The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-10-03
the fight began there was lull in the fear

the fight began there was lull in the fear
full 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 Dab
ney Maury's division, and by various de-
tached 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 gath
cred 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 neighborvowed, some mentally, and
others audibly, to die right there if il were
necessary for their country for freedom
and for mankind!
All along the woods skirting 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
tayette road, the rebel legions were seen
gathering for the onset.
Just before the storm broke, the brave
and high-souled Garfield was perceived
making his way to the headquarters of
Gen. Thomas. He had come to be present
at the final contest, and in order to do so
had rode all the way from Chattanooga,
passing through a fiery ordeal upon the
road. His horse was shot under him, and
his orderly was killed by his side. Still he
had come through, he scarce knew how and
here he was to inspire fresh courage into
the hearts Of the brave soldiers who We're
holding the enemy at bay, to bring them
words OF greeting from General Rosecrans,
and to inform them that the latter was re-
organizing the scattered troops. and, as
fast as possible, would hurry them forward
to their relief. ...e . ',.,..f ..
At last a shell came hustling through
the air, and burst with a loud explosion
fI,n
attack, and at once the bullets flew thick
and fast amongst us. My companion, the
correspondent of the New York Herald,
was struck by spent ball and tumbled
from his horse, and although both he and
| / thought the chances were bad against
our living to describe the contest we felt
| that we could not do aught than watch it
| to it's close. ...
| Just upon the side of the hill TO the left,
and in the rear of the still smoking ruins of
the house: was gathered group whose
| names are destined to become historical
Steadman, Wood. Calmly they watched
the progress of the tempest, speculated up
on its duration and strength, and devised
methods to break it's fury. The future an
nalist will delight to dwell upon the char
acteristics and achievements of each mem-
Der OF this group, and even the historian of
the present, Fastening to the completion of
his task, is constrained to pause a moment
if only to repeat their names-Thomas,
Whitaker, Garfield Steadman, Wood.
The fight around the hill now ragged with
terror inexperienced before, even upon this
terrible day. Our soldiers were formed in
two lines and as they marched up to the
crest and fired deadly volley at the ad-
vancing foe, it fell back little ways, the
men lay down upon the ground to load
their guns, and the second line advanced
to take their place! They, too, in their
turn, retired, and thus the lines kept march
ing back and forth, and delivering with
ering volleys till the very brain grew dizzy
as it watched them. And all the time not
a man wavered. Every motion was exc
cuted with as much precision as thOughtthe
troops were on a holiday parade, notwith-
strndng the flower of the rebel army were
swarming round the foot of the hill, and a
score of cannon were thunderingfromt three
sides upon it. Every attempt OF the enemy
to scale it was repulsd, and the gallant
) Harker looked with pride upon his lines,
standing or lying just where they were
when the fight 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 Tur-
! chin's example, until the legions Of the en-
emy were fairly driven back to the ground
!
last fight. Thus did twelve or fifteen thou
sand men, animated by heroic impulses
and inspired by worthy leaders, save from
destruction the Army of the Cumberland.
: Let the nation honor them as they deserve!
AT night Gen. Thomas fell back 10 Ross
vile, 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 LOO killed and
1000 wounded. Col. Barnett tells me that
< our loss in artillery will not fall short OF
$ fifty pieces. Our deficiency in transporta-
ton 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
l massing all his available forces together
I to annihilate the Army of the Cumberland
He has failed to do SO, and although il
would be childish to deny or conceal oul
own fearful losses, yet we may console our.
selves by the assurance that in his circum.
stances his failure to destroy US is for us a
r signal victory, and for him an irreparable
t defeat. Y. s.