Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1863-10-28

1
vor of Longstreet. An obstinate contest
ensued, but the overpowering numbers Of
the enemy speedily broke to pieces large
portions OF our two divisions, especially
Van Cleye's. In fact, the route of this
part Of our line was becoming as complete
as that of the enemy'd right, when Davis,
who had been marching as rapidly as posi-
bic 10 intersect with Van Cleve's feft, ar
rived upon,the ground, went in most gal
lantly, and, fora time, restored in that
locality the fortunes Of the day. But The
enemy knowing that all depended upon
his effecting diversion in favor of the de-
feated Longstreet, massed nearly tile
whole Of his available force, hurled it
upon Van Cleve, and Davis drove the for
mer to the left and the latter to the right
and entered boldly the opening thus
made. 1t was just at this juncture that
Thomas troops, whose attention had been
called to the extreme danger of our cen
tire, began TO return. Reynolds immedi-
ately sent the heroic Wilder to. The assis-
tance of Davis, and the celebrated brigade
Of mounted infantry at first scattered the
enemy in terror before them. But the
perseverng rebels rallying again, and
charging in fresh numbers, even Wilder
began 10 fall slowly back. Gen. Sheri-
dan, who had been following after Davis,
now came up, and led Col. Bradey's brig
ado into the fight. It held its own nobly,
until the rebels, in large force, getting
possession Of piece of timber near its
flank, opened upon it an enflading fre,
which compelled it to give way,
But now new actors appeared upon the
scene. Wood and Negey, who had gal
lantly repelled the assaults Of the enemy
at Ovens Ford, assaults Intended az q
QUE left came up to the rescue, Their
troops went to work with a will. The
progress Of the enemy against DAVIS, Van
Cleve and Sheridan was speedily checked.
ReynoldI, returning from TIE pursuit Of
Longstreet, assisted in rallying the broken
battaions of Palmer. Thousands of our
scattered trrops recognized almost OF
,heir own accord. Baird, Brsnuan and
Johnson resumed their places, con-
suming fire swept all along our front. The
rebels retired everywhere before it, and
before sunset our line was again in battle
array upon almost precisely the ground
held that morning.
| Just before dark the enemy, as If In
spite of his unsuccessful efforts, opened a
heavy FIRE of artillery and musketry upon
these same troops, and continued 1t until
after nightiall. But it was so promptly
returned that he sustained certainly as
much injury as he inflicted, and about six
o'clock drew off entirely leaving the day
clearly our own.
| During the night Of Saturday some
change Hls made in the disposition Of our
forces, and the line was SO far Withdrawn
that it rested along cross-road running
northeast and southwest, and connecting
! the Rossylle with the Lafayette road
By this arrangement the extreme right
was mado to rest on Mission Ridge, as it
should probably have done in the first
place. The new line that formed was d
: mile shorter than that of the day before
Gen. Rosecrans' headquarters were remov
ed from house belonging to widow Glenn
near the right Of the line, to a point
somewhat nearer the Layfayette road, anc
in view Of the center, and every prepara
tiou was made that genius, science anC
patriotism could make, to beat Olck the
: ayalanches Of the enemy, should they
{ venture upon an attack the next day.
The changes in the order of the ditier
2 ent divisions made the new order stanC
| thus. One brigade of Negley's division
| was near the extreme right then cam'
! johnson, then Baird, then Palmer, Lhei
: REYNOLDS, then Brannan, then Negley'
other origades, then Van Cleve, ther
Wood, and then Sheridan. Wilder RnC
> Minty, with their mouneed force held tn
extreme right. | have given only tn
/ general order of our line. Brannan sn
Van Cleye we're really held somew nat i
? reserve. The other divisions bad reserve
: detailed from their own regiments or br
y gades.
If any one wishes to gel general bu
n at the same time a clear idea of the natnr
n of the battlefield of Sunday. let him imSi
l. Inc two roads, .ne Rossville and Layfayott
" gradually approaching each other as the
u run northward, the average distance b.
II tween them over the space where the ba
p tie was fought being about two miles. A
le we look southwark, the low wooded rams
iy OF hills called Mission Ridge, is upon OF
ct right, and away to the left flows the Chi
q, a,nanoa paLyaen tho RIDGE and IL