, 1864-02-27
TnRILLINo BATTLr INCIDENT.

Capt. Geo Riley, Of the Tenth Kentucky
Cavalry, describes in thrilling language most
touching and impressive incident in the storm.
ing Of Missionary Ridge. The captain fur.
nishes grand and sublime subject for ma.
tional anthem in the following description:
The summit Of Missionary Ridge Is one thou.
sand feet above tho level Of the Tennessee
River, and towers aloft in grandeur, q fitting
monument to commemorate the great victory
achieved by our national arms on the memOr.
able 25th Of November. On that day the Star
Spangled Banner could be discerned slowly
scaling the steep and rugged ascent, riveting
the gaze Of thousands Of anxious spectators in
line Of battle in the valley below.
II seems that the Eighty-sixth and Eighty.
seventh Indiana and the Eleventh had failed
to receive the order to halt, when Il was given
to the line Of battle. Onward they moved, rs
il were, 10 the very jaws Of death. The terri.
bic suspense Of their brave comrades was only
equaled by that Of the great Napoleon when he
stood on the summit Of ridge at Waterloo,
gazing, between hope and despair, at the last
grand charge Of his old guard, until they were
lost 70 sight in the clouds OF smoke from the
enemy's cannon. Step by step they ascended,
until within fifty yards Of the brist!ing bayo.
nets Of tho Rebel rifles, when they ceived
the order to 10y down. The Rebels opened
upon them, and volley after volley was poured
into their ranks, amidst the wild and enthusi.
astc shouts Of the Rebels and the defiant wav.
ing Of the stars and bars--said to have been
done by Bragg IN person. Springing to Their
feet with the energy Of desperation, the g.ori.
Gus Eighty.sixt Indiana leads the grand
charge 70 vico ory or death, followed BY the
Eighty.seventh and the Eleventh Ohio, and on.
ward they pushed their columns through q
shower Of bullets that ratified like bail, and
were lost to view In smoke Of battle.
/ deathly stiffness pcrvaded the line Of bat.
Tie below for few moments, when the anxious
inquiry passed along our line, " Is our dag still
there I" Il seemed like hoping against hope
/ ID expect that the three regiments had met
my other fate than instant annihilAtion. Every
minute seemed . month for half an hour, Al
the end Of which time the smoke disappeared,
and our glorious flag greeted The anxious spec.
tators, h0ating 10 triumph over the Rebel
works. Il was taU war.worn banner Of the
immortal Eightysi3th Indiana, which was
held until reiniorccments came up and secured
the position gained by the most daring and
terrible charge that ever history recorded.
The Aag Of the Eighty.si&th Indiana, that
sealed this victory received in its folds eighty.
six shots emblematic Of the regiment L 50
calamity led through the ranks Of death to a
crowning victory. The answer on that mcm
orable night to ten thousand inquiries infused
new spirit in tho army, as Il resounded along
the line, eyes, our Gag is still thereln Forty
thousand spectators who witnessed the thrill.
ing scene and asked the question while held In
fearful suspense, will ask Il as often as return.
ing memory brings to mind the grand charge
Of the gallant regiments on Missionary Ridge