Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-10-07

the brilliant courage Of Col John G. Mitchell
commanding one of Gen. steadman's brigade.
became conspicuous. Now Gen. Whittake
had an opportunity of baptizing in glory tn
| star recently placed upon his shoulder; an
now the troops of the Reserve Corps, com
paratively unused 10 battle, had an opportu
| nifty of testing their mettle. Nobly did the
pass through the ordeal, and, although ono,
/ thrown into confusion by the concentrated
| fire from score o. rebel regiments and hal
as many batteries, they ra}iicd ,17lEe1. The fye
and drove the enemy from hill almost a,
formidable as than which formed the kew Il
! Gen. Thomas position. The rebels made one
/ desperate endeavor to retake this position
/ but were bloodily rerulsed, and almost foi
the first time since the fight began there was
a lull in the fearful form.
An hour passed by, and it became evident
that Bragg would not be foiled in his attempt
TO annihilate our gallant army without another
effort. Folks corps assisted by the Georgia
! State troops, by Dabney Maurys division. and
by various detached fragments Of the rebel
! army, were to try their hands upon the heroic
band who, as the forlorn hope of the army,
still held the hill. Our feeble ranks were
gathered up. The thinned battallious were
brought closer together. The dozen pieces
OF artillery were planted to sweep all ap-
proaches to the hill: aud each man looking
- 4'i- -iiA'ph NONtd, sunni IiGuldIlN ana
others audibly, 10 die right there if it were
necessary for their country, for freedom and
for mankind
All along the woods skirting the cleared
helds at the southeastern foot Of the hill; in
the hallows and ravines to the right, and away
to the left, upon and beyond the LAFAYETTE
road, the rebel legions were seen gathering
for the onset
Just before the storm broke, to brave and
Iairr}-1 l,J
his way to the headquarters of Gen. Thomas
He had come to be present at the final con
test, and in order to do so had rode all the
way from Chattanooga, passing through A
fiery ordeal upon the road. His horse was
shot under him, and his orderly was killed by
hIs side. Still he had come through, he scarce
knew how, and here he was TO inspire fresh
courage into the hearts of the brave soldiers
who were holding the enemy at bay, to bring
them words of greeting from General Rose
Grams, and TO inform them that the latter was
recognizing the scattered troops, and as fast
as possible, would hurry them forward TO
their relief
At last a shell came hustling through the
air, and burst with loud explosion over the
hill. This was the signal for rebel attack.
and at once the bullets flew thick and fast
amongst us.
Just upon the side of the hill TO the left.
and in the rear Of the still smoking ruins of
the house, was gathered group whose names
are destined to become historical-Thomas
Whitaker, Granger, Garfield, Steadman
Wood Calmly they watched the progress of
the tempest specuated upon its duration and
strength, and devised methods to break its
fury.
The fight around the hill now ragged with
terror inexperienced before, even upon this
terrible day Our soldiers were formed in
two lines, and they marched up to the
crest and fired deadly yolley at the advan-
eng foe, it fell back a little ways, the men
lay down upon the ground to load their guns,
and the second line advanced to take their
place They too, in their turn, retired, and
thus the lines kept marching back and forth,
and delivering their whitening volleys till the
very brain grew dizzy as it watched them
And all the time not man wavered. Ever,
motion was executed with as much precision
as though the troops were on a holiday pa
rade, Notwithstanding the flower of the rebel
army were sWarmIng round the foot Of the
hill, and score of cannon were laundering
from three sides upon it. Every attempt Of
the enemy to scale it was repulsed and the
gallant HaTker looked with pride upon his
lines, standing or lying just where they were
when the fight began.
But our troops are no longer satisfied with
his brigade, charged into the rebel lines and
cut his way outagain, bringing with him three
hundred prisoners. Other portions of this
brave band followed Turchin's example until
the leEjons of the enemy were fairly driven
back to the ground they occupied previous to
to commencing the last fight Thus did
twelve or fifteen thousand men, animated by
heroic impulses and inspired by worthy lead
ers, save from destruction the Army of the
Cumberland Let the nation honor them as
they deserve
At night Gen. Thomas fell back to Ross
vile, four miles from Chattanooga, around
and in which city the army lies tonight.
Our losses have been most severe, and can
scarcely fall short of 200 killed and 5000
wounded. Col. Barnett tells me that our
loss in artillery will not fall short of fifty
pieces. Our deficiency in transportation and
baggage cannot now be estimated.
But the enemy has suffered az severely as
we in that which he can least afford-human
life and limb. He intended, by massing all
his available forces together, to annihilate the
Army of the Cumberland lie has failed to
do so, and although it would be childish to
deny or conceal our own fearful losses vet we
may console ourselves by the assurance that
in his circumstances his failure to destroy us
is for US a signal victory, and for him an ire
parable defeat.
From TIE 22D WIscoSsIN-A letter from
the I'D Wisconsin, dated Murfreesboro, Sept.