The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1895-03-29

meeting Prentiss and McClernsnd anc
pushing them back to the line of battle
formed by Gen. Hnrlburt at the Peach
Orchard and Hornets Nest.
III the morning at 10 o'clock Gen. Grant |
concentrated the Union forces, and ia |
this way the further advance Of the |
Confederates was stopped. The contest
at this point is very wildly described by |
Col William Preston Johnston:
When the Confederate army reached
Hurlbuts fourth division and that OF W.
H. l.. Wallaces, a gigantic contest began
which lasted more than five hours. Inc
Confederate assaults were made py raplo
and often unconnected charges along tne
line They were repeatedly checked ana
often repulsed; sometimes counter charges
were made that drove them back short
distance but whether in assault or recon-
both sides saw their bravest soidiers
fall in frightful numbers. At each charge
there went up the wild yell heard above
the roar of artillery. Hurlbut' .nen were
! massed In a position so lmpregnaple an. an
thronged with such fierce defenders tnas
| 1t won from the Confederates the title OF
1.-The Hornets Nest" For five hours
brigade after brigade was led against
them Hindman's brigade, which earlier
| in the day had swept everything peIors
| them were now reduced to fragments anu
paralyzed for the rest OF the day. A. =.
| Stewards regiments made fruitless as
saults Gibson's brigade was ordered py
Bragg to the assault and made galians
charge. but, like the others, recoiled ana
fell back with very heavy loss. Bragg
| ordered them again to the charge anu
again they suffered a bloody repulse.
The bloody conflict lasted until nearly
4 o'clock pm. the Confederate brigade
having been four times repulsed, and
without making any impression upon the
Tederal center. Then Gen. Johnston
came M. observed the situation ead cooliy
said: This is the key to the landing.
They are offering stubborn resistance
here I shall have to put the bayonet
TO them" Then Gen. 1sham u. Harris
left him to lead the Forty-hfth Iennes'
see
Gen. Johnston rode to the front anc
then slowly down the line. His nat was
in his hand. disclosing his unfurroWee
brow. His presence was majestic, ane
when he spoke the men who stood read!
} 70 follow him seemed inspired. He thel
rode to the center of the line, turned II
: his saddle, and in persuasive volc
I said: Men, they are stubborn. W
, must use the bayonet." He resumed hl
, nosition in his saddle, and said, Il WI
! lead Won. and rode toward the Fedora
lines. -,
nerfect sheet of fame greeted tn
e Confederat body, as with mighty snou
Y the line moved forward in charge. N
: line withered, but there was not an II
e stant,s pause. Gen. Johnston ana III
/ followers reached the crest, but not unit
q q work of carnage had been done an
Cen. Johnston's horse shot in four plact
t and his clothing riddled with Dullet
k The Federal line, as they fell back, kel
f nm a whitening fire, and MIME pa
q from one of them cut short the career !.
4 Albert Sidney Johnston. Gen. Harrl
f riding up to him and seeing him vel
: male and as if in great pain, asked NIL
/ General, are you wounded!
n "Yes. fear seriously was his answe
h and the last words he ever uttered.
h Beauregard was thrown IN fuh COZ
u mand at the death of Gen. johnston, ~
10 was in great glee over what ne thous
ID was assured victory.
!. But the tide of battle was to turn.
10 nm. Stewards brigade, under hea
~ fire was forced back and shot and sh
i. was now being poured into Hurlbu
~ left. which gradually gave back, thou
70 contesting every foot of the ground. "a
nm were in perfect order, however,
&c &c took ND their position on the last line
"a defense. one mile from the landing. Ere
4, t;ss and Wallace held their positions
u tho right. and with orders from VI
Grant to hold it at all hazards. Ho
pe aver he was surrounded and compel
49, to surrender his 1,500 men at about
re- o'clock in the evening. Gen. Wall,
m was shot and wounded in trying to brl
he his command from their position
~. Cen. Grant during lull, subsequ'
Oh unon the surrender of Prentiss, L
"a thrown up some breastworks, ana
ne the remnant of the army came b'
we thew formed in line along the brow OF
me hill fronting ellis run. The line l
hardly been completed when Gen. VI
be mers' Mississippi brigade came to
the vine and in range of the tederal al
will lery. Sheet after sheet of lame gree
It. tbe Confederate force, and added 10
will the gunboats Tyler and Lexington, IN
ga, Tennessee river, began firing their
on, inch shells into the Confederate Ii
will Thev could not stand this terrific tlre
lew were driven back.
lal- Early the morning of the 9TH
A. throughout the day the roll OF lnfaI
Iol. and artillery was heard all along
ON, lines The Confederates were be
old driven back and were contesting eV
the inch of the way. NOT uhtlI on
Church was reached could the Confe
ion etas hold any position, and there t
urg held. notwithstanding charge and
II charge until Gen. Grant came up and
ing Iected Watches brigade of Gen. ID
ait. hurts division, with other regiments
the formed them into line for the
ned charge.
err Is. lee "when they took off their hats
rdy gave three ~, me sreen;ng mn the $