The National tribune., 1885-04-16

repulsed at that point ] do not believe that
ne could have driven Ros.rrans from any
important position, thousb he had already
penetrated our line near the center. But
that this line could hav. been restored by
putting in one or two other divisions nave
no doubt: that is, if there had been some
one there to give the orders necessary.
TERRIBLE Loss.
Nv this flank attack on my right Col. j.
w s Alexander and Col. Daniel Ia. Giitner,
3sth III. were killed. Wuh tue attack In
front and on both flanks simultaneously 1t
was impossible for my troops 10 hold their
position. The line melted away; those not
killed wounded or captured going TO the
rear. Mai. ". L. McaiackIn, 2lst ILL.,, and
Maj. Mcdonald, l0lst OHIO, were captured
at the breastwoEks with other officers ana
men. As the broken regiments and compa-
MES gave way they created a panic among the
general officers In the vicinity oi WIDOW
Gtenn's. IL was doubtless en- appalling sight
10 those who were responsible Tor the con-
duct of the army. OF corps and divisions
But when this break TO the rear occurred 1t
did not SEEM 10 me very serious or at least
an irreparable state of affairs. Where was
standing the enemy was not advancing. L
retired perhaps loo yards, and few men
remained near me. i directed Them to skr-
mish with the enemy, and they did keep up
a desultory firing for short time. IL was
here that M3i.-Gen. NJ Cook rode up TO me
and asked me what ought TO he done. just
In rear OF my position 400 or 5si0 yards was
a ridge pretty well timbered. Pointing TO
that said TO Gen. DcCook that II he would
take his position on that ridge with his staff
and corps flag | thought we could rally our
mon on that ridge as a new line and hold It,
He rode away. There was an Indiana bat
terry near this point that was not engaged
The men were lying down. l ordered the
officer commanding it TO open fire on the
eDenys position. / believe a few shots were
fired by this battery. Then Gen. McCook
came to ME again, with Gen. Crittenden,
Col. j. c. McKibbin, Maj Caleb Bates and
Others. zen. McCook said TO me- That we
couldn't do anything with our men. re-
peated what had said him beiore-that
/ believed that if he and his staff would
take Up position on the ridge III rear we
could rally The men aud hold The 'Idge. He
asked me If / dld not see the rebel cavalry
coming ! replied that ] could not zee any
cavalry that / heard bullets striking near
me occasionally, hut cOuld sec no cavaiiy.
He then remarked that they were coming
and turned 10 the rear and rode
Off / cOuld not see any rebel tronps, though
there were many trees In the way, aud 1t
was necessary to l0uk very carefully TO see
men over 100 yards distant. Being now en-
t!Teiy alone, l went To- The rear, descending
the little ridge into = BARROW valley, perhaps
JOG yards vide, ascend,d to the ridge re-
ferred 10 above, and found perhaps hun
dred men IN line from various regiments /
endeay0red TO get more and sent orderi'es
and officers out to bring in all men they
could find away from their regiments. But
these men acre anxious to hunt up their
own colOTs and join their own organs cations,
and this line did not grow in numbers. Still
] did not see the euemy advancing. Here
some Of my staff came 10 me and told me
that my brigade had been collected together
and recognized, and that it was with Gen.
Sherilanis Division, about fnurth of mile
in rear, on the Dry Valley road. Going in
the direction Indicated, | found my brigade
and also that OF Col. MaFIiu-the only two
brigades OF Davis's Division that had been
in the battle. Capt. +. W. Morrison, OF Gen.
Daviss staff, had some uf Davie,s escort, his
division liag and his 81 her staff officers with
him. Il was in fact Dlyisis Division less
Parke's Brigade, which was at Crawfisb
Springs guarding the trans. L assumed
commsnd Of the two brigaies, and placed
Lieut-Col. j. L. Galloway, 21sE H., ia COM
maBd Of my own. H., W Is the only field
officer remaining in nay brigade. two Cul"nels
having been killed hat d,y and TWO Majors
captuied, and on The previous day one Lieu
tenant Colonel and one Mal.r wounded.
/ found that my staff officers had rallied
the brigade and that the, had fallen in be-
hind Gen. SheIidahis Division, " hich WAS
then marching on The Dry Valley read in
h u l.
consultation with Sheridan as to The state of
affairs. He told me That were cut off
from Thomas and lhai be dr; no, know the
extent OF tlse disaster He said he Wa, hes-
tatlng between TWO courses: one WAS To go
across the mountains 10 Bridgeport. aad the
other was 10 20 to Rus>Niile and from that
point 10 communicate with Thomas This
latter course he pursued. Sheridan Was
then MaJOr-General oi volunteers. ] told
him that i placed myself urder his coal
maDd, as he Was the sruI0r officer, and that
] would obey h,s onrrs
"Yery we'll" he aid.
II was observed that numerous piereS of artil-
1ery cais-nns. and whale batteries were in the
woods, and apparently dil not khuw where to
go. Gen. Sheridan SusE,=,trd that | halt INV
command till this srritlery hal come into the
road behind his division. aud that follow the
artillery Hating till tiie last gun aud cai son
had pulled out on the road. followed as rear
guard 10 Sherldan's cOniHaid. Including this
artillery. None of Gen. Daylss staff could
give any information about h. IN. 1t WAS sup
posed that he had been killed rai;ured. Alter
marching about tao aud hali niies from the
point where l. joIned ShcrItiaa. We reached
McfariaDd's farm, Wiis r. faiiuh Gen. Davis.
Before rearhiDR this place. however. Ma. .-tieu.
Negiey came mp 10 liie tb hts slaif in csiuIHn
of twOs and has sword dawn. | had never n.et
him before. He addressed nle ~ fnliows: Geu
Thomas out there "Ht two miles. aud still
fighting" de painted n the directiuu with
his sword. Continuing. ne sd d Ii you will
60 TO him with your cIIuiiud ] will support
you" l replied that I wa> then uuaer tsen
Sheridan IS command. aud referred him to that
officer. st McFariaIid's Da.is resumed COM
mand of the division Many sirsggiers had col
lecttd there and rein.nssi tie-r regIuiests.
Hetehk isss battery HaS ai,u there. having been.
as gas told by Lieut. Dawley. ordcred TO re-
treat by Gen. Davis IN psison. After reor-
ganiZing the division AS far as practicable.
Davis diregted me tu follow Martins Brigade
That was bis only order. | o'rsrryel that we
lett the road and moved thr,u-h The wooss
inferred and afterwards heard that Davis
started 10 join IhunIIs l;ui after niarching
nearly an hcur through tisc wood, We returned
90 the road. it had beet, dark ior an hour IL
was then reported that Tho HAS NILS falling
back 70 RGssviile. aud that Davis was 10 meet
him there. 20 we conIiuneii oar Iaarci, on the
Dry Valley road Till reached kassyilie about
midnight All that reiiIaIntd intact of that
army assembled al R'>>yi.ie. Eariv next mpru-