, 1864-01-06
Qbl1a9o Qrlbnt1t.
THE CH1CkAMACGA CAMPAIGN

=
the escort, under shower Of grape ana
canister and muskctIy1 for two or taree nun.
drcd yards, and attempted to reloin General
Tlomas and the troops sent to his support BY
our lines, but found the routed troops far to-
ward the left, and hearing the enemy's ad-
yaucipg muskctry and cheers, became doub.-
fn1 whether the left had held its ground, and
started for Rossville- On consultation and
further reflection, however, determined to
send General Garfield there while went to
Of the pontoon bridges ut Battle Greek and
Bridgeport, and to make preliminary disposi-
tions, either to forward ammunition and sep
plies should we hold our ground, or to with
draw the troops into good position.
Gen. Garfield dispatched me from Ross
Vile that the left centre still held its ground.
Sheridan had Tallied his division, and was ad-
yancing toward the same point. and General
Davis 7fas going mp the Dry Valley road, to
our right Gen. Garfield proceeded to the
front, remained there unit, the close Of the
fight, and dispatched me the triumphant de-
feose onr troops there made against the u.s.
sau1ts Of the enemy.
TIE F1GuT or THE LEFT,
After 2 p. m., was that Of the army. Never
In the history Of this war at at1east, have troops
fought with greater energy and determine
ton. Bayonet charges, often heard Of but
seldom seen, were repeatedly made by brig
AIDES and regiments, in several Of oul
After the yielding and severance OF the el.
forts TO break the solid portions Of our line.
Under the pressure Of the rebel onset the
tanks Of the line were gradually retired
until they occupied strong advantageous
ground.
4an% 4,,ar S,,aI {t,v.nnnhnu$ our limo Thny
the enemy, In oye1power3ng numbers, f1ankci
around our right, held by Gen. Brannan, ani
occupied low gap In the ridge Of our dc
fensive position, which commanded our rear
Tie moment was critical. Twenty mlnute
more and onr right would have been turned
our position taken In reverse, and probabl,
the army routed.
Fortunately Nnj. Gen. Granger, who's
troops had been posted to cover our left ant
rear, with tho instinct of a true soldier ami
General, hearing the roar Of battle on on
left, and being beyond the reach Of order
move to it's assistance. He advanced ant
soon encountered the enemy's skirmishcr
whom he djsIcgar1ed, well knowing that a
that stage Of the conflict the battle was no
there. Posting Col Dan. c. McCook's big
ade to take care Of any thing in the ycinif,!
remainder to the scene Of action, reporting
to Gen. Thomas, who directed him to oul
suffering right.
Arrived ii sight, Gen. Granger discovered
at once the peril md point of danger, the Gap
and quick Us thought he directed his ndyanc'
brigade upon the enemy. General Stedman
takipg regimental color, lead the column
swift was fhechargc and terrible the conflict
but the enemy WAS broken 4 Thousand o
our brave men killed and wounded paid 10
its possession, but We held the Gap.
Two divisions Of Longstreet's corps con
frontcd the gosition. Determined to take It
they successfully came to the assault. bni
tery of sir guns, PLACED in the gorge, pourc'
death and slaughter into them. They charge'
to within few yards of our pieces, hut on
grape and canfstef, and the leaden hail Of ou
1nusketry, delivered in epariug, but terribl
volleys, from cartridges taken In many In
stances from thttE fallen companions, wa
too much, even for Longetreet's men. Abou
sunset they made their last charge, when on
men being out ofammunition rushed On thcl
with the bayonet, and they gave way to n
turn no more.
The fury Of the conflict was nearly as gres
on the fronts Of Brannan and Wood, 6ein
less ftrious towards the left But colum
oitle enemy had made its way to near OF
left, and to the right Of Colonel McCook's p'
sition. Appraised Of this, General Thomas d
rccted Reynolds to move his division frol
its position, aand. pointing out the rebels, ,to]
To save time, the troops Of Reynolds We,
formed By the rear snnk, ,and moving with tt
bayonct ut donble-quicll, with a shou
walked over the rebels, capturing some fl'
hundred. This closed the battle Of the cot
At nightfall the enemy had been repulss
along the whole line, and eank into quietut
without attempting to renew the combat
General Thomas, considering the exccssl'
1abors OF the troops, the scarcity Of ammnr
tion, food and wnteT, aud having orders fro
the GeneEM commanding to nse his discl
tion, determined to retire Or Rossyil1e, ,whe
they arrived in good order and took post,
.nooga, and offering the cnemy battle duri
al1 the next day, and repulsing his reconno
sancc On the night Of the 21st We vii
drew from Rossvillc, took firm possession
the objective point Of our campaigu-Chat1
nooga-and prepared to hold it
The operations Of the eavalry during
battle Of the 10Th were yerv important. Ct
Mitchell, with three brigades, covered o
right-tlank along tho line Of the Chickamau:
above Crawfish Spring, against the combin
efforts Of the great body Of the rebel cayal'
whose attempts to cross the stre:m they st
cral times repulsed-
Wilder fought, dismounted, neor the cent
intervening, two or three times, with mon
thin howitxers and Spencer rifles, very opp
timely.
On the Goth Minty covered our left a
rcar at Mission Mills, and later in the day
ErneTaf NIitcle1I with his tbrae brirad
corcrcd onr evfrcme rir1,f md with Wi5de
of}er ;ts rrr,n1se. extended over Nissi
PSdac I,c15 tFe whole connfrvfo fhe .hase
InaEout Mountain. and ali our trains. art
1cry cniesons and enare WAGONS sent' thc
fnr 'rnrrater safety. refir;nr from tLe ae]
dc Tss ioincd b. Posts Brigade, Of Day
dsS,ssnn' which had nat closed on the arm
and was not In action.
On fI,c olst the caya]ry still covered O
r,o1,t a. eccnrcIv M before irbtine. and ho
inr nt INV verr snnerior nnRbcrs.
n1mher az rnyalrv comhats during the wh,
tsmnnIon have hcer, numerons. tf5e succes.
az n7,1nernns I'M, tlc army could not Ia
iiercnsed viii those Of The 10Th, 20th, a
Msf"
orx .nr,11rnY
Fired lever ROUNDS 1Aan NJ otone river,
with even greater cnect l. ean not out 9.
g1atulatc the country on tae Iapad lmpfo'
ment evinced N this part o. tne selSlcs. :
loss o. pieces e, IN Pa5l. attIiputaote W
rough Wooaca Gfonna IN "Mc0 Ne 1oas
: and TO want o. experience IN Posnns ar
lesy, aud parity TO the uueqna nature ol
contest our an1an1's De'ne hea'4y QUINN
bcrcd.
mclablc instances OF et1nealsheo . 1fave
ekll and gallantfy, olspiayea os 1ncs1s sa;,s
every fanSt ane, above al, LOT sen-ieAa sn
cool ana 6teaoy couTa5G, aaspiayea W
soldiers of tic army. OF au arms, N many
stances even sMnlnE aoose tnAl o. laelf
ce1s, muEt le!sr ~ toe acc9lnpanS.ng
POTS o. eos, nsndors as.s3on ot IT. rno1ta ~
ana nattcIs sunalaanaefs. ~. ~, - ~. W
eeHaS s.nt NY 4le nus a ea, aos .ur nt ues
all reasons-tNat L,sty nave peea out e
slpcc, Wfnng hltn tuell saoe1o on LAC ue'
Gl.Q DUCKS O1 Lue G0E1n3.