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tv IwiailU Viiiueri, otwuti nuu Aimuawg, were encamped, with the rebel-army of Bragg between pieai,and Harrodaburg. The rebel left, it has since been, discovered* rested at Perry ville, and the right at, a point on Ohaplin creek twur mites northwest of i*. General Gilbert we found immediately on the. right of our present position * the battle-field of yesterday, and two miies east of Perryville,,,THE TOPOGRAPH'S OP’ THE FIELD.The road to Perryville .nearing tlie battle-field ascends a' liigH ridge and crossing it again descends 'into the valley of a branch of Obaplic Fork of Salt river. This ridge is extensive and runs northwest from the road for half a mile, the left of the ridge overlooking a valley fur to the north through which runs a road to Bee-ton. This road crosses the Maefeviils roadon the highest and the most southerlypoint of the ridge. This cross roads wasthe southwestern corner of the battlefield. Due east from the cross roads, about a quarter of a mile distant the creek crosses the road to Perry ville. About the eame distance due north the road to Bee-ton makes a sharp angle to the left, and thence northeast through the valley before mentioned. From the creek on the road, to Perry ville to the angle in the road to Benton our line was originally established, but this was forced on Gen. Rousseau by the disposition of Terrill’s brigade too tar to the front. It will be seen from this description that the lino of battle was the bypothenuse of a right angled triangle, the road east to Perryvlii© being the base, and the road north to Benfioo being tbe perpendicular.TiRRlLL.♦TSBS1LL ‘wounded hero.flrixcvrx ATBZBCross roads.♦Jacfcaoa fell boro.aoHARRIS*£2Cr£LSTLT*Road to PerryviUo.Hospital.11=11This country is hilly and rolling—deep ravines and prominent hills.vA REOONXOISSASOE..:' 'On approach!Dg the cross ,roads,Gen. Rousseau halted and made a -reconmis-sance, Firing had been distinctly heard over the high hill on which the roads cross, and it was feared we might get into the fight at tbe wrong end of the line.— A reconcoissanee, however, revealed the fact that the fight waa simply of artillery.V w * * *The loDg continued silence of the enemy induced Gen, Rousseau to doubt their approach, and he was expressing this doubt when the explosion of a shell from a rebel piece put all doubt'at an end. “Now they show themselves,’’ cried the General. The shell went over our'heads and exploded. The crowd about the General scampered in every direction. Be imme diately ordered Col. Lytle’s brigade into line and pushing to'his center, formed Ool. Harris on Col. Lytle’s left. Both of these divisions wore ia the open field, Lytlo being on the right, posted on the ridge with Oapt. Simeuson’a battery to support. The Forty-Second Indiana he’d the right at the creek, the Third, Ohio. Col. Beatty, was Us left, and the Fifteenth Kentucky,onCo!. Pope, was in the rear of these two. forming the second line. Snneoson’a battery was supported on the left by the Tenth Ohio, Lt. Ool/ Burke, the Eighty-Eighth Ohio, Ool, Humphrey, being in the rear and on the second line. Col. Harris formed on tbe left of Col. Lytle’s brigade, the Thirty-third Ohio, Lt. Cob'Moore, being on the immediate left of tbe Tenth Ohio, on the left of the Thirty-third was the Tenth Wisconsin, Ool. Ohapitvnd then Capt. Harris’ battery, (this battery belonged to Col. Webster’a brigade, of Jackson’s division), on its left Gen. Rons-stationed the Second Ohio, Lt. Col.ReauKell, and the Nioety-Dintu, lOhio, Ool. FritzelJe. This left only% the Thirty-eighth Indiana, Col. Scribner, in'reserve.THE TIGHT OFEXS,Bash’s battery.THE ENGAGEMENT BEOOiISS GENERAL.By this time the whole lines had become engaged, and the rebels found themselves confronted by a solid line, single, it is true, except upon the extreme rigid. The men were enthusiastic and determined.— Gen. Rosseau had riddeu along the line, loitdlv proclaiming that we were not whipped, though Terrill’s brigade had fled, and declaring that “ we will whip them yet.” He rode along tbe who’© line, now exposed to a wither mg fire, with Ins hat upon his sword, broken in the vain endeavor to rally the raw recruits of Jack son. Alone: the whole lines of Starkweather and Hairis the men, with enthu siastic shouts, hailed their General. The men of the First Wisconsin cried, ** He’s the General for us—pats us all in front;” and from the Germans of tbe Seventy-Nuith Pennsylvania and the Twenty-Fourth Illinois, went up enthusiastic cheers for w Roseau.” Amidst a hailstorm of shell, bullets, and solid shot, their General remained among the men, ever pre-ent oa the line—alas, the only line, there beine, unfortunately, no supports.— But that front line never wavered on the left, the presence of their gallant General being inspiration to them, and that inspiration an enduring spirit of determination and bravery never excelled or defeated.— Passing to tbe centre, tbe hero of the day was received by the Second Ohio and Twenty-Eighth Indiana with cheers that renewed courage with the extremes, and put to shame the Seeing, panic-stricken troops of Jaek°on ; for in the rear, along the lines, the commanding officer grasped their brave General’s hand, and the men, rising from their reclining position, swore to die with him. Gallant Major MeOook, of the Seoond Ohio, grasped Rosseau’s hand, and said : u General Rousseau, we have lost one fourth of our regiment, out we will all die for such a General as you.” And the General, unmindful, perhaps criminally unmindful of hie safety, stood near tbe front of tbe west side of the hill, and swore that, he would ever be present: with him. Oapt. Harris’s battery (belonging to Jackson’s division, but fighting withthe ninth brigade of Rosaeau’s division,)welcomed the gallant General, on whom they now felt all depended, and. with renewed energy, 6ent their shell and shrapnel and grape into the ranks of tbe advancing .solid columns of the enemy.— Along the line of the 41 gloriouB and brave Thirty-Eighth Indiana,” men shed their tears and blood with the eame freedom, and, with parched lip and tongue that had not tasted water during all that terrible day, broke into loud and enthusiastic cheers for him who led them. Their gallant Oolonel (Scribner), seated oa his horse, kept business in beautiful order, and managed them magnificently. In the front he kept them, and bravely they stood by the General whom this barile has so endeared to them, for he shared the danger on tbe front line with them.TBE REBEL LISE OF BATTLE.The enemy’s line was a magnificent one, extensive and deep, there being not less than three columns advancing, and a heavy reserve visible far in the rear. Ab the -whole line came simultaneously into view it was a most most magnificent right. The troops moved iu magnificent styie, and when the order came the skirmishers deployed as if on dress parade. They rushed forward from the line spreading as beautifully as a fan in the hand of a practised coquette. As from the nest a covey of quads files spreading over tbe field, so did the beautifully drilled troope of the rebels deploy from the line as skirmishers. With deeps’at© fury too front fell upon Ternl and drove him from the field, and then tbe whole column fell upon the line of liosseao, admirably disposed, but without supports. To-day it was known that the enemy was three divisions strong : Frank Cheatham was on their right and fought Starkweather; Buckuei was in the centre and fought Len. Hams; Humphrey Marshall wa3 on the left and fought Lytle. Bragg was on the field and directed the battle. It will be condoling for Bragg to know that Rosseau—-citizan aDd not West Pointer—gave him his sufficiency of grape.positheterritheIiidiflowpanithejrearwooRonandthewas gall cam oh a: Rut rep: and ter y aris aros r©bi distshotheth©Cjogand His ©eri —aNo-theretiaw;baoreahisorewiiotmywahistatceiCol. Starkweather’s brigade was not yet, up, and Oapt. McDowell, of Gen, Roas-eeau’s staff, was sent to hurry him i.p to position on Col..Harris’© left. But. in the meantime Gen. McCook ordered Gen. Terrill’© brigade of Jackson’s division into position on Ool. Harris’s left, and the brigade advanced down the' road’to Beaton, going beyond the angle. Tin* was far in the advance of Gen. Rousseau’s line, andin ordering the movement it ie hardly to be supposed thafc Geo. 'McCook fully un derstood the situation The enemy was now approaching in splendid and extended line of battle, and Gen. Terrill advancing to meet them had -hardly-.formed-in line, before be was struck-by^he column of theenemy, and almost completely overwhelmed in an instant.- The rebel sharpshooters and skirmishers shot down the horse3 of Opt. Parsons’- battery. The rebel line become engaged immediately afterward, and after standing a few rounds, the brigade broke and retreated in confusion.Iterrill’s brigade defeated,IBat though of short duration, the fight of Terr ill’s brigade waa bloody one, and the rebel dead left on the field attest howwell it fought. Gen. Jackson himself accompanied the brigade and urged tbo men forward. While engaged in cheering on the One Hnndred and Twenty FrsiIllinois to a position on the right, Gen. Jackson was etrdck by a piece of an exploded shell and almost instantly killed.' He fell from his horse. The line immediately brokeBed fled to the left, and* rear, leaving the body on the field, and Oapt.'Parsons’ battery iu tbe bands of the enemy. Gen. Jackson’s body was afterwards recovered,TIIE CONFLICT on the left.Starkweather’s brigade held our left, have before described its disposition.-— Stone’s J*Vat Kentucky battery and Bush’s Four h Indiana battery fought with thisbrigade. S one’s was, with great labor oaIns part, brought to tbe crest of the hill in lime to give the rebels canister as they emerged from the woods in pursuit of Terrill’s flying brigade, and came into the op«n cornfield below. The Seventy ninth Pennsylvanian and the Firs-t Wisconsin opened a terrible fire oo them. Stone's men shouted and laughed like devils at every shot. The gunners caught the pieces ere their recoil had been completed and pushed them into position again. The rapid firing of musketry aod artillery herewas never before excel led, and a perfecthailstorm of shell and solid shot fell among them. It was a glorious sight, worth the danger and exposor© to witness. At the left of Stone’s battery stood Ronssean, his presene© lending con rage to th© faintest, as his tall, large figure was exposed to the fire of the enemy’s sharpshooters. The tall, slim figure of Starkweather was visible in ©very part of the field. On the left seconding tbo effort-:- of Rousseau and holding his men gallantly to their work, Sfcooe, with his battery, watched with calm anxiety the effect «.( his shots, and kept his men at their glorious work. His battery was worked with fine effect, as was that of Captain Bush, and with tbeir supports of infantry they retained theirposition until the very last. Bloody wastheir fight, and hundred were left on. the fields in their front. In Captain Stone’s front I this morning saw tour dead rebels
Newspaper Details
Richland County Observer
Richland Center, Wisconsin, US
Fri, Oct 24, 1862
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 21 Nov 2019
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