When they reached the next woody ridge, rebel cavalry, that had crossed the creek lower down, were seen coming up on the left; and the line of battle was formed fronting in that direction, to resist this new attack. For three-quarters of an hour the brigade kept this position. The cavalry, finding it prepared, did not come within range. In front they were hard pressed, and the rebels began to come in on their right. Colonel Stuart had sent across to Brigadier-General W. H. L. Wallace, then not engaged, for support. Brigadier-General McArthur’s brigade was promptly started across, but mistaking the way, and bearing too much to the right, found itself in the midst of the rebel forces. He vigorously engaged the rebels to his front and flanks, fell back to a good position and held these troops in bay till the rest of his division came up. General McArthur was himself disabled by a wound in the foot, but he rode to a hospital, had it dressed, and returned to the brigade, which meantime held its position stoutly.
But this brought Stuart’s isolated brigade little assistance. They were soon forced to fall back to another ridge, then to another, and, finally, about twelve o’clock, shattered and broken, they retreated to the right and rear, falling in behind General McArthur’s brigade to reorganize. Colonel Stuart was himself wounded by a ball through his right shoulder, and the loss of field and company officers greatly disheartened the troops.
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.
HURLBUT’S DIVISION.
Hurlbut’s division stretched across the Corinth road, facing to the left. W. H. L. Wallace’s other brigades had gone over to assist McArthur, and the divisions thus reunited, steadily closed the line. To Hurlbut’s right the lines were united by the reorganized regiments that had been resent to the field. McClernand and Sherman were both there.