The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-04-28
NO. 10.

AAHg A44 EA1At9k l4MAAA REA4AATs ~ az
formed me that four pieces Of artillery had
just LEFT the rebel camp, weakly escorted,
and ran into the gorge, which he could have
captured with 3 small force Of Cavalry.
The gorge Is to the east Of Ringgold, sDd We
were approaching il from the west. A little
firing occurred between our skirmisbers, as
they entered the town, and small parties q
the rebel Cavalry and Infantry-the latter
retiring in the direction Of the gap. This
is : break in TaylOr's ridge, Of sufficient
width for the river to flow, and On its north
bank room for an ordinary rosd and
rsilrOad-when the ridge rises with abrupt
ness on both sides four or ave hundred feet,
and from thence, running nearly north and
south, continues unbroken for many miles.
Covering the entrance 70 il il a small patch
OF young trees and underground
1t was represented By citizens friendly 70
our cause, and confirmed by contrabands,
that the enemy had passed through Rtnz-
gold sorely presssd-his animals sxhaustsd
and his army hopelessly demorSliEed. Ina
small portion OF it only had the ofscers
beSn able to preserve RegineRtal and con-
pany formations-many Of the men having
thrown away their arms. A still greater
number were open and violent in their de-
nuneiations Of the ConfedeTacy. In order
70 gain time, il was the intention Of the rear
guard 10 make use Of the natural advsn-
lagos u TIC gorge pEoacAtcus 70 CAecA t48
pursuit. The troops relied on for this were
posted Behind the mountain snd trees, and
the latter were also used to mask a couple
Of pieces Of artillery. Only feeble line Of
skirmishers appeared in sight.
The only way 10 ascertain the enemy's
strength Was 70 feel Of him, and az our sue
cess, II prompt, would be crowned with g
rich harvest Of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. waiting
for my artillery, mot yot up, though after
IL ~ Tak. Mr~ea
Wood deployed his Brigsde in rear Of them,
under cover Of the embsnkment Of the rail-
road, and brisk nuskstry fire commenced
between the skirmishers-at the same time
the enemy kept his artillery busily at work.
Their skiTmishers were driven in, and as we
had Learned the position Of the Battery, the
18th Illinois Regiment, from the right q
Woods line, was thrown forward 70 seias
some houses from which their gunners could
be picked of by our men. These were he
rocally taken and held by that brave Regi-
ment. ApprehensiVe that be might lose bis
artillery, the enemy advanced with q sure
riOr force on our skirmishers, and they fell
back behind Wood slime when hsteKcellent
officer opened on the rebels and drove them
into the george, they leaving 81 they Ted
their dead and wounded on the ground
our skiTmishers At once occupied their line
the 18th Illinois all the time maintaining
While this was going on In part Of the
gorge, OsterhRus detached four regiments,
under Col. Williamson, half a mile to the
left, to ascend the ridge and turn the
enemy's right. Two Of these, the T6th
Ohio, supported By the 4ih lows, were
thrown forward, and as the enemy appear
ed in great force when they had nearly
gained the crest, Geary ordered four Of his
regiments still further 70 the LEFT, under Col.
ba obfa..s ehar
also found an overwhelming force confront
ing them. Vigorous attacks were made BY
both Of these columns, in which the troops
exhibited extraordinary daring and deFO-
ton, but were compelled 20 yield - numeri-
| cal superiority. The first took shelter in
I depression in the side Of the ridge, about
I fry PAGES in rear Of their most advanced
/ position, and there remained. The other
/ column was ordered TO resume its position
on the railroad.
! All the parties sent forward 10 aseertaiR
/ the enemy's position and strength were
I small, but the attacks had been made with
| 20 much vigor, and succeeded 20 well In
| their object. that deemed it unwise TO call
| up the commands Of Palmer and Cruft, and
I the remaining brigades Of Gssry, 70 deiiVeE
/ a general attack, without my artillery
/ therefore gave Instructions Tor no advance
/ 70 be made, and fer the firing TO be discOn-
L
ders we're conveyed and delivered 10 every
officer in command along our advanced line
| Word was received from Gen. Woods that
| appearances in his front were indicative Of
a forward movement on the part Of the
enemy; when tFolend's brigade, Of 0eaTy's
Division, was sat 10 strengthen him. Cob
hams brigade, Of the same Division, took
well sheltered position behind the knoll
midway between the depot and the opening
to fk.. Thaaa Off aHanI rfrfnrel
not to attack or 10 IRE, unless il should be-
come necessary.
may here state that the greatest diG5-
Guilty experienced with my new command,
and the one which caused me the most soil
eitude, was 70 check and curb their disPoai-
ton 10 engage, regardless Of circumstances,
aud, Il appeared, almost Of consequences.
This had also been the case on Lookout
Mountain, and on Missionary Ridge. De-
spite my emphatic and repeated instTuo-
tons TO the contrary, a desultOry Ere was
kept up on tho right Of the line until The
artillery arrived, and you viii see By the
reports Of Commanders, that under cover
Of elevated ground between my position
and our right, several small parties advan-
eed 70 capture the enemy's battery, and
harass his flank at the gap. Il Is with no
dspleasure I refer 70 these circumstances,
in evidence Of the animation Of the troops,
neither is il with q feelingof recruitment, Tor
Of that vas disarmed BY an abiding sense
Of their glorious achievements. II has new
or been my fortune 70 serve with more tea
lous and devoted troops.
Between twelve and one o'clock The artii-
lery came up, not having been able 70 cross
the west fork Of the ChiekamaBga, until
eight o'clock on the morniBg Of the 9Th.
Under my acting Chief Of Artillery, Major
Reynolds, in conjunction with Gems. GeaFy
and Ostsrhaus, one section Of tEelye-p pound
howitzers was placed in position 70 bear on
the enemy in front Of our right, and 70 en-
flade the gap another section of ten pound
PARROTS was assi ghed 70 silence the enemy's
battery; and one section further 70 the len,
70 bear on some troops held Ia Eaass In front
Of Gesry 3 regiments. Al the same time q
regiment from Cruft's Division bad been
sent around BY the bridge, 70 eross The
Chickanauga, snd, II possible, 70 gain he
heights Of the ridge on the south side Of the
river--the possession Of which would give
Us e plungiBg IRE upon the enemy in the
gorge. Two companies had nearly gained
The summit, when they were recalled. The
artillery had been opened with marked e.
feetj the snemy's guns were hauled - the
resr-hls troops seen rOoviug-snd before
one o'clock be vas in full retrest- Viii
liamson's brigade followed him over the
mountain. While skirmifhsrs from the Goth
and l01d New York regiments pursued him
through the gsp. Eforts were usds 70
Lurn the railroad bridges, but The rsbels
we're driven from them, and The Grss eX-
tingUished.
During the artillery firing, The MAJOR
General Commanding The DiYision q ths
Aississippi arrived, and gave directions for
the pursuit 70 be diseOntinusd. LaieF n
the day, soon after three o'clock, received
Instructions from hin n have 9 reeoEuois-
sanee made ia the direction o. Tunnel Ill.,
the eBemy's line Of retreat, for purposes q
observation, and 10 convey 20 The enemy
the impression that We were still after him.
Crosses brigade Wss dispatched On this ser
vice. About two miles cut be ran upCn \
small force Of rebel eavairy snd Infantry,
snd IurFued them sbout mile aud hall.
where be fell upon, what he supposed = t.
division o. troops, posted "a the bills
commanding the reed. The brigade r.
turned az eight O'clock, ard Wsut iuts
biVouac. Col. Grose's report IN this cos-
nsction eooeludes BY ssyibg that eve fcund
broken easions, wagons, aEnbclsnees, dead
snd dying men Of the enemy, streWn along
the way 70 horrible extent"
As some misspprehension BpPears 90 exc
isl with regard 70 or Losses u this battlss
70 10 proper 70 obsRrTs that The rsporta o.
my Division Ccnnsnders exhibits ioss %
(65l sixty eve killed, and t3TIl three hrnd-
red and seventy-seysu WOUNDED. Abous
- II