The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-12-05

was at this time marching by the flank, in
front OF Fort Wood, for the purpose Of ia
king position between Gen. Woods divi-
sion and Howard's left. This movement
OF his, plainly perceived by the enemy,
fully impressed them with the conviction
that our grand assault was to be made
upon their right, and instantly massive
column OF their forces began to move
northward along the crest Of the ridge. I
was splendid spectacle as regiment after
regiment, brigade after brigade, filed off
toward our left; and it was well for Sher-
mans brave men that they could not see
those battalions, for they impressed each
oeholder with an idea Of almost resistless
power.
Suddenly the storm burstupon Matthies'
brigade and the left of Howard. The fierce
athwart and across the ravine which sepa-
rated the two hills, and flash of lightning
from ten thousand muskets blinded the
eyes of our men. They rose from the
ground and returned the fire; they even
endeavored to advance, but, against such
overwhelming odds, to persevere in either
was annihllation; Gen. Matthias was
wounded and disabled; score of officers
were shot down; files of our soldiers were
swept away at each discharge, and at last,
unable longer to endure this useless slaugh-
ter, they broke and fled down the hill
For moment the heart of the beholder was
filled with anguish as he saw them hasten
ing in wild confusion back across the field;
but he felt treasured when he saw that the
moment they had got beyond the fire of
musketry, and while still in full range of
the enemy's cannon, they reformed their
ranks and were ready for another combat!
But their work for the day was over.
And now came the great crisis of the
battle.
The men who held in their hands the
destinies of the army, had marked from
their position on Bald Knob the movement
OF the rebel legions toward the left, and in
an instant perceived their advantage. In
the face Of three such leaders as Baird.
WOOD and Sheridan, Bragg was repeating
the old fatal error which lost the Allied ar
mics Austerlitz and the Union Chickamau-
ga-he was weakening his center and ma
king flank movement in the presence of
his enemy.
In an instant Granger and Palmer hurled
Wood and Sheridan down the slope of the
ridge upon which they had been posted.
and Baird across the lower ground to the
left. Through the woods concealing the
rife-pits they charged, and burst like
torrent into and over the same, scattering
the terrified rebels who occupied them like
thistle down or chaff.
Here, according to original orders, our
lines should have halted butthe men were
no longer comfortable. Baird had carried
the rife-pits in front Of his position, and
the shout of triumph rousing the blood to 8
frenzy OF enthusiasm, rang all along the
line. Cheering each other forward, the
three divisions began to climb the ridge,
ofliving valor rolling on the foe!
The whole Ridge blazed with artillery
Direct, plunging and cross fire from hun
dred pieces of cannon were hurled upon
that glorious band of heroes scaling the
1HIyho fho1 hol
storm Of musket balls was flung into their
very faces.
In reply to the rebel cannon upon the
Ridge, Forts Wood, Negley, and all our
batteries that could be placed in position,
opened their sublime music.
/ The storm of war was now abroad with
supernatural power, and as each successive
volley burst.from the cloud of smoke which
overspread the contending hosts, it seemed
that ten thousand mighty echoes wakened
from their slumbers, went groaning and
growing around the mountains, as if re-
solved to shake them from their bases, then
rolled away down the valleys, growing
fainter and fainter, until extinguished by
echoes of succeeding volleys, as the distant
roar of the cataract is drowned in the near
er thunders of the cloud.
And still the Union troops passed on seal
ing unwaveringly the sides of Mission
Ridge. The blood Of their comrades rend-
ers their footsteps slippery; the toll of the
ascent almost takes away their breath the
rebel musketry and artillery NOW down
their thinned ranks-but still they press
on! Not once do they eUen seem to Waver.
The color-bearers press ahead, and plant
their flags far in advance of the troops;
and at last, o moment of supremest tri-
umpb, they reached the crest, and rushed
like an avalanche upon the astonished foe.
| Whole regiments throw down their arms
and surrender. the rebel artillerists are
beyoneted by their guns, and the cannon
which had moment before been thunder
ing on the Union ranks, are now turned
about, pouring death and terror into the
midst of the mass of miserable fugitives
who are rushing down the eastern slope of
the ridge. ...... ........
Almost simultaneously with this immor-
tai charge, Hooker threw his forces through
gap in the ridge upon the Rossville road,
and hurled them upon the left flank of the
enemy, while johnson charged this portion
of their line in front. Already demoraliz-
ed by the spectacle upon the right, they
offered but feeble resistance, were cap
tured by hundreds, or ran away like fright
ened sheep.
One fierce effort was made by the rebel
leaders to retrieve the day. The left wing
of Gen. j. B. Turchin's brigade of Baird's
division, had taken possession Of q small
work constructed by the enemy on that
portion of Mission Ridge nearly opposite
Fort Wood. Before he could arrange his
regiments inside, the rebels, gathering up
all the unrouted fragments of such force as
they had upon the centre, charged Turchin
with determined fury excelling anything
they had displayed upon that part of the
field during the day. ~
But the heroic old Russian, who had for
two long years overthrown both rebels and
their sympathizers in every field where he
had met them, was not to be conquered
now " nile flushed with his browning VIC
tory. His left wing stood firm as rock
against the overwhelming numbers assail-
ing it. The remainder Of the brigade was
hurried to the rescue upon the double
QUICK; the rebel Notifications, manned by
/ Union soldiers, blazed like volcano in
the face Of the foe. In vain theenemy's Of
fcers bravely stepped in front Of their men,
waved their swords and urged them to the
charge With their comrades falling by
! scores around them, they could not be in-
duced to advance one foot nearer the cIta-
del of death; and at length, seeing the day