The Lexington intelligencer., 1902-04-12

battle of Chicamauga written by A.
A.-Gen. Ryland Todhunter, of
Ector's celebrated Texas brigade. We
this week give a story of that fight
by Gen. Green B. Raum of the union
forces, written for the National
Tribune, published at Washington.
The writer says;
On the morning of September 10
the two armies were confronting each
other in line of battle about three
miles in extent; but their positions
had for the most part been taken
during the night previous, and neither
side knew precisely where their antag-
onists were, nor had they any definite
knowledge of the number of men in
their front.
The battle of September 19 was
brought on by Gen. Brannan with
two brigades. He was sent forward
by Gen. Thomas to reconnoiter the
front and attack any small force he
might meet. He soon encountered a
considerable force, attacked it vig-
orously, and drove it about half a
mile, where he found strong column
of the enemy. 1t was obvious that
Gen. Thomas had arrived none to soon
at his assigned position to dispute
with Bragg's army the question Of
the possession Of the highroad leading
to Chattanooga.
lhe confederate forces accepted the
gage Of battle, and made vigorous
attack upon Gen Thomas's line ia
heavy masses
Johnson's division of McCook S
corps and Palmer's division Of Crit
tenden's corps we're dispatched as
reinforcements to Gen. Thomas. Gen.
johnson arrived on the field at the
instant that Gen. Baird's right was
so hard pressed that it was falling
back in disorder.
johnson struck the enemy in flank
and drove them back a distance of
half a mile; here he encountered a
superior force, which was in the act
of enyeloping his right, when Gen.
Palmer arrived ON the scene, formed
on JohnSon's right and attacked and
drove the enemy with great spirit;
but he also found his right oyerlapped.
Gen. Van Cleye went to the support
Of Palmer, but was b aten back. Gen.
Reynolds with his division at once
entered the fight, and he too was
overpowered.
Gen. Davis brought his division
onto the field and at once engaged the
enemy with success. He forced them
back some distance, but Gen. Bragg
sent in reinforcements and pressed
Davis so heavily that his line was
giving ground, when Gen. Wood at
the opportune moment threw his
division into the fight and turned the
tide of battle in favor of the national
troops.
1t was now o'clock in the after
noon, the battle had been raging fol
five hours against Thomas's position
and the six divisions which had been
thrown into the vortex Of battle tc
his right.
AT this juncture Gen. McCook, by
Rosecrans' order sent Gen. Sheridan
with his division to the support OF
Wood, leaving Gen. Lytle's brigade tc
hold Gordon's mill. Sheridan arrived
to reinforce Wood in the nick of time
to prevent disaster to that splendic
division. This terrible tide ofwar on
the union side was at last more thaS
the confederate line could stand; il
sullenly retired, leaving the field in
possession Of the union forces. But
the confederate forces were not idle at
the center; here the battle ragged will
great fury and the union forces were
giving way, when Gen. Negley
marching from crawash Spring will
a division, >aulted into the fight anc
drove the enemy steadily until night
closed the combat; in the meantim,
Gen. Thomas dispatched Gen Bran
nan from the extreme left to reinforc'
the center.