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[553] of McCook's division, which have just landed, arrive during the battle, and take position between the right of Rousseau, who commands the first brigade, and the left of L. Wallace; but they cannot entirely fill up the space which remains open between the latter division and the army of the Ohio. This gap is filled by detachments composed of troops who have been in action the day before, and who are stationed a little in the rear of the first line, under the command of Hurlbut, McClernand, and Sherman. The moment has arrived for the Federals to make a vigorous effort. At a signal given by Buell, his three divisions under Nelson, Crittenden, and McCook, put themselves in motion at the same time. The soldiers of the army of the Ohio, constantly drilled for the year past by a rigid disciplinarian, and trained by their long marches across two entire States, are distinguished by their discipline and their fine bearing. The steadiness with which they march against the enemy wins the admiration of generals who, like Sherman, have had to fight a whole day at the head of raw and inexperienced troops. The Federal left makes one great stride forward. Grant, who, while leaving great freedom of action to Buell, has reserved to himself the chief direction of the order of battle, seizes this moment to substitute a vigorous attack for the slack firing of musketry which the skirmishers have been keeping up since morning on his right. Hurlbut, McClernand, and Sherman reanimate their worn-out troops by promising them a victory which shall compensate them for the defeat of the previous day, and lead them against Beauregard's left centre. Wallace, near Owl Creek, finds at last an opportunity to measure strength with that enemy whom an unlucky chance has not allowed him to meet sooner. At this moment the entire line of both armies becomes engaged. It is ten o'clock. Fortune on this second day has not yet pronounced in favor of either party; but everybody feels that her favors are already changing places. The Confederates no longer fight with the hope of driving their enemies into the river: the presence of a new army has made itself too clearly manifest for them to cherish that illusion any longer. Their leaders henceforth think only of covering their retreat and avoiding a rout. The attack of the Federal right menaces directly that line of retreat; for Sherman, who has not

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