General Strahl was leading his brigade again against the breastworks. “Strahl's and Carter's brigade came gallantly to the assistance of Gist's and Gordon's” runs the confederate report sent to Richmond, “but the enemy's fire from the houses in the rear of the line and from guns posted on the far side of the river so as to enfilade the field, tore their line to pieces before it reached the locust abatis.”
General Carter fell mortally wounded before reaching the breastworks, but General Strahl reached the ditch, filled with dead and dying men, though his entire staff had been killed. Here he stood with only two men around him, Cunningham and Brown. “Keep firing” said Strahl as he stood on the bodies of the dead and passed up guns to the two privates. The next instant Brown fell heavily; he, too, was dead.
“What shall I do, General?” asked Cunningham.
“Keep firing,” said Strahl.
Again Cunningham fired. “Pass me another gun, General,” said Cunningham. There was no answer—the general was dead.
Not a hundred yards away lay General Granbury, dead. He died leading the brave Texans to the works.
To the commanding General it seemed an age before the old man returned. Then he saw him in the darkness afar off, before he reached the headquarters. The General thought of death on his pale horse and shivered.
“Granbury, Carter, Strahl—all dead, General,” he said. “Colonels command divisions, Captains are commanding brigades.”
“How does Cheatham estimate his loss?” asked the General.
“At half his command killed and wounded,” said the old soldier sadly.