Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-01-10

emerge from ttIB woods IN pursuit OF our
broken and Aying battalion. suddenly
the route became visible, and a crowd OF
ten thousand fugitives, presenting every
possible phase Of wild and uncomfortable
disorder, burst from the cedar thickets
and rushed into the open space between
them and the turnpike. Amongst them
all, perhaps no half dozen members Of the
same regiment could have been found to-
gether. Thick and fast the bullets Of the
enemy fell amongst them, and scores were
shot down; but still the number constant
" increased by reason Of the fresh crowds
which burst every moment from the thick
cts. 1t was with the greatest difficulty
that some Of the regiments which had
been msssed together as a sort Of forlorn
hope, to Withstand, and if possible drive
back the victorious cohorts Of treason,
could prevent their ranks from being
crushed or broken by the mass Of fugi-
tives.
RECEPTION OF THE REBELs-TERRIBLE
SLAUGHTER.
HWith cool, calm courage, General Crit
tenden awaited the coming storm and,
conspicuous among ell the rest, was the
well-built form Of the Commanding Gen
eral, his countenance unmoved by the tu-
multi around him, and his thoughtful and
animated features expressing high and
patriotic hope, which acted like an inspi-
ration upon every one that beheld him.
As he cast his eye over the grand array
which he had mustered to repel the foe,
he already felt himself master of the sit
uation.
"Atlast the long lines of the enemy
emerged from the woods, rank behind
rank, and with a demoniac yell, intended
to strike terror into the souls of Yankees
who stood before them, and charged with
fearful energy almost TO the very muzZles
Of the cspnon whose dark mouths yawned
upon them.
F" A dazzling sheet of fame burst from
the ranks of the Union forces. An awful
roar shock the earth a crash rent the at
mosphere. The foremost lines Of the rebel
host were literally swept from the field,
and seemed TO melt away like snow fakes
before fame; and then both armies were
enveloped in vast cloud Of smoke which
hid everything from the eye.
"In the still visible ground between the
pike and the railroad, the tumult redoubled.
Not knowing what would be the result Of
the strife which was raging under the
great canopy Of smoke that concealed the
combatants, the fight Of those in charge
Of wagons and ambulances, became still
more rapid and disordered. Thousands Of
fugitives from the broken right wing min
gled with the teams; and frequently e
mass Of men, horses and wagons would be
crushed and ground together. Every con-
ceivable form Of deadly missile whiEzed
and whirled and burst amid the crowd,
and terror and dismay ruled uncontrolla-
bly,. The whole disordered mass rushed
down as fast as possible toward the river,
into which it plunged, pushing and strug-
Cling to the other side.
HThe combat under that great cloud Of
smoke was somewhat similar to that in
the woods. No one knows exactly what
occurred. There was a shout, charge, a
rush of fire, recoil, and then all for q
time disappeared. For ten minutes the
thunder Of battle burst forth from the
cloud. When our battalions advanced
they found no rebels between the woods
and turnpike, except the dead, the dying
and the disabled. There were hundreds
of these, and their blood soaked and red
dened the ground Since the annihilation
of the "Old Guard in their charge at
Waterloo, there has probably not been an
instance of so great slaughter in so
short a time as during this repulse Of the
rebel left - Murfreesboro' and it will
hereafter be celebrated in history as much
as is the fiery combat which crushed for
ever the power and prospects Of Napoleon"
With equal desperation and recklessness
the rebels hurled themselves upon the cen
ter and left, but were repulsed with mur-
derOus vOlleys of artillery and musketry.
It seemed as if there was not a square
yard of the battlefield that was free from
fire. The rattle of musketry and the roar
of artillery was deafening, still the Gen.
eral rode through it all unscathed. Mem
hers IF bia s4o4e 49,. L;iIad, -~..--rlvd auu
unhorsed, but he was unmoved. Garesehe,
the chief of staff, was gallOping by the side
of the General when q solid shot carried
away his head. His blood was scattered
upon the staff. Horses, frantic with an
guish of wounds, and wild with the furi-
Gus tumult, were bonding in their leashes
with desperate energy, seeking to fly the
field. Dozens Of them were torn to shreds.
A single shell crashed through three no.
BILE beasts, and piled them, in dreadful con-
fusion, under shattered timber. a solid
shot crashed against a gun carriage and
glanced of the head of another horse. One
battery lost twenty-eight horses, another
thirty-two.
HOW THE REBELS FOUGHT.
The hostile array on the other side i'm
parted an awful subEmity to the spectacle.
Great masses of rebel troops moved stead
lily over the field, careless of our battery
play, which tore open their ranks and
scattered them bleeding upon the soil. But
they marched up through the destroying
storm dauntlessly. Their batteries Wheeled
into position splendidly, and were worked
with telling effect. There was a point,
however, beyond which even their desper-
ADDE'S could not be urged. Battle ragged
two hours with horrid slaughter, and
neither side reeeded until nearly five
o'clock, when the almost exhausted armies
suspended operations for the night, except
ing the play Of few batteries.
ONE OF OUR CHARGES.
FTbe enemy had compelled us to change
L. 1