Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-12

the third was held in reserve; thus one
Confederate corps was disposed of. s.
ID. Lees corps, the Confederate center
after sending two brigades to the assist
ance of Stewart on the Confederate left
was held in place by the threatening posi-
ton Of the garrison troops, and did not
fire shot during the day. Indeed, both
Cheatham'S and Lees corps were held, as
in a wise. between Steedman and Wood.
Lees corps was unable to move or to
fight. Steedman maintained the ground
he occupied till the next morning, with
no very heavy loss.
When, about 9 O'Clock, the sun began
to burn away the fog. the sight from
Gen. Thomas position was inspiring.
little to the left, on Montgomery hill, the
salient of the Confederate lines, and not
more than 600 yards distant from Woods
salient, on Lawrence hill, could be seen
the advance line of works, behind which
an unknown force of the enemy lay in
wait. Beyond, and along the Hillsboro
pike, which the Confederate left faced
and overlapped We're stretches of stone
wall, with here and there detached
earth work, through whose eInbrasures
peeped the threatening artillery. To the
right. along the valley of Richland creek,
the dark line of Wilson's advancing cav
airy could be seen slowly making its diff
fcult way across the wet, swampy,
stumpy ground Close in front, and at
the foot of the hill, its right joining
Wilson's left, was A. j. Smiths corps,
fun of cheer and enterprise, and glad to
be once more in the open field. Then
came the 4th Corps. whose left, bending
back toward the north, was hidden be-
hind Lawrens hill Already the skirmish-
ers We're engaged. the Confederates slow
ly falling back before the determined and
steady pressure of Smith and Wood
By the time that Wilson's and Smiths
lines were fully extended and brought up
to within striking distance of the Con-
federate works, 1t was noon. Posts
brigade of Woods old division. which
lay at the foot of Montgomery hill, full
of dash and spirit, had since morning
been regarding the works at the summit
with coyetous eyes. At Posts suggestion,
it was determined to see which party
wanted them most. Accordingly, charge
was ordered-and in a moment the bril-
sade was swarming up the hillside,
straight for the enemy's advanced works.
For almost the first time since the
grand assault on Missionary Ridge, a
year before, here was an open field where
everything could be seen. From Gen.
Thomas headquarters everybody looked
on with breathless suspense, as the blue
Zine, broken and irregular, but with
steady persistence, made it's way up the
steep hillside against fierce storm of
musketry and artillery. Most of the
shots, however. passed over the mems
heads
1t was struggle TO keep up with the
colors, and, as they neared the top, only
the strongest We're at the front. With
out a moments pause, the color bearers
and those who had kept up with them,
Post himself at the head, leaped the
parapet. AS the colors waved from the
summit, the whole line swept forward
and was over the works in a twinkling,
gathering in prisoners and guns. IN
deed, so large was the mass of the pris-
oners that a few minutes later was seen
heading toward our own lines, that a
number Of officers at Gen. Thomas head
quarters feared the assault had failed
and the prisoners We're Confederate re-
serves who had rallied and retaken the
works. But the fear was only momen-
tary; for the wild outburst of cheers that
rang across the valley told the story or
complete success.
Meanwhile, farther to the right a. the
opposing lines neared each other, the
sound of battle grew louder and louder,
and the smoke thicker and thicker until
the whole valley was filled with haze.
1t was now past noon, and at every point
the two armies were so near together
that an assault was inevitable.
Hatch's division of Wilson's cavalry, at
the extreme right Of the continuous line,
was confronted by one Of the detached
works which Hood had intended to be
''impregnable''; and the right of Near
thurs division Of A. j. Smiths infantry
was also within striking distance Of 1t.
Coon's cavalry brigade was dismounted
and ordered to assault the work, while
orders The two commanders moved for
ward at the same time. and entered the
work together. Col. Hill falling dead at
the head of his command. In moment
the whole Confederate force in that quar-
ter was routed and fled to the rear. while
the captured guns were turned on them.
With the view Of extending the opera
tons OF Wilson's cavalry stu farther to