The National tribune., 1885-10-01

they expected to make prisoners of ROsenfclt
and his entire army. Papson was still reCeiv-
ing companies and regiments returning to the
field after finding that a portion of our army
stood its ground. Batteries that had been
| abandoned OH the field by McCabe and Crit
singer in their stampede were gathered and put
in position with other artillerymen to work
them. Gen Gregor was moved TO the right.
and with his returned forces (whO redeemed
themselves at Once) he hurled one of Long
paths Divisions from hill on Papsons right,
where flank attack was intended by the
emy. BY this success we gained the position
that entirely protected our right. Paps0n now
with his small force WAS in strong position.
The fighting continued on different parts of
our lines. PalmerstOn haS been again driven
from the left and Gen. Anderson again sent to
his support. He fell upon the Snemy with his
command and drove him back with great
slaughter. Palmerston was again re-estab-
lished, and, with his position strengthened,
could now hold it. The battle ragged with
great fury the full length of the line, and never
did Spartan band stand more firmly than did
our gallant men. At o'clock, like a mighty
tempest in all its most terrible fury did tho
musketry and artillery of the enemy burst
forth upon Papson's devoted columns,
THE ENTIRE REBEL FORCES
moving down upon him in solid phaanx. Our
forces replied with all their artillery. The
roar OF the artillery, with its blazing fire, the
rattle of the musketry on both sides, equaled
any ever heard or witnessed. Solid masses boldly
marched up in front Of Papson's lines, where
they were literally moved down by our mus
kerry and discharges of shrapnel and canister
from our batteries. They would recoil aud
then move forward again into the very jaws of
death. YoI could see them fall almost in
heaps, as it were.
"This character of contest continued until
darkness set in, our columns not moving
swcrving in the least. At dark the enemy re-
treated. The victory of Gen. Papson was con-
plete Had the whole army remained and
supported Papson during the day there would
have been great battle won by our army. and
Biggs would have been driven out of the coun-
try. although his army was SO greatly in excess
Of Rosenelts in numbers. As the battle closed
Papson received orders from Rosenfelt at Chat
teraugus to fall back to Rosevile, which was
done. They encamped there for the night
Gen. Anderson aud staff were worn out and
hungry. They hunted their Headquarters, but
Headquarters were not there. Old Ham was
nowhere to be found, and no provision had
been made for anything to eat Gen. Ander-
son was greatly annoyed but thought perhaps
there was some excuse for it, as most of the
men seemed to get lost during the day.
Capt. Day and my son Jackson said to the
General: "' Perhaps he is with ROsenfelt, as
sisting him i'll reorganizing the army in Chat
terauguS.' Matters were really too serious for
jokes to be very amusing or interesting at that
time, so the conversation on the subject of Ham
and his whereabouts ceased. The next day
they marched to Chatteraugus without dis
turbance from the enemy. Many of our men
remained on the battlefield that night (cOm-
PEELED to do so from exhaustion) and came on
to camp next morning without the enemy COM
ing in sight. Gen. Rosenfelt stated his loss at
10000, and Biggs admitted his to be $4,000.
The army of Rosenfelt was all collected and
concentrated at Chatteraugus.
when Gen. Anderson came into camp he had
a search made for Headquarters wagons and
tents, as we'll as for Ham. Finally one of the
orderlieS found Ham down under the bank
near the river and brought him to Gen. Ander-
son. When Ham saw the General he was de-
lighted and called OUT
&c. Ny Laud, Marsa Gen', I 'spected you done
dead -
Yes said the General; but it seems you
did not wait to see'
"'No sir; dat am so l staid doe, Marsa
Gcn1. jes' as long as anybody else do whar |
been. l tell you, our mans all git, dey do; and
when | seed dat big Gen1 what's ober all oh
you'uns (what am his namc)-when l seed
him gittin from dar, l 'cluded it war about
time for dis ole nigga to march on dis way,
too. Dat Gen'l, he not ride slow, | tell you; he
go fas'. And aforo de Laud l 'spected you
ebery one killed or cotched by dem Sesh; den
wharS de use OBJ ME stayin' any mo- at dat
place, Marsa Gent.
"'Well, Ham, did you ever study law?"
"' No, sir; I'spect not; dunno what it am
"' L think you would have made good law
yer, Ham
good for muffin. l cannot stand dis fitin' dat
am do truf Marsa Genl. So you see, is no
good. | stay ali right jes' as long as it am all
quiet; but whar am dc use OBJ me stayin' by
myself
1.-The General laughed and said that was too
good to keep. He let Ham Off, sending him
out with Capt Day and jackson to get some
tents and camp equipage from the A. Q. NJ. The
next day he amused himself telling Papson and
Sherlin what Ham said about no use for him |
to stay by hissef when de big GenI gone They
all enjoyed the joke except those that came in
early. Ham came back after awhile to the |
General and begged him to promise not to tell |
Marta,' and then went off satisfied.
"Biggs soon followed up and took possession |
Of the ridge to the east running from the old |
Mission House to the Little Combination River,
called Middleton's Ridge, and also a spur |
branching Off from the regular chain of noun |
tains down to the river west of ChatterauguS, |
known as Looking Glass Mountain. The line |
thus formed was in the shape of horseshoe, |
and with the river washing the north side OF |
the town, Rosenfelt was completely encircled; !; |
the object of Biggs being to force a surrender |
by starving him out, Bggs now fully command |
rail and river. This was the position OF the |
two armies at this time.
Gen. Silent was ordered to leave Victor's Hill |
and proceed to Chatteraugus, sending as many |
troops as could be spared from the Army of the |
West. Gen. Meador was directed to send 10000 |
men from the Army of the East in order to pro- |
tect the communications of the Army of the Cen |
ter. In the meantime Broomtield had been or
dered to move with his force, then in Kentucky, |
on knoXburg. Gen. HOrd had come on transports |
up the Combination River to Nashua with his |
corps from the Army of the East, and had sent |
them in advance to protect the railroad between |
Nashua and Bridgcton.
"Gen. Silent learning the situation, sent the |
troops forward from Victor's Hill and fastened |
to the scene himself. The first order he issued |
in connection with the Army of the Center was
that OF relieving Rosenfelt from the command
and placing Gen. PapsOn in his place. The
condition of the Army of the Center by this
time was really frightful and perilous and to
relieve this situation was the thing to be done,
if possible. To this end all the energy of the
Chief was directed. To do this before an un-
provisioned army would be forced by starva-
ton to surrender was the problem. Gen. Silent
telegraphed to Papson to hold out, and the
answer came, We will hold out until we
starve.'"
"What noble old Roman said DR.. Adams.
eyes" said Col. Bush; 1.-THE old man had no
superior in the army, either patriot or
fighter; he was like rock when he once took
his position and got his lines formed"