The National tribune., 1908-12-31

occupied by Brannan. Without waiting
for further orders, but in literal obcdi-
ence of orders, Gen. Wood Withdrew his
division, and moved by the left flank in
rear of Brannan towards Reynolds's
position. Thus a gap of more than a
fourth of mile in width was left in
the Union line.
Unfortunately at that moment Gen
Longstreet was moving to attack that
particular part Of our line. Before Gem
Woods Division had moved its length
Gen. Longstreets troops were pouring
thru the gap. We all know the result.
The Right Wing was broken and driven
back over the lew hills and the Dry
Valley road and thence to Rossville,
Gen. Rosecrans fastening to Chatta-
nooga to form nev, base Of operations
and to try to reform his army.
At 12 O'Clock or little later Gen.
BLshrod Johnson's and Gen. Hindman's
Divisions had passed the Dry Valley
road south of Vittetoe's in pursuit of
the retreating Right Wing. Very soon,
despairing of overtaking them, they
returned to the hills east Of Vittetoe's.
where they reformed their lines and
prepared for the afternoons work.
At that hour the Confederates were
in possession of all the field between
Snodgrass Ridge and Widow Glenn's
and eastward, excepting In the eager
ness of their pursuit they had failed to
notice Wilder's Brigade near Widow
Glenn's. where it remained all the after
noon. Gen. Brannan's Division had also
been badly broken, so that when he
reached the northeastern portion Of
Snodgrass Ridge, about noon, he had
less than 1900 men, including frag-
ments of various regiments OF other
commands. Gen. Thomas's four divi-
sions remained in position encircling
the Kelly Farm, Reynolds's right ex-
tending only little west of the road.
The space between him and Brannan's
remnant on Snodgrass Hill, a full half
mile. was left open.
Gen Longstreet, with his two divi-
sions, was preparing to assault Bran
mans little force with the certainty Of
army in the rear unless fresh troops
should come to his assistance.
sfeetiman's Division Goes to the Front.
Steedman's Division, at MeAfee
Church, within hearing of the struggle
on the right, with orders to guard the
extreme left, and without orders to
move to the assistance of the suffering
right, waited impatiently, till finally,
Steedman determined to wait no longer
| for orders.
Whitaker's Brigade. composed of the
| 40th Ind, 85th Ind, seth Ill. and 115th
| ILL., and the 18th Ohio Battery, was
fortunately Joined by the 22d Mich.
and 8Sth Ohio, which had become sep
arated from their commands and tenn
porarily' assigned to our brigade.
A rapid march across field, Whitak-
er's- Brigade in the lead, followed by
sssaIitchelps Brigade and McCooks Brf-
gade, soon brought us to Clouds Spring.
A demonstration on our left by For
rests Cavalry detained us a little, but
very soon the movement was continued.
at double-quick, thru open fields to the
west of the Mcdonald House, a little
west of south, directly towards the
Snodgrass House. A Confederate bat
| terry gave us a vigorous shellfng as we
! passed the Mcdonald place. inf1icting
some loss. but not detaining us the
least. Gen. McCook's Brigade was left
on the hills near McDonald's place to
guard against an attack from that di-
rection. while Whitaker's and Mitchelrs
Brigades continued on their way.
| Gen. Thomas, from his headquarters
at the Snodgrass House, seeing the
cloud of dust made by us, and being
uncertain whether by friend or foe,
tsent an Aid-de-Camp to learn the fact.
| Imagine his delight to learn that two
fresh brigades had come to his assist
ance at that critical moment
| IL was tuth CLOCK, ana zen.
Thomas had just learned of the disas-
ter to the Right Wing and of the peril
| of the situation. Longstreet's hosts
were then moving up the southern
slopes of the ridge. There was not a
minute TO spare. Without these REIN
forcements Gen. Brannan's little force
could have given but little resistance.
Sweeping him from the hill. it would
have been quick work for Longstreet
| to move the half mile eastward to the
| Lafayette road and attack Gen. Thom-
ass four divisions in the rear, they
being already hard pressed by the Con-
/ federates in their front
The Charge ON the Hill.
Gen. Thomas lost no time in giving
] the order. The division moved rapidly