The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1863-09-29


The different divisions were disposed in thi!
order: From right to left, one brigade O
Negley's, Johnson's, Baird's, Palmer's, Rev
nold's, two brigades of Negley's, Woods
Sheridan's, and Davis's, Brannan's and Van
| Clevs's formed the reserve. The mounted
brigades of Wilder and Minty covered the
right flank.
Sunday morning broke upon the hostile
armies as fair as that of the preceding day.
Contrary to the universal expectation on
our side, the enemy again allowed the early
hours so well suited 10 offensive manoeu-
vres, to pass away undisturbed by the
sounds of battle. The adaptation of their
plan of attack to our new line doubtless ne
cessitated this About 9 o'clock few
shots were heard at various points on our
front, but it was only at little before ten
that the report of whole volleys announced
the resumption of the fight in good earnest.
The firing that had begun upon the left at
once assumed the fiercest character. The
enemy repe ated the tactics Of the previous
day BY throwing themselves first upon our
extreme left, formed by Gen. Beattys bri'
gade of Negley's division. 1t stood the on
set for some time, but finally retired.
Desiring to unite the two portions of
General Negley's command, Gen. Rosecrans
ordered Gen. Woods division to take the
position of the two brigades stationed fur
ther to the right. The rebels perceiving
the withdrawal of Negley, and believing it
to be retreat in good earnest, quickly also
moved upon the centre, and the action
speedily became general Finding them
selves unable to make al impression on
Wood. the enemy, at the lapse OF an hour
or 80, seemed to concentrate their main
strength upon the centre, now again COM
manded by Thomas.
During the night our troops had con-
structed along tho line barriers of logs and
fence rails, and thus comparatively shelter
ed they kept a continuous murderous mus
kerry fire upon the enemy. Our artillery
was planted upon higher ground in the rear,
and fired over the infantry. Destructive
as our FIRE from small arms and cannon was,
it did not stay the advance Of the rebels.
At times they staggered, but only to rally
and push again forward toward our line.
With frantic yells, Longstreet's and Hills
corps both came rolling steadily on, In col.
umns by battalions. Our centre, weakened
to the extent Of almost one-third, was not
strong enough for success in this unequal
contest. Closer and closer approached the
shouting hostile masses, and at last forced
Brannan's division to yield its position
Meantime, as General Reynolds was Sc
verely pressed, General Wool was ordered
to march instantly BY the left flank, pass
Branum, and 60 to his relief. Davis and
Sheridan were to shift over the LETT, ana
thus close up the line. AS the occasion
was urgent, General Wool drew in his skir.
mishers with considerable haste, and the
rebels for the second time, mistaking with
drawal for fight, pressed forward like
torrent, and poured musketry, canister and
grape into the flank of the division, moving
upon the double quick, The men endeav-
ored for time to keep their files In order,
but as the pitiless storm OF lead and iron
continued to be hurled against them, the
regiments began to spread out, like ian,
wider and wider, until finally they were
tern to flinders. This was especially the
case with the brigade commanded by Col.
Buell.. Parker's brigade alone passed on to
It's destination comparatively intact.
The battle now extended upon its most
critiial phase. The breaks temporarily
caused by the shiftings Of divisions from one
point of the line to another, were so promtly
perceived and turned to advantage by the
enemy, that they proved fatal and costrthe
less the bay. Davis's division, coming up
to take Woods position on the extreme left
was taken with great suddenness and fury
by the left flank, and pushed to the right
in utter disorder. Simultaneously the weak
remnants of Van Cleve'. and Palmers divi-
sions exposed by the withdrawal Of Davis's
were attacked with equal vehemancs on the
right, and forced back in great confusIon.-
The route Of the left and the right ras ao~
complete and eren the erertions Of Gen. Rose
Grams and his staff, aohO, Oith draVn swordS,
attempted TO restore order, s0ere Of no draii.-
Streams of dsmoralized, uncomfortable men,
fleeing tot0ard the rear, aesre all that renamed
ofa largeportion Of The army.
After that fatal break, our line Of battle
was not again reformed during the day
The army was. in fact, cut in two, McCook,
with Davis. Sheridan and Wilder, being
thrown off to tie right Crttenden, ex-
cept one brigade OF Woods, being broken
in pieces, and Thomas, with: his IN iomitable
corps, and Johnson's s division Of McCook IS
remaining alone upon the lefi,-Thonsa
divisions, Negley's, Brannan,s and Baird
had been fearfully shaken and much scatter
ed by the fight over the log works, and
Reynolds was the only one that retired in
tolerable order. Retreat was now the only
resort left, and the whole disorganlzed mass
Of our troops fell back over the road to
Rossville. Crowds Of stragglers, in mob.
like disorder, made good speed toward
Chattanooga, with the exception Of Sberi.
dan, Davis, Wilder, who, cut off from the
centre, still struggled as best they could.
On the right the divisions Of Baird, Roy
nolds, Nrgley and BranDan, and Parker
brigade of Woods division, alone retained
cobesiveness, and took position along the
base Of Missionary Mountains, where
the Rossville road debouches from them, for
another fight The line was formed so that
| the left rested upon the Lafsyette road anC