The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-03-01

Kinks brigade was the portion Of the FED
eral army first attacked. Kirk called ON
HIIlich's brigade, on the extreme right, for
aid Wilhch's brigade had no commander.
and no attempt was made to respond to the
call There was sharp but short fighting.
and then Johnsonis division went to pieces
Kirk himself fell, MORALLY wounded, and
Which was captured as he was hurrying
back to his brigade Kinks and Willich's
brigades were nearly half OF them killed,
wounded or captured
Only Col Baldwinis brigade Of Johnson's
division remained unshattered. It was in re-
serve near division headquarters The re-
mains Of the two beaten brigades went
streaming back to the rear past Baldwin,
only pansing in their flight TO give informa-
ton OF the disaster. At that Col. Baldwin
quickly formed his brigade in line to meet
the pursuing Confederates. They appeared
IN great understanding clouds of men.
On the front Baldwin's brigade held them
CALAMITY back for time, but they came On
In overwhelming force and thanked him on
the right, enfilading his brigade. Then he
was forced back and retreated slowly, Just in
time TO miss having his whole brigade cap
tured. What was left Of the other brigades
of Johnson's division was being reformed In
the rear, and these Baldwin Joined.
On the victorious divisions OF Hardee
swept, so far swinging around the circle Just
as Bragg had planned for them. Gen JEFF
| Q. Davis next received the force Of the ad-
vancing wave. Davis threw Posts brigade
quickly to the right to meet them with
changed front On they came, an irresistible
avalanche Of men They charged with the
"rebel yelLn Fresh troops from Gen. WitherS'
division OF the Confederate center had by this
time Joined them. These came in torrent
against Carlin's and Woodrufr's brigades Of
Davis division and Sill's brigade Of the right
of Sheridans division. Together the three
brigades of Carlin, Woodruff and Sill made
gallant resistance, and at length drove back
the advancing Confederate columns. The
Confederates reformed their lines almost i'm
mediately, being REINFORCED by reserves from
Cheatham's division. Again they charged,
and again were driven back by the three stub
born brigades. Gen. Sill charged in turn and
| drove back the force opposite him to their in
/ trenchments. But in this gallant charge Sill
himself was killed. Posts brigade Of DAVIS
division had meanwhile also repulsed the at
tack of Cleburne's men.
After changing front Posts brigade fought
nearly at right angles to their former posi-
| ton. This made an angle Of the left OF
Davis division and the right OF Sheridans.
| Against this angle the Confederates threw
all their force for the purpose of entilading the
Union ranks. Twice they had been repulsed,
yet third time they assaulted the Federal
pUSlJlOu Az JDdI 6uu0 dJJdCA JLO kOHH S1k-
| during brigades of Davis division gave way
and fell back into the cedar thickets behind
| them.
Then Sheridan, next on Davis left, was In
turn obliged to protect his own right flank.
| Col. George w. Roberts commanded Sheri-
| dams left brigade Sheridan quickly with
drew Sills brigade, whose commander had
been killed, from his right and ordered Col
Roberts to take its place ana charge on the
| Confederates, who pursued Davis division
into the cedar grove. Roberts did so and
checked their advance long enough for Sheri-
| dan to reform Sills brigade and another on
/ a new line. Roberts joined the new line with
| his brigade. Sheridan then attempted to re-
| form Davis division, but failed.
| Still the Confederates swept on in ever
increasing waves. They at length turned
Sheridan's own right The right of the CEN
ter corps, Thomas, was held by Negley. Inn
mediately Sheridan joined his front to Neg
] ley's, and formed Roberts on the right, facing
| south.
The successive positions on the right wing
Of the Federal force that morning may be
described as two sides OF square, one facing
south, the other east, forming an angle with
each other. One after another the south
sides Of the square melted away, again to be
followed by other brigades swung round to
the right in the same position. The main line
faced east.
Sheridan at length formed his brigades In