The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1882-06-13
hack ,oa shorter line TO prevent flank
movement.
PRAISE FROM AN ENEMY


A Confederate Colonel who wrote
newspaser account OF that battle said OF
Starkwesther's brigade:
1--WE had McCook's left fairly heaten
and one whole division on the run, when
a single brigade planted itself across
our advance. Such nerve and gallantry
will seldom be witnessed again. / NV
self was in four of the charges against
their position. and twice l thought We
should swarm right over them, but each
time we were driven back by their cool
and terrible fire, leaving the ground COW
cred with our dead and wounded, Har-
dee raved and stormed, and charge after
charge was made, but the blue coats
could not be driven When they finally
shortened the line they moved back un
der fire in a manner 10 r, feet credit on
the best troops Napoleon ever comman-
ded."
"a FROM CREEK TO HILL.
- Rousseau occupied ridge partly
crowned with trees and portly under cul-
tivation, crossed by two highways and
offering shelter for his infantry and good
positions for bis batteries. In his front
was Crazy Greek, half hidden with will
lows aud its. banks, forming splendid
breastworks. Beyond were fences, walls
and fields. Where Anderson formed
his line of battle twenty years ago the
corn grows rank and the wheat stands
high. Where Rousseau pushed forward
the brigades OF Lytle and Harris tc hold
u skirt of woods, the Nav breezes rus
tied the ripening oats as looked down
from the spot where Sloan's battery was
stationed. There were many raw regi-
ments in Anderson's division, number
of the companies being totally undrilled,
and only three regiments having been
in any previous engagement Regiments
we're massed for The attack under artill
cry IRE, and as the Ebugle sounded its
notes the entire divis sion moved forward.
RFPuLsE AND VICTORY.
The two Federal brigades were firmly
rooted, and not a musket cracked until
the Confederate lines we're within pistol
shct. Then a rush was made, but it
was met with such a FIRE that the men
we're appalled,. Held to their work BY
the officers. many OF them fired in the
air, while other companies in some ca
ses charged bayoDets at each other In
the smuke. Some. of the. veteran regi-
ments, however, displayed the greatest
gallan,ry, charging square up TO Feder-
al position and lighting on either side of
the walls and fences. 1t was q terrific
fight for fifteen minutes, and when the
Confederates retired the ground from
hill to creek was thickly strewn with VIC
Tins In few minutes the gray lines
we're reformed for another advance. this
time resolved not to be hailed With
ont stopping to fire, they swung up the
Slope with yells and cheers. The weight
was overpowering; the Federals fell
back TO the main line
A DESPERATE STRUGGLE.
The Confedera,es were pushing on
when another Federal brigade hurried
down. and every piece Of artillery which
could be brought up was soon in posi-
ton and using grape and canister. An
derson also brought forward his guns,
and for half an hour there was desper.
ate struggle. Bragg said in after years
that the fighting at this one point be.
tween two division was fiercer than any
portion of the battle OF Chickamauga
where an entire corps was engaged.
Wien fourth Federal brigade had been
advanced, the Confederates in their turn
had to give ground. They were follow
ed up brisklv until Rousseau's line res
ted where the fight opened.
ATTACHING SHERIDAN.
Failing TO drive Rousseau, Hardee
massed every thing against Sheridan's
position, and for few minu'es drove
it before him Sheridan called upon
Mitchell for reinforcements, rallied his
line across the Spring field pike, and after
quarter Of an hour of hot work he or
hered an advance of his whole division,
McCook's right swinging at the same
time At some points the Coniederates
stood until bayonets clashed, but the
impetus of the mighty wave swept field
and wood and highway clear of Confed-
crates, and as they began to give way
the Federals cheered along the whole
front.
FIGHTING OVER PRISONERS.
This was the first hattie in which Fed
eral and Confederate regiments raised in
Kentucky were placed opposite to each
other Both realized the fact, and they
fought with q bitterness which other reg
iments could not feel. IL the last ad-
vance, about dozen men belonging to
an Ohio regiment pushed ahead so rap
idly that they suddenly found themselves
surrounded and taken prisoners Be.
fore they could be sent to the rear a
company OF Federal Kentuckians al
vanced to rescue them, and at the same
moment company Of Confederaes
raised in the same county rushed for
ward to hold the men One of the
Confederates, now living in Franklin
Tennessee, says Of the struggle which
took place:
I'VE did not stop to fire, hut rushed
forward With the bayonpt. In a mo-
ment we were all mixed up, jahbing and
prodding with bayonet and striking eacf
other with the butts of muskets. A
Federal who had formerly lived withir
Two miles Of my farm made push al
me, and his bayonet passed between m,
right arm and side and went through
nv coat Before he could withdraw il
l hit him blow with my fist, and wher
he tell piled on 10 him and held hin
down, although he bit my thumb to th,
bone. We we're having it hot and heavy
when our folks fell back and left me t
be captured In those few minutes
saw the bavonet used at least twent,
ltimes. and helieye that fully thirty me,