The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 30, In Four Parts. Part 1, Reports. Page: 60
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60 KY., SW. VA., TENN.. MISS., N. ALA., AND N. GA. (C a. XLII.
tain Young, of my staff, and a few of the escort, under a shower of
grape, canister, and musketry, for 200 or 300 yards, and attempted to
rejoin General Thomas and the troops sent to his support, by passing
to the rear of the broken portion of our lines, but found the routed
troops far toward the left, and hearing the enemy's advancing mus-
ketry and cheers, I became doubtful whether the left had held its
ground, and started for Rossville. On consultation and further
reflection, however, I determined to send General Garfield there,
while I went to Chattanooga, to give orders for the security of the
pontoon bridges at Battle Creek and Bridgeport, and to make pre-
liminary dispositions either to forward ammunition and supplies,
should we hold our ground, or to withdraw the troops into good
position.
General Garfield dispatched me, from Rossville, that the left and
center still held its ground. General Granger had gone to its sup-
port. General Sheridan had rallied his division, and was advancing
toward the same point, and General Davis was going up the Dry
Valley road to our right. General Garfield proceeded to the front,
remained there until the close of the fight, and dispatched me the
triumphant defense our troops there made against the assaults of
the enemy.
THE FIGHT ON THE LEFT,
after 2 p. m., was that of the army. Never, in the history ef this
war at least, have troops fought with greater energy and determina-
tion. Bayonet charges, often heard of but seldom seen, were repeat-
edly made by brigades and regiments in several of our divisions.
After the yielding and severance of the divisions of the right, the
enemy bent all efforts to break the solid portions of our line. Under
the pressure of the rebel onset, the flanks of the line were gradually
retired until they occupied strong advantageous ground, giving to
the whole a flattened crescent shape.
From 1 to half past 3 o'clock, the unequal contest was sustained
throughout our line. Then the enemy in overpowering numbers
flowed around our right, held by General Brannan, and occupied a
low gap in the ridge of our defensive position, which commanded
our rear. The moment was critical. Twenty minutes more and our
right would have been turned, our position taken in reverse, argd
probably the army routed. u
Fortunately, Major-General Granger, whose troops had been posted
to cover our left and rear, with the instinct of a true soldier and a
general, hearing the roar of battle on our left, and being beyond the
reach of orders from the general commanding, determined to move
to its assistance. He advanced and soon encountered the enemy's
skirmishers, whom he disregarded, well knowing that, at that stage
of the conflict, the battle was not there. Posting Col. Daniel Mc-
Cook's brigade to take care of anything in the vicinity and beyond
the left of our line, he moved the remainder to the scene of action,
reporting to General Thomas, who directed him to our suffering
right.
Arrived in sight, General Granger discovered at once the peril and
the point of danger-the gap. Quick as thought he directed his ad-
vance brigade upon the enemy. General Steedman, taking a regi-
niental color, led the column. Swift was the charge and terrible
the conflict, but the enemy was broken. A thousand of our brave
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The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Additions and Corrections to Series 1, Volume 30. (Pamphlet)
Errata sheets for the Records of the War of the Rebellion include additions and corrections to the text and the index for Series 1, Volume 30.
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United States. War Department. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 30, In Four Parts. Part 1, Reports., book, 1890; Washington D.C.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152978/m1/71/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.