The National tribune., 1909-04-15
mels Of old customs and mistaken
practice"
Gen. Johnston's Account.

lpractice."
Gen. Jomston's Account.
In his Narrative Gen. Joe Johnston
says OF this affair:
ION the morning of the 27th, after
a furious cannonade, the Federal army
made a general assault upon the Con-
| federate position, which was received
everywhere with firmness and repelled
with a loss to the assailants enormously
disproportionate to that which they IN
| ficted. At several points the charac-
teristic fortitude of the Northwestern
soldiers held them under a close and
destructive fire long after reasonable
hope of success was gone. The attack
upon Loring's Corps was by the Army
| of the Tennessee; that upon Hardee's S
! by the Army of the Cumberland. The
principal efforts of the enemy were di-
rected against Loring's right and LETT
brigades and the left of Hardee's Coprs.
"The attack upon Loring's right
Scotts Brigade of Featherston's Divi-
lsion-was by troops of the Seventeenth
Corps, advancing in three lines, preced-
ed by skirmishers. They received five
or six volleys from Nelson's G2th La.)
regiment, deployed as skirnishers, in
rifle pits, 600 yards in front of the bri-
gade This regiment held its ground
until the first Federal line had ap-
tired to the line of battle. The Federal
troops advanced steadily. and zoo PAGES
from the Confederate line met the fire
of Scott's infantry, and received in their
flanlSs that of four batteries. This con-
centrated fire compelled them to halt.
Unable to advance farther, and unwill-
ing to retreat, they remained where
they had halted almost an hour before
withdrawing from the shower of mis-
siles.
During thiS time single line of
Federal infantry was engaged with
Wheeler's troops, the skirmishers of
f'eatherston's own and Adams's Bri-
gades and those of Quarles's Brigade of
Walthalls DIVISIONAL in the shelter
within easy and frequently very short
range. A body of the assailants charged
into Quarles's rifle pits, where most of
them were killed or captured.
In the assault upon Loring's left
(Cockrelfs Missouri Brigade) the as
sailahts advanced rapidly from the
west, their right extending to the south
of the Burnt Hickory and Marietta
road and their left encountering the
brigade (Sears's) on CockrelPs right.
Their right dashed thru the skirmish-
ers of Walkers right before they could
be reinforced, and took in reverse those
on the right and left. while they We're
attacked in front. In a few minutes
about so of Walkers men had been
bayoneted or captured in their rifle pits
The Federal troops approaching Walk
er's line on the south of the road were
driven back by the fire of artillery di-
rected against their left flank by Mai
Gen. French; but the main body, un-
checked by Cockrelrs skirmishers.
pressed forward steadily under the fire
of the brigade until within 20 or so
PAGES of its line. Here it was checked
and ultimately repulsed by the steady
courage of the Missourians The action
had continued with spirit for almost an
hour, during most of which time SO
field pieces were playing upon the Con-
federate troops.
But the most determined and pow
erful attack fell upon Cheatham's Di-
vision and the left of CleburneS. The
lines of the two armies were much
nearer to each other there; therefore,
the action was begun at shorter range.
The Federal troops were in greater
force and deeper order, too, and pressed
forward with the resolution always dis |
played by the American soldier when |
led. An attempt to turn the |