The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-03-30
WARS HORRORS.
- uzvfd Description OF the Battle OF
Frwa>ltn.

right, Cheatham on the left, their right
and left TANKS, interlocked like Par
THAN shields, composing the center.
General Stephen d. Lees corps was
held in reserve. Cleburne's position
was in the center; his division formed
in three battle lines, and he at its head.
Thus arranged, Hoods line was nearly
two miles long, advancing, curved like
a Mussulman's cimeter, with the blade
to the foe. But let us follow Cleburne.
Bugles were blowing, drums beating,
and bands playing. A courier dashed
up to Cleburne's presence, and soon the
word "Attentionv' was given, then
Forward, march, and the column
passed over hill and through the little
skirt of woods. Soon they emerged
into an open field and steadily they
passed on with proper cadence" to-
ward blood and death. The Federal
batteries began to open. First came
solid shot bounding over the earth and
tearing crashing through the ranks,
the shrieking shells flew through the
air on the wings of destruction, burst
ing under and above and around the
men, and. at every explosion unbinding
more evils than ever flew from Pando-
ra's box. Twilight was coming on.
Forward menw was repeated all along
the line. A living sheet Of fire was
poured into their ranks. But the men
pressed forward until the terrific roar
ran from center to FAM from wing to
wing.
Night came and two armies
fought like two blind giants in despair.
Cleburne's old war cry rang out above
the din of arms: "Follow me, boysw
Once again, and again, and again seven
times, Cleburne's division, and, in
deed, all of Hoods army, charged the
breastworks. And once again, and
again, and again, seven times were
they repulsed. Every time they formed
and reformed under most CALLING fire.
AT one time, just after dusk, Cleburne
captured portion of the works and
turned the guns of Federal battery
on their former owners; but it was
only for few moments-a little silver
rift in the battle clouds that enveloped
him in darkness. 1t was the hottest
fire Cleburne had ever met 1t was
but one stream Of blazing hades. Con-
federates were on one side of the breast
works and Federals on the other. Men
fell fiat on their faces and fired from
behind the bodies of their dead conf
rades. Dead soldiers filled the intrench-
ments. Blood made the earth as Slip
perry as an ice-pond. Thus the firing
was kept up until after midnight, and
gradually died out. But both armies
held their own. The Confederates
passed the night where they were, just
outside the breastworks. The FEEDER
ais, only few feet off, held their cover
until near daybreak, when they quietly
marched back to Nashville.
But when the morrow's sun began
to light up the sky the surviving SOL
diers looked out upon a sad battlefield.
The dead were piled one on top Of the
other in awful heaps, and wounded
seemed thicker than the uncounted
stars. Horses, like men, had died
game upon the defenses. Cleburne's
body lay there on the top of the breast
works, CHASTITY in the sleep of death,
pierced with forty-nine bullets, through
and through. His mare had her fore
feet on top of the works, dead in that
position.
Not far from where Cleburne lay was
seen the dead body of General Adams
His horse had his forefeet on one side
of the works and his hindfeet on the
other, dead. The general seems t.
have been caught so that he was helt
to the horses back, sitting bolt upright
in his saddle, as if living, riddled an(
torn with balls. General Stahl lay by
the roadside and his horse by his side
both dead, and all his staff. Genera
Gist from South Carolina was lying
with his sword, reaching across tn,
breastworks, still grasped in his hand
He, too. was dead. General Granberr,
of Texas and his horse was seen, hors,
and rider, right on top of the breast
works, dead. All dead. Four thou
sand five hundred soldiers all lyin;
side by side in death. Thirteen Con
federate generals were killed ant
wounded. Six brothers, members of
Mississippi regiment, were all dead
"This was the bloodiest picture in tn
book of time"