St. Landry democrat., 1888-02-25

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dashed in mass against it. The artillery Of
the two opposing forces was in some cases
not more than 600 feet apart.
Each time the Confederates were repulsed,
but at great cost. The gallant Col. Roberts,
who had defied Confederate bullets that
Christmas night six days before, was shot
dead. Nearly all the horses belonging to
Skaters brigade artillery were killed. Sheri-
dams men had exhausted their ammunition.
They had been fighting almost continuously in
this terrific battle for four hours. Sheridan fell
back through the cedars to the Murfreesboro
pike. Negley's division, too, was broken.
While the fight was going thus disastrously
to McCook on the right, Rosecrans was with
the left. His headquarters were in the rear
of Crittenden's corps Rosecrans' plan was
for his left to cross Stone river and sweep
into Murfreesboro while his right engaged
Hardees main force west Of the river and
town.
Gen. Van Cleve crossed early in the morn
ing with two brigades, meeting no opposition.
Gen. 7. j. Woods division was following
Van Cleve. A thunderous roaring on the
right showed that McCook was engaged.
An hour passed. The left wing was still
crossing quietly to the east bank of Stone
river. Suddenly one of McCcok's staff rode
hurriedly to the commander-in-chief and told
him the right wing was hard pressed and
needed assistance. But he was not told how
badly it was going; that Johnson's division
had been surprised and routed, and that
Davis brigades had been doubled up, one
after the other. Rosecrans merely sent back
word to McCook to hold on to the last, and
then went on crossing his left. 1t was true
Il. G..s.
but McCook had been directed by Rosecrans
to bear gradually to the west and north in the
fight, in military parlance to refuse more and
more to the right, and this seemed in accord
ance with Instructions Rosecrans' plan of
battle also comprised somewhat the idea of a
revolving wheel.
AT length another messenger arrived, tell
ing the commander that the whole right wing
was in retreat. IL was time for swift action
Van Cleve's brigades were recalled and sent
quickly to the center. Rousseau YVES sent
into the cedar thickets to aid Sheridan and
Negley. Van Cleve and Wood were ordered
to cease crossing the river and come up on the
double quick. Gen. Palmer's division was
the only one OF the left wing that had not
moved to cross the river It was chiefly on
the west side of the Murfreesboro pike. Gen.
w. B. Hazen's brigade lay partly across
the pike. Gen. Hazen died while chief
Of the United States signal service. Rose
crane at once began to form new
line in place of that which had
been broken. AS the victorious Confederates
rushed on, still turning the circle of the wheel,
they encountered Hazens and Cruft's brigades
" Palmer's division. They met calamity the
outset Of the enemy while Rosecrans was
forming his new line.
Roussean's division. meantime, cut its way
through the Confederates to the rear of the
cedar thicket, and with Negley's division
formed in line, with their batteries upon
slight hill to the rear. Palmer's division
was on Negley's left, and here, with Rous-
seau's and Negley's divisions, and Hazen's
and Cruft's brigades Of Palmer's division,
was some Of the most desperate fighting Of
that bloody day. From the little hill
Guenther's and Loomis' batteries poured
double shotted canister upon the Confederate
masses. -Four determined assaults were made
to break the Union line in front of Rous-