The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1866-12-20

growth, and the troops passed
through, preserving their array
with little difficulty but as the
point, where the fight between the
pickets had commenced, was near
ed, the timber became dwaried into
scrubby brush, and at some places
dense thickets impeded the ad-
vance, The ground, too, grew rug.
ged and difficult of passage in un-
broken line. Frequent halts to re-
form and dress the ranks became
necessary, and at such times Gen
eral Johnson's magnificent battle
orderwas read to the regiments,
and It's manly, heroic language
was listened to with the feeling it
was Intended to evoke. The gray,
clear morning was, ere long, en-
livened with a radiant sunrise. As
the great light burstin full splen-
dor above the horizon, sending
brilliancy over the scene, many a
man thought of the great conquer
or's angury and pointed in exulth-
ton and hope to the "Sun ofShiloh.p
Breckinridge's division went into
the fight last, and, of course, saw
or heard great deal of ii, before
becoming itself actively engaged.
Not far of, on the left and center,
the fight soon grew earnest, as
HardSe dashed resolutely on; the
uneasy, broken rattle Of the skir-
mishegs gave way to the sustained
lvolleys of the'lines, and the artil-
lery Joined in the clamor, while
away on the right, the voice of the
strife elledahoarser and angrier,
like the growl OF some wounded
monster - furious and at bay.
Hard$e's line carried all before it.
At the first encampment it met
not even the semblance of a check.
Following close and eager upon
the fleeing pickets, it burst upon
the startled inmates as they
emerged, half clad, from their tents,
giving them no time to form, driv-
ing them in rapid panic, bayonet-
ing the dilatoryLon through the
camp swept, together, pursuers
and pursued. But now the alarm
was thoroughly given, the along
roll I" and the bugle were calling
the Federals to arms all through
their thick encampments they
were tastily fotmine, =
.o AS Hafdee, close upon the
haunches of the foe he had first
started, broke into another camp,
long line of steel and flame met
him, staggering, and, for little
while, stopping his advance. But
his gallant corps was still too fresh
for an enemy, not yet recovered
from the enervating effects of sur
prise, to hold it back long, For a
while it writhed and surged before
the stern barrier suddenly erected
in its front, and then, gathering it.
self, dashed irresistably forward.
The enemy was beaten back; but
the hardy Western men who flied
his ranks-although. raw and for
the first time under fire could not
be forced to positive fight. They
had once formed, and al this stage
of the battle they could not be
routed. They had little Of discip-
line, but plenty Of staunch cour-
age. Soon they turned for another
stand, and the Confederates were
at once upon them. Again they
gave way, but strewed the path Of
their stubborn retreat with many a
corpse in gray, as well as in blue.
AT halfpast seven the first line be-
gan to give signs of exhaustion,
and its march over the rough
ground while struggling with the
enemy had thinned and impaired it.
1t was time for Bragg's corps to
come to the relief, and that superb
line now moved up in serried
strength. '2m ,. .ialllag hI
I The first sign of slackening upon
the part of the Confederates SEEM
ed to add vigor to the enemy's re-
sistance. But bravely as they
fought, they never recovered from
the stun of the surprise. Their
half of the battle was out of joint
at the beginning, and it was never
gotten right during thatday. They
were making desperate efforts to
retrieve their lost ground when
Bragg's disciplined tornado burst
upon them. The shock was met
gallantly, but in vain. Another
bloody grapple was followed by
another retreat Of the Federals, and
again our line moved on.
Those ubo xuara IN thot hoff1a