The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-10-02

It was the battle-hag of Gene raj Granger,
and the troops we saw were two brigade 8,
Mitchell's and Whitaker's, of Steadman's
strong division. These were comparatively
fresh troops True they had marched
some weary miles over roads ankle deep
with dust. True, they had hurried along
rapidly, to succor their comrades and par
ticipate in the fight. But they had not as
yet been engaged that day, and hence
they could indeed be considered as help
to the battle-scarred veterans who held
the hill.
AS soon as Gen. Granger had reported
to Thomas for duty, he was sent by the
latter to bring over an ammunition train
from the Rossville road. The train had
fallen into the hands of the enemy, but
the march in search of it brought Stead
man at once into contact with the rebels
and desperate conflict Immediately en-
sued. 1t was now that the brilliant cOur-
age of Col. John G. Mitchell, command
! ing one of General Steadman's brigades,
became conspicuous. Now Gen. Whitta-
ker had an opportunity of baptizing in
glory the star recently placed upon his
shoulder; and now the troops of the re-
serve corps, comparatively unused to bat
tie, had an opportunity of testing their
mettle. Nobly did all pass through the
ordeal, and although once thrown into
confusion by the concentrated fire from a
score OF rebel regiments and half as many
batteries, they rallied under the fire. and
drove the enemy from hill almost as for
midable as that which formed the kew of
General Thomas position. The rebels
made one desperate endeavor to retake
the position, but were blOodily repulsed.
and almost for the first time since the
fight began there was a lull in the fearful
storm.
An hour passed by, and it became evil
dent that Bragg would not be foiled in his
attempt to annihilate our gallant army
without another effort Folks corps, as
sisted by the Georgia State troops, by
Dabney Maury's division, and by various
detached fragments of the rebel army,
were to try their hands upon the heroic
band who, as the forlorn hope of the army,
still held the hill. Our feeble ranks were
gathered up. The thinned battalions were
brought closer together. The dozen pieces
OF artillery were planted to sweep all ap-
prOaches to the hill, and each man, looking
at his neighbOr, vowed, some mentally,
and others audibly, to die right there, if it
were necessary, for their country, for free
dom, and for mankind!
All along the woods skin ting the cleared
fields at the southeastern foot of the hill;
IN the hollOws and ravines to the right, and
away to the left, upon and beyond the La
fayette road, the rebel legions were seen
gathering for the onset
At last shell came hustling through the
air, and burst with loud explosion over
the hill. This was the signal for the rebel
attack, and at once the bullets flew thick
and fast amongst us.
The fight around the hill now ragged
with terror inexperienced before, even up
on this terrible day. Our soldiers were
formed in two lines, and, as each marched
up to the crest and fired a deadly volley
at the advancing foe, it fell back little
ways, the men lay down upon the ground
to load their guns, and the second line adj
vanced to take their place. They, too,
in their turn retired, and thus the line
kept marching back and forth, delivering
their whitening volleys till the very brain
grew dizzy as it watched them. And all
the time not man wavered Every mo-
ton was executed with as much precision
as though the troops were on a holiday
parade, Notwithstanding the flower of the
rebel army were swarming round the foot
OF the hill, and a score of cannon thunder
ing from three sides upon it. Every at
tempt OF the enemy to scale it was re-
pulsed, and the gallant Harker looked
with pride upon his lines, standing or w.
ing just where they were when they first
began.
But our troops are no longer satisfied
with the defensive. Gen. Turchin, at the
head of his brigade, charged into the
rebel lines, and cut his way out again,
bringing with him three hundred prisoners.
Other portions of this brave band followed
Turchin's example, until the legions of the
enemy were fairly driven back to the
ground they occupied previous to com.
mencing the last fight. Thus did twelve
or fifteen thousand men, actuated by he
rolc impulses and inspired by worthy
leaders, save from destruction the Army ,,
of the Cumberland.
at night Gen. Thomas fell back to
Rossville, four miles from CHATTANOOGA.
around and in which CITY the army lies
tonight
Our losses have been most severe, and
can scarcely fall short of 100 killed and
5000 wounded. Col. Barnett tells me
that our losses in artillery will not fall
short of fifty pieces. Our deficiency in
transportation and baggage cannot now be
estimated.
But the enemy has suffered as severely
as we in that which he can least afford
human life and limb. He intended by
massing all his available forces together,
to annihilate the Army of the Cumber-
land. He has failed to do so, and although
it would be childish to deny or conceal
our own fearful losses, yet we may console
ourselves by the assurance that in his cir
cumstances his failure to destroy us, is for
US a signal victory, and for him an ire
parable defeat.
Eight persons, several of them wo-
men, have been arrested for the murder
Of Mr.. De Prey, in Michigan. He was
an agent for the sale of reaping machines.
and no other motive can be IMAGINED for