Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1863-09-25
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ana beneral CriucnoenB troops were thrown
into the engagement as convenience offered.
The main portion Of their forces being on the
march at the time. The fight on the left was of
very desperate character. The enemy was re-
pulsed, but on being reinforced reganed their
position, from which they were subsequently
driven anera severe engagement Of an hour and
half. General Thomas forces then charged
the rebels for nearly mile and half punish
ing them severely
About two O'Clock in the afternoon the rebels
made fierce dash on our center, composed Of
the Divisions Of General Van Cleve and Rey-
nolds. General Van Oleves forces were struck
on the right flank, and, being vigorously pushed
by the rebels, fell back until General Carter's
line was broken and the troops became much
scattered. 4
General Thomas on the left, and General
Davis on the right pushed forward their forces
vigorously towards the gap, and after a hard
fight recovered the ground which had been lost
on the extreme right. The fight disclosed the
intention of the rebels which evidently was to
get between US and Chattanooga.
The general engagement which commenced
at IL o'clock in the forenoon only ended at about
six o'clock in the afternoon.
General Palmer who had gathered together
our scattered forces, and General Negley who
had been sent from the right flank to feel the
center, pushed forward and re-establshed our
line as it had been before the battle began along
the Chicamana Greek.
The country where the battle was fought is
level, but thickly overgrown with small timber
and brush wood, and is very unfavorable for
the use of artillery, very little of which was
used.
The casualties in wounded are extremely
heavy, but very light in killed for 80 heavy
musketry engagement
The fight on the left was one continuous roll
of musketry for an hour or more.
No general officera wpre iniurad Nnlonala
Heg and Bradley, commanding brigades, were
wounded. Colonel Jones of the 36th Ohio and
Colonel Carroll and Major Van Meta, of the
10th Indiana regiment were also wounded;
Lieutenant Jones, of Company A, 10th Indiana,
was killed; Lieutenant Colonel Hunt of the
doth Kentucky, and Lieutenant Colonel Max
well, of the I'd Ohio, were wounded; Leuten-
ants Degnew, Luddon and Fesenden of battery
III, 5th Artillery, were wounded /; Lieutenant
Floyd, of battery L, 4th Artillery, and Captain
Brown, of the 3lst Illinois, were wounded;
Captain Searls, Assistant Adiutant General of
Starkweather's Brigade, was killed. Battery
G. of the 9th Artillery, was lost and afterwards
recaptured by the 18th Indiana Regiment.
The battle is not yet over. 1t will probably
be renewed Tomorrow. Rebel prisoners taken
represent that the corps of Generals Hill, Polk,
Johnston and Longstreet were in the engage
ment.
Our men are in the best Of spirits and eager
to begin anew.
Chattanooga, Sept. al 80 A. M.-The bat
tie on the 18th resulted well for us, having held
our own as established on the left, and contract
ed our forces during the day. In the morning
we held a handsome line with our right on the
ridge of hills, and the left protected by rude
works of logs, thrown up during the night
Our left was routed on the east side of Rossville
and Lafayette road, about four miles south of
ROssville.
I,,t h., G,,I, 6 a. o. IL IL
hundred killed and two thousand wounded, and
were ahead three pieces of artillery.
The men were in splendid spirits. The en-
gagement was resumed at nine o'clock this
morning (20th) by an attempt of the rebels to
storm Thomas left and front.
Several times they were severely repulsed
with heavy loss to them and very little TO u.s.
This fight lasted an hour and a half and was
one of the most terrific of the war, continu-
Gus firing of musketry and artillery being kept
up with deadly effect. During this the right
and center was not engaged, skirmishers keep
ing up halting fire. The enemy finding his
assaults in vain, Unanswered to the left with the
intention to throw his force on the Rossville
road, and attacking Thomas on the left flank
AT this juncture Thomas ordered Brannon, who
had one brigade in reserve and two with Rey-
nolds, the key of the position which was
Thomas right, to move TO the left of the line
and protect the flank. General Rosecrans at the
same time sent Davis aud Van Cleve from the
right and center to support Brannon in his effort
to hold the line to Rossville and protect Thomas
left flank. On perceiving the Withdrawal of
skirmshers from the front of the division NOV
ing from the right and CENTER the enemy made
vigorous attack on that part of the line, pierre
ing the center, cutting off Davis and Sheridan
from the left and driving the center into the
mountains, both the right and center were much
scattered, without very serious loss in killed
and wounded.
The right and center gone, Thomas right be-
came exposed to meet terrific flank attack, and
Reynolds and Brannon and their right of
Thomas line swung around, his extreme left
being the first, this also fell back short dis
tancc on the Rossville road. Parts of the CEN
ter were gathered up and reported to Thomas
who made several stands, but was unable to
check the advance of the rebels, until reinforce
ments arrived.
At one o'clock General Granger with one
division of reserves came up and was at once
thrown into the center, driving the enemy hand
somely from his position in a strong ridge, and
with heavy loss. The fire from one of Changers
batteries moved them down like grass This
fight only lasted half an hour or SO with slight
loss to US.
1t is announced, with great regret, that Cap
tain Russell, Granger's Adjutant, was killed ere
he had been in the fight ten minutes.
After the bloody repulse the enemy remained
quiet until about four o'clock persisting in NOV
ing on both fanks. Their full and correct in
formation regarding this country enabled them
to do SO with great facility.
Having again gotten ON our flank the enemy
made vigorous attack, aud fight ensued
which has no PARALLEL in history Colonel Par
ker's brigade was driven back. Wood and Par
ker and General Garfield were present and the
remnant Of Jackson's division holding the left
covered themselves with glory. On the right
and center Brannon Baird, Reynolds and Palm
er, with parts of their divisions, fought most
gallantly, while Steadman, and Granger, with
the reserves, drove the enemy at every point
where they went in. At five o'clock Thomas
was still triumphant, and on the left held his
line of the morning. but with the right drove
the enemy back to the line nearly at right an
giles with that of the morning. Two lines of
retreat were open to him to Chattanooga, on one
of which he fell back to Rossville during the
night.
Our losses have necessarily been heavy, but
the list of killed will be surprisingly light, and
in the two days engagement we are not sup
posed to have suffered more in men than the
enemy in the charge by Thomas on the first day.
The enemy lost as many in killed as we did
during the whole day. What losses in prisoners
and material, we cannot now say. Our killed
will reach 1900. Our wounded will amount to
1000, most of them slight wounds.
New York, Sept. 22-The morning papers contain yar-
relative to the late battles Of Gen Rose
ecrans all of which, however, dissipated BY the