devolved, gallant as ever; Lieut. Col. Olson, brave to a fault, and Major Sherman, true and unflinching, were everywhere conspicuous, encouraging the men by their example to wring from unwilling hands of fate the victory which was denied. Our exposed left was not unseen. "Who will take care of our left?" "Never you mind the left," he

said a man to Major Sherman. replied, “take care of what is in your front." And well did they do it against ever increasing forces, sending well directed volleys into their ranks which staggered and checked them; while the gallant color-bearer, William R. Toll, of Company C, seeming to know no fear, stood erect, waving in the very faces of the foe our glorious flag, already blazoned with the names of "Pea Ridge," "Perryville" and "Stone River," soon torn and the staff shattered by many a bullet aimed at the brave bearer. Ezra Parker, Corporal Company B, one of the color guard and a true man, fell pierced by a bullet through the forehead. Sergt. Hitchcock, of Company B, at the extreme left, was notified to detail another corporal to fill his place. He designated Corp. Charles G. Ayers, who, like the true and brave soldier that he was, shouldered his musket and ran to his stern post of duty, and afterwards he could show forty bullet holes through his blankets and uniform. Fearful was the havoc which the storm of lead was making. Capts. Mitchell, Campbell, Hobbs, Austin, Wakeman; Lieuts. O. Smith, Company E, Denning (on Gen. Sheridan's staff), Myron A. Smith, Company H, and a host of noncommissioned officers and privates were falling victims. The air seemed alive with bullets, and every moment the ranks were growing thinner. The column which had dashed on to the field fifteen minutes before with three hundred and seventy men, had already lost one-half, while the enemy in growing ranks were swarming around both flanks as well as pressing on the front.

TERRIFIC ATTACK OF THE ENEMY.

471

The command was given to fall back, which was executed in good order, every step of the ground being contested, until they reached the valley through which they had come, when fighting behind rocks and trees they checked for a little while the advancing foe. It was a bitter thought that they should have so many of their comrades wounded and some dying in the enemy's hands. Quite a number were helped off the field, others were assisted to sheltered places behind trees, &c. But time was short-on again came the hosts of the enemy, bringing artillery with grape and canister to bear, until slowly the retreat was continued across the road and into the woods beyond, halting and checking their advance from time to time, until all hope was gone-our right had been utterly shattered.

At the time the brigade was ordered in, the Hospital Department with the ambulances followed and took position on the west side of the road, sending in the men detailed with stretchers, and waited to render assistance to the wounded at the earliest moment. As the last file of men disappeared in the woods now half hidden in dust and smoke, the roll and crash of musketry was so terrible that it seemed impossible for any one to come out of such a storm alive. Here they gazed in the direction of the battle, expecting every moment some poor, wounded soldier would be brought for relief, instead of which only here and there a straggling one appeared with a slight wound, able to take care of himself, while the firing, instead of being checked, seemed to come nearer. Soon the bullets struck spitefully in the tree-tops, and gave warning that the ambulances must be moved further back. Taking them back a little way they were halted again, while the number of slightly wounded and straggling soldiers seemed to increase every moment. It was but a few minutes and again the bullets were striking snappishly in the tree-tops, and

streams of men, wounded and unwounded, began to pour forth. Reaching the next ridge, and passing along it, we found Gen. Sheridan and Lieut. Turnbull riding up and down, begging the men to halt and form line. The Lieutenant, after executing Gen. Lytle's last order, to form the second line, had his horse shot under him, saw the General's galloping riderless, and soon the whole line gave way. He made all haste to procure another horse, then rode back to the ridge where we saw him, and with the help of other officers undertook to organize by pressing into the ranks every person that came to the rear. When they had got about a hundred men in line, Gen. Sheridan and a staff officer or two rode up and said, "You are doing a good work; have the men fall back to the next ridge and gather up every straggler." As we passed on we heard him say, “O, my men, wont you make a stand here?" By following too much the lay of the country we were unconsciously facing too much to our right where we should be exposed to capture, and so were directed to bear to the left. Passing over a ridge we found a road in the next hollow, on which were streaming wagons, ambulances, caissons, officers and men, mounted and unmounted, wounded and. unwounded. Here we gathered more of our wounded. Capt. Austin and Lieut. Denning, who had both been helped off the field, were taken up. The ambulances were loaded. Surgeons Lytle and Hatch and the Chaplain gave up their horses for the wounded to ride, and so we pressed on, expecting every moment to see the Rebel cavalry coming down upon us and capture this long train. By and by we came to a cross road, near a high ridge, on which were cavalry men and a part of McCook's escort, stopping every straggler and beginning to form a line. Here all the ambulances, wounded men and hospital arrangements were ordered to make their way with all speed to Chattanooga, about twelve miles distant from this point.

SERGEANT BROWNLEE'S HEROISM.

473

While they were wending their way to the city, the work of ré-organization went on rapidly. Lieut. Turnbull with his co-workers had gathered two or three hundred men by the time they made their second halt, and it was not long before Gen. Sheridan had quite a force ready and willing to follow him anywhere. Then came a short council of war, which is a good illustration of the fertility of that General's brain on a battle-field. "Officers," said he, "we are cut off from the main army and must reach Gen. Thomas with the least possible delay. This, I think, from my field notes, is Ridge, and, if I am right, by following it we shall come to a cross-road, where, I hope, we can communicate with the General." He was right, and on the march thither fragments of each regiment in the brigade were gathered up. Among them was French Brownlee, Sergeant Company B, who had been sick for some time and was directed by his officers and Surgeon to stay with the ambulance and aid the wounded. But his spirit had no rest, and as our line retired he kept near enough to use his Springfield rifle. The 98th Illinois coming near where he was, one of their captains requested him to lead some skirmishers. He soon found three rebels roaming over the field, ordered them to halt, promising them safety. One came in; he sent the contents of his musket after another, giving him a close call, but not being supported by the skirmishers he retired with his one prisoner and handed him over to the 98th. In following the regiment he passed the killed and wounded, gave the latter what water he had, and soon found the color bearer of the 22nd Illinois wounded. He carried his flag and assisted him to walk until he gave him into the care of one of his own men, then, aften two hours of painful search, succeeded in finding his own regiment as it moved under Sheridan.

On reaching the Dry Creek Valley road, the force having creased to fifteen hundred, some delay occurred, and the troops

re-organized. The commanding officers of each regiment were stationed at a designated spot, and the members of the different regiments directed to report to them. Here the brigade again took form. Col. Miller was put in command, and Turnbull ordered to report to him for duty. It was soon ascertained, however, that the enemy had moved on a parallel line with us, and were already in possession of the Dry Valley road, so the General determined to make a rapid march through Rossville and join Gen. Thomas on the Lafayette road. This was successfully accomplished about half-past five P. M., Sheridan reporting with more men and guns than he carried originally into the fight.

When the right was compelled to give way under the overwhelming force brought against it, it was the general opinion of all in that part of the line that the disaster extended to the whole army. Rosecrans, McCook and Crittenden, all shared this conclusion, but as the afternoon proceeded it was found that the right and centre still held their ground. Bragg made another and still heavier attack on our right, but was repulsed with great slaughter. Brannan, a part of whose division was broken with the right wing, succeeded in rallying and taking up a very strong position to the right and rear, and by throwing up barricades made it impregnable. Other dispositions were made to the right and left of him as emergencies arose, and at last Longstreet, who had been massing his forces through the afternoon, made a most desperate attack, which, however, though repeated again and again, was successfully resisted. But there was a depression on the west of Brannan which afforded easy passage around it. This passage the enemy started to seize, and thus take in reverse the line which had repelled every direct attack. This was the crisis of the whole battle. A few moments more and the day would have been utterly lost to us. At this critical juncture Gen.