The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-06-28

had made his splendid defense, along
the pike for some distance, with open
fields In front reaching across to the
cedars into which the enemy had re-
tired. Further along there were woods
on the southwest side Of the pike, and
into these Rosecrans advanced his lins
80 as to command the fields in front.
Therefore, this part of the line has
been variously described as shaped like
a horseshoe or dipper, but the latter
Is the more correct. The right flank
was refused back over the pike. Hazen
was retired little distance from where
he had made his magnificent fight to a
stronger position, and the left of the
line was also shifted a little further
from the river to gain higher ground
In consecutive order from the right to
the left were Dayis's, Sheridan's and
Johnson's Divisions; Walkers and Har-
ker's Brigades; Van Cleve's Division,
Pioneer Brigade, and Rousseau's, Pal
mer's and Woods Divisions. Negley
was made the reserve OF the Center
and Starkweather's Brigade, having
come up from the rear, was made the
reserve Of Sheridan. The cavalry Were
beyond Cveralls Creek to protect the
line OF COMMUNICATIONS. Gen. Van C1eve
had been wounded early in the day, as
had also Gen. Wood, but both refused
to leave the field as long as the issue
was undecided. Now the Surgeons per-
emptorily ordered them to retire. Gen.
Sam Beatty took command of Van
Cleve's Division and Gen. Hascall OF
Woods. During the night Beatty was
ordered to resume his place on the left.
and little before daylight Palmer was
changed TO position on the extreme
left, with Woods Division, now com.
manded by Hascall, next to him.
;. ssile.iy watchinE One Another.
About midnight the skies became
overcast, and a persistent, dreary rain
set In. which lasted through the day.
Like two great, fierce bulldogs. who
had bitten and torn each other nearly
to death, and exhausted themselves In
the effort. the two armies lay all day.
Jan. /, 1863, within a few hundred
yards Of one another. watching each
other with eyes bleared by exhaustion,
but still burning with suilen feroci.y
Each knew that he himself had been
fearfully hurt: both hoped that the
other had been worse. Each watched
eagerly for some sign OF covering OF
shrinking on the part of the other.
From time to time during the day
one would thrust out a reconnoissan nee
or open battery fire in tentative
way, as IL hoping that a fittle aggres-
siveness would start the other into re.
treat II was precisely as IL, returning
to the first simile Of the wounded bull
dogs. one would thrust out a paw men
acingly at the other only to have i
sharply bitten. Thus every reconnois
sance from either side was swiftly driver
back: every opening Of a battery callet
down upon 1t a crushing fire. Boti
sides were still full Of stern resistance
but they had little appetite for furthe
aggression. They were too unutterabl,
tired and sore to think OF moving
Bragg was the more sanguine tina
Rosecrans had been so sorely hurt tina
he could not help but retreat, and al
day long he and his subOrdinates wer,
eagerly watching for some indication
Of this kind. Several times the cavalr,
were sent on long circles to strike ili.
pike beyond In hopes OF discovering
signs Of retreat OF the Union forces
Rosecrans and his commanders. on tn.
other hand. realized more fully as tn,
day passed, that Bragg had spent him
seif in his fierce attack: that he had
dote his worst, and would probabl;