The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-08-13

mediate vicinity Of our guns. Frequent
calls were now made for endorsements.
but until the infantry should arrive. 1 had,
OF course. none to give. Col. Winslow,
4th Iowa Cavalry, commanding q brigade
and occupying . position ON the Guntown
Road, a little In advance ofthe Cross. roads.
was especially clamorous to be relieved,
and permitted to carry his brigade to the
rear. Fearing that Col. Winslow might
abandon his position without authority.
and knowing the importance of the Cross
roads to US, I directed him, in case he
should be overpowered, to fall back slowly
toward the CrOss-rOads-thus contracting
his line and strengthing his position.
was especially anxious on this point be-
cause, through some MISUNDERSTANDING
that am yet unable to explain, the cav.
airy had been withdrawn without nv
nowiedge from the left, and was COM
PEELED to occupy the line, temporarily, with
my escort, OOns;sting Of about 100 OF the
10Th Pennsylvania Cavalry. This handful
Hesse. behaved very handsomely and
hntry.
About half-past l p. NJ, the infantry be-
gan 70 arrive. Cox Hoge's brigade was
hrst 70 reach the field, and was placed in
position BY Col. McMillen, when the en-
emy was driven 9 little. Gen. Grierson
entire cavalry, - ST was exhausted and
well nigh out Of ammunition" This
authorized - soon ~ sufficient infantry
was in position to permit It, and he was
directed to organize his command in the
rear, and hold 1t ready to operate on his
6anks. In the meantime had ordered q
section Of artillery 70 be placed in position
three or four hundred yards in the rear,
for the purpose Of opposing any attempt al
the enemy to turn our LEFT.
now went to this poiut to see that nv
orders had been executed, and also to give
directions for the management and pr0tec-
ton of the wagon train. found the Sec
ton properly posted, and supported by
thrown forward as skermishers, and the
whole under the superintendent Of that
excellent officer, Colonel wilkins, OF the
9Th Minnesota. While here the wagon
train, which had been reported still mile
and half in the rear, arrived. It was
Immediately ordered into an open field
near where the cavalry was reorganizing;
ther toward the rear. The pressure on the
right of the line was now becoming yerv
great, and General 0rierson was directed
to send . portion Of his cavalry "a
that point. At this time I received q
message from Colonel Hoge that he
was satisfied the movement on the ri1ht
was feint, and that the real attack was
being made on the LEFT. Another section o1
artillery was now placed in position, a lit
tie TO the rear Of Col. wilkins, but bearing
on the LETT Of our main line; and portion
Of the cavalry was thrown out as Skirmish-
ers. The cavalry which had been sent to
the extreme right began now to give way,
and at the same time the enemy began To
appear in force in rear Of the extreme left.
ynv
ments ia the center. l now eDdeav0red to
get hold Of the colored brigade, which
formed the guard to the train. While
travelling the short distance to where the
hesd Of the brigade should be found, the
main line began to give way at various
points. Order soon gave way to confusion,
and confusion 70 panic. I sent an aid to
unable to render him any additional as
sistance. and that he must do all in his
power with what he had to hold his posi-
ton. until could form line TO protect his
retreat.
On reaching the head of the supply train,
Lieut.. Col. Hesse was directed TO place in
position in wood the first regiment of
cOlOred troops could find. This was done.
and II is due to these troops to say here
that they held their ground well, and rem.
dered valuable aid to Col. McMillen. who
was soon affer compelled to withdraw
from his original line, and take up new DO
s;t;ons in the rear. 1t was now O'Clock D.
m. ror seven hours THESE gallant men
he'll tEesr position against overwhelming
naalbers. but - LAST oyerpogered aud ex-
hauste1, they re-. compelled 70 abandon
not only tna .ieid ba; many OF their gall
iart com-aaes who ha6 fallen, to the mercy
OF the e:ieny. Everywhere the army now
criitec tCHa-f The rear, anu was soon alto
geiher -beT2Il control. ! requested Gen.
Grie-son 70 accompany ne, ansi 10 aid i'm
ciIeeA-n5 sae fieeinS column, and cstab-
liSblrs a new !iae. b dint Of ensreaty
and ioraa. and the aid, Of several officers
whom / called 70 my assistance. with pis-
tols in their hands, we a. length succeeded
in checking some twelve or fifteen hun
dred, and establishing q line, Of which Col.
wilkins, 9fh Minnesota, was placed in
command. About this time it was report
ed to me that Col. McMiilen was driving
the enemy. Iplaced but little faith in this
report, yet disseminated it freely for the
good effect it might produce on the troops.
In few minutes, however, the gallant
Colonel McMiIlen, sad and disheartened,
arrived and reported his lines broken and
in confusion. The new line, under Col.
Wilkins, also gave way soon after, and it
was now impossible to exercise any fur
ther control. The road became crowded
and jammed with troops, the wagons and
came inextricabIe, and added to the gener-
al confusion which now prevailed. No
power could now check or control the
panic stricken mass, AZ it swept toward the
rear, led of by Col. Winslow, at the head
Of his brigade Of cavalry, and who never
halted ontil he had reached Stubbs'. ten
miles in the rear. This was the greater
pity, as his brigade was nearly. II not en-
tirsiy, intact, and might have offered con-
siderable resistance 20 the advancing foe
About l0o'ciock p. 70. reached S.usbs' n
person, ~here.I found Col. Wirs,o~ and