The daily Chattanooga rebel. [volume] (Griffin, Ga.) 1864-1865, 1864-09-14
The Fight at Ream's station.

!, A correspondent of the Washington Chronicle
writes curious letter In explanation of Hanoocks
defeat on the Weldon railroad. IF tic views Of
this writer may be accepted correct, it requires
but three years 70 annihlato army cOrpsSSfor We
are told that the Second corps composed OF en-
tiroly new men, and hppcc the disaster.
Dating beforp Petersburg, August 9th, the cor
respondent writes
aErery man undergocs an organic change once
III seven years. So we arc informed by physiolo-
gists. The disntegration of human particles must
be very gradual and impercsptibic, for, after the
lapse of time specified when it is presumed the last
atom Of the cold man" has departed the Individual
retains his ndentity- his friends appear the same,
bis name remains unchanged.
$50 it is with tho army Of the Potomac The
different corps Gecemo neSS commands every three
years Hancock is the leader oil "a corps, Of which
every member for his distinctive badge n
club oftreefoil. This is the Second corps but
how changed since tho time when commanded by
Con. Surnaer Tho old nen oil the Second Corps
are almost all conc. or those who twice assemble
hzndfRl pemain. The men who covered Pope' retreat
FROM the Rapidan and battled for at Bris;ow Sta
tion-all those Who held the advance ut Mine Run,
and emerged with their lives from the Wilderness
have been mustered of service or slain at
6pottsylvania and Coal Harbor.
The ranks of the old corps filed with new
cieut to change the army. There is in some way
difference. We cannot notice il any more than
the Psychologist can discern change i'll his oNxq
body every seven years. There Is difference
In the corps insignia. The are ted a. well
and apparently march and fight as well rs ever
Il IL only under peculiar circumstances, like those
in which Gibbons and Mics divisions were placed
during w edpesday afternoon that any difference
can be observed. Thrice the rebels charged. zach
time with augmented numbers and increased fury.
When our soldiers their backs for the third
unae contempt for their foes only equailcd bv
the confidence they felt in themselves. Many or
the regiments in Miles's DIVISION were composed
Of new SRen-substitutes, aliens aud drafted men
The Seventh New York had lust received three
hundred, such. Most of them Were ignorant of
company drill and knew littlc of the manual of
arms they could scarcely load aud Ere. Th-
thusiasm of these men was uuboundcd when the
rebels were repulscd In their first charge. When
the enemy appeared before their works. and
ssulted them the second tune, they seemed the
most fearless soldiers in the line. Every man. ia
his eagerness to get good chance 10 shoot forgot
he was not rs invulnerable As ACHILLES. aud need
leRsly exposed himself. This regiment aud the
Sixty first New York, also reflled with new re-
cruits, poured perfect tempest of buck and balI'
into tho line of rebels as they surged, human
wave. against the works.
.-"Then came the order for counter-charge. The
fro as in drunkeR it. Finally it broke and scat
tered. These men, before so full of enthusiasm
nov kccame wim and unmanageablc. They clam,
bered oVer the parapet, ieaped the ditch and. with
fixed ktyonets, chased the heeing foe through the
woods md across the clearing beyond
"Vetefans would never become thus excited
The victorious commander Ut Waterloo was cx-
ceedingly wroth with his new recruits because thew
entered the conflict full of enthusiasrn. To make
long hght, calm courage is needed-the very
thing these men never had the opportunity OF nc
CURING The soldier can only learn this on the
bnttIe-heid.
:The fourth assault rabbed the combat of the
last appearances of rovcfty Those same recruits
who bat ONO hour ago seemed careless of dan.
ger and were foremost in pursuit of the foe now
became terrified and ran. The old 'solciers firm
ard reliant fell lack slowly and steadily frequent
" forming front to check the eAcny aud again re-
thing Il is this alone gives advantage TO the
rebels. If none but the old Second corps had been
It Reanis' station that afternoon VIC would have
LETT the field lcisurtIy. although two divisions OF
Spartan heroes could have remained there no Ion
ger eontending against such odds. Lees army is
always the same His troops are old and tried
Their tsrm Of service knows expiration; duath
alone can discharge the rebel who fights in the
ranks Of the Army OF Northern Virginia. We ;rrc
continually fighting half of our army ard
teaching the remainder.
naAs the enemy failed to follow up their Slight
advantage, IL is presumed shey suffered severely.
We have beer expecting them at Six Mile station
ewSrynsTht and morning. Yesterday they were
rsPoFEea masasg in the ne:ghborhood of the Avery
HOUSE, vi tch is nov near the centre OF our linS
As yea. there Aaa been Representation save
hssvy .eannonading aad occasional outbrrst~ of
-mnskskryr 80