, 1864-03-02

RIEaGoLD.
The sun rose bright and beautiful on the
morning Of the 2Sd, and we we're soon On our
way gallop1ng toward Ringgo1d, around
which town the troops had encamped.
Here another scene OF desolation met on1
eyes; for on the day following Hooker's ter.
rIolc fight at Taylor's Ridge, the greater por
ton Of this town had been burned By our
troops. Nearly all the good buildings were
used as storehouses and offices By the rebel
army, and every one Of these was set On fire
4 mass Of ruins In the center, a hundred IN
inhabited houses scattered around-snch Il
now the town Of .Ringgold In or rids
through 1t, We did not see three houses
which were not deserted.
PASSAGE OF R1SdGoLD GAP.
It was perhaps o'clock when tho beating
Of drums announced that the troops were In
motion, and column Of cavalry came fling
head Of his S9th Indiana boys. He was going
TO push forward through Ringgold Gap ID
Tay1or's Ridge, supported By the infantry at
proper distance. Gen. Carlin's brigade mud
the 10Th Illinois Of Gen. Kings brisode, were
prepared to support the cavalry. Gen. r. ",
johnson, to whose division these troops be-
longcd, himself accompanied them. Youl
correspondent accompanied Col Harrison
with the cavalry.
LIEUTENANT A1REs.
The rebels made no resistance to our pas.
further mouth the night before, and had cap.
turcd Lieut. Ayres Of the 10Th Infantry, who
was examining the ground for the purpose oi
posting pickets.
CROSSING EAST cn1CKAMAudA.
Winding along Its banks for q time, VIC
finally crossed the East CAickamauga, O clear
er and more lively stream than its namesake
in the West, which will always excite shud.
der In the heart and limbs of him who re-
members the awful tragedy once enacted near
it. Both these streams unite to form the
South Chfckamauga, which flows into the
Tennessee few miles above Chattanooga.
LINE OF BATTLE FORMED.
As NE advanced into the open ground on
the other side Of the creek small squads ot
cavalry were sent g1llopfng in all directions,
to protect our TANKS, and feel for the still si.
lent enemy. In full sight Of the junction, be-
tween the Tunnel Hill and Fed Hill roads,
Col Harrison drew up his men In line Of bat.
tie, and waited the approach OF the infantry.
No sooner were the latter seen, than the
horsemen again advanced; and passing by IN
ancient, dflapfdated stone church, whose dark
and gloomy wallis seemed to be In mourning
for Its lost Torshlppers, we wheeled to the
right, and took the direct road for Tunnel
IT..
A few dropping shots now revealed the
{s,,oss 1.a-a ~ Jar1ara5. o,.1 ~ 1,na .taa5ti.,
adSanc"d drirEnG ~. ens-ov ~ 1vtnSs s,,rnats
saa,,,nd =, 70 1911 - n1now wHe ra+hper 4%ar
fight It WIS at once amusing and interest.
ing TO sec, every. few minutes, d small squad
of them break from their cover ns our boys
advanced, and 60 galloping away, followed
IN almost every Instance by half dozen bull
lets- Cn- aaI11son's men were armed with
i ne aeaaly spencer nle, weapon which thc
short range.
FIRST STAND OF THE ENEMY.
at1apoth a. a,a+o,,o ~ fvo -7,,oa e.u.,
RioeeoId' q low wooded enincnce ami @ nv ove1
which ran the road. afforded fhe rehe]s m
opportunity to make stand. But they did
NOT remain long. a portion Of the 39th, dis
mounting, moved forward under 80 severe a
fire, that could only wonder how so few
were hurt by It. But they steadily advanced,
wooded ezninence, which they continued to
bold until 2 p. H., the rebels occupying 90.
sition about milo further toward Tunnel
Hill, md exhibiting scrious intention ot
making fight. Col. Harrison won1d have
mored upon him Immediately, had he; not
the 18th Kentucky, who had been sent off to
the right and was moving along another road
which runs through Woods Gap in Taylor'e
Ridge.
TRAP LAID Br THE BEBg1s
Tho ae1ar anne.re3 +o enconrooa+b o,,.,ox.
or;1 + soon .aceT1a ~ ev35ent +ha4 6a bed ~.
1ected y % tor a stani3 fhe whole Of the he 1st M Ten:
u ssaht Tba nme1' Tropnd @ao ao,os. um pMhio
tbe ~ rshe1s 1a1 heet' dr,Een ns5roTed ~ 4 M.
oroa e1,ed their ,srassnt nns1t;nn n,,t;1 ot 1ae;
r. 5irnenciona wera reJnnsd - +hoss ~ J
sfnple sma}} finld. Across fhis tf1ny had cnn.
structcd barricade of rails. and Lad posted
behind 1t considerable force Of disnounted
cavalry. On some higher ground to the rear
Of that, they showed small body Of horse.
men, who went gailoping back and forth,
and seemed to be, each moment, On the pcss1tt
Of retreatlng. The design was obvious.
mounted men: ED, when we were near
enough, inc force behind the rail barricade
would, with q yo1ley or two, sweep us away.
TIE TRAP SPRUNG.
But Colonel Harrison was not to be caught
in any such trap. awe shall have to tight q
nttle," he quietly remarked, after closely ex-
aninfng the rail barTicade with his glass; and
,aa;l MaIea LOT the &c lnanEy. y Genefal Garnns
or,saoe Gag nf. " SWIFTLY xateT tne 6klsn-
1,a1S Slg ~ ths o4u onio aau aoA "lsconsln En-
~: eGJ aosancea yteT tae OPEN sPaee; n, Ine
a o,n an1ana s3n a11u a,t 1gto a4, movea @ Mae
S1I S}s,,, 81 1o ana, @ talo1gn tas Moo4s tne
80 as,nt nf4 t,s ~ on1 sA1Isns1s oegan 70 enes
cEdnrs +hs hhe Ill., III, naaoe INC seqels a Sonid
ersnr co.,.1a cr y ~ ro,o don' aug a1.ss aenY
scattc1,nc1! nn9 = r;th :,1s ~ e9 tgng -
that nnr 5nys anewersd 4ha, ~ nri1 siont
~ der;s,on thav snsa5 shai. sas
and ran OF Is before. GompanY &. Of the 3ofl
Indiana, Lieut. Jacob Mitchell, commanding.
had stolen around upon The left fank <ot tht
rebels unobsc5Eed. A. soon as the latte,