The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1863-11-13

Mountains, Sand Mountain and their
intervening valleys, and Lookout
Mountain three times, we reached
'Catletts Valley late in the night OF
tho 18th of September. Its needless
to say that the men were very weary.
and yet there was no complaining. -
Directly East OF us, running from
South to North lay Pigeon Mountsin,
along the base of which meandered
quietly, amid dense foliage, the
.Chickamauga River which events
have since rendered as classical and
linpcrishalle rs that Of Brandywine
or Stone River. Along the thickly
wooded gentle slopes of Pigeon
Mountain, the army of Bragg, which
we had so often met in battle aud al
ways conquered aud driven before us,
was said to be in force, with large ad-
ditions from tie armies OF Lee and
Johnston. No doubts were now en-
tertained as TO whether Bragg would
fight MS; tue he had fallen back from
Chattanooga, but 1t was only that he
might draw us into q position where,
with his greatly superior numbers he
might the more easily destroy us,
and thereby not only regain Eastern
Tennessee with Chattanooga, the key
Of the Confederacy, but all Central
and Eastern Tennessee with the whole
of Kentucky.
At the extreme right, which we
occupied, some demonstration have
been made, with view, as our Gen.
eral believed, to di'ert us from the
real point Of attack far to the left and
in the direction OF Chattanooga. Du-
ring all the night of the 18th troops
were pushed TO the left. AZ daylight
on the ever memorable morning of
the 10Th of September, and before we
had time TO take our "hard tack and
coffee" the order crme to "march i'm
aediaiely," and away we went quietly
but in unusual haste. The faithful
company cooks might he seen bearing
away in large coffee boilers the coffee
snatched from blazing camp fires, de
termined that their brave companions
should have it, the first time the
words "halt and rest was heard from
their commander.
AS we advanced the cannonading
grew more rapid and distinct, giving
evidence that terrible battle was in
progress. BY l2 o'clock we reached
the battie.feld, where we were met by
General Thomas and our division,
which had been separated from the
balance of McCoUk's corps, and was
ordered to form line OF battle and
move forward and attack. The dl-
vision was formed by its commanding.
General Johnson, by placing VIII
lich's brigade on the right and Bald.
wins on the left, with Dodges IN re-
serve. Willich's brigade was formed
with the S2nd Indiana and 40th Ohio,
protected by sliirmishers in front, and
the 18th Ohio and the S9th Illinois in
the second line, with Capt. Good
speeds battery in the rear Of the in
fantry. Major Gray, of the 10th, de-
ployed Companies y and B as shir-
mishers TO cover his front, and Com
pauies i and G as supports. In this
order the several commands moved
forward amid the deafening roar and
terrible crash Of musketry and artil.
lery The skirmishets moved but
little distance when they engaged the
enemy. and the compsnies in support
were moved up in fine style. The
fight at once became general and
ragged with terrific fury along the
whole line. The euemy, by the fierce
ness Of the attack and superior mum
hers, intended to overwhelm MS, but
the heroes of Shiloh and Stone River
understood their work, and believed
in the justice Of their cause, and on
they moved, and on, and on, driving
them as they had always done, until
they reached a point where the ground
descended, when the enemy opened a
battery upon them directly in their
front and in close range. No sooner
was This condition of things discover
ed 10y ihe quick perception Of our
than he ordered his men
to lie down, when up came the brave
Goodspeed with section of his bat
terry and opened upon the enemy's
guns. a brief but spirited artillery
duel cnsued when Gen. Which or
dercd his whole brigade to make a
bayonet charge. Away the heroes
dashed on the double quick while
heir triumphal shout is heard far out
lbove the roar OF battle. This charge
was executed with a skill character
site Of that noble brigade, and the
enemy was driven panic.stricken the
distance of one mile and five pieces of
artillery captured. Two of them
" ere taken hy The 49th Ohio. Here
they stood victors, far in advance of
the troops on their right, which, un-
did not move up. The
result was that after holding their
position until near dark they were
soroly pressed upon both fanks and
center and compelled TO relinquish a
part Of the ground gained during the
afternoon. 1t was now dark and the
regiment, being relieved, bivouacked
for the night in cornteld through
which they passed during the day.
Our loss, during the day, in killed
and wounded was fifty-seven, missing
ten, among the missing was DR.. W,
II, Park, Assistant Surgeon, and Lieu
tenant Ray who were captured.
DR.. Park remained on the field dr-
ling the day and DR., Cory and Chap
lain PhillinS wara husy with tho