Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1864-10-27
Volume xxx

MP the pike and attacked it iercely il
>, front and flank with musketry and ar
!, tiiiery. "
Il 2 Col mel McC cCauley's brigade, of tn
I'd division on the left, swung ont o
its front to receive the flank fire of thu
foe. The assault increased in fierce
ness, and the whole division reforme
itself to meet the shock The rebels
advancing, mounted the breastwork.
in its front, and with withering vol
leys forced it back in retreat The
entire 18th corps, abandoning all it:
works, now fought retreadng, and
partially broken; the left of the army
completely turned; haifof the army
Of Western Virginia flying In dismay
through the fog; its camps and the
greater part Of its camp material in
the possession of the enemy. The
remnsDt, together with part of the
] provisional division, and Col Kitch-
: ing, which had been camped in the
rear, fighting still for the possession
of the pike The 18th corps fighting
/ more or less stubbornly, falling back
and constantly losing in stragglcrs.
The entire country about Middleton,
and beyond in the rear, became popu-
lated with demoralized soldIery. The
crack of the rebel musketry was
creeping further up on the left to-
ward Middleton, hurrying the fight
of wagons, ambnIances and caissons.
4 Thehiss and explosion of the enemy s
J shells from the batteries planted in
front of the 18th corps was heard,
and appearances of defeat and i'm
pending disaster were visible almost
everywhere, and might have shaken
the hope of fanaticism itself Gen.
/ Wright. with whom it WIS left to or
ganize the plan which should change
this dismal aspect of things. was not
a whit discouraged.
The moment that the army OF West
Virginia and the 18th corps were
found to be deiiantly falling back he
sent an order to begin a movement
that never yet, on any field. has been
achieved without the greatest diff
Guilty. The 9th corps on the right
was ordered to change front, swing
around and stem the torrent Scarce
: ly a minute elapsed when its columns
. were seen moving maiestically by th'
left flank straight into the heart of tn,
conflict, opening moment for th'
passage of the stragglers through it
8 line. and closfug up agaiH before tn
assaults that still had not heen stayed
Like the willow writhes as the tenn
pest struck, it bent but did not break
For a moment at least, the career o
It the rebels in the centre was brough
n to pause The artillery of the corp
: Numbering close to the rear, thrn
d dered its answer to their shells. Thi
e brilliant movement could not, how
Y ever, check the advance of the foe ol
/ the left Some of their cavalry ha'
+ already penetrated into Middleton
g capturing a portion of Gen Crook
b ambulance train, and is reported a
i. seriously wounding Col. Thoburn, o
e the I'd division of that command
s Their infantry had swung around
: and were just passing above. Mer
), ritt' s, Powers and Custar,s divisions
8 of cavalry were withdrawn from tn
right and sent to stem the disastrou
q advance. -.r fs -.ts l-s.a
Alter the check of the enemy il
!. the centre, the lines of the 9th anC
!; f9tl corps reformed, the 9th on thu
.. left and the 10Th on the right of that
1t was found necessary TO withdraw
the whole line for some distance, il
order to connect with the cavalry
: who were just advar cling to drive
/; the enemy from the pike on the left
and hold the field at that point Thii
retrograde movement was not accom-
plished without loss. The enemy fol
!, lowed it up closely and vengefully
: Their bullets rained IN upon the ar
tillery, killing off the horses and men
and embarrassing the attempt of thu
, artilleymen to move their guns t.
the rear The guns were Tough
splendidly They fought everywher'
: until the last moment, when it wa
!, found they could not be removed
; Two of Captain Stevens guns wer'
lost, 2 of Lambs, l of Mcknight
!. and 2 of Adams Captain Adams
. with corporal and man, stood b'
this piece when all other support hat
: left and until every horse was sho
and the corporal and man shot dow
!, beside him. Col Tompkins, Chief O
g Artillery, while assisting the remova
:. of some of the guns of Cowan Bat
y terry. was slightly wounded by q mus
ket ball. 4 q"
If The infantry were also suferin
d heavily, particularly in officers, whe
y the lines had reached a crest just
the right and rear of Middleton
T. where the second stand was made
ct and where two terrific charges of th
4, enemy were repulsed Nearly ever
ID field officer in the First division {
B, the Sixth corps was wo"nded. Ger
rs eral Ricketts,. commanding the corp
f. had been so badly wounded that /
e was forced to leave the field Gel
sn eral Bidwell, commanding the ThiI
In brigade Second division, was mortal
d. wounded by a shell, which tore b
1T left shoulder to pieces and shatter'
ng the left arm of Capt. Orr, one OF