instinct with hideous life and breathing continu
ally from his huge rough side volumes Of smoke
and q me Col. Vandeser. 35th Ohio. OF Bran
mans division. was fighting here with a brigade
secCud 20 but few in the service
Again and again the rebel lines, advancing
FROM the cover Of the woods into the open corn
fields. charged with impetnous fury aud terrific
wells toward the breastworks of logs and rsils
but each time the fery blasts from our batteries
nnd battalions swept over and around them. aud
their ranks were crumiied and swept awav ~ a
bunk Of loose clay washed by rushing food
but as fast as one line fell of another Appealed.
rushing sfernly over the dead and bleeding
bodies OF their fallen comrades. Lpnestreet's
CORPS was seeking 10 regain Its lost lsures Of yes
terday. ID II. Hill at the head Of Hardee's old
corps. was lending them the assistance Of a di
vision and Buckner's troops were throwing their
weight into the scale Thomas fought only with
his forces Of Saturday weakened by Saturday o
heavy Losses
Never WAS resistance more stubborn and deter
mined. but never was attack prosecuted with
more devilis h per,inacity
Meantime rs General REYNOLDS was so severe
Nv pressed, General Wood was ordered 10 march
instantly by the left II ink. pass 8rannan, AMI 20
to his relief Davis and Sherid IN were to shit
over TO the left. and thus close up the line AS
the occasion was urgent. Gen. Wood drew in his
skirmishers with considerable haste, and the reb
els for the second time installing withdrawal for
a flight. pressed forward like sorren, and
poured into the fanks of General Wood a storm
1T musket balls. canster and grape. Many upon
the dOublequick. the men endeavored for a time
to keep their files in order, but as that piiiless
storm Of lead and iron continued To be hurled
against them. the regiments began To spread out
like fan, wider and wider. until they were final
Nv torn tn flinders. This was especially the
case with the brigade commanded bv Col Buell.
The un 'aunted Wood. with Harker's brigade.
comparatively intact, pressed on to his destina-
ton
Here was the great turning point in the blttle.
Here. indeed. the hattie was lost.
Davis GINNING up to ill the vacancy occasioned
bv Woods Withdrawal. was caught upon the left
fink bv the rebel torrent now pouring through
the opening. and pushed off toward the right in
utter disorder. like door which is swung bnck
upon its hinges and shattered by the same blow
Van Cleve and what renamed of Palmer were
struck upnu the other side and shvered az sap
ling by a thunderbolt Even the personal exer
tions of Rosecrans himself, who. with drawn
sword and at the head of his devoted staff en-
desvored to check the rOut, were Intellectual.
After that fatal break. our line of battle was
not again reformed during the day. The army
was in fact cut in two; McCook. with Davis,
Sheridan and Wilder. being thrown off 10 the
righ'; Crittenden. except one brigade Of Wood
being broken in pieces. and Thomas with his in
domitable corps and Johnson's division Of Nc
Cooks remaining alone upon the left In the
fierce tornado which had swept over his log
kro. had 81. ,La all
his divisions fighting desperately. all rallying at
the earliest practical moment, but only General
Reynolds 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. il formed anew its
bf0krn ranks
Gen Thomas had withdrawn his men almost
entirely from the valley. and taken mp a position
on the side of Mission ridge. His left still rested
upon the Lafa, e,te road. and bis right upon the
ridge near the gap | have already spoken of
Here we're collected the shattered remnants of
the powerful corps which hal long breasted
the fierce assaults of the enemy in the forenoon
Here was johnson, who seems TO have done
better work to day aud Yesterday than ever he
fore. Here the unconquerable Wood, with
Harker's brigade. and here were also such frag
meuts of CIR tteuden's corps could be induced
To venture upon another stand. The whole were
drawn up in line forming circular curve
facing tie southeast. A hill near the middle of
the curve was the KEY of the position, and Hank
er's brigade was appointed to defend the same
Soon after the hill was occupied, house upon
it, summit was set fire by the enemys shells
and continued to burn for a long time with great
fury.
Not long was the new line of battle permitted
to rem in idle Cannon beloved against it,
missiles of every kind were hurled into it: shells
burst above il; rifle balls went tearing through it:
bu' still il remained firm
IL was certain however. as truth itself. that
unless assistance should re ich 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. aud a few min
utes afterward beng lines of men emerged from
the woods, crossed the Lafayette rond and began
advancing toward the fields.
Capt johnson, of Negle,'s staff, who on
being severed from his division. had imme
dintely reported to Gen. Thomas for duty. had
already nj great personal risk. aScertained that
the advancing b,ttiIions were infantry. and now
the question arose it our the enc
my's2 Hope anu fear ,lternntely agtlted our
bosoms, until at last looking through our glasses
we could clearly distinguish the red and blue.
with the white crescent II was the battle fl ,g
of Gen Granger. and the troops were
two brieades, Mitchel's and Whitskers, of
Steadman's strong division. These com
paratively fresh troops.
As soon rs Granger had reported 20 Thomas
he was sent TO bring over an ammunition train
from the Rnssville road The train had fallen
into the hands OF the enemy. but the march in
search of il brought Steadman at once into a
contact with the rebels and desperate conflict
Immediately ensued. II now that the bril-
liant courage of Col. John c Mitchell com
maudiug one or Steadman's brigades, became
conspicuous Now Gen Whitaker had an op
portunity of haptzing in glory the star recently
placed upon his shoulder; and now the troops Of
the reserve corps. comparatively unused To battle.
had an opportunity ct testing their mcrtle Nohl,
did all pass through the ordeal AMI although
once thrown into confusion BY the concentrated
fire from a score Of rebel regiments and halt as
many batteries they rallied under the FIRE aud
drove the enemy from hill almost rs formidable
as that which formed the KEY of Gen Thorn :
position The rebels made one desperate en-
deavor to retske this position, but were bloodily
repulsed. and almost tor the first time since
the fight began there a lull in the fearful
storm.
An hour passed bv. then it became evident that
Bragg would not be foed in his attempt 10 ami
hilate our gallant army without; another effort.
Folks corns assisted by the Georgia State
troops, by D ,buey Maurys division. and by va
rious detached fragments of the rebel army. were
10 try their hands upon the heroic band who as
the forlorn hope of the Amy. still held the bill
Our feeble ranks were gathered up. The thinnei
bsttalions were brought closer together. The
,l..,.Y of ,rfillerv ora MA IN sween