Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1903-10-14

and followed 1t in person. de Iouhu
Williams in position near GreeneVllle
and prepared for attack Oct. 10. A line
of cavalry skirmishers rode up to the
enemy's outposts and kept their atten-
ton for some hours. Meanwhile the
cavalry brigade of Colonel J. W. Foster
gaHoped around to the rear OF Will
liams to bag the whole command
should it be driven from Greeneville.
Williams calmly awaited the attack.
Burnside's staff officers carefully sur
veyed the ground and the charging
column formed under the cover OF q
ridge in front of the Confederate CEN
ter. Williams had about 100 men in
the center, but behind them were sta
toned four cannon. Before the charge
Burnside brought up his infantry and
spread out the line over two miles.
This compelled Williams to stretch out
his men, and at the time Of attack his
force was merely line of Skirmishers.
Shortly before shutdown, after giving
Foster time to ride around the enemy
Burnside gave the signal and Ferreros
division rushed forward, striking the
Confederate center with one brigade.
Finding themselves overrun by SUI
perior numbers, Williams men gave
way and Ferrero's line dashed through
the gap toward Williams guns. The
Confederate gunners cOolly awaited the
assailants and when they marched up
within go yards opened with grape
and canister, literally moving down
the ranks Of blue.
The Federals pressed on CALAMITY for
some PAGES. but being unable to live
and ran to the cover Of wooded
ravine on their right. The Confeder-
ates, driven from the center at the first
rush of the Federals, had moved to the
right and left of the gap. Uniting
their fire with that of the men posted
on the TANKS they poured a terrible
fusilIade into the aSsailants, driving
them back to their old position.
Burnside rested with one attack. His
line pressed the enemy firmly on one
side and he supposed that Foster was
doing the same on the other. Darkness
came on soon after the attack ceased
and the Federal skirmiSherS reported
the COnfederates retreating. During
the evening word reached Williams to
the effect that brigade of Federal in
fantry was closing in upon his rear and
a cavalry column also, the two march
ing from opposite directions. Going to
the telegraph Office at Greeneville he
communicated with his superior and
informed him of the desperate situa-
ton of his command. He decided to
move out in the night from Burnside's
front and cut his way through the
enemy in the rear.
Williams fate and Burnside'S success
depended upon Colonel Fosters cav
airy. The troopers had ridden far to
the enemy's rear, but owing to rough
and barricaded roads did not get into
position on Williams road of retreat
until that general had been joined on
his night march by the brigade of Cen
eral Jackson. Foster had posted his
guns, six in number, to sweep the road.
Discovering the Federals across his
path, Williams divided his line into
two columns and at daylight sent them
forward on Il charge.
The Confederate columns, led by
General Jackson and Colonel Carter,
the Tennessee cavalryman, swept the
Federals from the field, and Williams
passed on without the loss Of a man
or a wagon from his train. Reaching
the village of RheatOwn, Williams
halted to close up his column. BY
some mistake his artillery had taken
the wrong road. and while waiting to
bring it back the Federals again made
their appearance.
Foster at last had Williams at dis
advantage, but unluckily for him he
did not know the true situation in the
Confederate camp. The absence of
their guns threw Williams troops into
a panic. but their leaders rallied the
coolest of them and repulsed Fosters
inQuiSitivc skirmiShers. Waiting to
make assurance dOubly sure. the Yam
kee leader lost his chance. Williams
battery came to the field at a gallop,
and once more he was saved. Posting
the guns in strong position near
Rheatown, he held Foster off until his
train and the infantry had marched
to a safe distance. then retreated with
his whole command.
The skirmiSh with Williams force
was a turning point in Burnside's cam
paign. He went no farther toward
Chattanooga. but, leaving few regi-
ments scattered over the central valley,
took the Ninth corps back to Knox
vile. The lower valley was thus left
open TO LongStreet.
RosecranS' new position at Chat
tSnOoga gave fresh Importance to the
valley of the Tennessee for Federal oc-
cupation. West of it lay the Blue