SECOND DAY’S BATTLE.
During the night of the 15th, Hood withdrew both his wings from the river, contracted his lines everywhere, and, on the morning of the 16th, was holding a strong position along Granny White Hills, with his centre protected by two lines of intrenchments.
The Union troops were disposed in the following order:—Wilson’s cavalry was on the extreme right. Schofield’s Twenty-third corps, consisting of Couch’s and Cox’s divisions, was at first held in reserve, but before the main battle opened it had to take a position on the left of the cavalry, thus forming the right of the infantry line. A. J. Smith’s Sixteenth corps, consisting of the divisions of McArthur, Garrard and Moore, came next on the left of Schofield. On the left of Smith, the magnificent Fourth corps, General T. J. Wood commanding, comprising the divisions of Kimball, Elliott, and Beatty, was formed in close order of battle; and, partially massed, Steadman, with Croft’s division and two brigades of colored troops, held the left. The Union plan of battle was to press the advantage gained on the enemy’s left. At about half-past eight o’clock a hundred pieces opened fire simultaneously along the Union line. The rebel artillery replied feebly. Schofield, marching down Granny White pike, carefully concealing his strength, placed his corps directly upon the enemy’s left flank. Steadman at the same time worked his force forward. The enemy in the mean time strengthened his advance line. It was determined to carry this line without delay. Kimball’s First division moved forward to the charge, firing volley after volley, but still steadily pressing on until within half a pistol shot, when the enemy’s fire became so deadly that the patriots, in order to return it more effectually, came to the “halt.” They remained here, perhaps, longer than any troops ever remained in such a position. They stood and fired fast and furious at the enemy, but they could not remain and live. A few gave way and fled in disorder, and the whole line staggered. Had the rebels done nothing more than keep up their deadly fire, the Federals would have been driven back; but the enemy shifted their artillery, which was received as an indication that they were about to abandon their lines and retire. Raising a loud shout, the division, with fixed bayonets, rushed impetuously forward, and swarming over the works captured such rebels as had not fled, and all the guns except two.
As soon as this preliminary success was achieved, General Thomas, who was seen during the day in the very front of the line of battle, ordered a charge along the entire line.
Schofield moved upon the left flank of the enemy, and before his veterans the rebel lines gave way like frostwork.
The assailed flank crumbled to pieces as Schofield advanced, and rolled back upon that portion of the line which was just then attacked by A. J. Smith’s troops with a weight and energy nothing could withstand. McMillan’s brigade, foremost in the battle, as on the previous day, rushed right up in the face of three powerful rebel batteries, and carried at the point of the bayonet the salient point of the enemy’s works. In a few moments their works were everywhere overwhelmed, their forces utterly routed, their soldiers captured by thousands, and every piece of their artillery taken.
Such as escaped death or capture fled towards Franklin pike, to a refuge behind A. D. Lee’s corps, which held the gap in the hills.
Wood and Steadman had now united on the left, and prepared to assault the rebel right, which was still unbroken. Under cover of a tremendous fire from the national guns, Colonel Post’s brigade moved forward. Straight’s brigade, of Beatty’s division, formed on his right. In support, immediately on Post’s left, Thomas’ colored brigade was drawn up, and Morgan’s colored brigade was next on the left.
The enemy reserved his fire until Post’s brigade commenced climbing the hill, when a perfect hurricane of shot, shell and canister tore through his ranks. In the face of this fire the men steadily advanced.
Thompson’s men, in endeavoring to pass around to the left, met a terrible flank fire, which confused their ranks. The troops on the right, torn in pieces by the fire, paused an instant, and at this juncture the brave Colonel Post was mortally wounded. In a moment all order was lost, and the men, whose conduct had ennobled them, rushed back, confused and scattering, to the line from which they started. Wood soon reformed his broken battalions and issued orders for the renewal of the assault, while Post’s veterans again assailed the hill directly, and Thompson’s Africans moved on the rebel right. Elliott’s and Kimball’s divisions were hurled like a thunderbolt against the rebel left. Wood himself, accompanied by all his staff, followed and directed the charge. The rebel force blazed forth anew, and the patriots, without hesitation or panic, carried the entire works with all their guns, and drove the rebels in dismay from the hill. This was the last stand that the rebels made, and their whole army was now fleeing in rout and panic. The results of the battle were five thousand prisoners, thirty guns, and seven thousand small arms.