In the morning, when the Rebels commenced the attack, you remember that Breckenridge, with the Rebel reserves, was in the rear; that he moved east, and came down towards the river in front of Stuart’s brigade. General Johnston and staff were upon the hills which border the creek, examining the ground in front of Stuart and Hurlburt. Ross, Mann, and Walker were throwing shells across the creek.
General Breckenridge rode up to General Johnston and conversed with him.
“I will lead your men into the fight to-day, for I intend to show these Tennesseeans and Kentuckians that I am no coward,” said Johnston to Breckenridge.[10]
The people of the Southwest thought he was a coward, because he had abandoned Nashville without a fight.
Breckenridge brought up Statham’s and Bowen’s brigades against Hurlburt. He formed his line in the edge of the woods on the opposite side of the field. After an artillery fire of an hour, he moved into the centre of the field, rushed through the peach-orchard, and came close to Hurlburt’s line by the log-cabin. But the field was fenced with fire. There was constant flashing from the muskets, with broad sheets of flame from the artillery. The Rebels were repulsed with shattered ranks.
Breckenridge sent his special aid to General Johnston for instructions.[11] As the aid rode up, a shell exploded above the General and his staff. A fragment cut through General Johnston’s right thigh, severing an artery. He was taken from his horse, and died on the field at half past two o’clock.
General Beauregard assumed command, and gave orders to keep General Johnston’s death a secret, that the troops might not be discouraged.
Three times Breckenridge attempted to force Hurlburt back by attacking him in front, but as often as he advanced he was driven back. It was sad to see the wounded drag themselves back to the woods, to escape the storm, more terrible than the blast of the simoom, sweeping over the field. Hurlburt’s regiments fired away all their ammunition, and Prentiss who had rallied his men, advanced to the front while the cartridge-boxes were refilled.
While this was doing, General Bragg gave up the command of his line in front of Wallace to another officer and rode down towards the river in front of Hurlburt and Prentiss. He says:—
“There I found a strong force, consisting of three parts without a common head; being General Breckenridge with his reserve division pressing the enemy; Brigadier-General Withers with his division utterly exhausted, and taking a temporary rest; and Major-General Cheatham’s division of Major-General Polk’s command to their left and rear. The troops were soon put in motion again, responding with great alacrity to the command, ‘Forward!’”[12]