The National tribune., 1902-05-22

rles of battles.
Gen. Cleburne, who commanded the
Confederate forces on Tunnel Hill. gave a
glowing account of his defense Of that po-
sition. His report clearly shows the in
domitable courage with which the Union
force made their assaults.
Gen. Cleburne says: AT II a. m. the
first serious fight of the day commenced.
1t was heavy along Smiths whole line,
and extended some distance south of the
tunnel. The right of the enemy'S line, eX-
posed to the fire of several pieces of artil-
lery planted over the tunnel, and met lay
Brigade sent by Gen. Hardee to the foot
Of the Ridge, swayed backward and for
ward for some time, but did not dare to
advance nearer than 400 yards, and finally
lay down, contCnting itself with sending
forward a large body of skirmishers and
sending TO the rear a much larger number
of stragglers. The enemy's left, however,
under shelter of Smiths abandoned work
: of the night before, and protected by the
woods on that flank and by the PERCEPTIONS,
heavily wooded sides of Tunnel Hill, ad
xanced rapidly on Smiths line, and finally
made 4 heavy charge on Swetts Battery,
on the apex of the hill. The artillerymen
stood bravely to their guns under a terri
BILE cross-fre. and replied with canister at
short range, but still the enemy advanced.
9-''When he had reached within 90 steps Of
The battery Brighten. Smith charged him
with the right of Mills's regiment and the
left of the 9TH Tex, Smiths north front
pouring into him from the breastworzs a
close vOlley at the same time. The enemy
was routed and driven back to his cover
behind the hillside and abandoned work.
In this charge Brighten. Smith and
Col Mills were both severely wounded at
the head of their men. Col. II. B. Gran
bury, 18th Tex, now assumed command of
Smiths Brigade In less than half an hour
the enemy made another desperate charge.
He was met by the Texas men and artil-
ieTy in front. Douglass battery entitled
him from Govan's Hill, and Lowrey's ex-
IRENE left regiment got a lOng-range vol
ley on his flank. He was driven back in
confusion as before.
About l D. NJ. it was evident that an
other grand attack was soon TO be made |
on my division. In a few minutes after it |
commenced. The enemy again lined |
Smiths abandoned works, and from them |
kept up close incessant fire on Smiths |
north 'front.' and particularly on the artil- |
lery on top of the hill simultaneously |
charge was made on the west face of Tun |
mel Hill. Warheld's regiment was thrown |
forward outside Of the work to the crest |
of the hill. looking into the Tennessee Val
ley, TO meet this charge.
Key fired rapidly into the charging line |
as it crossed the open grOund at the west |
foot of the Ridge but it was soon under |
shelter. AT the steep the enemy's line now
seemed TO form into a heavy column on
the march, and rushed up the hill in the
direction OF the batteries. Warfield's fire |
stopped the head Of the charging column
just under the crest.
Here the enemy lay down behind trees,
logs and projecting rocks. their first line |
not % yards from the guns. and opened |
fro Tor of flor nf4 80, IL
foot of the hill and in the valley beyond,
supplied this fire and concentrated the
whole on space of not more than 10 /
yards till it seemed like one continuous
sheet of kissing, flying lead. This terrific
FIRE prevented Warfeld's men from NOV
ing sufficiently forward to fire with effect
down the hill but otherwise it only swept
over our heads. The cross-fre from
Smiths abandoned works was, however,
more fatal. 1t took Warfield in flank, and
was constantly disabling men near the top
of the hill
This desperate attack had now lasted
more than half an hour. Key was depress-
ing his guns TO the utmost and firing shell |,
and canister down the hill in the face of II
the enemy's fire. Discovering the impos-
slbiiity of reaching the enemy by a direct I
ire, the officers of Warfield's regiment
were pitching down heavy stones, appar-
emily with effect
Gen. Hardee from a hill south of the
tunnel, seeing the stubbOrnness of the
night. had placed some pieces Of artillery
IN position and was endeavoring to dis
lodge the enemy 7iith a flank fire, but his
right flank was protected by an interview Il
ing projection of the hill he was on, and |.
this FIRE was not effective. Gen. Hardee |,
also sent brigade to move north along
the west face of the Ridge to strike the L
enemy in flank, but this brigade returned
without accomplishing anything. At this
point of the fight Col Mcconnell, COM
mandlng Georgia regiment of Cummings +;
Brigade, came up to the threatened point.
and moved his regiment forward to where
Warheid's men were fighting. Mcconnell
was shot through the head, and his regi-
ment fell back or was withdrawn.
Brig.-Ge Cumming, of Stevenson's Di-
vision, now reported TO me with the re-
mainder of his brigade, and was posted in
rear of the threatened point. Brighter
Nancy, Of Walkers Division, also report
ed TO me with his brigade, and was posted
in rear of Smiths line and parallel to it,
with instructions to support the Texas Il
brigade behind the works and the artillery
at the angle.
'.The fight had lasted INCREASINGLY for
an hour and half, and the enemy seemed
TO be constantly reinforcing. The LIST and {
18th Tenn, of Maneys Brigade, Col Field i
work and placed on Wariield's right, the I
latter officer and his gallant regiment still b
nobly holding their exposed position. al
though the regiment was diminished in
numbers and almost out Of ammunition.
IL was at tins critical period of the day
that Lleut.-COl. Warfield suggested to me ,
that our men were wasting ammunition
and becoming disheartened at the persis-
tency Of the enemy. and proposed a charge !
down upon them with the bayOnet Brig ,
Gen. Cumming calamity proposed to lead (
the charge with two Of his regiments. Ii
immediately consented and directed Gen
Cumming TO prepare for the charge. and I
went 10 the left to see that Il simultaneous ,
charge was made on the enemy's right |
flank. l now ordered the left Of AIilIs's
CIeXasl regiment, being the extreme left ,
or my division, to make the charge on the d
enemy's flank the moment that Cumming
charged them in front, and | remained at
the breastwOrk myself to see the execution l.
of the order.
I'm the meantime Gen. Cumming. hav-
ing placed the 5Gth Ga. in line for the
charge, and supported il by placing the
Both Ga. 10 PAGES in rear, moved forward
TO the charge. Twice he was checked and /
had TO reform. Wariield's (Arkansas) reg
iment with empty guns, and gallant LIST Ii
and nth Tenn, prepared TO share his next L
efforts. AT the command the whole rush
ed forward with a cheer. Lieut-Col. San
ders simultaneously leading the left of
Mills $ CTeXas1 regiment on the enemy's 1
flank. The enemy, completely surprised Il
fed down the foot, the Texas troops on
the left pursuing him beyond the foot, and