The National tribune., 1906-06-21
view THAT PORTION OF THE

tfains so sorely needed by the fighting
troops. Wharton's cavalry, sweeping
around our ruined right, was striking
viciously at these, and our cavalry, far
too few I'm numbers, was resisting
heroically to save the precious wagons
In the cedars and stubble cotton-fields
OF the southwest swarmed fully 10000
Of Bragg's exultant. fiercely yelling
men. excited to the last degree by their
very great success and being urged for
ward by their officers TO complete their
triumph by the total destruction of the
Union army. Bragg and Hardee were
straining every nerve, and goading their
Wearied. exhausted men to one grand,
hnal effort to strike our beaten and
confused ranks so swiftly, so hardly,
and continuously that no opportunity
would be allowed for reforming of the
line, and the turning back of the VIC
torious tide. Every gathering of forces
looking toward the forming OF a new
line was at once fiercely attacked with
musketry and artillery, and an attempt
made TO hurl such mass against it as
would instantly crush Ii. Through this
storm Of missiles of death, Rosecrans
salloped back and forth necessarily
directing movements, encouraging the
men to stubborn resista nce reprimand-
ing those who showed signs of weaken
Ing, and praising those who were rally
ing for a desperate stand. His once
ruddy cheeks were now pallid as death
and his bright, quick eyes were set In
sullen fierceness. His officers and or
derlies were shot down around him
but he paid as little attention to their
wounding and death as to figures rubbed
out on slate Several times he per-
sonally led charges 10 drive back the
more audacious OF the rebel advance
through the fields. going into the yer.
Jaws OF death himself and miracuousl.
escaping.
The New Line.
! Rosecrans had recalled Van Clevs
from the left TO reform on Rousseau,
right, and Van Cleye brought his troop.
up on the double-quick just in time tc
check the rebel advance and hurl i
back. Wood sent one brigade to form
on Van Cleve's right, holding two 9th.
ers I'm reserve. The left was hardly In
position when Hardee sent four heav,
lines out OF the cedars to attack IL. A.
soon as these appeared In the open
Guenther's and Loomiss Batteries be
gan tearing IL with double canister. ant
the musketry of the infantry at shor
range completed the slaughter and re
pulse. The Confederates were rallied
In the cedars. and led back three sew
eral times to meet a similar fate. Bragi
saw that his force on his left was nearl.
spent. and redoubled his attack upoI
the Center.
While Hardee's troops had beer
marching and fighting since daylight
those OF Polk. opposite Thomas. I'm tn
Center, had marched and fought bu
little. Their opportunity was now a
hand. The formation Of the new lin
made q sharp corner near where tn
pike crosses the railroad. II this sal
tent could be broken through botl
tanks OF the Union army would b.
taken In the rear, and complete de
struction rendered inevitable.
Haxen's Defense Of the "ROund Forest.
When Palmer's Division was brough
over from -Crittenden to the Center, /
was posted with its right resting OF
Negley's left. His line was forme,
with Cruft's Brigade on the right con
meeting with Negiey and his left ex
tended across q point OF woods to tn.
right OF Hazen's Brigade. which wa
formed I'm two lines with his left rest
ing On the Nashville pike, while Grose.