The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-01-15


Roberts were equally successful Bna |
Johnson's division, taken somewhat by |
surprise, was swung back like gate, aud
began 10 erumble al the lauks Two Of
his batteries, Edgerion's aud Goodspeed's
Were taken before gun was fred; the
horses had not been harnessedi and some
were even then going to water. ThisI un-
derstand was not the FAULT Of johnson;
who, / am told, bad issued prudent orders
The enemy's line, obliquely to ours origi.
nally, had worked around untilit ilanked
us almost trayersely giving them direction
filading, and rear fire, Johnson's division
melted away like a snowbank in spring.
time, thus imperiling Davis division,
which was also obliged to break. Sheri-
dan immediatelychanged front to rear, and
his left, ABIDING Negiey, was forced into
angle, which gave the enemy the decisive
advantage of a crosse fire. Sill rallied
his men again most CALAMITY, and while
leading them in charge was fatally
struck, and died at the head Of his line,
a musket ball entering his upper lip and
ranging upward through his brain
General Which, at about the same time,
was captured. Brig Gen. Kirk was Sc
rionsly wounded, and the gallant Colonel
Roberts, OF the 42d Illinois, while repul-
sing fierce attack at The angle, was
killed at the head of his brigade. Sher-
ridan had thus lost two brigade COM
mandtrs aud Hoatling's battery. His
almost orphan division was left to pro-
tect lNegley's left, in the center, both
Davis and Johnson being sent off from
him. But Sheridan, by his own noble
exertions, held his division firmly, and
the Sth Division, under Negley, by des-
perate valor, checked the powerful mas
SEES of the enemy until succour could be
thrown in from the left and the reserves.
Sheridan having repulsed the enemy
four times, and changed his front COM
pletely in the face of the enemy, retired
oward the Murlreesboro Pike, bringing
back his gallant command in perfect or
der. There has been no Time TO inquire
into the causes of the disater on the right
but oviously there was something wrong
Meantime, while this losing battle was
going on, the General commanding had
galloped into the field, followed by hi;
staff and escort He had sent reply t.
McCook's application for aid "TelI Gen
McCook ] will help him" In an instant
he galloped to the left and sent forward
Beatty's brigade. Moving down 10 tn
/, extreme left he was discovered BY tn
enemy, and a foil battery opened upo
him. Solid shot and shell stormed abou
us furiously. The General himself wa
unmoyed by it, but his staff general
/ were more sensitive. The inclination (
dodge was irresistible. Directly one poe
fellow of the escort was dismounted an
: his horse galloped frantically over tn
field. The General directed Col. Barnet
his Chief Of Artillery, to post batter
to shell the enemy, waiting to see
u done. The Colonel galloped forwar
: coolly under fire, and soon had Cox
10th Indiana battery numbering toward
y commanding point. The officer in con
y mand wheeled into position at poll
J, apparently unfavorable for sharp Wor
&c The General shouted "On the crest o
% the crest of the hill" On the crest
IS went, and in five minutes the rebe
/ closed their music. Beatty's brigat
> was now double.q uicking under fire oil
~ liquely from left to right, as coolly as
~ on parode. Inquiring who held the e1
7. Col Wagner's brigade. "Tell Wagn
Of to hold his position at all hazards
Soon after Col. Wagner replied, lacon
as cally, Say to the General I ,ol
re Down at the toll-gate, on the Pike, v
1T got another blizzard" with an interlu'
n Of Minnies, which whistled about wi
At an admomitory SHIT The shifting sceI
is of battle now carried the General ba,
II. to the center of the field. The enen
Of were streaming through the woods fe
rs hundred yards in front. The forest W
is populous with them. Our batterri
ee were dashing across the pllin wi
he frightful vehemence, wheeling into pc:
in ton and firing with terrific rapidly Il
he rebel artillery played upon us NOR j. les
c. ly, tearing men and horses to piece
ls, The sharp shooters were still more
IT'S cious. A flight of bullets passed throu
the Staff | heard an insinuting TIN
al and saw poor orderly within sal
,g. distance tOpple from his saddle, a
A. tumble headlong to mother earth Q
m convulsiye shudder, and he was no mo
he His bridle-band clutehed the reins
mo- death A comrade lOosenened his gra
e. and his faithful grey stood quietly
ed the corpse. Another bullet went throu
,as the jaw of Lieutenant Benton's beauh
lad chestnut. Smarting with pain, he strr
ny violently with his hoofs at the inyisi
,ok tormeniOr. Benton dismounted a
les awaited the anticipated catastroph,
,rd but he rode his horse again, all thror
TO- that fiery day. One or two other hor
1nc were hit, and the cayalcade rushed fr
in that line Of fire TO another, just in ii
eff to be spashed with mud from the .
ri Of a G-pound shot II seemed that th
dye was not square yard on the held
.rls from fire. The rattle OF muske
Sill and roar Of artillery was dealeni
the Still the General charged through
NV as if it had been harmless rain.
I'll Was wonderful that he escape
ent fortunate that his uniform