The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-10-03

thrown off to the right, [Crittenden lex
cept one brigade of Woods) being broken
In pieces,l and Thomas, with his indomi-
table corps, and Johnson's division of Nc
COOKS, remaining alone upon the left. In
tne herce tornado which had swept over
ms log breastworks, Thomas had been
much shaken, all his divisions fighting des-
perately, all rallying at the earliest practi-
cal moment, but only General Reynolds
retiring from the works toward the hills in
anything like tolerable order.
AS soon, however, as the corps had
reachedthe foot of Mission Ridge it formed
/ anew its broken ranks with an alacrity and
rapldlty only less remarkable than the OBJ |
stinacy with which it so long endured the
assaults OF the enemy upon the level
ground below. The great leader himself. |
Gen. Thomas, assisted by Baird, REYNOLDS.
Brannan, Scribner Harker, Negley, John
Turchin, .reorganized the brigades with
gan making head against the enemy.
From this time McCook disappeared
from the general history of the battle; as,
4 indeed, extricating himself, from his de-
moralized and routed corps, he headed to-
ward Chattanooga, and, at about one
clock, disappeared entirely from the field.
His two divisions, Davis and Sheridan's
forced off toward the right, tar behind their
original position, were assailed by inn
mense squadrons Of the enemy, and fear
fully battered. Each had but handful
left as it retired, toward nightfan upon the
Rossville road, but the men must have
done gallant fighting, or they would not
wherever Sheridan is, whether isolated or
in company, and whether the odds against
him be one or many, there is certain to be
a fight.
| 1t was about half past twelve, when hear
ing heavy cannonade open upon the right
l galloped over in that direction to see
what it might mean. A Longitudinal gap
4 in Mission ridge admits the Rossville road
into Chattanooga valley, and skirts along
a large cornfield at the mouth Of the gap.
Looking across the cornfield from the gap,
yon see thick woods upon the other side
The cornfield itself is sort of "cove'' in
the ridge, and here were numbers of all
sorts of army vehicles mingled with the
debris of dismantled and dismantled and
discount ted batteries. Fragments Of Da-
Wis flying squadrons had also lodged in
this field. s .
While I stood gazing upon this scene
from the summit of the ridge, some rebel
skirmishers appeared in the skirts of the
I woods opposite the gap have mentioned,
and flung perhaps dozen musket balls
into the field. Instantly, men animals, ve-
hicteS became mass of struggling, ours
ing, shouting frightened life. Everything
and everybody appeared to dash headlong
for the narrow gap, and men, horses.
mules, ambulances, baggage wagons, am
munition wagons, artillery carriages and
caissons were rolled and tumbled together
in a confused, inextricable, and finally mo-
tionless mass, completely blocking up the
:, mouth of the gaps. Nearly all this booty
subsequently fell into the hands of the en-
emy. Sickened and disguised by the spec
, tacle, I turned away to watch the opera
! tions of Gen. Thomas corps, upon which
alone depended the safety of the army.
General Thomas had withdrawn his men
), almost entirely from the valley, and taken
, up position on the side of Mission Ridge.
His left still rested upon the Lafayette
!. road, and his right upon the ridge near the
gap have already spoken .of. Here were
$ collected the scattered remnants of the pow
erful corps which had so long breasted the
!; fierce assaults Of the enemy in the fore
! noon. Here was Johnston, who seems to
have done better work to-day and yester-
J. day than ever before. Here was the un-
i conquerable Wood, with Harker's brigade
q and here were also such fragments of Crit
9 tenden's corps as could be induced to ven.
n ture upon another stand. The whole were
drawn up in a line forming circular
curve, facing the southeast. hill neal
the middle of the curve was the key of the
e position, and Harker's brigade was ap-
0 pointed to defend the same. Soon after the
L hill was occupied, house upon it's summit
>
continued to burn for long time with grea
: fury. .~ .. r'..a
e mot long was the new line Of battle per
s mitted to remain idle. Cannon beloved
! against it; missiles of every kind were
Q hurled into it; shells burst above it; rifle
/, balls went tearing through it; but still i
remained firm. ~.
1t was certain, however, as truth itself
/ that unless assistance should reach it from
d some quarter, and that right speedily, i
r must at length succumb, for the rebel lead
n ers, emboldened by the rout of McCool
9 and Crittenden, were gathering their host:
}. to hurl them in last mighty effort agains
), the feeble band that confronted them.-
J. Whence should that succor come?
G Suddenly vast cloud of dust was seer
s to rise above the trees, away to the left, ant
:, a few minutes afterward long lines of mer
II emerged from the woods, crossed the La
y fayette road and began advancing toward
= us over the fields. Their discipline seemed
= very perfect, and it was an imposing pa
:, geant when as they came on, their ban
!, ners f1uttered above their heads and thei
e glittering arms flashed back the sunligh
g through the black clouds Of dust.
g Capt. Johnson of Gen. Negley's staff
q who on being severed from his own divi
b sion, had Immediately reported to Genera
r Thomas for duty, had already, at great per
r sonal risk, ascertained that the advancin!
q battalions were infantry. and now th
question arose, was it our own or the enc
} my's. Hope and fear alternately agitate,.
o our bosoms, until at last, looking through
IS our glasses, we could clearly distinguish
d the red aud blue, with the white crescent
d 1t was the battle flag Of Gen. Granger, ant
IS the troops we saw were two brigades
l. Mitchell's and Whittaker's, of Stead
), mans strong division. These wer
= comparatively fresh troops. True, the,
: had marched some weary miles ever road
Il ankle deep with dust. True, they had hur
d ried along rapidly to succor their comrade
(, and participate in the fight. But they hae
II not as yet been engaged that day, ant
If hence they could indeed be considered hel,
d fto the battle-scarred veterans who held th'
d hill.
! AS soon as Gen. Granger had reported te
j. Gen. Thomas for duty, he was sent by the
l. latter to bring over an ammunition train
d from the Rossville road. The train had
: fallen into the hands of the enemy, but the
i. march in search of it brought Steadman at
e once into contact with the rebels, and a
desperate conflict Immediately ensued. 1t