Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-09-28
The Army Of the Cumberland.
BATTLES OF
Desperate Engagements on Saturday
and Sunday.
. Partial List of Casualties.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE CUNBERLANDl

Another battle, ana would that i could say,
another yictoryl but, alasl truth compels me to
declare that, after a series Of struggles,
by anything similar in the present
war. the Army of the Cumberland has been over
by numbers; has suffered immense losses
in men and material, and has fallen back 10 a
new position. Ii may console Us TO know, how
that it has saved its honor, kept its naughty
foe at bay, and has inflicted upon the enemy as
severe blows as il received.
The rebel army, after evacuating Chattanooga,
retired to Lafayette, twenty eight miles to the
southwark, concentrated their troops at that point,
restored their courage and hopes by promises of
reinforcements, and awaited the arrival of the
same. Meantime be took possession OF the gaps
in Pigeon mountain (which Gen. Rosecrans must
cross in order TO reach the Georgia State road,
ard the great railroad which formed Bragg's line
of communication with Atlanta.) and carefully
fortified them. This obstruction delayed for some
days the advance of our forces, which had already
crossed the Raccoon and Lookout mountains,
and gave the enemy time not only to recover
their spirits, but 10 receive a portion of their re-
Inducements. Hitherto our army had been
marching in three great columns-Crittendcn,
followed by Granger. by way of Chattanooga;
Thomas by way of Trenton; ana McCook, with
Stanley's cavalry. still further to the southwark.
The daily increasing numbers and boldness Of
the enemy compelled a concentration of our
forces as rapidly as the nature Of the case would
admit, and by evening of the 10th instant the
whole army was IN line along the West Chicka-
manga, between Lookout and Pigeon mountains,
and just to the east OF that low chain of wooded
hills called Mission ridge On Thursday the nth
the army shifted toward lie north, contracted its
lines, and as the enemy's demonstrations became
each hour more threatening, prepared for battle.
On Friday morning the extreme left of the ar
nv rested upon the Chickamauga, at Gordon's
Mill. the point where the Lafayette road crosses
the Ch~ickamauga, about twelve miles southwest
of Chattanooga. The right could only be loose
ly defined and was in a constant state of prepara-
ton to shift ~northward, in order to battle the
rebels, who seemed bent upon turning our left
and getting betwee US and Chattanooga.
About ii A. NJ, hearing some cannonading to
the northward. | started from near the corner Of
our lines. and, riding past Palmer's and Van
Cleve's divisions, came upon Gen. Woods troops
at Gordon's Mill. Here had this dauntless COM
mander been stationed for a week, liable at any
moment to be attacked from LAFAYETTE BY the
whole army Of the enemy ami cut to pieces be-
fore assistance could reach him. But il was a
matter of the least Importance that while Crit
tenden's main body was moving to form a juno
ton with Thomas. the rebels should not be al
lowed to get in the rear of the former and take
possession of Chattanooga. Consequently, Wood
was ordered TO hold this important point at all
hazards, and as long as possible, and If over
powered to fall back to ROssville, renew the fight
there, and then if he could not sustain himself,
to retreat to the foot OF Lookout mountain, and
at the narrow passage between il and the river to
fight while a man remained. To execute his
difficult and perilous task Gen. Wood had but
two brigades, Harker's and Buells, Gen. Wag-
ner's command of his division having been left in
Chattanooga.
Here was General Wood when / found him on
Friday, expecting momentarily that the storm
u
burst upon him. 1t seemed to me that the very
spirit of vigilance was embodied in the General
as he passed carelessly from one end to the other
of his lines, directing. Strengthening, suggesting;
observing what was going on amongst his own
men. and accommodating the operations of the
rebels. who frequently made their appearance on
the other side of the stream. The skirm'shers
were firing almost continually, and occasionally
the deep roar of a cannon would be preceded or
followed by the whiz and bursting Of a shell, ac-
cording as the missile was hurled coward or from
our lines.
This state of things continued until ] o'clock,
when Van Cleve moved from his place In line,
and took position on Woods left, while Palmer,
marching by the left flank, came into communi-
cation with Woods right. This made an i'm
mense opening between Gen Crittenden's corps
ard the left wing of Gen. Thomas. which was
evidently filled by another general shifting from
south TO north.
Meantime the sound of n brisk cannonade in
the direction of Ringgold indicated either that
our mounted troops. or Gen Changers corps.
were engaged with the enemy. From half past
one to three, courriers came dashing past, now
from Minty and now from Wilder. bearing dis
patches to Wood. or Crittenden, or Rosecrsns,
the general tenor of which WAS that they were
fighting the enemy briskly, and although meeting
with some losses. were firmly holding their
ground.
On Thursday Minty and Wilder were at Reds
bridge. but on Friday morning Wilder moved to
Anderson's bridge, higher up the creek. During
the day the latter closely watched the enemy's
movements, and observed a troop OF rebel cavalry
come through Napieris gap, in Pigeon mountain,
and move toward Gen. Woods position at Cor
don's Mill. At the same time a strong column
came over, directly in front Of Wilder, and
another column boldly advancing oil the Ring
gold road. threatened Minty Both attacked
simultaneously Wilder succeeded in repulsing
his opponents, hut Minty's flank being turned by
the rebels he was considerably distressed, until
the more fortunate Wilder sent two regiments
and a section of artillery TO his assistance With
the help of these he maintained his ground; but
the same movement by which the rebels had sue
ceeded in turning Minty's right flank enabled
them to get upon Wilder's left, and in bis rear.
Under these disadvantageous circumstances the
latter was compelled TO renew the fight; but,
although severely pressed, he succeeded in hold
ing the bridge until near dark. Then fresh forces
Of the enemy coming up. and his own men heing
entirely exhausted, Wilder began TO fall back.
The rebels perceiving this made a determined
effort to cut him of. BE slowly retired, resisting
at every step. until he arrived within a mile and
a half of Gordon's Mill. where the 44th Indiana
and 59th Ohio coming to bis assistance, he was
enabled to check the rebels ard encamp for the
night. During the night his own pickets and
those of the enemy actually grasped each others
guns in the darkness, and several times engaged
in fierce struggles for their possession
Before daylight Wilder was ordered to moveto
the Lafayette road and take position there, which
he did. throwing up for his protection a breast
work If rails.
When Friday night came few expected a battle
next day; but the movements of Thomas and
McCook toward the left, commenced this time
and carried on under cover of the darkness, indi-
Gated to the rejecting that the rebel foe was still
menacing our line of communication with Chat
tanooga, and that a 6nal position was about to
be taken up for the purpose OF defending this
line and giving battle TO the enemy IL he desired
il: for il was not our intention to fight If we coold
Just as well avoid IL.
But the enemy had collected what be believed
to be a sufficient force TO crush our gallant army;
the necessities of his situation world not allow
him 10 wait; he could easily turn Sur tanks by
reason OF his superior numbers; he knew that we
could not afford under any circumstance 10 allow
him 10 get between us and Chattanooga; he saw
his opportunity. and he determined to seize il.
All night long on Friday night, the movement
Of Thomas's corps continued.
A night march of a large body Of troops is q
solemn thing. The soldiers scarcely speak a
word to each other: the animals move with q
dull, mechanical motion which hardly resembles
life. the rattle of the WAGON wheels eopma