The National tribune., 1906-04-05

batteries in front and to the right of
Lieut.-Gen. Hoods line
| 4th. If those batteries to the front
and right of Hoods line could be taken
Dy special movement. These explain
atoms, noting them down, and getting
tracing of the skeleton mao, required
about 30 minutes, and i started for that
part OF the line In question. Gen. FOLK
| impressing upon me the necessity of
reaching that part of the line as soon
| as possible, as / would only have about
two hours of daylight to make the ex-
aminations. Furnishing me with a
fresh horse, one of his own, and the
necessary guides from his escort, l
| reached the ground in Is minutes. l
was instructed to return as soon after
dark as possible. for, If necessary an
| invitation would be sent to Gen. John
ston to come to his (Lieut.-Gen. Polk's)
headquarters. Lieut.-Gen. Hood, /
| think, was with Gen. Polk when / left
Arriving upon the line of battle, 1
found Maj.-Gen. French's Division
Army of Mississippi. located on the ex-
treme right Of that army, and occupy
ing the part of the line In question. To
his right was the line of Lieut.-Gen.
Hoods Corps, Army of Tennessee,
| forming the extreme right of the Con-
federate infantry forces. The crest of
the ridge occupied by French's Divi-
sion was about 140 feet above the plain
or valley, in which the town of Cass-
Vile is located. This ridge is cut across
| by a rayine of about so feet deep, its
sides rising from its bottom, on either
side, at about 80 degrees. The location
of this ravine on French's line was 500
or 500 feet to the left Of his extreme
right. To the left Of this ravine, for
1900 or 1900 feet, the crest of the
ridge was entirely open, as was to the
rear for 500 or 1000 feet. There werA
few scattered trees of stunted growth
in and about the ravine. The remain
ing portion of Gen. French's line to the
left and to the rear was timbered, as
also to the front for 700 or 500 feet,
increasing in depth toward the left
The ground to the front of the left half
Of his line descended about 14O feet
for half a mile, continuing on to Cass-
Vile about one and quarter miles to
the northwest Of his left. The ground
in front Of the right half of his line
descended about 100 feet on the left,
and 80 feet on the right for a distance
OF half mile on the left, and n quarter
of mile on the extreme right. Then
ascending to so feet on the left and
100 on the right to ridge opposite,
and due north.
The Union AriIIery's Commanding Po-
sitiOn.
This opposing ridge passed on line
duoul 20 degrees SOuIn OF west, IOrfll-
ing something less of an angle with
defense of about rs degrees, and form
Ing something less of an angle with
Lieut-Gen. Hoods line. This opposite
ridge was occupied by the enemy, their
left resting on a point about q mile
and quarter northeast on prolonga-
ton of Gen. Folks line, and from half
a mile to three-quaiterS of q mile in
front of Lieut.-Gen. Hoods. and pass
Ing on to the west and at al
distance of about half mile to
one and a quarter miles north
of Gen. Polk, and In front of his ex-
treme right. The line occupied by the
enemy on the opposite ridge was from
20 to 40 feet higher than the position
of Gen. Hoods line. and from 40 to 60
feet higher than Gen. Polk's. The bat
teries of the enemy were posted on the
most prominent und available points
along their ridge, extending for mile
from their extreme left toward their
right, reaching a point to the north
and front Of Gen. Polk's extreme right,
and directly In front of the ravine and
open part Of French's line. The bat
teries enflladed and cross-flred upon the
entire open crest from 45 degrees to so
degrees, and with a plunging fire of
from 20 to so feet and sweeping
through the ravine, and across the rear |
OF the ridge to distance Of about 1000 |
feet, this rear fire being still more |
plunging than that on the crest.
There was no cover for the men
within q reasonable distance to the |
crest. for from the extreme positions |
Of the left batteries of the enemy 1t |
would not be necessary for them to |
cease firing during the attack until
their infantry had reached . unA vary