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

after vollev OF deadly bullets into the very bosom
of the gallant brigade. For a moment. it was
thrown into confusion; and that moment suficed
20 place the rebels upon its front. tanks and rear.
But it was not destined to surrender. The ID.
33d. and Gath Ohio, the 36th Indiana, the 10th
Wisconsin, and LOOMS battery, are composed of
the best material in their respective States; their
commander, Scribner, had succeeded in infusing
into them his own magnanimous and gallant
spirit. Gathering together their broken ranks
under the internal FIRE which every instant now
ed them down. and following their heroic leader,
they charged the dense lsgioas surrounding
them, and, like a whirlwind in a forest, tore their
way through.
All the guns Of the LIST Indiana battery fell
into the hands Of the enemy.
At one time the guns Of the 4th Indiana bat
terry (Capt. Bush.) were all in the hands of the
enemy, but were retaken subsequently by a sim
ultaneous charge of the infantry and artillerymen.
This battery is attached to Gen. S~tarkweather'
brigade.
Major General J. ]. REYNOLDS, who combines
the chivalrous courage of an olden knight, with
the cool. calm ability of a Turenne, had time
not only 10 keep his own division in effective
order, but to give his generous assistance to the
forces around him. A tremendous onslaught of
the enemy broke Gen Palmer's lines and scat
tered several of his regiments in wild dismay
toward the rear. Amongst these was the 9th
OuiO, WutCut II CuhfEC u bIc ~ cpbFibCu M
derson, had, up to this moment. nobly maintained
it's ground. Gen. Reynolds perceiving the danger.
quick as lightning threw himself amongst the
brave but broken Guthries.
"Boysl" he shouted. ARE you the soldiers of
the 9th Ohio, who fought with me at Cheat
MountainS You never turned your backs upon
traitors in Virginia. Will you do it here?"
mol nol' they screamed, almost frantically.
LEAD US back lead US backl'
r., 50. oro~%o. - .,-b.nr ~ fha 900
tered fragments of the regiment; with magic
s~wiftnsss they reformed the ranks; with General
Reynolds at their head they charged the insolent
enemy, and after a moments struggle every rebel
in front of them not killed or wounded, was in
confused retreat.
And now that the battle of Sunday has begun,
let us gIonce one moment at the contending
forces. On one side is our old army which fought
at Stone River, reinforced by two divisions
(Brannan's and Reynolds') Of Thomas corps,
and Starkweather's brigade Of Baird's division.
But counterbalancing these to some extent. Posts
brigade of Davis division and Wagner's of
Woods were both absent. We might or might
no. also rely for assistance upon Steadman's
division of Changers corps.
Opposed to these was the old Army of the
Tennessee, which Bragg had so long command
ed; Longstreet's formidable corps from Virginia
one half Of Johnston's army from Mississippi;
DuChDCl = ulNlctDu ~ Gtct 4 CifICccCCg DhObCN
Maury's division from Mobile; Brig. Gen. Lees
command from Atlanta, and from twelve to
fifteen thousand fresh troops in the service of
the State of Georgian all, amounting to at
least seventy FIVE thousand men. The Union
army confronting them was certainly not more
than fifty FIVE thousand strong.
The firing which had begun on our left swelled
almost Immediately into a dreadful roar, which
filed even the souls OF the bravest with awe.
Nothing that | have get listened to since the
breaking out of the war exceeded it in continuity
and volume of sound. 1t was not tumult which
now RACES and now subsidies, but one which for
two long hours rolled necessarily all along the
lines of Thomas seemingly devoted corps. So
loud was the crash of m~usketry that the repeated
discharges of cannon following each other in
quick succession, could with difficulty be distin
guished, and seemed only like more emphatic
passages in the grand diapason of thun erous
harmony which burst from the vast clouds OF
smoke and dust enveloping the contending hosts.
The fight upon the extreme left commenced
by a desperate assault of the enemy upon Gen.
John Beatty's brigade of Negley's division. The
brigade, as well as its famous leader, stood their
ground nobly; but being somewha isolated from
the remainder of the line, finally retired. 1t
will be remembered that the other brigades of
Negleys division were posted much further to
the right. A desire to re unite the two portions
U uIo ultudl luuuCCQ IbOSCCNhuc W -Cub
Gen. Wood to take Gen. Negley's place in line
until the latter should effect the reunion of bis
brig ldes. Wood proceeded Immediately to exc
cute the order, filing up the gap as Negley re-
tired. The rebels understanding this move
ment Of Negley's to be a retreat, immediately
advanced their skirmishers, not only here. but all
along the left, and the fighting at once became
terrific, as | have described. The rebels, however,
soon ceased to attack Gen Woods front, and for
a time a1DoaroH 70 Hau0fo THAR onfiro attention IN
Gen. Thomas. | went down to the extreme left
of Gen. Woods position. about this time, and
looking thence into some cOrnfields, could see
tie desperate efforts of the enemy to break the
lines of Brlnnan and REYNOLDS. The soldiers
of these two noble divisions were lying behind
rude breastworks of logs and rails constructed
the night before; their srtillery in the rear fired
over their heads; and it really seemed as if that
long line Of defenses was some immense serpent
instinct with hideous life and breathing continu
ally from his huge rough sides volumes of smoke
and fame. Col. Vandever, 35th Ohio, Of Bran
mans division, was fighting here with a brigade
second to but few in the service.
Again aud again the rebel lines, advancing
from the cover Of the woods into the open corn
fields, charged with impetuous fury and terrific
wells toward the breastworks of logs and rails
but each time the fery blasts from our batteries
aud battalions swept over and around them. and
their ranks were crumbled and swept away as a
bank Of loose clay washed by a rushing Hood
But as fast as one line fell off another appeared
rushing sternly on over the dead and bleeding
bodies of their fallen comrades. Longstreet's
corps WAS seeking to regain its lost laurels Of yes
terday. Z. III. 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 Saturdays
heavy losses
Never was resistance more stubborn and deter
mined. bat never was attack prosecuted with
more devilish pertinacity.
Meantime as General Reynolds was so severe
" pressed, General Wood was ordered to march
insanity by the left flank. pass Brannan, and &c
to his relief. Davis and Sheridan were to shift
over TO the left, and thus close up the line A:
the occasion was urgent, Gen. Wood drew in hi:
skirmishers with considerable haste, and the reb
els for the second time mistaking a withdrawal fol-
a fight, pressed forward like a torrent anC
poured into the TANKS of General Wood a storm
0fmusket balls. canister and grape. MANY upor
the doubiequick. the men endeavored for a tim,
to keep their files in order, but as that pitiIes
storm of lead and iron continued TO be hurles
against them, the regiments began to spread on
like a fan, wider and wider. until they were final
Nv torn to flinders. This was especially tn
case with the brigade commanded by Col. Buell.
The undaunted Wood. with Harker's brigade
comparatively intact, pressed on to bis destina
ton.
Here was the great turning point in the battle
Here, indeed. the battle was lost.
Davis coming up TO fll the vacancy occasioDel
bv Woods withdrawal. was caught upon the lief
flank bv the rebel torrent now pouring through
the opening. and pushed of toward the right il
utter disorder, like a door which is swung bacI
upon its hinges and shattered by the same blow