Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1881-12-24

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must we wait for CranOrp" The matter
was settled at sunrise. Forward
march, was the explicit order which
came from the log shanty, to the relief
of the brave fellows. There were three
approaches to Paintville. One was
easterly, by the bank of the Sandy; an.
other westerly, to the right of the village
and the other, the straight wav, run
ming between the right and left roads
over Jagged, perpendicular ridges, by
broken paths, steep and stumpy and
stony. These were all held by rebel
pickets, while regiment was outlying
in the van of the town, commanding the
direct defile Over!the 'mOuntain.'
Garfield decided to try strategem,
knowing that Marshall was an old cam
paigner and tOO:wily and wary to sus-
pect new beginner of shrewdness.
| Throwing out small force of infantry
and cavalry along the east or river road
| with directions to drive in the pickets
there, couple of hours after he sent off
| a similar detachment of skirmishers by
the west or right road. and at about the
same interval of time still another party
| to attack by way Of the middle or noun
tain road. The first body duly drove in
the pickets on the river bank, who, flying
hOmeward to headquarters, reported to
Marshall than the enemy were advanc-
ing by that route in force, and he eXcit-
eddy hurried off thousand infantry and
a battery of six-pOunders to protect that
approach. The same result took place
with the western pickets, who likewise
fled, and in accordance with the report,
the rebel infantry and battery were hast
lily recalled and urged to the defense of
the right road. A couple of hours later
the encouraged Union troops, impetu-
Ously scaling the rocks, drove in the
pickets of the last or central pass, and
these finding the town deserted by its
vigilant guard, which had been with
drawn to the support of either wing in
turn, carried the story to the rebel camp
that the enemy were at the threshold Of
Paintville. In alarm, Marshall called in
his rowing and rambling regiment and
battery, and took up fortified position
in the rear of the village, we'll protected
by his guns. As the pickets fled, Garfield,
rapidly advancing by the middle road
acrOss1the ridges, took possession OF the
abandoned settlement and hOisted the
stars and stripes over the wavering pop
ulatiOn of Paintville. Then federal and
confederate lay face to face for the mo-
ment. each anxious and impatient for
the pending struggle of the morrow.
Late in the evening of the Sth of jan
uary SOY came into the rebel camp
with the news that Cranor and his regi-
ment were close at hand to join the lit
tie force of Garfield. Marshall immedi-
ately determined to stampede in the
darkness. Col. Garfield was surprised at
midnight to see great fire ablaZe in the
confederate camp, and mounting his
horse and placing himself at the head of
his regiment, rode forward only to find
deserted position and the enemy out of
SIGHT, while his munitions and stores
famed and smoked upon the clouds Of
the night. He at once surmised that
CranOr must be near, and jOyfullyIawait-
ed the arrival of his achievements. In
the morning the trusty regiment march
ed gayly into camp, cheering and being
cheered, and with their battle-fags fly
ing in the winter wind. 1t was the 9th
of January and the day before the first
glorious defeat of rebellion and the re-
demptiOn of Kentucky from the treach-
erOus tolls of secession. The signal and
decisive battle of Middle Creek was at
hand. After breakfast and many glad
hand-shakings, Col. Garfield ordered his
impatient forces to march toward the
foe. They advanced slOwlr and surely
until dusk, when they went into bivOuac
on the top of AbbOtt's hill. 1t was raw
night, with bleak north blast and fall
ing rain, and camp-fires before drenched
tents were rudely blown out by the fitful,
chilly gusts. Yet men slept sOundly be-
fore the action on the very brink of death
and wounds far worse than death.
The mornings engagement began
with the Union skirmishers sweeping
the confederate cavalry in repulse from
the heights in front of Garfeld's posi-
ton, beyond which pr )tecting ridges
the enemy was massed. At noon the
federals occupied this crest and could
look down on the ranks of the hostile
host below. The ground was fully ex-
posed to view, the battle field of Middle
Creek, with its meadow, marshes and
marching men. 1t was watered by an
inland rivulet and traversed by rough
road about 10 feet broad; on either side
of the stream and highway steep, point
ed rocks, rising few hundred feet, over
hung the bush grown. swampy banks.
The enemy was seen to hold the two
ridges on the left of the creek, while
battery of IL pieces at the forks of the
little river was ready to rake that ap-
prOach. To the right heavy detach-
mel was massed, Marshalls plan was
evidently to enfilade the advancing col
umn of attack by an artillery fire. Col.
Garfield's quick eye, however, in an
instant saw through tho purpose of his
adversary's able disposition of his re-
sources, and enabled him to skillfully
avoid the dangerous trap, He decided
to storm the Overhanging heights, an