the army of the cumberland-第34章

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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　he　had　held　near　Wood；　Thomas　started　to　meet　Reynolds　and　show　him　the　position　he　wanted　him　to　occupy；　forming　the　line　covering　the　retirement　of　the　troops　on　the　La　Fayette　road　on　the　left。　　Just　before　meeting　Reynolds；　Thomas　was　informed　of　a　large　rebel　force　in　the　woods　ahead　of　him；　drawn　up　in　line　and　advancing　toward　him。　　This　was　Liddell's　division　on　the　extreme　rebel　right；　under　orders　from　Bragg；　moving　to　a　third　attack　on　Thomas's　left。　　Reynolds　arriving　at　this　time；　Thomas　ordered　him　to　at　once　change　the　head　of　the　column　to　the　left；　form　lines　perpendicular　to　the　road　and　to　charge　the　enemy　then　in　his　immediate　front；　while　the　artillery　opened　a　converging　fire　from　the　right　and　left。　　Turchin　charged　with　his　brigade　upon　the　rebel　force　and　drove　them　in　complete　rout　far　beyond　Baird's　left。　Robinson's　commandKing's　brigadeclosely　supporting　Turchin；　was　posted　on　the　road　leading　through　the　ridge　to　hold　the　ground；　while　the　troops　on　our　right　and　left　retired。

Shortly　after　this　Willich　with　his　brigade　was　placed　in　position　on　commanding　ground　to　the　right　of　the　ridge　road；　and　assisted　in　covering　the　withdrawal　of　our　troops。　　Turchin's　brigade；　having　cleared　the　front；　returned　and　took　position　on　this　road　with　Robinson　and　Willich。

Thomas　having　made　this　disposition　of　the　troops；　ordered　Wood；　Brannan；　and　Granger；　to　fall　back　from　their　positions。　　These　troops　were　not　molested；　but　Baird　and　Johnson　as　they　were　retiring　were　attacked。　　By　the　exercise　of　care　and　foresight　they　retired　without　confusion　and　with　but　slight　loss。　　This　attack　was　led　by　L。　E。　Polk's　brigade；　but　the　rebel　lines　had　become　so　changed　that　they　formed　an　acute　angle　and　their　troops　were　firing　into　each　other　in　the　dark。　　So　quietly　was　the　army　withdrawn　that　it　was　not　until　after　sunrise　on　the　21st　that　Bragg　discovered　that　Thomas　had　retired。　　Having　effected　the　withdrawal　of　his　troops；　General　Thomas；　accompanied　by　Granger　and　Garfield；　proceeded　to　Rossville　and　placed　the　command　in　position　at　that　place；　ordering　one　brigade　of　Negley's　division　to　hold　the　gap　on　the　Ringgold　road　with　the　other　two　brigades　posted　on　the　top　of　the　ridge　to　the　right；　joining　on　the　brigades　in　the　road；　with　Dan　McCook's　brigade　in　reserve。　　On　the　right　of　Negley　Reynold's　division　took　position；　reaching　to　the　Dry　Valley　road；　with　Brannan's　division　as　a　reserve　in　rear　of　Reynolds's　right。　　On　the　right　of　the　Dry　Valley　road；　extending　to　the　west；　McCook's　corps　was　placed；　his　right　extending　to　Chattanooga　Creek。　　Upon　the　high　ground　to　the　left　of　the　Ringgold　road　the　entire　of　Crittenden's　corps　was　placed。　　As　a　reserve　Steedman's　division　of　Granger's　corps　was　posted　on　his　left；　while　Baird's　division　was　also　in　reserve　and　in　support　of　the　brigade　of　Negley's　division　holding　the　gap。　Thrown　out　on　the　Ringgold　road；　a　mile　and　a　half　in　advance　of　the　gap；　Minty's　brigade　of　cavalry　held　the　road　at　that　point　during　the　night。　　Here　the　weary　troops　rested　undisturbed　the　night　after　the　heavy　fighting　and　nothing　was　seen　of　the　enemy　until　about　nine　o'clock　of　the　21st；　when　their　advance　appeared　in　heavy　force　of　infantry　and　cavalry　on　Minty's　front。　　Thomas；　withdrawing　Minty　through　the　gap；　posted　his　command　on　our　left　flank　and　directed　him　to　throw　out　strong　reconnoitering　parties　across　the　ridge；　watching　the　enemy's　movements　on　our　left　and　front。　　There　was　no　object　in　attempting　to　hold　the　position　at　Rossville　Gap；　beyond　the　gaining　of　a　day　to　select　the　final　position　for　the　troops　at　Chattanooga　on　their　retirement　to　that　place；　the　location　of　the　lines；　and　the　preparation　for　throwing　up　earthworks。　　This　was　all　accomplished　on　the　21st　and　preparations　made　to　fall　back。　　All　wagons；　ambulances；　and　surplus　artillery…carriages　were　sent　to　the　rear　before　night　and　the　troops　were　held　in　readiness　to　move　at　a　moment's　notice。　　The　orders　to　withdraw　reached　Thomas　about　six　o'clock　P。M。；　and　the　movement　commenc