The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1889-08-10

which have served to dispel so many
81 the unisapprebensiQns which clouded
lhe public mind in regard to this bat
lie. and dwarled II In the history of
Inc country, should have created such
Widespread Interest In Its real history,
and raised It al once 10 the very front
rank Of the moot notable engagements
of our war.
The marvel OF German fighting In
the great battle OF Mars la T0ur was
performed by the Third Westphalian |
Regiment. 1t suffered the heaviest
loss In the German army during the
Franco. RUSSIAN war. II went into
the battle three thousaDd strong, and
us loss was 49.4 per cent. There was
nothing Ia. the campaigns Of which
this formed part which exceeded
these figures, aud they became famous
throughout the German army. And
vel. Id our war there were oyer sixty
regiments whose losses exceeded this.
Seventeen OF them lost above 60 per
cent, and quite number ranged from
10 TO so. There were over q score OF
regiments on each side at Chickamauga
whose loss exceeded that OF the West
phalIsn: Regiment.
But the object Of this letter is more
sparticularlyto set forth tho character
II the splendid fighting performed by
every portion Of Brage's army on this
noted field in Georgia.
The baltic Of Saturday opened in
front OF Gen. Brannan, on the extreme
Confederate right, and hero brigade
Of F0rresl's cavalry, dIsmounted, as
sisted almost Immediately by Confed-
crate Infantry, assaulted the Union
Tines. AS they were driven back by
an overwhelming fire they were cons
tinuously reinforced f0l nearly four
hours. The battle was continuous and
constantly at short range. In fact, it
was Distinguishing feature of the
whole two, days battle that most Of II
was hand. to hand with the bayonet and
dubbed muskets. Forests men In
front of Brannan assaulted time and
again, marching up into the very faces
of the Union infantry, and In their
fiuai effort came on. four lines deep,
with their hats drawn over their faces,
and bonding forward against the storm
Of lead as men face the elements. The
rapid fire Of long and well-traincd in
fnntry seemed to have no effect upon
these veterans, and 1t was not until
they had marched up into the line OF
batteries, which with double shotted
canister onfiladed their ranks at muir
uerous ranse, that their advance was
checked. Even here they stood aad
fought with desperation. Ector ant
Wilson of Walkers division, aud Wal
thall and Govan, of Lidde!l's, al
marching to the assistance of thos,
contending in this hell of battle, be
came, in turn, as holly engaged them
selves In front of Baird, and for hour
on this portion of the field the scen'
Just described on the extreme Confed
crate right was repeated for all thes'
brigades. At the first onset Walthai
and Govan drove their lines over tn,
flank of the regular brigade and cap
tured lis battery, only to be themselve
pushed back again almost at the poin
of the bayonet, and so shattered from
their own courageous exposure at shor
range az to DO practically put out o
the fight for several hours. Nothing
could exceed tho valor of these troops
There was nothing in the way of DIES
perate fighting either OF infantry or ar
tillery which they were not called upoi
to face. Aud they did face IT with
courage seldom equaled, aud which
was impossible to surpass. Thus tn
lines of the two armies, marching to
ward the sound of this furious battle
closed in towards the positions c
Braunan and Forrest, each strikin
the other, as they came into position
and within reach, with AS ponderou
and murderous blows as are ever ds
livered In war. Cheatham, moving I
the support of Walker, turned o
johnson with Irresistible force, an
drove him we'll backward toward tn
Lafayette road, when Palmer, arrivin
ON Johnson,s right, these two divis
sons, acting In concert, drove Chea.
ham back mile and badly shattere
hIs entire command. Next came Hoo
with Law and Bushr0d JohUson's Ill
visions aud one brigade OF Preeton's
and these grappled with Davis AM
Wood and Sheridan along lines of bat
Tie that at times were scarcely tw,
musl<et lengths apart, and thus I'll
snudown this contest ragged In thu
thick woods between the Lafayette
road and and the ChIckamauga, each
llne bending back ward as tho other de-
iSVor<sd III heaviest blows. aud as II