THE BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA.
The enemy combined in heavy masses on the extreme left, and Croxton’s brigade of Brennan’s division became engaged with the rebel General Forrest’s cavalry, about ten A. M. General McCook, who had closed up to Crawfish Springs as soon as Thomas’s column was out of his way, now sent Johnson’s division to Thomas’s assistance. General Crittenden had dispatched Palmer’s for the same purpose. The support was afforded most opportunely. Croxton’s brigade, which had driven the cavalry under Forest near half a mile, met at last Ector’s and Wilson’s brigades, which made a resistance so obstinate, that Baird’s whole division was advanced to Croxton’s support. The foe was again pushed back and many prisoners captured. After an hour’s hard fighting against overwhelming numbers, the ammunition of Croxton’s brigade was exhausted, and the men were moved to the rear to enable them to fill their boxes. The united forces of Baird and Brennan had driven the enemy from their immediate front, and Baird was disposing his lines to receive an attack he had reason to apprehend on his right, when Walthall’s and Govan’s rebel brigades, under Liddell, impetuously assaulted Scribner’s and King’s, and put them to flight, making several hundred prisoners, and capturing Loomis’s and other batteries.
The regulars, outflanked after the withdrawal of Brannan’s men, fought like tigers, but were rolled back and over Scribner’s brigade—the right of which being too far advanced, was crumpled up and literally surrounded. At this conjuncture, Johnson’s division of McCook’s corps, and Reynolds’ division of Thomas’s arrived, and were placed in position, connecting with the brigades already engaged.
The storm rolled upon them, and, as the most desperate valor was displayed by both rebels and Unionists, the fortune of the fight wavered, first on one side and then on the other. A tremendous onslaught of the enemy broke Palmer’s lines, and scattered several of his regiments in wild dismay. General Reynolds threw himself among the brave but broken ranks, shouting, “Boys! are you the soldiers of the Sixth Ohio, who fought so gallantly with me at Cheat Mountain in Virginia? You never turned your backs upon traitors—will you do it now?”
“No! no!” they screamed, with frantic enthusiasm. “Lead us back. We will fight it out! Lead us back!”
Back came the scattered fragments of regiments; with magic swiftness ranks were formed, and the order was issued for the entire line to advance—and never was a finer charge made than that which followed. But they were Longstreet’s men who opposed, and they rallied and rallied again, maintaining their reputation desperately; but Thomas, Reynolds, and other heroic leaders inspirited their men with their own ardor; the foe was still driven and Longstreet threatened with annihilation. Attacked both in front and in the flank, the enemy was slaughtered mercilessly; the artillery he had captured was, with the exception of three pieces, recovered; and he was finally compelled to fall back, in confusion, on his reserves, posted in a strong position on the west side of Chickamauga creek.
While the contest was progressing so gloriously on the left, Polk and Cheatham, with a powerful force, fell upon Palmer and Van Cleve, and upon Reynolds’ right. The assault was made with such suddenness and effect that Palmer’s division was staggered, and Van Cleve’s completely shattered. Prisoners and artillery fell into the hands of the exultant foe, and he was driving everything before him, when General Davis’ division came upon him and restored the fortunes of the day. But the chosen legions of the enemy, and all his available forces, were massed in this quarter, and the unparalleled obstinacy of Davis’s men would have proved unequal to the occasion, had not Brannan’s division arrived on the scene just in time to defeat Cheatham’s efforts to turn Reynolds’ right and rear. General Negley had been ordered to afford succor, and responded readily to the summons. The gallant Wilder was however the first to scatter the enemy in terror before him, but they rallied, and forced him slowly back. General Sheridan now joined in the wavering struggle and led Colonel Bradley’s noble brigade into the midst of it. The rebels opened, from some timber near his flank, an enfilading fire, which rained death into his ranks and compelled him to give way. But Wood and Negley, who had been busied hitherto, repelling feigned attacks, came at last to the rescue, and the tide was stayed. The scattered troops reorganized, and lately broken brigades resumed their places. A weltering fire now blazed along the whole Union front, with such terrible effect that the rebels shrank from it. The Union centre was restored to its integrity, and victory, was snatched from the grasp of the foe.