Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1863-12-12

hide the fearful flame that dcvourcd them
A few more yards and few more lives, and
the rebel battery, the rebel position is ours.
We did not win here. The enemy was
forced to call for help-to draw from his
ccntre-and at this moment, when all was
ours, they poured in from their left around
the hill, and got in upon our boys a damna-
bic flank and cross fire that it was perfectly
impossible to oppose. This force proved to
be very heavy, and came iEto the engage
ment at double quick. Our line crumblcd
almost instantaneously. A few hundred
faced about and fought running fight to
the rear; but the main body turned and
rctreated. But there was no panic, no
despair. They saw they had failed and
were overcome. They rctreated, but not
rushing wildly and furiously far to the rear.
The powerful aided the weak, and the strong
bore off the wounded.
The west side of the hill was soon cleared
of all but our wounded and the rebels
These latter pushed around the hill, under
the fire of our guns, until they suddenly, and
apparently unexpectedly, came upon Light
burn, who had during all this remained
perfectly quiet, but who now sent them
howling to their holes.
At this moment | was standing near tkc
bronze figure of Sherman. As our men re-
treated down the hill, saw him bite off the
end of cigar, light it, take puff or two,
and then, turning to one Of his aids said,
Tell Lightburn to entrcnch and 90 into
position lie then sat down to write a
despatch. l knew the battle of Tunnel Hill
was over.
We had been rcpulsed. may say blood
lily repulsed.
But the enemy had been forced to commit
the fatal error.
THE ASSAULT on MISSION RIDGE.
The Imagination of the reader need not
carry him from the left to the centre in
greater haste than my by no means rapid
beast carried me, for | arrived fully in time
to sec the two aSsaulting columns, which
for two days had been lying in wait for the
auspicious moment, launched against the
enemys centre. General Grant had made
his headquarters, during the day on Orchard
Knob, and had watched anXiously the result
Of Shcrman's assault. lie had seen our men
driven back when fianked. and had said
with quiet, sad smile, "Thcv made our
boys get down the hill quite lively But
he had also seen the rebel movement to
their right, and he also said with smile of
another character, Now. forward"
simultaneously and instantancouslv the
two, or rather four columns. rushed forward
across the valley of Citco creek and up to
the line of rebel ritlc-pits that lined the base
of Mission Ridge. These did not even claim
their attention, nor did the two or three
discharges Of muskctry which received them
call for reply. On they pushed, with their
gIittcIing bayOncts signaling back a reply
that stan ed the already Gismayed foe.
They abandoned the works and their camps.
nd tIr,p,rb vol
with hcadlong speed, and velocity which
of itself, would have secured them victory.
The enemy had opened on these columns
heavy fire from several batteries. which he
had massed along his centre, to hide and in
some measure remedy his now apparent
weakness there. But these were only replied
to by the guns of Captain Bridges, on Or
chard Knob, and the decp-mouthcd monsters
of Fort Wood. The foot of the hill was
reached by the advancing column in good
order, and now began the difficult ascent.
Half way up, the line became broken and
ragged, and it looked much as if a heavy
line of skirmlshcrs were mounting the hill.
When they reached the top, and the rebel
artillerists were limbcring up their pieces,
the front line was no longer preserved, but
the men pushed forward indiscrimnatcly
The rebel infantry fled, and yielded up the
artillery without further struggle. From
below we could see the rcbcI tioo ~ il en-.
tered ana passed through Fort lllndman,
and gave place to that OF the Union. In
Just three quarters OF an hour after the order
was given Tor the assault General Iurclln,
OF Bands division, occupied Fort linduan
with two of his reg lmcntS and was rapidly
moving the Others forward to their support
Generals Which, llazcn, and Naggencr
were rcaping haryests Of artillery. The hill
was won at four O'Clock, the enemy cut IN
two, and his organization for the time de
stroyed,
About this hour Hooker who had been
advancing on the ridge northward, struck
the rebel left about Fort Breckenridge, and,
sweeping still further north, gathered in
fresh hordcs of prisoners.
As the hill was won, General Grant, fol
lowing in the wake oftlc advancing columns,
appeared in their midst on the summit As
the whiteplumed helmet of Henry N. had
appeared AT lvry. The troops saw and re-
cognized him, and at once there went up IA
shout such as only victorious men can give
to victorious leader. 1t must have sound
cd strange to Bragg, who yet, on this same
hill, not half mile distant, was marching
his troops upon the right for last depera'e
effort to regain the day.
.,,,., ,.., ,,,.,,opr o,, TIM prurLs
The attack Camc-Came ere IurChlu nau