Comte de Paris, History of the Civil War in America. Vol. 4.
Henry Coppee , LL.D., Ed.

---

[146] toward the north-west from a point in the vicinity of Brotherton's house. But, not yet able to aid Polk's troops, whose exact position is not known to him, he causes Bate to advance to the right of Brown, placing the former en potence, facing northward to cover the flank of the division. Clayton is on the left, somewhat in the rear. He is found in that position when Cleburne attempts his first attack between ten and eleven o'clock. Marching directly in a westward direction, Cleburne has encountered Bate, near whom Deshler has halted, while Wood, advancing still a few steps, was coming to join Brown's right. The two first thus found themselves masked, and some time was required to define the position of the two divisions, which had become entangled in consequence of a converging march in the forest. In fine, Brown and Wood, who are alone on the first line, move on the positions occupied by the Federals under Palmer. The two brigades under Cruft and Hazen know that ground and have carefully fortified it. Their skirmishers have advanced a long distance to molest the enemy; after having compelled his skirmish-line to fall back, they themselves retire to their places of shelter. The portion of the line occupied by Palmer between the angle of the breastworks and the main road is not more than three hundred yards in length: the greater part of it follows the edge of the woods, which on the north fringe the field contiguous to Poe's house, and which woods the road traverses. Wood and Brown, having each altered his course, the one to the right and the other to the left, so as not to cross each other, arrive obliquely upon this line occupied by Palmer. Wood's right is then the first to be engaged. Advancing on a run through the forest, it is suddenly greeted by Cruft's fire, whose deadly precision checks it notwithstanding its impetuosity. In the mean while, Wood, with the left of his brigade and also Brown's command, debouches in the field belonging to Poe's house. Hazen on the left and Turchin on the right of the road await him resolutely. The Confederates spring bravely across the open space against an unseen enemy. Wood's soldiers reach the roadway to the northward of Poe's house; but after a few moments they give way under the terrible fire which strews the ground with the dead and the wounded, and seek shelter in the woods which they had left half an hour before. In this short