The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1896-07-04
the left, and Cleburne's division on
the right Of the Columbia pike, with
E-4~1kfc uT-1Al~nS.

the left, and Cleburne's division on
the right Of the Columbia pike, with
French's, Walthall's and Loring's
divisions constituting the right Of the
advancing line. The assault was made
with the characteristic elan of these
veteran troups. Brown and Cleburne
overwhelmed Lanes and Conrad's
brigades in their front, while French,
Walthall and L0ring, although suf-
fering heavily from the terrible fire on
the left Of the intrenched line and the
eight.gun battery on the north side Of
the Harpeth. enveloped their left
flank, enabling Brown and Cleburne to
hurl them in disorgapized and routed
mass on and over the centre of their
mainworks, breaking through three
hundred yards OF Ruger's and two
hundred yards of Reilly's intrenched
line. Quick to perceive the advantage
thus won, they pressed the pursuit
over and within the main worxs.
Opdycke, who was in reserve, saw the
great danger, and with his brigade,
came charging up the road toward the
main line. He struck the opening at
the pike just in the nick of time. Gen.
Gordon, OF Browns division, was lead
ing his men through it, and but for
this charge Of Opdycke's must have
thrown the line in the intrenctments
into confusion. Opdycke's advance
not only restored confidence at a criti-
cal moment, but captured Gen. Gordon
and something more than 100 of his
gallant men. But for the rush OF this
brigade the whole Federal force would
have been thrown into disorder, and
Schofetd's army badly beaten. This
charge was the work OF level-headed
and resolute man in great emergency
Gist's brigade, notwithstanding the
locust abatis in his front, reached the
intrenched lire and held it. Polk'a
Govan's and Granberry's brigades car
ried the intrenched line at and to the
right Of Columbia pike, including the
angle near the gin house, routing the
Tooth and 1e4th Ohio regiments. Two
four-gun batteries, loaded, were cap
tured in this assault, turned on the
enemy and served as long as the limi-
ted ammunition lasted. French's divis.
ion in front Of the gin.house assaulted
with indonitable bravery ard carried
portion of Rsilly's defensive works.
Sears brigade was torn and nutilated
In this assault, and gallant Colonel
Witherspoon, of the thirty-sixth Mis-.
sissippi, lay dead On the immediate
right Of the captured battery of artil.
lery. Gen. Cockrell, with two severe
wounds, lay pr0strated on the field and
Colonel Gates assumed command
when Immediately he lost one of his
arms and was severely wounded in the
other. Thus disabled, with his arms
hanging limp, this iron soldier sat on
his horse and followed the movements
Of the historic Missouri brigade over
field swept by storm of shot, she'll
and musketry.
Walthall and Lsring in the mean
time charged hereically the intreuched
line protected by an Usage orange
abatis. In Walthall's front Easements
celebrated brigade was posted, armed
with improved repeating rifles. This
portion of the intrenched line, in ad-
dition to the formidable Usage orange
abatis, was provided with artillery and
supported by heavyguns of FortGranger
which delivered an effective cross and
enfilading fire into the assaulting lines
of both Walthall and Loring. Not
withstanding the right flank of Case
ment Was left uncovered by reason of
the successful assault at the centre and
gin house, that command stood firm
and concentrated its terrific fire on
Walthall's advancing division. In
truth the fire of this line was Il contin.
uing living fringe of flame, because OF
the extraordinary rapidity with which
their improved arms facilitated its de-
livery. which wrought fearful and de.
vas1alin., effect On the advancing force.
Quar-s fell fearfully wounded, with
all Of his staff dead around him. his
field officers killed or wounded and a
captain cas- ranking officer, assumed
command OF bis bri gade. The decima.
ted hrigades OF Reynolds, Shelly and
Quarles succeeded in reaching the
Usage orange abatis, and were in man
ner impaled ip its fatal meshes in their
gallant, though hopeless struggle to
penetrate it. Shelly, however. with a
few officers and men succeeded in
reaching the ditch in front of the
works, but the impetus of the grand
charge was checked. and the mutila-
ted division recoiled under a fire
which neither heroism nor gallantry
could overcome. Walthall had two
horses killed under him. but Was fur
nished remounts by the casualties in
his staff, which enabled him to retire
his command in good order, an extra
ordinary achievement considering the
fact of the fearful conflict between him
and Easement. Never before in the
history of war did command Of the
strength Of Easement in
as short Il period Of time kill and wound
as many men. Loring. with Adams,
Featherstone's and Scott's brigades,
simultaneously with Walthall vigor.
ously assaulted Stiles in his strongly
intrenched position, also protected by
an Usage orange abatis, which was de-
fendea with great courage. Scott was
d;s,hlod hv a shell ga rlv in the charge