The National tribune., 1884-05-01
CONFEDERATE TESTIMONY.

Polk had command of the left center, oppo-
site w. III. L. Wallace. Bragg. on its right,
was opposed by Prentiss and Hurbut's right,
while Hardee, opposite Sherman, commanded
the left wing and Breckenridge the right,
where he found himself confronted by Hurl-
butts left and the battalions brought into the
action by the personal exertions of Grant and
his staff officers. Bragg says: Here we met
the most obstinate resistance of the day. the
enemy being strongly posted with infantry and
artillery on an eminence behind dense thicket.
Hindman's command was CALAMITY led to the
attack, but recoiled under murderous fire."
Johnston says: . Here, behind dense thicket
on the crest of a Hill, was posted strong force
OF as hardy troops as ever fought. 1t was nick
named by the Confederates the Hornets Nest
No figure Of speech would be too strong to ex-
press the deadly peril of an assault upon this
natural fortress, whose inaccessible barriers
blazed for six hours with sheets of fame. and
whose internal gates poured forth murderous
storm Of shot and she'll and musket fire which
no living thing could quell or even withstand.
Brigade after brigade was led against it, but
yalor was of no avail. Hindman's brilliant
brigades, which had swept everything before
them from the field, were shivered into frag-
ments in the shock Of the assault and para
iyzcd for the remainder of the day A. p.
Stewards regiments made further assaults, but
only to retire mangled and disheartened"
Cheatham's division, consisting of Jchnson's
and Maneys brigades, were not actively en-
gagged except as supports, until after the retire
ment of Prentiss, when it was thrown forward
to attack Hurlbut
AT about 10 a. m.," says Cheatham at
reached the front Of an open field lying east of
the center of the Federal line of encampments
and discovered the enemy in strong force, oc-
cupying several log houses. His line extended
behind a fence and occupied an abandoned
road. He was advantageously located. ] here
| directed Captain Smith TO move his pieces for
ward and open on the enemy, which was done
/ with the utmost promptness and under fire
| that disabled number of his horses before he
could unlimber and come into battery. For
nearly an hour the firing was kept up with the
/ enemys battery-superior to ours in the caliber
and range Of its guns-with D result highly
| creditable TO the skill and gallantry of Captain
! Smith, his officers and men
About this time General Breckenridge with
| his command, came up and took position ON nv
right, and opened upon the enemy a heavy fire
| of musketry, and few moments afterWard T
was directed by Colonel Jordan, assistant adiu-
tant-general TO General Beauregard, TO charge
| the battery to my front. at once put the bri-
| gade in motion at double-quiclS time across the
] open field, about 300 yards in width, fanked
on one side by fence and dense thicket OF
| forest trees and underground. So soon as the
prISauS ehtefea INC Held the enemy opened
| upon us from his entire front terrific fire OF
artillery and musketry, but failed altogether
TO check our movement until we reached the
center of the field, when another part of the
enemy's force. concealed and protected by the
fence and thicket to our left, opened murder
Gus cross-fire upon our lines, which caused my
command to halt and return the fire.
After short time fell back to my original
position, and moving short distance to the
right, with General Breckenridge on my right
we together attacked the enemy, about 1000
strong, admirably posted, and were actively
and continuously engaged for three hours. In
the charge first mentioned the I'd brigade lost
many of its bravest and best officers aud men.
10 be continued.