DESPERATE CONDITION OF THE NATIONAL TROOPS.
Now the entire front was cleared. The enemy had full possession of Sherman’s, Prentiss’ and McClernand’s camps. By ten o’clock the whole front, except Stuart’s brigade, had given way, and the burden of the fight was resting on Hurlbut and W. H. L. Wallace. Before twelve, Stuart, too, had come back, and for the time, those two divisions stood absolutely alone between the Union army and destruction.
But truly brave men are bravest when driven to extremities. Hurlbut and Wallace made a most gallant stand; and most of the troops from the three scattered divisions were still to some extent available. Many of them had wandered down the river, some to Crump’s Landing, and others even to Savannah, to be brought back on transports. Brigades could not be collected again, much less divisions, but the regiments were gathered together from the loose squads wandering about, and officered, often by men who could find scarcely a soldier of their own commands. These were hurried to the front, and many of them did good service.
According to general understanding, in the event of an attack at Pittsburg Landing, Major-General Lew. Wallace was to come in on the Union right, and flank the rebels by marching across from Crump’s Landing below.
But, as has been stated, Wallace, with his division, though all drawn up and ready to march anywhere at a moment’s notice, was not ordered to Pittsburg Landing till nearly twelve o’clock. Then, by mistake, he got on the new road, four miles of marching were lost, and the circuitous route made it a march of twelve miles before he could reach the scene of battle. Meantime the right was almost wholly unprotected.
Fortunately, however, the rebels did not seem to have discovered the full extent of this weakness, and their heaviest fighting was done on the centre and left, where the Union lines were still preserved.