Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-10-01

dense eeons surrounding them, and like whirlwnd IN
forest tore their way through
But alas the guns of the immortal LIST Michigan pat
terry were left behDdth0se black, ste nlookiDg rinHd
cannon each of which had come to regard win
feeling Of almost reverentia ave. because upon dozen
battle fields had them hinging destruction into the
ranks of traitors and knew them turned against
legion Of my countrys enemies which they did not scat
ter like leaves befor the blast Even 10 the opinion Of the
rebels themselves LOOMS had made these guns nyincbo
They commanded now bya young man who, possess
ing naturally the nobles qualities had thoroughly learned
the lessons Of his teacher and promised to prove most
worthy to LOOMS acknowledgements an
P-t Van Pet loved his pieces with the unselsh
devotion which he manifested for his wife La the des
perate conflict which broke around Scribners brigade no
managed the battery with much dextery and Goodness
and for some moments rocked the very the heads
OF the rebels by the fiery blasts from his guns But his
horses were shot down Many If the artlerists were
killed wounded The infantry supporting him had been
ard horde of traitors rushed up to the muzzes OF tne
now harmless pieces Van Pelt, almost alone stationed
himself in front OF them and drew hs sword Inc mser
able barbarians unable appreciate true herosm brtay
murdered him where he stood The history OF the war
furnishes not incident more touching or more sublime
han the death of Lieut. Van Pelt All the guns OF Inc
battery save one, fell into the enemy's hands.
Along the entire ne Of the left and centre there were
similar instances of heroism only two three of which
have time to mention.
At one time the guns of the 4h Indiana battery Capt
Bash) all the hands OF the enemy, but were re-
taken subsequently by Simultaneous charge Of the ntan
try and artilerymen This battery s attached to Gen.
During the fierce assault upon the first division the %
Ohio beng in confusion was rallied by Gen Baird in per-
son, and led back TO most effective charge.
Major Gen. j. j. Reynolds, who combines the chival-
courage of olden knight with the COOL calm ability
of uenne lad time not ouls to keep his own division
IN effective order but to give his generous assistance 10
enemy broke Gen Palmers line and scattered several OF
his regiments in wild dsmay toward the rear Amongst
these the 9th Ohio which, in charge OF the fine sp
rited Anderson had up this moment nobly maintained
ite
lightning threw himself amongst the brave but broken
Guthries Boys " he shouted you the soldiers OF
the 9th Ohio who fought with me at Cheat Mountain
You turned your backs upon traitors in Virginia
Will you do it here" "No! MOI! they screamed almost
frantically LEAD back lead back y From every
quarter Came rushing up the scattered fragments of the
regiment with magic swftness they reformed the ranks
with Gen. Reynolds at their head they charged the nso
lent enemy and after moments struggle every rebel in
front of them not killed wounded was in confused re-
treat.
The example of the 9th Ohio communicated to the
flying fragments Of other regiments and it is fact which
will long be memorable in the history of this battle that
these rallied sraggers principally from Palmers division,
reformed ranks almost of their own accord and drove
back the enemy who had been VIGOROUSLY pressing
But cannot nger to gather up these scattered facts
Let endeavor to give brief and uccnct view OF the
of events Saturday, and then pass to the
great drama of the succeeding day
SATURDAYS LINE OF BATTLE.
The shifting of Thomas corps during the night OF Fri
day placed the left of the line in the following order
Brannon the extreme left Baird next, and Reynolds
next Negey assisting Wood to hold the passage of
Owens Ford and the position of Gordons Mill which had
now become our extreme right. One division of Nc
Cooks corps Johnson having come up to the line
than the rest reported to Thomas for ORDERS and
assigned to position upon the left, between Baird
and Reynolds Two divisions of Crttendens corps held
the centre of the line, Palmer the right of Reynolds
and Van Cleve next to Palmer When the battle began
Davis and Sheridan, Of McCooks corps were rapidly
marching towards the left to complete the line and take
position the right of Van Cleye Generally the line
thod If th1 D, ,..l.l
the left to follow for considerable distance the
course of the Lafayette road, which directly north
and south.
The rebels had been maneuvring all day on Friday
about the position at Gordons MILL and seeing its great
strength had menaced left flank doubtless with the
express purpose Of compelling Gen Rosecaus aban-
plan partially succeeded aod the immense transfer of
Thomas from right 10 left Friday night far suited
their designs But il rendered our left strong
that it became impossible for the rebels to it, they
had all along hoped to do The attempt on our part 10
hold Gordons MILL after this transfer, perhaps occasoned
too great lengthehing of our lines md consequently
little sody. True il seemed every way adapted to pre-
vent the enemy from fapkng upon the right but the
simple withdrawal of right wing to the Mission RIDGE
allowing it to rest there would have fully secured that
flank enabled TO bid defiance to the rebels in that d.
recun greatly contracted front and released for i'm
mediate service Saturday the splendid divisions of
Negl and Wood. The entire distance over which the
line extended was little short Of three and half miles
GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF THE BATTLE
Ii was betweeen ten and eleven O'Clock when Crontons
brigade, Of Braunans division, going down ford over
the creek just opposite The position they then occ
pypg encountered the enemy who advancing in
force, and after gallant combat driven back Re-
inftrcements imme datey coming up from the remainder
of BrannaDs DIVISION the rebels in turn driven pe-
nell toward the ford. Another terrible charge by an
increased force Of the enemy pushed back the whole OF
Bsannuns division, involving Gen Baird who once be-
came 6eroey engaged The regulars outfanked after
the withdrawal Of Brannaus men, fought like tigers but
rolled back and Scrbners brigade-the right
and the brigade literally surrounded until by unparalleled
galantry il out It's way through
The storm, rolling from lett 10 right, fell next upon
Johnston and almost simultaneously upon Reynolds who
both fought with desperate val0r wavorng times but
again reganing their frmness, giving back little but
again advancing until the troops of and Baird
rallied by their able leaders, and by the personal exertons
of Thomas him elf whose was as conspicuous
his coolness, came up once more 10 the work.
Then the order issued for the entire line to ad
vance aud nothing in history exceeds grandeur the
charge of that powerful corps Longstreets men from
Virginia whre directly opposed to tho troops of Thomas
and although they fought with stubborn determination
they could not for instant check the slow and stately
march Of our battaous In vain they rallied and re-
rallied in vain they formed double lines, which fired
simultaneously; in vain they wheeled their into
score Of new positions. Thomas moved resis,lessy on
Much OF artillery lost in the morning recapureI
pushed already threequarters Of e aud Long street
threatened with actual humiliation, when dan
ger caused Thomas to halt.
lille our lett was remOrseessy driving the rebels
Polk and Hill, collecting their chosen eg0ns threw them
with great mpetuosity upon Palmer and Van Ceve in
order to effect diversion 10 favor Of Longstreet An
contest eDsued but the oyerpoweng numbers of
Il IL ~ II