The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-12-10

line, but none of the guns of sufficient
calibre to reach Fort Wood. AS Gen
Wood advanced, he soon got under the
fire of these guns, and suffered con
siderably from them. s4
Wood moved with a part of Hazen's
brigade on the right, and Willich's on
the left; General Sam. Beatty being in
reserve. The 9Th Kansas did the skir.
mishing for the entire line, and did ii
in the usual admirable style of that
fine regiment. The enemy was of course
encountered before the first hundred
rods had been traversed, and the
whole of Woods front became immedi-
ateIy engaged. He pushed forward
rapidly, driving the enemy before them
into their rifle pits, and began in the
forest which enveloped them from
view from Fort Wood, a very brisk
and rapid fire. The effect of this soon
became apparent by the appearance of
numerous wounded from the woods.
These made their way to the ambu-
lance train just in the rear of the divi-
sion, and under cover of the railroad,
and in twenty minutes after being
wounded, were in the hospital at Chat
tanooga, having their wounds dressed.
The fight in the woods was of but short
duration, for General Wood finding
the enemy safely uncovered behind the
huge rife pits, ordered charge ofhis
whole front, and the two brigades of
Which and Hazen, charging, with a
yell, went into the rebel works without
a straggler. The enemy broke and
fled to his second line of works at the
mountains, losing in his disorder about
200 prisoners, representing mainly
Hindman's division, and a large por-
ton belonging to the 2sth Alabama
infantry. This enemy, finding bis line
breaking in disorder, opened fire of
artillery from the ridge, to cover their
retreat, and, for few moments, this
was very vigorously maintained. Little
or no danger was done, as our troops
were now safely behind and on a couple
lie Of hills, known on the map as Bald
Knobs. These were taken possession
of by General Hazen's brigade, and the
right of General Which, the 18th Ohio
being the regiment which occupied
the most important hill of the two.
THE RECONNoIssANCE THUS ENDED.
Gen. Wood reported, and received in
reply that he had met with such sig
nal success, and had gained SO impor-
tant point that it was determined to
hold it, and orders were given him to
intrench himself. At the same time
the division of Gen. Sheridan was
moved forward on his right to support
him, while Gen. Howard's corps moved
on his left, in order to protect his flank.
A small but deep stream lay in Gen.
Howard's front, and it was determined
to obtain possession of that as defile
to his position. But the enemy had
built strong rif-pits on the east bank
of this stream. Though the force in
Woods front had been routed, there
still remained force in the works on
his left flank, and these were develop
ed as soon as Gen. Howard moved
forward and attempted to take position
on the creek-it is called Citico. He
became engaged in a sharp skirmish,
the enemy persistently holding their
own. Seeing this, Gen. Granger sent
Gen Samuel Beatty, hitherto in reserve,
by a flank movement to the right
of this position. he came upon the
enemy's left flank very unexpectedly,
and after few minutes fighting on
their flank, with a vigorous attack by
Gen. Howard in front, the enemy fell
back, and we found ourselves in entire
possession of their first line of rifle
pits and the important portion of Bald
Knob. The positions taken were en-.
trencbed, and the center found itself
next morning in strong, defensive
position, awaiting operations on the
flanks. During the night, Captain
Bridges batteries of artillery was moved
from Fort Wood TO the summit on Bald
Knob, and this position it retained
during the remainder of the operations.
4 THE SECOND DAYS OPERATIONS.
During the night of Monday, Gen
eral Sherman succeeded in reaching
his position on the north side of the
river, opposite the mouth of Chicka-
mauga Creek, preparatory to-crossing
at daylight in the morning. Col. STAN
ley, 18th Ohio, had the boats in order
for crossing, the steamer Dunbar being