Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-09-13

"a illustration OF the GOODNESS and bril-.
fancy Of the commanding officer, the
presence Of mind and pluck Of regl-
mental officers, tile dash and bravery
4 the men, or the remarkable charac-
er Of the cyolutons of the line per-
ormed under hot fire at close range.
Imagine an open stubble field lit
lie less than half a mile long by n
quarter in width, entirely surrounded
y forest, the longest line Of the field
INNING north ard south, with the
lafayette or state road to Chattanooga,
Which was the object and axis of the
ight, skirting It's western side. twas
fleven o'clock Of Sunday morning, the
econd day Of the battle. The union
EFT ran just within the southern and
he eastern edges Of the timber, and
urned eastward short distance, iu
evcrsc, inside Of the woods along the
orthern border OF the field. This
hole line wa, being heavily attacked.
Van Dervecr's brigade had been or.
'eled from the center to report to Gen
laird, who held the extreme left Of the
inc above described. lie came through
he forest west Of the Kelley field
marching eastward in two lines, each
leployed, and each with q front of two
egiments.
As his front line emerged from THE
crest it entered thioket Of low pines
which frlnged the western side Of The
Kelley Geld. The flags, the bayoncts
md the mounted men Of the front line
'ould be seen above the thicket. The
qldiers in the pines could see nothing
lust at this moment two confederate
'rigades Of Breckinridge's division,
which had passed around the union
eft and wheeled southwark, burst
.nto the field from the northern border,
'ull into the union rear, its lines coy
ring the western half Of the field, ex-
ending into the woods from which
AN Derveer was emerging, and
marching directly on his flank, which
vas not more than two hundred yards
listant.
The confederate line, seeing the
Tags and horsemen In the pines, which
with tho glittering Of the bayonets
clearly marked the union line, opened
4 hot and destructive entilading fire
lponit. Van pervser, who was riding
n advance, took In the situation at
= glance. Sending staff officers to
Zach regiment with orders he rushed
lis lines forward into the open field,
Wheeled them to the left on run and
lnder u rapidly increasing fire till
hey fairly faced the approaching line.
The distance to Breckinridge's front
had meantime been reduced by Its i'd
vance to hundred yards. Van Der
veer's men had not fired q gun. Under
orders, his lines dropped on their
faces and the front Of two regiments
poured volley into the faces Of the
,nemy, effectuslly checking his ad-
vance, Van Derveer's second line
sprang up, under succeeding orders,
passed over the front line on charge,
followed instantly by the front line,
both dashing at a run toward the
snemy's front II fred ONCE, then
broke, and was rapidly pursued by the
charging brigade and driven back
around the union left
Van Derveer's loss was about twenty
per cent. In thirty minutes, Every
lorse In the brigade but two was
oiled or wounded. The lines of the
brigade did not break at any point Of
The movement and an hour later 1t
charged to the crest OF Snodgrass hill
to the left Of Gordon Changers succor-
ing command, and fought there with
It's lines unbroken to the close Of the
light. 1t was the first brigade CON-
handed at the crest by Gen George II.
Thomas. 1t served with him from Mill
Springs to Atlanta and was his special
pride. II received Its first brigade
drill from Gen. Schofeld, and after
ward Van Derveer so perfected 1t n
evolutions Of the line that each req
ment felt absolute confidence that the
rest would execute Its part Of any
movemen. ordered u has heen mat
ter of discussion by doubling regular
officers whether such a movement was
feasible under the fire of veteran
troops But there are many living
witnesses Of the affair who will testify
that 1t was done and that there is no
exaggeration In the above description.
The regiments composing the brig
ade were the Second Minnesota, the
Eighty-seventh Indiana, the Nintl
and the Thirty-ffth Ohio. its battery.
which fought throughout the day OF
Snodgrass hill, was second Of the
Fourth racular artillery. This brir-