the army of the cumberland-第37部分

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avier　force。　　Bragg　directed　this　movement　in　person。　　Extending　his　right　by　moving　Breckinridge's　division　beyond　its　former　position；　he　ordered　Walker's　corps　in　line　on　Breckinridge's　left；　and　connected　to　Cleburne's　right　on　the　left　of　Walker。　　Bragg's　plan　was　for　Breckenridge　to　advance；　wheeling　to　the　left；　and　thus　envelop　Thomas's　exposed　left　flank；　striking　it　in　the　rear。　　Breckinridge；　advancing；　was　soon　in　position　on　the　Chattanooga　road；　partly　in　rear　of　Thomas。　　But　he　was　now　detached　from　the　main　body　of　the　rebel　troops　engaged　in　the　movement；　and；　making　a　bold　assault　on　the　rear；　he　was　here　met　by　the　three　reserve　brigades　under　Van　Deveer；　Willich；　and　Grose；　and　hurled　in　rout　back　on　his　original　line。　　On　reaching　it　he　there　found　the　other　troops　that　had　taken　part　in　this　charge；　and　that　they　had　been　repulsed　at　every　point　by　Baird's；　Johnson's；　and　Palmer's　divisions。

Beatty；　just　prior　to　the　repulse　of　the　enemy　on　the　left　by　Thomas；　applied　in　person　to　the　latter　for　at　least　a　brigade　to　support　him　in　the　attack　of　the　rebels　he　was　then　expecting。　　Thomas　sent　an　aid　to　hurry　Sheridan　up。　　This　officer　returned　soon　afterward；　and　reported　that　he　had　encountered　a　heavy　force　of　the　enemy　in　the　rear　of　Reynolds's　position；　which　was　advancing　slowly；　with　a　strong　line　of　skirmishers　thrown　out；　that　he　had　met　Harker；　who；　with　his　brigade　posted　on　a　ridge　a　short　distance　to　Reynolds's　rear；　was　watching　this　force　approaching；　and　was　of　the　opinion　that　these　troops　were　Sheridan's　coming　to　Thomas's　assistance。　Thomas　then　rode　forward　to　determine　the　character　of　the　advancing　troops；　which　he　soon　did；　and　ordered　Harker　to　open　fire　upon　them；　resisting　their　farther　advance。　　Thomas　then　selected　the　crest　of　the　commanding　ridge；　known　as　〃Horseshoe　Ridge；〃　on　which　to　place　Brannan's　division　in　line；　whichon　Longstreet's　sweeping　McCook's　lines　from　the　righthad　been　struck　in　the　flank　on　the　line　of　battle。　　On　the　spurs　to　the　rear　he　posted　his　artillery。　On　Thomas　leaving　Harker；　the　latter　opening　fire　with　skirmishers；　then　posted　his　right　to　connect　with　Brannan's　division　and　portions　of　Beatty's　and　Stanley's　brigades　of　Negley's　division；　which　had　been　ordered　over　to　his　point　from　the　extreme　left。　Thomas　then　went　to　the　crest　of　the　hill　on　the　front；　where　he　met　Wood　with　his　division；　who　confirmed　him　in　the　opinion　that　the　troops　advancing　were　those　of　the　enemy。　　Thomas　was　not　aware　at　that　time　of　the　extent　of　the　disaster　to　the　right。　　He　ordered　Wood　to　place　his　division　in　line　with　Brannan's；　and　to　resist　as　long　as　possible　the　advance　of　the　enemy。　　On　receipt　of　this　order　Wood　immediately　threw　his　troops　on　the　left　of　Brannan；　and　had　barely　time　to　form　his　lines　when　the　enemy　was　upon　them　in　a　heavy；　fierce　assault　like　those　early　in　the　day。　This；　however；　was　handsomely　repulsed；　the　enemy　charging　again　and　again　with　fresh　troops；　but　their　efforts　were　successfully　resisted。　　These　were　Bushrod　Johnson's　men；　with　Patton　Anderson's　brigade　on　his　right；　which　had　been　formed　on　the　brow　of　the　secondary　spur　of　the　ridge；　and　at　about　two　o'clock　moved　forward；　making　a　most　determined　assault　on　our　forces。　　Part　of　his　line　reached　the　crest　held　by　Wood；　but　was　hurled　back　to　its　original　position　under　as　determined　a　counter…charge。

Away　off　at　Rossville　Gordon　Granger　with　three　brigades　of　reserve　corps　was　stationed。　　He　had　heard　during　the　morning　heavy　firing　from　the　front；　in　the　direction　of　Thomas；　and　as　the　firing　increased　in　volume　and　intensity　on　the　right；　he　judged　that　the　enemy　were　pressing　him　hard。　　He　then　determined；　although　contrary　to　his　orders；　to　gather　what　troops　he　could　and　go　to　Thomas's　assistance。　　Ordering　Whittaker's　and　Mitchell's　brigades　under　the　immediate　command　of　Steedman　to　move　to　his　front；　he　placed　Dan　McCook's　brigade　at　the　McAfee　church；　to　cover　the　Ringgold　road。　　Thomas　was　at　this　time　heavily　engaged　on　〃Horseshoe　Ridge；〃　between　the　La　Fayette　and　the　Dry　Valley　roads；　about　three　miles　and　a　half　from　Granger's　headquarters。　　Pushing　forward　his　troops　rapidly；　Granger　moved　past　a　detachment　of　the　enemy　some　two　miles　out；　and　ordered　Dan　McCook　forward　to　watch　the　movements　of　the　rebels；　to　keep　open　the　La　Fayette　road；　and　to　cover　the　open　fields　on　the　right　of　the　road　intervening　between　this　point　and　Thomas's　position。　　McCook　brought　up　his　brigade　as　rapidly　as　possible；　took　and　held　his　position　until　late　that　night。　Granger　moving　to　the　front　arrived　with　his　command　about　three　o'clock；　and　reported　at　once　to　Thomas；　who　was　then　with　this　part　of　his　command　on　〃Horseshoe　Ridge；〃　where　the　enemy　was　pressing　him　hard　on　front　and　endeavoring　to　turn　both　of　his　flanks。　　To　the　right　of　this　position　was　a　ridge　running　east　and　west　nearly　at　right　angles　with　it。　　On　this　Bushrod　Johnson　had　reformed　his　command；　so　severely　repulsed　by　Wood。　　Longstreet　now　strengthened　it　with　Hindman's　division　and　that　of　Kershaw；　all　under　the　command　of　Hindman；　who　formed　it　in　heavy　columns　for　an　attack　on　the　right　flank　and　rear　of　Thomas's　troops。　　Kershaw's　division　had　possession　of　a　gorge　in　this　ridge　through　which　his　division　was　moving　in　heavy　masses；　with　the　design　of　making　an　attack　in　the　rear。　　This　was　the　most　critical　hour　of　this　eventful　day。　Granger　promptly　ordered　Whittaker　and　Mitchell　to　hurl　themselves　against　this　threatening　force。　　Steedman　gallantly　seizing　the　colors　of　a　regiment；　led　his　command　to　the　charge。　　Rushing　upon　the　enemy　with　loud　cheers；　after　a　terrific　conflict；　only　of　some　twenty　minutes'　duration；　with　a　hot　infantry　and　artillery　fire；　Steedman　drove　them　from　their　position　and　occupied　both　the　ridge　and　gorge。　　Here　the　slaughter　was　frightful。　　The　victory　was　won　at　a　fearful　cost；　but　the　army　was　saved。　　After　Hindman　was　driven　back；　Longstreet　about　four　o'clock；　determined　to　re…take　the　ridge。　　Asking　Bragg　for　reinforcements　from　the　right；　he　was　informed　by　him　〃that　they　had　been　beaten　back　so　badly　that　they　could　be　of　no　service　to　me。〃　　Longstreet　then　ordered　up　his　reserve　division　of　fresh　troops　under　Preston；　four　brigades　strong；　supported　by　Stewart's　corps；　and　directed　him　to　attack　the　troops　on　the　ridge。　　Advancing　with　wild　yells；　confident　of　success；　Preston　dashed　boldly　up　the　hill；　supported　by　Kershaw's　troops　with　Johnson'spart　of　Hindman'sand　later　on　by　those　of　Stewart's。　　But　once　more　the　enemy　was　driven　back　with　frightful　slaughter；　and　thus　was　charge　and　counter…charge　at　this　part　of　the　field；　lasting　for　nearly　two　hours；　the　day　wore　away　until　darkness　settled　down；　night　finding　Thomas's　commandthe　troops　under　Brannan；　Wood；　and　Grangerstill　holding　the　ridge。　　Some　unauthorized　person　had　ordered　Thomas's　ammunition　train　back　to　Chattanooga；　and　the　supply　with　the　troops　on　the　field　was　running　very　low。　　The　ammunition　that　ranger　brought　up　with　him　was　divided　with　the　troops　on　that　part　of　the　field　where　his　command　foughtBrannan's　and　Wood's　divisionsbut　this　supply　was　soon　exhausted。　　The　troops　then　gathered　what　could　be　found　in　the　cartridge…boxes　of　the　slain；　friend　and　foe　being　alike　examined。　　With　the　fresh　charges　of　the　enemy；　the　troops　were　ordered　to　use　their　bayonets　and　give　the　rebels　cold　steel；　and　in　the　final　charges　the　enemy　was　met　and　repulsed　in　this　way。

In　the　breaking　up　of　our　right；　two　brigades　of　Davis's　division；　one　of　Van　Cleve's；　and　the　entire　of　Sheridan's　division　was　caught　in　the　whirl　and　sent　adrift　from　the　main　command；　the　enemy　in　heavy　columns　completely　controlling　all　access　to　Thomas　and　the　remaining　divisions　with　him；　except　by　way　of　the　Dry　Valley　road　across　the　ridge　and　on　to　Rossville；　thence　back　on　the　La　Fayette　road　to　Thomas's　left。　　The　troops　of　Sheridan's　and　Davis's　divisions　were　rallied　a　short　distance　in　the　rear　of　the　line；　and　taking　the　Dry　Valley　road；　endeavored　to　unite　with　Thomas's　command。　They　were　placed　in　position　on　the　Rossville　road　leading　to　the　battlefield。　　＇Note　from　Bob：　　In　fact；　Sheridan　continued　to　withdraw　his　division　away　from　the　battlefield。＇

Rosecrans　was　watching　on　the　rear　of　Davis's　right　for　McCook　to　close　up　his　line　to　the　left　when　Longstreet's　men　poured　through　the　gap　left　by　Wood's　withdrawal。　　Seeing　that　some　disaster　had　occurred；　Rosecrans　hurried　in　person　to　the　extreme　right；　to　direct　Sheridan's　movements　on　the　flank　of　the　advancing　rebels。　But　it　was　simply　impossible　to　stem　the　tide　and　our　men　were　driven　back　as　the　enemy　advanced。　　Leaving　orders　for　the　troops　to　be　rallied　behind　the　ridges　west　of　the　Dry　Valley　road；　Rosecrans　endeavored　with　Garfield；　his　chief　of　staff；　and　a　few　others　of　his　staff；　to　rejoin　Thomas　by　passing　to　the　rear　of　the　broken　portions　of　the　right。　　Riding　down　in　this　direction；　some　two　or　three　hundred　yards　under　a　heavy　fire；　he　found　the　troops　that　had　been　driven　from　the　right　far　over　toward　the　left；　and　from　all　indications　it　appeared　doubtful　if　the　left　had　been　able　to　maintain　its　position。　　He　then　concluded　to　go　to　Rossville　and　there　determine　whether　to　join　Thomas　on　the　battlefield　or　whether　his　duty　called　him　to　Chattanooga；　to　prepare　for　his　broken　army　if　his　worst　fears　should　be　realized。　　On　reaching　Rossville　it　was　determined　that　Garfield　should　go　to　the　front　to　Thomas　and　report；　and　that　Rosecrans　should　go　to　Chattanooga　and　make　the　necessary　dispositions　for　the　troops　as　they　came　back　in　rout。

Rosecrans　on　arriving　at　Chattanooga　at　once　sent　out　orders　to　Thomas　to　assume　command　of　all　the　troops　at　the　front；　and　with　Crittenden　and　McCook　to　take　a　strong　position　and　assume　a　threatening　attitude　at　Rossville；　where　ammunition　and　rations　would　be　sent　to　meet　him。　　Thomas　determined　to　hold　his　position　until　nightfall；　if　possible；　before　withdrawing。　　He　then　distributed　ammunition　to　the　commands　and　ordered　the　division　commanders　to　hold　themselves　in　readiness　to　fall　back　as　soon　as　ordered。　Reynolds　at　half…past　five　was　notified　to　commence　the　movement。　Leaving　the　position