ger threatened, and it behooved us to be on our
guard.
It was well that this caution was taken, for at daylight, the booming of
artillery and the rattle of musketry proclaimed that another battle had
commenced.
The enemy, in part, were stationed in a piece of woods near the banks of
the Chickamauga river, but in a short time they attempted a flank
movement, and the lines of both armies were at once changed. At 9 o'clock
the engagement became general, and the enemy now made several desperate
charges, but were as often repulsed with heavy loss. At 11 o'clock, the
battle raged with great fury, but both sides still maintained their
ground, and frequently a fierce hand to hand conflict ensued. Charge after
charge did the Rebels make in heavy body upon our sturdy lines, and as
often were they driven back.
Our Battery was exposed to a hot and galling fire, but we maintained our
position through the entire day, the guns belching forth a continuous
sheet of flame. Several of our men were wounded in the engagement, but
none were killed. Lieutenant Baldwin still commanded the Battery, and
here, as well as at Stone river, he displayed great coolness and bravery.
At dark, hostilities ceased, only to be renewed with greater fierceness on
the following day.
SECOND DAY.
Early in the morning the battle again opened, when both armies for some
time kept up a series of maneuverings, each endeavoring to gain some
advantage in position. The Rebels having greatly superior numbers, were
enabled to extend their lines, so that our army was in imminent danger of
being outflanked; and at one time they had nearly succeeded in cutting off
our communication with Chattanooga. But General Rosencrans had anticipated
this, and had made preparations to check the movement, which was
successfully done, but not without great loss.
General Bragg, finding himself foiled in this attempt, now ordered a
general assault along the entire line, and soon the battle raged with
increasing fury.
About this time, a large body of the enemy charged upon our Battery. On,
on they came, with steady front, feeling confident of victory. But our
gallant men wavered not. Nobly did they face their hated foe, and
anxiously watched the countenance of our brave Captain. Soon he gave the
word, and instantly the brazen throats of all our guns spoke out their
thunder, and the enemy went down like grass before the scythe. But onward
came the foe, and at each instant o
|