Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 6.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[162] opposite side of the river. We watched them through our glasses with excited interest. Reports of menacing movements came in constantly. At last heavy guns were heard on the left, away in the distance, and two hours later the General was annoyed by official report that rebel cavalry had captured some of our wagons on the Jefferson pike. Still later the daring rascals captured another train directly in our rear, on the Murfreesboro pike. A strong cavalry force was despatched after them, but gallant Colonel Burke, posted at Stonard Creek with his Thirteenth Ohio, had already sent one hundred and fifty of his men to intercept the marauders, and he recaptured most of the property.

Night was approaching without battle, when Captain Fisher, of General McCook's staff, dashed up on a foaming steed, bearing information that Kirby Smith, supported by Breckinridge, had concentrated on our left. “Tell Gen. McCook,” said General Rosecrans, “that if he is assured that such is the fact, he may drive Hardee sharply if he is ready. At all events, tell him to prepare for battle to-morrow morning. Tell him to fight as if the fate of a great battle depended upon him. While he holds Hardee, the left, under Crittenden, will swing around and take Murfreesboro. Let Hardee attack, if he desires. It will suit us exactly.”

Just now a report came in that the rebel cavalry had captured a little squad of thirty men at La Vergne, with the telegraph operator, besides wounding Mr. Todd, the telegraph reporter. The rascals were at their old tricks, and we had no cavalry to spare to attend to them.

At seven o'clock I started through the woods to watch the progress of the engagement. A mile from quarters I met a stream of stragglers pouring through the thickets, reporting disaster--“General Sill is killed--General Johnson had lost three batteries — McCook's line is broken — the enemy is driving us — rebel cavalry is in the rear capturing our trains.” The stragglers generally were not panic-stricken. Most of them had their arms; but the negroes, servants and teamsters were frantic.

The report being made to the General, he dismissed it summarily, remarking : “All right — we will rectify it.” Soon after, official reports were received confirming the tidings of disaster. The prospect was gloomy but the cheering demeanor of the General restored confidence.

The roar of battle approached alarmingly near and rapidly. It was now ascertained that the enemy had massed on our right and attacked along its entire line. Hardee and McCook had formed their lines on opposite sides of a valley, which narrowed toward McCook's left.

The enemy advanced upon him in columns of regiments massed six lines deep — sufficient to break any ordinary line; but Sill gallantly received the shock and drove the foe clear back to his original position, where they re-formed. Schaeffer and Roberts were equally successful. But Johnson's division, taken somewhat by surprise, was swung back like a gate, and began to crumble at the flanks. Two of his batteries-Edgarton's and Goodspeed's — were taken before a gun was fired; the horses had not been harnessed, and some were even then going to water. This, I understand, was not the fault of Johnson, who, I am told, had issued prudent orders.

The enemy's line, obliquely to ours originally, had worked around until it flanked us almost tranversely, giving them a direct, enfilading and rear fire. Johnson's division melted away like a snowbank in spring-time — thus imperilling Davis's division, which was also obliged to break. Sheridan immediately changed front to the rear, and his left, adjoining Negley, was forced into an angle, which gave the enemy the decisive advantage of a cross-fire. Sill rallied his men again most gallantly, and while leading them in a charge was fatally struck, and died at the head of his line, a musket-ball entering his upper lip and ranging upward through his brain. General Willich, at about the same time, was captured. Brigadier-General Kirk was seriously wounded, and the gallant Colonel Roberts, of the Forty-second Illinois, while repulsing a fierce attack at the angle, was killed at the head of his brigade. Sheridan had thus lost two brigade commanders and Hotaling's battery. His almost orphaned division was left to protect Negley's left, in the centre, both Davis and Johnson being sent off from him. But Sheridan, by his own noble exertions, held his division firmly, and the Eighth division, under Negley, by desperate valor, checked the powerful masses of the enemy until succor could be thrown in from the left and the reserves. Sheridan having repulsed the enemy four times, and changed his front completely in face of the enemy, retired toward the Murfreesboro pike, bringing back his gallant command in perfect order. There has been no time to inquire into the causes of the disaster on the right but obviously there was something wrong.

Meantime, while this losing battle was going on, the General Commanding had galloped into the field, followed by his staff and escort. He had sent a reply to McCook's application for aid: “Tell General McCook I will help him.” In an instant he galloped to the left and sent forward Beatty's brigade. Moving down to the extreme left, he was discovered by the enemy, and a full battery opened upon him. Solid shot and shell stormed about us furiously. The General himself was unmoved by it, but his staff generally were more sensitive. The inclination to dodge was irresistible. Directly one poor fellow of the escort was dismounted, and his horse galloped frantically over the fields. The General directed Col. Barnett, his chief of artillery, to post a battery to shell the enemy, waiting to see it done. The Colonel galloped forward coolly under fire, and soon had Cox's Tenth Indiana battery lumbering away toward a commanding point. The officer in command wheeled into position at a point apparently unfavorable for sharp work. The General shouted : “On the crest; on the crest of the hill.” On the crest it went, and in five minutes the rebels closed their music. Beatty's brigade