The National tribune., 1900-05-31

fate of Thomas nj Nashville, and possibly
the veterans under Sherman then on their
March to the Sea.
On came Hoods veterans Of the Atlanta
Campaign with stately tread. in three
lines of battle, presenting a front Of over a
mile in length, colors flying and mounted
officers galioping up and down the lines
encouraging the men with visions OF
crowning victory. The spectacle was
imposingly grand, and well calculated
to strike terror to the hearts OF any but
battle-scaTed veterans.
Cox's men, although outnumbered more
than two to one, remained quietly in their
works interested spectators of the array OF
the Confederates as they rapidly advanced.
The impending storm was preceded by the
most profound and ominous silence. Wag-
ner's men not having been withdrawn as
ordered, remained like statues until the
enemy was upon them, when a furious
open-feld encounter took place between
them and Hoods center. These men
resisted so stubbornly and with such ter
rife volleys of musketry that they momen-
tarily checked Hood s center, but the wings
OF his army coming on line with Wag-
ner's men. began pouring enfilading
fire into them from both tanks, which
they could not stand, and they broke into
a general stampede for the breastworkS,
with the ConfederateS at their heels, their
officers urging them to follow the blue
CCdtS lllO Lie WOrkS. NaSIei TWO
brigades came flying toward the works
occupied by Reilly's and Strickland's s Bri-
gades. During this incident, the battle
suddenly burst upon the Union forces like
a sudden storm. All the batteries on both
sides simultaneously began most rapid
fire. Never was artillery handled better.
Heavy charges Of canister from the Union
guns plowed great gaps through Hood 3
advancing lines, but these were promptly
closed, and the desperate assault seemed
Irresistible until near the works.
HURLED BACK.
Suddenly they received such a deadly
yoiley from the Union veterans in the in
trenchmentS that they were sent reeiing
and staggering back But not so with
Reilly's and Stricklands Brigades, both
OF which had been prevented from firing
ct all by reason of Wagner's men in their
front who at this junction came streaming
over the works on both sides of the pike
A portion of Strickland's Brigade and that
portion of Reiiiy'S between the cotton-gin
and pike occupied by the Tooth Ohio and
about two companies of the right of the
10Th Ohio, as stated above, joined in the
rush toward the rear. The horses belong
ing 10 the battery in the front line becom-
ing frightened at the horrid din surround
ing them. ran eff with the battery wagons
attached TO them. Rei!ly's second line,
under command Of the peerless Col. Sam
- me. among IfS DTdheSL OF tile brave
remained lmmOvabie IN their works while
the men and artillery horses from the front
line went bounding over them and through
their ranks 10 the rear. The officers and
men Cf the Sth Tenn, 18th and 10th KY.
eNefted every means in their power in an
effort 10 check these men.
Cox was present eudeayorinG in every
way TO rally them, and when the last had
passed him, and he saw that the line Of
| Kentuckians remained firm and unbroken,
he turned in his saddle 10 them, and raising
in his stirrups exclaimed:
"KpntuckiauS, will YOU rum"
Private John II. Riley, Of Co. D, 10th
KY, the company the General was i'm
mediately in front Of, promptly mounted
the works and responded:
NO, General; never" In this he but
| reflected the sentiment and feeling Of the
second line.
By this time the Confederates were oc-
cupying in force the ditch on the outside
/ OF the abandoned works. All the men
IN Easements and Stiles's Brigades and
those of Reilly's Brigade east Of the cotton
gin saw that the works at the pike had
been taken, and they knew if the enemy
were not repulsed at that point the battle
was lost to the Union side, and that the
bridge across the Harpeth River could not
be reached by them, making a retreat
Impossible. 1t Is therefore far easier to
imagine than describe the intense anxiety
and restless solicitude of these men regard
ing the action Of the reserves, whom they
could plainly see. White, as well as his
men, plainly saw at a glance what was
necessary to be done, and the Colonel being
unable to make himself heard by reason
OF the great noise, mounted the works at the
center, and with c::tstrstched arms signal
ed his men TO rush forward without wait
ing for orders, as the crisis was too perilous
to admit Of moments delay.
THE KENTUCKIANS' RUSH.
Instantly as if by magic the Kentucki-
ans leaped from behind their works and
made wild dash for the front line, filled
with a determination to win back the
captured works or to perish in the attempt.
A most destructive musketry fire met
them, killing and wounding many of their
most gallant officers and men; three times
the colors of the 10th KY. went down, but,
notwithstanding the frightful carnage in
their ranks, they faced the storm of bullets