Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1863-10-28
NEW SERIES-VOL. W.-NO. Is.

the fierce tornado which had swept over
his log breaslworks, Thomas had been
much shaken, al his divisions fighting
desperately, all raliying at the earliest
practicable moment, but only Gen. Rey.
nolds retiring from the works towards
the hills in anything like ,olerable order.
As soon, however, as the corps had
reached the foot of Mission Ridge. il for
med anew its broken ranks with an alae-
rity and rapidty, only less remarkat le
than the obstinacy with which it so long
= endured the assaults of the enemy upon
the level ground below. The great leader
himself, Gen. Thomas, assisted by Baird,
Reynolds, Brannan, Scribner, Harker,
Negley, John Beatty, Wood and Turchin.
reoreanized the brgades with wonderful
celerily, and Immediately began making
= head against the enemy.
From this time McCook disappeared
from the general history of the battle as.
indeed, exuicating himself from his de-
moralized and routed corps he headed to-
wards Chattanooga, and, at about one o.
clock, disappeared entirely from the field.
His two divisions, Davis and Sheridlns.
!orced oil towards the right, far behind
their original position, were assailed hy
e. immense squadrons of the enemy, and
= fearlully battered. Each had but hand
iul left as it retired, toward nightiali upon
r the Rossville road, but the men mus.
, have done gallant fighting or tLey won!d
J not have come oil as well as they did. In
, fact, wherever Sheridan is, whether isola-
ted or in company, and whether the odds
against him be one or many there is GER
tain to be fight
> II was about half past twelve, when,
= hearing heavy cannonade open upon
the right, galloped over in that direc-
tion to see what 1t might mean. A longi-
tudinal gap in Mission Ridge, admits the
t Rossville road into Chattanooga valley,
a and skirts along large corudeld at the
u mouth of the gap. Looking across the
y cornfeld from the gap, you see thick
If woods upon the other side. The corniield
IS itself is sort of "oove" in the ridge and
I here were numbers Of all sorts OF army
) vehicles mingled with the debris Of dis
g mantlcd and Giscomfl'ed batteries. FrNg
c ments of Davis flying squadron had also
- lodged in this field
I While | stood gazing upon this scene
$ from the summit Of the ridge, some rebel
1 skirmishers appeared iu the skirts Of the
woods opposite the gap have mentioned,
- and flung perhaps a dozen musket balls
! into the field. Instantly men, animals,
" vehicles became mass Of struggling,
J cursng, shouting frightened life. Every
e thing and everybody appeared to dash
Z head!ong for the narrow gap, and men
horses mules, ambulanohes. baggage wag
ons, ammunition wagons, artillery car
er riages and caissons were rolled and tum
T. bled together in a confused inextricabl,
q and finally motonless mass, completely
blocking up the mouth Of the gaps
E. Nearly al this booty subsequently fell in
70 to the hands of the enemy. Sickened anC
SIS disgusted by the spectacle, turned away
d to watch the operations Of General Thorn
d as corps, upon which alone depended thj
N safety of the army.
4 Gen. Thomas had Withdrawn his mer
e almost entirely from the valley, and taker
D. up q position on the side OF Mission Ridge
His left still rested upon the Lafayeti,
n. road, and his right upon the ridge ned
pr the gap ] have already spoken OF. Her,
* were collected the shattered remnants o
in the powerful corps which had so or,
N breasted the fierce assaults Of the enem,
le in the forenoon, Here was johnson, wht
n, seemed 10 have done better work to-day
re and yesterday than ever before. Her
10 was the unconquerable Wood, with Har
u, ker's brigade, and here were also sucl
k fragments Of fCrittenden's CORPS as could b,
I'd induced to venture upon another stand
The whole were drawn up in line forming
le a circular curve, facing the southeast.
i. hill near tie middle of the curve was th,
&C. KEY of the position, and Harker's briga6
II was arpou ted to defend the same. Soor
IT. after the hill was occupied, house upoi
Z, its summit was set on fire by the enemy
er shells, and continued to burn for Ion
TX time with great fury.
ne Not long vas the new line of battle pei
of mitted to remain idle. Cannon bcllowe
e against il missiles of every kind wer
,r- hurled into it shells burst above il riff
'e- balls went tearing through it but still
I'D remained firm.
'r- 1t was certain, however, as truth i,scl
that unless assistance should reach il fror
lie some quarter and that right speedily,
- must at length succgmb, for the rebe
k, leaders, emboldened by the rout Of Nc
ng Cook and Critterden, were gathering thei