The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-01-16
SAINT PAUL. FRIDAY JANUARY Is 1863.

into the causes of the disaster on the
right, but obviously there was something
wrong. v 5
Meantime, while this losing battle was
going on, the General commanding gal
loped into the field, followed by his staff
escort. He had sent reply to McCook's
application for aid: "Tell Gen. McCook
will help him." In an instant he gal
loped to the left and sent forward Beatty's
brigade. Moving down to the extreme
left, he was discovered by the enemy, and
a full battery opened upon HIM. Solid
shot and shell stormed about us furiOusly.
The General himself was unmoved by it,
but his staff generally were more sensitive.
The inclination to dodge was irresistible.
Directly one poor fellow of the escort was
dismounted,' and his horse galloped franti-
cally over the fields. The General direct
ed Col. Barnett, his Chief of Artillery, to
post battery to shell the enemy, waiting
to see it DONE The Colonel galloped for
ward coolly, under fire, and soon had
Cox's 10th Indiana battery numbering to-
ward a commanding point. The officer
in command wheeled into position at a
point apparently unfavorable for sharp
work. The General shouted "On the
crest; on the crest of the hill" On the
crest it went, and in five minutes the rebels
closed their music. Beatty's brigade was
now double-quicking under fire obliquely
from left to right, as coolly as if on parade.
Inquiring who held the extreme left, the
General was answered Col Wagner's brig
ade. "Tell Wagner to hold his position
at all hazards Soon after Colonel Wag-
ner replied, laconically, "Say to the
General IecM" Down at the toll-gate,
on the Pike, we got another blizzard
with an interlude of Minnies which
whistled about with an admonitory
silt. The shifting scene of battle now car
ried the General back to the centre of the
field. The enemy were streaming through
the woods few hundred yards in front.
The forest was populous with them. Our
batteries We're dashing across the plan with
frightfnl vehemence, wheeling into position
and firing with terrific rapidity The rebel
artillery played On us remorselessly, tear
ing men and horses to pieces. The sharp
shooters were still more vicious. A flight
of BULLETS passed through the Staff I
heard an insinuating hud! and / saw a
poor orderly within saber distance topple
from his saddle, and tumble headlong to
mother earth. One convulsive shudder,
and he was no more. His bridle-hand
had clutched the reins in death. A COM
rade loosened his grasp, and his faithful
grey stood quietly by the corpse. Another
bullet went through the jaw Of Lieutenant
Benton's beautiful chestnut. Smarting with
pain, he struck violently with his hoofs at
the invisible tornentor. Benton dis
mounted and awaited the anticipated ca
tastrophe-but he rode his horse again, al
through that fiery day. One or two other
horses were hit, and the cavalcade rushed
from that line of fire to another, Just in
time to be splashed with mud from the spat
of a siX-pOund shot. It seemed that there
was not square yard on the field free
from fire. The rattle of lnusketry and
roar of artillery was deafenlng. Still the
General charged through it as if it had
been harmless rain. 1t was wonderful that
he escaped-fortunate that his uniform was
covered by an overcoat Galloping down
again to the extreme front, an officer in
range with the General was suddenly dis
mounted. A round-shot struck his horse
squarely on the thigh, knocking him arod,
tumbling the rider in heap over the soil.
Pushing out to the cedar forest, where
Negleys gallant division was struggling
against great odds, trusty Sheridan was
met, bringing out his tried division in SUI
perb order. Negley was still fighting des-
perately against odds. johnson, too, APP
peared soon after; but his command was
temporarily shattered.
The day was going against us. 1t wasa
most critical period. The left could not
be swung into Murfreesboro, or behind
Hardee, because we had no right. Sweep
ing rapidly across the front, a fight of
Mimic balls struck in the midst of the cav
alcade. One of them struck Col. Gar
esche's charger fairly in the nostril, and
punctured it as clearly as any ringed- nose
Durham bull you ever saw at fair. The
fiery animal flung his fine head at the sting,
scattering his blood upon his master.
'Ah! hit, Garesche ?" quoth the General.
''My horse, +" was the laconic response, and
the gallant rider, whose airiness had ex-
cited the admiration of the army, pushed
swiftly onward.
OurlnS all ILLS porlOu, Negloy 3 Two GAL
liant brigades, under valiant old STANDBY
(of the 18th Ohio) and brave John F. Nil
Ter, were holding their line against awful
odds. When the right broke, Negley had
pushed in clean ahead of the left or right
wing, and was driving the enemy. The
18th Pennsylvania, S9th Indiana, 21st
74th, 18th and 6Sth Ohio, the famous 10th
Illinois, and 18th Michigan, with Knells,
Marshall's, Schultz and Bush's batteries,
sustained one of the fiercest assaults Of the
day, and the enemy was dreadfnlly pun
ished. Still they came on like famished
wolves, in columns, by divisions, sweeping
over skirmishers, disregarding them utter
ly. The 10Th Illinois, under gallant young
Scott, and the 11th Michigan, led by brave