Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1863-09-23
By Telegraph.
.pORTEp FOR ME pAILY EMPIRE
NIGHT DISPATCHES.
OFFICIAL REPORTS OF THE BATTLES
OF SATURDAY AND SUNDAY

OF SAlUBDA1 AND SUNDAY.
WAsHlNeroN, September 2-The Star aud
National Republican in their late editions
this afternoon have accounts, evidently de.
rived from official sources The longer one,
from the Eoening Star, is as follows:
On Saturday, the nineteenth demonstra-
ton was made by the rebels in strong force
which appears TO have been repelled by a
force of Thomas with the advantage on the
Federal side.
On Sunday, an engagement commenced
late in the morning. The first gun was fred
at nine A. M butuo considerable firing took
place till ten ocock. Previous 70 ten o'clock
General Rosecrans rode the length o our
line Soon after, the battle commenced
General Thomas, who held the left began
to call for reinforcements About twelve o.
clock, word came that he had been forced to
retire The second line of reinforcemenis
we're then sent to him, aud McCook's whole
corps, which was on the right and a reserve in
center, was sent to him. General Wood, Of
Crittenden's corps, and Van Cleve, who held
the front center, were also ordered TO the eis
where the fury of the cannonade showed that
the eueuy was massed Their places We're
filed by Davis and Sheridan, OF General Nc.
Cooks corps, but hardly had these divisions
taken their places in the line, when the rebel
fire, which had slackened burst out in i'm
mense volleys on the center This lasted
about twenty minutes, and then Van Cleve
on Thomas right, was seen to give way, but
in tolerabe order, soon after which the line
of Reynolds and Davis broke in disorder
borne down by the enemy's columns, which
are said to have consisted of Folks corps.
These two divisions were the only ones
thrown into much disorder Those Of Negley
and Van Ceve were thrown into confusion,
but soon rallied and held their places. The
first on the left and second on the right Of
Thomas corps, Davis and Sheridan, late in
the day succeeded in rallyiug about 5000 Of
their forces, and joined Thomas.
General Thomas, finding himself cut of
from the right, brought his division into posi-
ton for independent fighting his line assum-
ing the form Of horseshoe along the crest of
wooden ridge He was soon joined by
Granger, from Rossvlle, with division of
General McCook and General Steadman's s
division, aud with these forces firmly main
tanned the fight till after dark Our troops
were as immovable as the rocks they stood
upon.
The enemy repeatedly hurled against them
the dense columns which had routed Davis
and Sheridan in the morning, but every onset
was repulsed with dreadful slaughter Fail
ing on one aud then on the other point Of our
lines, the rebels for hours sought to break
them. General Thomas seemed to have filled
every soldier with his own uncouquerable
irmness, and General Granger his hat torn
by bullets, rode like lion wherever tho com
bat was thickest Every division commander
bore himself gloiiously, and, among them,
Generals Turchn and Parker especially dis.
tinguished themselves. Turchin charged
through the rebel lines with the bayonet, and
being surrounded, forced his way back again
Parker, who had two horses shot under him
on Saturday, forming his men in one line
made them lie down until the enemy was close
upon them, when Suddenly they rose and de-
lvered their fire with such effect that the as
sailing column fell back in confusion, leaving
the ground covered with killed.
When night fell this body Of heroes stood
on the same ground occupied by them in the
morning. their spirits being unbroken Their
losses are not yet estimated.
General Thomas telegraphed Monday fore
noon that the troops are in high spirits He
brought of all his wounded. OF the sick aud
wounded at Crawfsh Springs, including our
main hospital, nearly all had been brought
away. The number Of prisoners taken by the
enemy will hardly surpass 1900 besides the
wounded, of whom not more than 600 could
have fallen, into their hands OF rebel prs
oners we have sent 1900 to Nashville Most
of our losses in artillery were ocoasioned by
the killing of the horses General Thomas
retired to Rossville on Sunday night after the
battle had closed General Rosecrans has is
sued orders for all his troops to be coneentra-
TED with the forces at Chattanooga.
In the last two assaults our troops fought
with the bayonet, their ammunition being ex-
hausted The latest information that has
reached this city is from Chattanooga last eve
ming, and was 20 the effect that General Rose
Grams would concentrate on Chattanooga last
night Thomas had been engaged with the
enemy prior to five P. NJ, yesterday, and it
was, therefore, questionable whether he would
be able to reach Chattanooga last night
There were indications that the enemy was
contemplating demonstration on another
part of our line last evening.