The National tribune., 1904-06-16
ON SUNDAY MORNING.

that had settled over the field during the
night.
Bragg's army was now all in the woods
on the west side of the creek, extending
i'm irregular line from the Reeds Bridge
road near Jays Mill, southwestwardly
about three miles. to a point southeast OF
the Niniard House.
Rosecrans's army was in line east of and
nearly parallel TO the main Chattanooga
road and between it and the enemy. except
that his right had been swung back and
rested between the Niniard House and
Widow Glenns.
A HUNGRY REBEI. COMMANDER.
The official records now show that Bragg
had given to Gen. Polk the command of
the Confederate right wing. and to Gen.
Longstreet that of the left wing. with posi-
tive orders TO Polk to commence vigorous
attack at daybreak by his right division
to be promptly. taken mp by all the Confed-
crate divisions from right to left. Also
that when Bragg. at his headquarters. had
waited with furious impatience until = 80
for the attack to begin. he sent an Ald
who found Polk at comfortable farm
house eating leisurely breakfast: and
it is said that on learning this, Bragg
dispa tched his whole staff up and down
the line, with orders to every Captain to
put his men into the fight ut once. SO it
was that up to so late an hour the solemn
quiet of that Sabbath morning was un-
broken.
DISoUIETING WAIT.
Van Derveer at o'clock was placed in
reserve in an open field on west side of the
road about 50 rods south of the Kelly
House and in rear of our general line OF
battle. which. being in the woods. was in
visible to u.s. The Confederate attack was
commenced on our left about 9:30 O'Clock.
and in few minutes had extended to in
volve nearly all of both armies. To US. idle
in the open field, the roar of muSketfy and
artillery was appalling. The enemy's bull
lets and shells came through the trees TO
and among US in very disquieting man.
ner. and presently horde of Stragglers IN
blue came back out of the woods and passed
on TO the rear, singly at first. then III
squads, until it seemed that our line in
front must be breaking up. and we were
expecting to be ordered in to replace or
support it, when an order came for us to
go Immediately to Kelly's Field.
ENEMY's FLANKING MOVEMENTS.
Bragg had renewed his scheme for en-
yeloDng our left. and while the battle was
raging along the line of both armies with
terrific slaughter and varying success.
Breckinridge's Division. which overlapped
our left. was ordered to swing around it to
the south and attack our flank in the rear.
He had three brigades in line from left to
right-IIelm's. Stovall<, and Adams's.
Helms Brigade struck the left brigade of
Bairds Division. and was wrecked right
there and then. Helm and two of his Col
onels being killed. But Stovall and Adams
found no opposition. being beyond our left.
and soon reached the main road near Nc
DonaldS. where they turned south and were
coming gayly On-Stovall on the east OF
the road. Adams on the west. and bat
terry trailing down the read between and
behind them.
MOVEMENTS OF VAN DERyEERS BRIGADE.
OF all this We were ignorant. Breckin-
ridges operations being screened from our
view by the woods about and north of kel-
ly's Field: so our brigade moved by the
left flank northward until opposite kelly's
Field. and then facing eastward. marched
through a strip of thick woods and under
brush TO the main road. and crossing it into
the field. Here we stood for moment,
the brigade in two lines in rear of and
facing east toward our main line of bat
tie, which. in the woods, was not to be
seen from our position. The I'd Minn.
was on the right in the front line-the S1th
Ind on its left-the 9th Ohio a few PAGES
in rear of the ID Minn. and the 35th Ohio
in rear of the SIth Ind. (Smith's Battery
had been taken away from Us in the morn
nig.)
SUDDENLY ATTACKS.
Along the north end of the field, and
perhaps 30 yards from the left of our left
regiments, was thick woods with under
brush. into which nothing could be seen
from our position. We had hardly halted
when. with crash of musketry and a cloud
of gray smoke from the edge of the woods
on our left. the air was filed with bullets.
and our men began TO fall. \ change of
front 10 face this attack was instantly
commenced. and was executed on the run
but before it brought us face to face with
our enemy a good many of our men and
nearly all of the horses in the brigade were
killed or wounded.
TIE ATTACK REPULsED.
As our men came into line the 2d MINI.
and SItb Ind. rushed down TO the edge
of the woods. and for a few minutes the
opposing lines fired into each others
faces ar less than 80 yards distance. But
we were at a disadvantage. standing in the
open field. while the enemy were protected
in the woods and. moreover. the two regi-
ments behind us We're fully exposed to the
enemy's fire. and unable TO return it; so
the second line, with guns loaded. was or
dered To pass the first. and then both lines
joined in the charge into the woods. The
enemy promptly gave up their position at
the edge of the field and retired among the
trees and brush. where, for time, they
stubbornly resisted our further advance:
but, after a hot contest of perhaps II or
20 minutes. they withdrew altogether.
OFFICIAL ACCOUNTS.
1t will appear from what has been said,
that Stoyalrs Confederate Brigade was i'm
this affair opposed TO ours. Adams, on
Stovalrs right. was opposed by other Union
troops which we could not see during the
action. and only know from the reports to
have been parts of Stanley's. Beattys and
Willich's Rrigades. Adams. the Confederate
brigade commander. was badly wounded
and was captured. according to the official
records, by at least seven different regi-
mcnts. Stovall describes this collision as
follows tCol. 81. p. 23l. o. r.: Here
(near McDonald'sl the brigade was halted.
and by flank movement formed nearly
perpendicular TO its former position. Thus
reformed, moved forward and had not
gone far before l encountered the enemy
i'm heavy forces and strongly intrencbed.
Here the battle ragged fercely: concen-
trated fire of grape and canister. shot and
shell of every conceivable character. was
poured into us from the 'front.' while my
left suffered no less frosn an enfilading fire
equally CALLING and severe"
We commenced collecting our dead for
burial. and bringing our wounded back to
vicinity of kelly's house, where the Sur
geons could care for them. About ? o'clock
and before this duty was completed, the
battle away 10 our right seemed to open
again with increased fury. and to be trend
ing around TO our rear: and presently or