Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-06
|S0UTHER RNERSI
coppi0ht, 1909. by Cyrus 1ownsend Brady
I.Y CYr4S ToeVr1ser1d BradI
Author of "Weven With inc Ship" "Hohenzoliern .:.s-y "The Quiberon Touch." Etc. ......

the left, which he -nopeG to overwhem. the Union troops moving to re-enforce Thomas on their unprotected Hanks as they passed.
 Still, the fighting on the Federal right was as yet by no means severe, al- though the demonstrations of the Con federates were growing stronger with every moment, and their troops were being moved forward on the right for a general action all along the line. By half after 11 o'clock misunderstood order, which was at the same time badly expressed, withdrew a whole Federal division from it's place in the line near the center, moved it to the left and placed it in the rear of Ihom- as heavily assailed position. There was great hole left in the Union line. John B. Hood, one of the most magnif- gently reckless fighters in the southern army, detected it through his skirmish- CTS. The news was at once carried to Longsreet, and he massed his corps for an instant attack, appreeiating the brilliancy Of the opportunity. before him.
 With masterly tactics Longstreet threw his veterans into a column of brigades at half distance, Hood leading the column in person. With fixed bay Onets and at a double quick they moved down past a little farmhouse which from the name of it's owner gave the title to the Brotherton road The men in the open Hanks of the Union army on either side of this vast chasm were completely exposed to the Confederate avalanche, pouring into the gap in solid column, the fierce rebel yell, first heard from the lips of John Sevier 100 years before in Tennessee, ringing over the field. At the same instant every bat tery of southern artillery opened fire. Buckners corps hurled itself upon the attenuated Union lines on the right of the opening, Stewards division on the left of it, at the same time Long street pierced the center. General Davis threw his two brigades recklessly upon this mighty gray bat tle column. A few swift volleys from the advancing Confederates shattered their ranks, and when the division fell upon them with the bayonet they drove them like leaves in winter storm. The Union batteries in the rear Of the line sent canister and grape tearing and ripping through the advancing bat talions, but their blood was up; noth- ing could stop their irresistible ad- vance. Davis men, taken in front and rear and flying for their lives, burst in- to the ranks of Phil Sheridan's divi- Cfn into fusion, ill which cohdition the gray battle storm surged down upon them. In spite of the heroic efforts of that commander they were thrown into complete rout and swept away in mad disorder. Brigadier General Lytle, the poet soldier, was killed in front of his brigade, vainly striving to rally his shattered, disorganized troops and hold his lines.
 While this terrible catastrophe was happening Buckner's soldiers advanc- ing with equal yalor, fell upon the re mainder of the right center wing of the Union army and drove it before them ill hopeless and inextricable dis order. Men, guns, horses and wagons, in chaos of confusion, streamed back LIoHA tuo pattle IlS anu were ScalttESu through the woods and down the Dry Valley road toward Netherlands gap. Some of them were halted on the other side of the ridge, at Rossville, but many did not stop until they reached l Chattanooga.
 Into this flying mass the Confederate guns poured shot and shell. The Union batteries were captured and turned