Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-07
Copyrtght, 1903, bp Cyrus Torcnse,,d Brady sEa> >Ww AnEss- -HKpHw SNss,. .wyEv Aqse>, ,szxzzyy
CHAPTER XIV.
s'TowARp THE gouNp oF TH!
By CYrZe>s Toaes1ser,d Brady
Author of "Wcyen With the Shic," 'HohsuzOiern" see...-.s "Th0 Quibcron Tcuch,@ Etc. .-..-.
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~ WAY off on Ringgold road kA three small brigades of the
 ssSs Union army under Major e3 General Gordon Granger lay on their arms around McAffee church on that dreadful Sunday morning. Far to the right of them from the deep woods enshrouding the battlefield the roar of the conflict trembled up through the air. They had been placed on that road to cover any possible attack on the far left, with instructions to re- main there until ordered away. No en- eny was near, them. and it seemed ev- ident that none was likely to approach them
 As the sound of the battle grew deep CT and fercer, as it's thunder rolled back and forth in ever increasing deto- nation over the hills, the commander of the corps, chafng impatiently at this fnaction, determined at last to ad- vance toward the fighting. Disregard ing his orders. on his own motion about noon he started for Thomas position. Leaving one brigade to hold the road, the men marched rapidly through the heat d4duststoward the sound of the cannon.
 Avoiding bodies of cavalry sitrmish- 1nE 1n this direction by leaving the road and plunging through the woods the troops came swiftly on. As they advanced they saw evidences of the diaintegEatton of the army panic stzacIEen fugftives. wounded soldiers, sbRndDned wagons, broken guns, terri Elsd men, weaponlesS regiments, mas taEaess horses, the shattered remnants of @routed army, surging toward Ross yillA stopping for nothing. Directing Ehe< division commander, General Steed- man, to come forward at the quickest possible speed, Granger with his staff ealioped ahead toward Snodgrass hill, which he could see in the trees, blaz- ing like volcano, smoking like fur mace: khaklng like an earthquake. roar ing liEs tornado.
 Thomas had seen the clouds of dust raised in the dry fair by the approach ing troops. What could that mean? Who could they be? Had the Confed- crates got to the rear of that long as sailed flank at last2 Was he to be completely surrounded and annihilated on that ghastly hill? His relief, there fore, when he learned that the oncom- ing troops were the men of Rosecrans' reserve corps can scarcely be imag- jned.
 A word or two put Granger in pos session of the situation. Without stopping for breath even, Steedman was ordered to take the hill and drive the Confederates out of the pass. If they had come moment later Long streets men would have established themselves there, and that would have been an end of Thomas troops. But they had arrived at the very crucial moment Steedman was on horseback. Seizing aregimentaI flag, he put him. self at the head of his men and gave the,order to charge Thomas and Gran ger rode forward to superintend and observe. The bullets whistled about them. Steedman was wounded, his noFseshot and was pitched forward fns the melee, his two brigadiers went, dUxths but stin the shouting soldiers aEnp& on. Down t91egraEine and up the, hillt they Sponred' in an irresistible tor! gent.
 Fdrs awenty n1inntes pandemonium4 EHagnhd. Tbeanazsanns of hell were leti loose At tue end of that time the hill was gained. the Eayine cleared and over 1000 men in blue and gray layi Head and dying on it's slopes. They had sawed the army, The battle aIlI around the circle had not been inter naftted a moment during this episodei efthe1A And now the ammunition of Th0mag men was almost expended. But Granger 'ssanen shared &heirs with khaAr comrades and there was a slight tnn in the cpndict again after this re- pulse of thegattsEnpt to take the ridge, while both sides prepared for its re- newaL