Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1863-09-28

his own personal fortunes must have
been his anxiety for the republic for
the destruction of his army on the NOR
row would be a disaster to the nation
well nigh irreparable, while, a decisive
victory would dispel the last lingering
fears of the patriot, and make all loyal,
I liberty loving hearts in our own and all
other lands bound with ecstatic joyl
Tomorrow came. No sound of crack
ling musketry or roaring cannon, or
bursting she'll disturbed the peacefulness
of that Sabbath morning. The Sabbath
yes, itwas the blessed day of rest-rest
given in mercy by kind heaven to un-
grateful man. Will the battle be renew
ed to-day? Ifso, it will be by the action
of the enemy, Tor Gen. Rosecrans does
not willingly fight on the Sabbath. The
first hour after sunrise passed. "Sure-
ly, said our officers and soldiers, s'there
will be no fight; for if the enemy had in
tended to attack Us he would, following
his usual tactics, have fallen upon us at
daybreak"
Two hours more had gone by, and
some dropping musketry began to be
hfaFo Fhayf aHnf fR R aB6atP aBaEPp 9sn cock f6ere
were several fierce volleys, and the loud
booming of half dozen pieces of artil-
lery announced that the enemy had
again, as on the day before, assaulted
our left
And now that the battle has begun, Lett
US glance one moment at the contending
forces On one side is our old army
which fought at Stone River, REINFORCED
by two divisions (Brannan's and Rev
nolds) of Thomas corps, and Stark
weather s brigade of Baird's division.
But counterbalancing these to some eN-
tent, Posts brigade of Davis division
and Wagner's of Woods were both alb
sent We might or might not also RELY
for assistance upon Steadmans division
of Gen Granger's corps
Opposed to these was the old Army of
the Tennessee, which Bragg had SO long
Longstreet1s formidable
corps from Virginia; one-half of John
ston's army from Mississippi; Buckner's
division from East Tennessee; Dabney
Maury's division from Mobile; Brigadier
General Lees command from Atlanta.
and from twelve to fifteen thousand fresh
troops in the service of the State of
Georgia;-in all, amounting, to at least
thousand men. The Union
army confronting them was certainly not
more than fifty-five thousand strong.
The firing which had begun upon our
left, swelled almost Immediately into
dreadful roar, which filled even the souls
of the bravest with awe. Nothing that
have yet listened to since the breaking
out of the war, exceeded it in continuity
and volume of sound It was not tu-
multi which now RACES and now subsidies;
but one which for two long hours, rolled
all along the lines of Thorn
as seemingly devoted corps. So loud
was the crash of musketry, that the re-
peated discharges of cannon following
each other in quick succession, could
with difficulty be distinguished, and
seemed only ike more emphatic pas
in the grand diapason of thunder
Gus harmony which burst from the vast
clouds of smoke and dust enveloping the
a OF n s3ley DIVISION. brigade,
as well as its famous leader, stood their
ground nobly; but being somewhat lso-
lated from the remainder of the line,
finally retired. 1t will be remembered
that the other brigades of Negley 5 di-
vision were posted much further to the
right. a desire to re-unIte the two por-
tions of his command, induced General
Rosecrans to send General Wood to take
General Negley's place IN line until the
latter should effect the reunion of his
brigades. Wood proceeded Immediately
to execute the order, filling up the gap
as Negley retired. The rebels under
standing this movement of Negley's to
he a retreat. Immediately advanced their
skirmishers. not only here, but all along
the left, an the fighting at once became
terrific, as have described The rebels,
however. soon ceased to attack General
Wood front, and for time appeared to
devote their entire attention to General
Thomas. | went down to the extreme
left of Gen. Woods position about this
time, and looking thence into some corn
fields, could see the desperate efforts OF
the enemy to break the lines of Brannan
and REYNOLDS. The soldiers of these
two noble divisions were lying behind
rude breastworks of logs and rails con-
structed the night before; their artillery
in the rear fired over their heads: and
/ it really seemed as if that long line OF
defenses was some immense serpent, In
stinct with hideous life and breathing
continually from his huge rough sides
volumes of smoke and fame. Col Van
deveer. 35th Ohio, of Brannon's division,
was fighting here with brigade second
to but few in the service. The Colone
, himself is true hero, and the command
, and commander are worthy of eacl
other. Here also was the brave ano
: able Turchin with a brigade composed
f principally of Ohio troops, who won to
themselves and the State that sent then
: forth immortal honor during the cor
) ficts of that day.
:, Again and again the rebel lines az
/ vancing from the cover of the woods int
: the open cornfelds charged with impetI
Il Gus fury and terrific yells toward tn
e breastworks of logs and rails, but eac
and battalions swept over and aroun
e them, and their ranks were crumoled an
;, swept away as bank of loose cls
o washed by a rushing food. But as ia
Is as one line fell off another appeare
n. rushing sternly on over the dead al
le bleeding bodies of their fallen comrade
d, Longstreets corps was seeking to rega
a it's lost laurels of yesterday. d. d. Hi
at at the head of Hardee's old corps, "
he lending them the assistance of a divislc
tic and Buckner's troops were throw
'r- their weight into the scale: Thom
n fought only with his forces of Saturd
Ids weakened by Saturdays heavy loss
lat 1t was an unequal contest, and Pang
lor agony shot through my heart as
his our exhausted veterans begin to way
or To waver in the faces of the chargi
'et- shouting, laundering host which c
lch frcnted them, was to lose all, and
ave next moment wave after wave of
ing rebel sea came surging down toward
breastworks, dashing madly against !
ngs orer the barrier, and greedily swall
ope ing up its defenders, with all their
he -,,n,+;on opd 9aofe7-fnT Never was