Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-03-30


the other side Of the town in gallant ar
ray 5Is 729TG 7i gEIsart
OUR FIRST LINE FORMED-NATURE OF THI
GROUND.
On our part preparations were instantly
made for battle.
The l0lst Indiana were formed in line
on the left of the road, to check the ad-
vance Of The rebels in that direction, and
support the gun which had already COM
menced to fire. The 123d Illinois was
formed ct the foot of the elevation upon
which the piece of cannon was placed,
across the pike, and extending into woods
and cleared fields on the -TighE The S0th
Illinois was still further to the right and
somewhat retired, while the 1O5th Ohio
was held exclusively in reserve.
There were cleared fields to- the left of
the road as we'll as to the right, but be-
tween these and Vaught's hilI,I which Col
| onel Han intended to be his real battle
ground, there was upon the left a dense
growth Of cedars, along the east edge of
which ran marrow lane, to-the left Of the
| pike. There was also a cedar thicket near
the town and upon the left Of the town
| through which the rebels would be obliged
to pass, before they could reach the open
field where the l0lst Indiana and the 123d
Illinois were drawn up to receive them.
FIGHT BETWEEN THE sKIRMIsHERs. ifa
At the edge Of this thicket the rebel skir-
mishers first appeared;agd- Company B, Of
the l23d we're Immediately deployed as
skiTmisheTs and sent forward to oppose
them. A scattering FIRE Of muskelry was
soon succeeded by several volleys, and it
becoming evident that the enemy were
hotly pursuing our skifmishe1s, Colonel
Monroe sent forward two more companies,
C and d. of the 123d, to their support.
Skirmishers from the 10lst Indiana were
at the same time pushed forward, and for
half an hour a sharp but irregular firing
streets Of the town.
FORCE OF THE ENEMY-HE THINKS II TINE
TO ExTIEGttsH COLONEL Hall asE
By This time, the stealthy cats, Wheeler,
and Morgan, thought they had played long
enough with the poor little mouse before
them. They had not the slightest doubt of
their ability to pick up Colonel Hall when
ever 1t should suit their convenience. Why
not The redoubtable Morgan himself
was here, with the brigade which had first
frightened almast to death and then cap
tured poor Colonel Moore at HaTtyille.
And Colonel HRlTihad fewer men thsn COL
Onel Moore had on that disgracefully ia
nous occasion. In addition 10 MOrgan's
force here was the redoubtable Major
General Wheeler witha brigade from his
division-Wheeler, entirely recovered
from the effects of the thrGshing which
Dan MoCook gave him In Januafy, and
flush from the big haul which he and Van
Dorm made at Thompson's Station. Stll
more, these worthless had three regiments
of Tennessee mounted infantry to assist
them. Ana here were g Colonel ". C.P.
Breckinridge, and Duke, ana Gano and
Grigsby, and heaven knows how many
rebel heroes besides. WouH A. s. Hall,
mere "political Colonel, as some Of our
regular friends YOuld say, attempt tomake
battle against Major-GeneraT Wheeler
and Brigadier-GeneraT John Morgan.
the two most notorious bandits on the con-
tinent, with eleven rebel regiments at
their heels2 Oh, impossible the thing
was simply impossible. And; accordingly,
John Morgan made a speech to his men.
JOHN MoRGANs SPEECH.
a Behold before you" said he, the same
Yankees whom you have 80 often chased
helter-s -skelter over hill and dale-the same
breed Of loW-spiTited cowafds whom you
have sometimes almost disdained to kill, as
being unworthy opponents Of your Prov
ess. Remember how ignominiOuslyi they
bowed their heads at HartTilie, and like
lusty bull calves, roared for mercy almost
before you could get your muskets trained
upon them. Do you think they will stand
against you now? Mo- they will break
and run at the first fire, and your only
difficulty will be in outrunning and pick
ing them up, before they can get back to
their den at MHrfreesboro."
THE COLONEL OF THE HUNDRED AND TWENTY
THIRD ILLINOIS sPEAKETH.
Colonel James Monroe also made a speech
to his men, briefeF and more to the point.
WBoys You have followed John Morgan
for more than thousand miles, in vain
effort to get fight out Of him. You have
often said you would like no better sport
than to meet him. Your wishes are graft
fed at last. Here he is. Now give him
hell"
ADVANCE oF THE ENEsIY's MAIN BODY.
Scarcely were these speeches ended,
when column of the enemy's cavalry
was seen marching by the flank, along the
base of a range Of hills at the east Of the
town, evidently intending to turn our right
at the same moment, another column
emerged from the thicket on the west and
advanced through the open fields toward
the 101st Indiana. simultaneously with
the advance Of both these columns, the
rebel infantry marched on in battle stray
through the town, while their artillery,
from two or three different positions,
opened upon cur lines.
sKEDADDLE OF OUR sKIRMIsHERs.
Our skirmishers Immediately fell back
toward their regiments upon the double
quick, and, at the same time, retrOgrade
movement was commenced by our entire
line, in order to gain the position upon
VaughCs Hill. which was the battle-ground
originally decided upon.
Omitting here some details Of the at
tlek upon the Indiana and Illinois troops,
we continue the report:
IN GOOD POSITION AT LAST. q
Both regiments were more fully,prepared
/ for any effort Of the enemy, and resolved
st all hazards TO prevent Captain Harris
piece Of cannon from falling into their
hands.
THE 80TH ILLINOIS REPULsE THE ATTACK
UPON OUR RIGHT.
Previous to this, however, Colonel. Allen,
with the 8Oth Illinois, had encountered
that column of the rebel cavalry which
had passed around 70 our right and as
soon as it left the foot of the range Of hills
on that side, and emerged into the open
fields, had poured into it a most deadly
volley Of musket balls, which had driven
it back in utter confusion, with The ex-
oeption Of a small body that gallOped past
our left flank, passed entirely round the
Southern base of the hill, and actually