The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-10-10

ably furious along the entire line still
the writer cannot speak with miuuteness
Of the whole battle, but proposes to des.
cribe in detail the struggle, or rather the
series Of struggles, for the mastery Of
the hill on which Thomas had immova-
bly, fixed his right, and which was key
10 the position. The writer saw all this,
and was an actor through It all.
When the fret and second BrigAdes Of
Gen BeannAn's troops were attacked in
the rear, after Negley, on their right had
Withdrawn, they we're ra lad, though ia
an unorganiz d form, on tae hill ia their
rear, the portions not reporting there hAv.
log been seized aud ordered of by Neg
ley, who seemed to be impressiug every
regiment aud battery be could discover
to take the place of those who had ,eit
his own command. A portion of Neg
ley's forces, however, also in a confused
state, had been rallied by Gen. Brannan
on the hill, with the remainder Negley
had retired on Rossville, and these various
fragments were organiEed as well as tho
circumstances would ALLOW, and with the
valuable assistance Of Smiths battery,
had been enabled, though hard pressed
TO hold the hill against great odds, until
the arrival of Col Vandeyeer with his
brigade thoroughly organized, though
weak, fresh from ITS late charge, and OF
GrAnger, with SteAdmsn's division from
Rossville. The occupation of the crest
by those troops about 2Il p. NJ, has al
ready been referred TO.
The rebels begun a fresh assault
as those troops took position, aud Tor an
hour one sheet OF q lme crowned the crest
ofthe,ridge, yet toward it, line sf er line
OF rebels rushed in quick succession, only
TO melt away and disappear before that
whitening fire. Then silence came once
more, silence that denoted not quiet,
but desperate preparation. Quickly our
troops taking advantage Of the lull, built
low breastwork of rails aud logs, and
lay down behind it, TO await the shock.
And speedily it came. Those troops
had passed through terrible ordeals du
ring the two days fght, bat no such flr-
ing as this had met their ear Cd Sold
iers there spoke of il as far heavier aud
more rapid than any thing within their
experience.
Close up TO those in line came the
swelling tide Of rebels, and as one went
down another stepped quickly into their
places, only to share q similar fate.
Sheltered by 4 slight raviue, one col
umn had nearly pierced our line; bat
rebels never stood in more precarious
position, for the 9 IA Ohio was confront.
ing and watching them; and behind bat
slight shield of logs, every man was feel
ing tor his bAyonet and chatting for the
spring. "Oharge !" was sounded along
the line of the 9th IL was the knell Of
that rebel mass. for rushing with uusha-
ken courage and faith 10 their own strong
arms, they swept the hill in front OF
them, as if a tornado's breath had purg-
cd il.
Safely they regsined their line, but
with thinner ranks, and with their lime-
honored banner freshly torn. Let Ger
mans and Americans every " here salute
the 9Th Olio for its three successful
charges OF the two days battle.
But notwithstanding this death well
come of our own line, the rebels atill
rushed to the attack aud for an hour,
scarcely man moved FROM Seadmau's
right to the point Of the bill on ihe loft,
except to load and fre. Oicasi pnalls
fragments of regiments came up and
joining the liue along the frOat continued
the work Of death. Smi,h his Battery
ploughed through tneir lines With oanis-
ter, aud still their ranks closed up and
faced as.
Atone time two Federal regimen s,
half complete, came up in two lines,
moved rapidly TO the log heap before chs
9th Ohio; and the six lines Ia do#H.t5-
gelher, and poured their com 1ined No
for half an hour INTO their wavering, yet
still persistent ranks
Aud then came a time that mono will
ever forget who moved on he hill that
night. From every point Of the line came
up the cry "Give us ammunition" aud
not box could be obtained The fre
was slackenlng fearfG ly, Men frlt in.
stinctively FIR their blyonets and put
thom on, and the command ran along the
line TO hold their position with the bay
onet. Then a single wagon load # car
ridges arrived, aud in five minut.s the
hill smoked again, and rang with the
rifles deadly crack-the already oOn-
trscting lines of the rebels f,l back
gain, and the fierce tide OF bat 10 rolled
strongly down those slopes, already 81 p.
perry with blood, and moWn smOtE 6g
every form Of shot. Still the rebel tlr-
did not slacken, aud rank after rank OF
fresh troops came bravely on. To n
army seemed dying there.
Again the cry was for ammunition, an 1
again bAyonets went on By the exeruou
OF officers and men few rounds were
obtained from the boxes of the dead and
wounded, And the FIRE continued. 0ll ~
the prayer for night, or Smmupiuon OF
help tremblsd on every lip, yet far dld
not prompt il, for not until our ia,t re-
source, the bayOnet, had failed was the
toe 10 set his foot on sod stepped Ia on.
comrades blood - that dissemination
was written on evory bro y; and deaeraI
Bfanuan with Colonel Vai d Uer who
had al, the wDils d 81 .yed u parai.sd
GOODNESS Hnd bravery, quledy to 4 tuei'
men TO give the rebels oold steel.
Cartridges were rec ivsd in sufh lent
Numbers 20 give the tue tlree IOuDd
per IN an, aud he driog was a der~d O.
cease. IL was ju't DIX, and with The
slackening Of our hre tnst Il tue ieOsI
lIne oearly ceased, aud that little baud
of heroes were masters Of the po'illon
aud felt themselves saved. BdG the
rebels had yet one other game - plAJ
before tuey were compelled 70 retire
Gen. Granger had Withdrawn his linz
on our right from the summit Il tue
ridge, aud 10 tais position a rebel rrgi
ment orept steathily md by represent
| ing themselves Rs Union soldiers
pounced upon add captured q companl
| ..-A-a 49,. .nA lnnL nnaLLinn aiLhlL