The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-10-08

combat, was driven back Reinforce
ments Immediately coming up from the
remainder of Brannan's division, the
rebels were in turn driven pell-mell
toward the ford. Another terrible
charge, by largely increased force of
the enemy, pushed back the whole of
Brannan's division, involving General
Baird, who at once became fiercely en-
gagged. The Regulars outfanked, after
the withdrawal of Brannon's men,
fought like tigers, but were rolled back
and over Scribner's brigade-theright
of which being rather too far advanced;
was crumpled up, and the brigade lit
orally surrounded, until by unparalleled
gallantry, it cut its way through. The
storm, rolling from left to right, fell
next upon johnson, and almost stimuli
taneously upon Reynolds, who fought
with. desperate valor, wavering at
times, but again regaining their firm
ness; giving back a little, but again
advancing, until the troops of Brannon
and Baird were rallied by their able
leaders, and by the personal exertions
of Thomas himself, whose courage was
as conspicuous as his GOODNESS, came up
once more to the work.
|
Then the order was issued for the
entire line to advance, and nothing in
history exceeds in grandeur ofthe charge
of that powerful corps. Longstreet's
men, from Virginia, were directly OPP
posed to the troops of Thomas, and
although they fought with stubborn de-
termination, they could not for an in
slant check the slow and stately march
of our battaions. In vain they rallied
and rerallied; in vain they formed in
double lines, which fred simultaneous
ly; in vain they wheeled their cannon
in score of new positions. Thomas
moved resistlessly on. Much of Our
artillery lost in the morning was recap
tured. Seven pieces were taken from
the enemy. They Lad been pushed al
ready three quarters Of a mile, and
Longstreet was threatened with utter
annihilation, when a new danger caused
Thomas to halt.
M nj I.ft Il -.
driving the rebels, Polk and Hill, col
lecting their chosen legious, threw them
with great impetuosity upon Palmer
and Van Cleve, in order to effect d.
version in favor Of Longstreet. An
obstinate contest ensued. but the over
powering numbers of the enemy speed
lily broke to pieces large portions of our
two divisions, especially Van Cleve's.
In fact, the route of this part of our
line was becoming as complete as that
of the enemy's right, when Davis, who
had been marching up as rapidly as
possible to intersect with Van CIeve's
left, arrived upon the ground, went in
most gallantly, and, for time, restored
in that locality the fortunes of the day.
But the enemy knowing that all de-
pended upon his efecting diversion
in favor of the defeated Longstreet,
massed nearly the whole of his availa-
BILE force, hurled it upon Van Cleve and
Davis, drove the former to the left and
the latter to the right, and entered bold.
ly the opening thus made. 1t was just
at this juncture that Thomas troops,
whose attention had been called to the
extreme danger of our centre, began to
return. Reynolds Immediately sent the
heroic Wilder to the assistance of
Davis, and the celebrated brigade of
mounted infantry at first scattered the
enemy before them. But the persever
ing rebels rallying again, and charging
in fresh numbers, even Wilder began
to fall slowly back. General Sheridan,
who had been following after Davis,
now came up. and led Col. Bradley's
brigade into the fight. 1t held its own
nobly, until the rebels, in large force,
getting possession of piece of timber
near its flank, opened upon it an en-
fiading fire, which compelled it to give
way.
But new actors appeared upon the
scene, Wood and Negley, who had gal
lantly repelled the assaults of the ene-
my at Ovens Ford, assaults intended
as felnt to conceal the designs of the
rebels against our left,) came up to the
rescue. Their troops went to work
with will. The progress OF the ene-
my against Davis, Van Cleve and
Sheridan was speedily checked. Rey-
nods returning from the pursuit OF
Longstreet, assisted in rallying the
broken battalion of Palmer. Thous.
ands of our scattered troops reorgan.
lied of their own accord. Raird Rrop.