The National tribune., 1906-06-14
ARMY OF THE
CUMBERLAND.
CONTINUED from page l.,

CUMBERLAND.
tcontinued from page l.,
and then johnson and Davis retreated
clear to the Nashville Pike, two miles
to the rear of their position in the
morning. This probably occupied be-
tween two and three hours. and was
all over between and 10 o'clock.
sheridan Becomes the storm Center.
The enemy encountered a far sterner
resistance when he began the work of
doubling and rolling back Sheridan's
Division as he had Johnson's and Da-
vis's. Sheridan had feared just such
from the first, and had been preparing
for it. The bloody repulse of the ear
lier attacks has been recounted. Har-
dee's men, flushed with victory and
double in numbers to those under Sheri-
dan, were now sweeping in a wide cir
Gle to Sheridan's right, as they drove
Johnson's and Davis's men back to the
railroad. Hardee recalled Cleburne
from the pursuit to attack Sheridan's
right, while McCown, Withers and
Cheatham renew the attack in front.
Sheridan saw his danger. and sending
Roberts's Brigade in upon a charge
against the nearest Confederates. with
drew his line under the cover of this to
a limestone ridge covered with cedars.
and nearly at right angles to his first
position He hoped that Rosecrans
would rush forward men to cover his
right flank. At this point Davis's and
Johnson's men were rallied in some
numbers. but many of them continued
their retreat until they came to Thorn
ass line in the center. Sheridan soor
saw that this new position was not long
tenable, since the enemy continuing the
turning movement were directing
Cheatham's Division upon the Griscom
house. which would take Sheridans
line in the rear. Then Sheridan moved
| off to the left, and took up a position
on the right of Negley's Division, which
had up to this time not been attacked.
Sheridan'S new position was low
ridge of limestone which faced nearly
south of Murfreesboro. His right
| faced nearly west, along the edge of a
cedar thicket and was almost directly
| opposite the line which he had so con-
| fidently assumed in the morning. This
| new line was hardly taken up when
| Hardee arriving with Cheatham's Di-
vision, began an immediate attack to
| paralyZe the efforts for reforming and
| continue the work of destruction and
| Generalization. An assault exceeding
| in bloodiness and obstinacy even those
which had preceded it now ensued with
| the logged determination of the enemy
| to complete MS work and insure the
| complete destruction of the Union
| army Every available man was
| brought up, even reinforcements from
! Breckenridge across the river. All the
\ artillery the rebels could bring to bear
| opened fire, even guns from Murfrees-
| boro across the river. They ran their
artillery up to within 200 yards Of the
| Union artillery, and the duels between
the two arrays of guns were desperate
to the last degree. Gen. Hardee was a
most resolute FOUNDER in battle, and
| lt1A haf faIt hnf thn fata nf he Il
eracy was resting upon him. He was
| met by no less fiery determination or
| the part of Sheridan and his men, who
est Decentralization, since they had re-
| treat. had done so without the slight
est decentralization. since they had re-
| pulsed every attack upon their front.
| and only fell back when their flank had
| been turned. Every one of Hardee's
| rapid assaults was repulsed, and 1t soon
| became evident that the hammer was
| suffering worse than the anvil, and that
| the rebel morale was wearing itself out.
! But every brigade commander in Sheri-
| dams Division had been killed. and one
brigade had lost two commanders slain.
| Rosecrans sent messages to Sheridan
| to hold on like grim death until a new
| line could be formed. Eighty of the
horses of Houghtaiing's Battery had
been killed, and most all of Hescock's s
/ horses. Sheridan's ammunition was ex-
| ana dS soon dS ne tndt
| Rousseau had formed a new line he
suilenly withdrew. leaving behind him
| eight pieces of artillery which he had
not horses to remove or which had be-
/ come hopelessly entangled in the cedar
thickets.
How Roseerans Received the News.
! w. D. B., of the Cincinnati CONNER
| cial." gives the following picture of the
| reception of the news by Gen. Rose
| Grams Of the frightful disaster on the
right:
"Oficers of the staff were grouped
i about little fires in the avenue between
the tents. They were clad in overcoats
for 1t was chill. The General Com
T. manding, Garesche, and Gen. Critten-
/ den stood near the marquee conversine
| eagerly. 1t was nearly o'clock. Sud-
denly all hearts were thrilled by a
sound sweeping from the right like a
. strong wind soughing through the for
est. Now a deep reverberation like
thunder rolling in distant cloud. Di-
rectly a prolonged, fierce, crepitating
\ noise, like a canebrake on fire. Ears
that once hear that appalling sound
never forget it. Days afterward the
rattle and rumble OF wagon will star
i tie and thrill you.
1.-THE din of battle swelled rapidly Its
\ volume increased and it seemed sweep
ing nearer clearer deadlier than be-
fore 1t could not be. This must be
hallucinationi 1t cannot be disaster!
Il No tidings yeti Wiles and a comrade
4 were sent to the right to observe and
report They galloped across the fields
and plunged into the forests. Directly
a tide of fugitives poured out of the
thickets-negroes, teamsters, and some
Il soldiers. You have seen cinderS from
burning buildings flying when the con-
fiagration was invisible. You could
hear the roaring flames and cracking
beams. You have said. There is a
fire. You have observed broken twigs
and leaves whirling in the air, and
: though you had not felt the blast you
said. "A tornado is coming There was
a conf1agratiOn, tornado, now rushing
through the forests in front, raging for
ward with vengeful fury. These team
sters. negroes, soldiers flying before II
were cinders, twigs, leaves, fugitives
from the flames and tornado of battle
"'What is the matter? Why do you
rum Many push on needless of sterI
questioning. A cooked pistol brings g
Right Wing is broken. The rebel cav.
airy Is charging the rear! The enemy
is sweeping everything before them
Gen. Sill is killed! Edgarton's Battery
and part of Goodspeed's are captured!
Incrediblei But few soldiers, thank
Godi and most of them cling to theil
muskets. Wiles gallops back to report
Struggling multitudes appear. The aw,
full uproar increases and stretches now
to the left. Bullets are clipping the