The National tribune., 1898-12-29

am very much surprised 10 see you
here"
Finding himself a prisoner, he took it
with the best possible grace | allowed
him To keep his sword until he reached
the post. and let i'm walk by me. lie
was such a gentleman that | hated To
turn him over to the hard fate OF pris--
oner; but my good manners never saved
me when | was in their hands, SO | con
soled myself with the thought that ne
might haze had better luck. After
reached camp with him, | ascer;ained
that he was a Second Lieutenant on Col
Corbyn's staff.
REBEL REINFoRCEMENTs.
From some unaccountable cause, the
army was detained in the vicinity OF
Stevens S Gap for five days, and during
this interval the enemy was reinforced by
Longstreet S Corps and other troops from
Virginia
During the morning of Saturday, the
18th OF September, little was done except
closing up the trains and getting them
over the mountains, before j, was dis
covered that Bragg was attempting to
flank us on the left, when instantly our
army was put in motion toward Chatta-
nooga, to prevent him from accomplishing
his object.
Our march was soon discovered by the
rebels: and now began the greatest foot
race the eye OF man ever bebeld- My
duty often caused me To ascend high
points Of the ridges and hills to see how
the enemy were progressing, and wherever
they moved the tell-ta!e dust would dis
close their operations. Each army was
intent ON gaining their fortified ground
near Chattanooga; and we had an even
start, and If anything, the shortest road
our army marching down on the west, and
that Of the retels on the east side OF the
Chickamaufa River.
Great, heavy clouds OF dust lowered in
the air, revealing the course Of each army
through its entire length, as well as dis
closing the movements OF the smallest
bodies OF troops.
THE BATTLE OPENS.
About 10 O'Clock in the morning, Bragg
discovered IL would be impossible to flank
our army and prevent us from gaining the
desired point, and Immediately Eegan Il
close with us. His artillery laundering
on our flank gave notice Of his intentions,
and Gen. Rosecrans accepted the chal
leEge, and soon our batteries were answer
ing shot for shot and shell for shell.
Thi, artillery dueling was very destruc.
tive for some time, particularly on oui
right, where the guns Numbered with
uninterrupted fury. Guns were dis
mounted, caissons blown up, wheels
| Splintered into fragments, horses torn al
most limb from limb while the manglet
sunners lay scattered in all directions ant
wounded III every manner. Still the worl
Of death went on.
When the heavy shot failed to strike
among the gunnerS, IL WAS only TO pass
I among the bpughs over their heads. and
| by splmtering them carry additional de
StructiVe elements into the ranks Of tn,
supporting infantry. The shells, shrek
4 ing through the air, burst among the meI
and horses, sweeping down whole squad,
/ 81 the one or teams OF the other: ant
/ when caisson was struck the effect wa
terrific. The vehicles would he scatteret
10 fragments, while the powder Of the
shells would ignite, and throw them il
every direction, bursting as they went
and sweeping scores OF heroes 10 untimell
graves.
While this was happening on our right
! the heavens appeared rent by sudder
crash, and the earth trembled beneath
a steady, rolling sound. The battle hac
begun on the left, and the muskctry hat
opened in dreadful earnest. Peal on pea
the sound was borne TO us on the RICH
by the wind, almost drowning the heav,
roar 81 artillery near us, which OF itSel
was weli-nigh deafening.
TERRIBLE ASSAULTS
Rapidly Gen. Rosecrans shifted hi
troops from right 10 left, 10 meet each new
assault OF the enemy. Each time, as tn,
roll of musketry raised above the sound O
the cannon, il told us that the battle con
tinued To surge 10 the left, and that tn,
lines OF our army were being stretched 4
| the greatest possible length. Stout heart.