the army of the cumberland-第44章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
full force； supported by Cheatham； assaulted Johnson first and then Baird with tremendous force。 The onset was so determined that some confusion in the line resulted； but in a few minutes our troops rallied and the enemy was repulsed in fine style。 This conflict lasted for some time after dark with heavy losses on both sides； the heavy firing lighting up the struggle。 At this point our artillery was again used with good effect。 Wilder's brigade had occupied a position during the day on the La Fayette road about a mile north of Lee and Gordon's Mills； with Minty close by。 The latter was now ordered to report to Granger at Rossville； to hold in check the enemy's cavalry operating on their right。 Granger； with his reserves protected the roads to the rear toward Rossville and covered our left flank。
With night the fighting ceased； and the troops； worn out after the marching of the night beforemoving from the right to the extreme leftand the heavy fighting of the day； slept on their arms； awaiting the heavier conflict of the morrow。 Though weary； the troops were in most excellent spirits； and confident of final victory。 It was known throughout the army that we had been fighting during the day largely superior forces。 That Bragg had been heavily re…enforced from Mississippi and East Tennessee； and by Longstreet's command from Virginia； and that the enemy was fighting most desperately。 Bragg's great aim had been to conceal his main attack on our left by the feint on the centre； and supposed that our centre on the morning of the 19th was still at Lee and Gordon's Mills。 Presuming this to be the case； Bragg had massed heavily on our left； intending to repeat his movement made on our right at Murfreesboro。 His plan contemplated the breaking of our left； sweeping it before him in broken masses； crushing our centre； and destroying our right； and then occupying the road to Chattanooga in force he would have the Federal army completely in his power。 The movement made by Croxton compelled Bragg to open the battle in heavy force on the left； before his troops had secured the positions assigned them； and then； to his surprise； he found that during the night our left had been greatly prolonged； and that Rosecrans was in force； occupying a position far to the north of what he had been led to expect。 During the night Bragg ordered up by forced marches all reinforcements arriving by railroad。 Three brigades of fresh troops reached the enemy during the night； and were placed in line early in the morning of the 20th。 These； with the troops ordered late the day before from the east bank of the Chickamauga； gave Bragg a large number of fresh troops； which he placed in line of battle on the 20th。 During the night Bragg summoned his generals to meet him at his camp fire； and there gave them orders for the following day。 He divided his entire force into two commands； to which he assigned his senior Lieutenant…Generals Longstreet and Polk。 The formerwho had reported during the nightto the left； composed of six divisions where his own troops were stationed； and the latter continuing in his command of five divisions on the right。 Bragg's plan of battle for the 20th was for Polk to assault in force； with Breckinridge's division on his extreme right at day…dawn； when the attack was to be taken up rapidly in succession by the divisions to his left。 The left wing was to await the movement on the right； and when the attack was made there to take it up promptly。 When the entire line became engaged it was to move forward vigorously and persistently throughout its entire length； the whole army wheeling on Longstreet's left as a pivot； but constantly pressing our left to get possession of the road to Chattanooga。
The battle of the 19th was a series of brilliant charges and counter…charges； in favor of first one side and then the other。 During the day our troops； at times broken and driven by the enemy； always promptly rallied and drove the rebels in disorder to their lines by brilliant and effective dashes； moving to the attack with vigor and determination。 In the main the results of the day were in our favor。 Bragg had been forced to fight before he was in position； and had been foiled in his attempt to secure the roads； which on the evening of the 19th remained even more securely in our possession than before； fully protected on both flanks by our cavalry。 As this was the object of the severe conflict of the 19th； that day's fighting was a success for our arms； both the Rossville and the Dry Valley roads being firmly held by our troops that night。
But the battle was not yet over。 During the night Rosecrans assembled his corps commanders at his headquarters at the Widow Glenn's house； and after a consultation with them on the state and condition of their commands； gave orders for the disposition and movements of the troops for the next day。 The divisions of Thomas's corps； with those which had re…enforced him； to hold the road to Rossville； in the same position as then occupied by them in line of battle； with Brannan in reserve。 McCook； with Sheridan's and Davis's divisions was to maintain his picket line until it was attacked and driven back。 His left divisionDavis'swas to close on Thomas； and to have his right refused covering the position at Widow Glenn's house。 Crittenden was to hold two divisions； Wood's and Van Cleve's； in reserve near where the line of McCook and Thomas joined to reinforce the front line as needed。
During the night Thomas received word from Baird on the extreme left； that the left of his division did not reach the road to Reed's Ridge； as had been anticipated。 Thomas immediately requested that Negley's division be ordered to report to him to take position on Baird's left and rear； securing this flank from assault。 At daylight Rosecrans； riding the line； ordered Negley to join Thomas at once； and directed McCook to relieve Negley； who was on the front line。 He also ordered McCook to adjust his right； as it was too far out on the crest； and to move Davis's division to the left； and close it up compactly。 Crittenden was also directed to move his two divisions to the left and Palmer； on Thomas's line； was instructed to close up his front。 On reaching the left Rosecrans was convinced that the first attack would be made on that flank； and returned at once to the right to hurry Negley over to Thomas。 Arriving there he found that this division had not moved； and that McCook's troops were not ready to relieve him。 Negley was then ordered to send his reserve brigade under John Beatty； and to follow with the other two when relieved from the front。 Impatient at McCook's delay in relieving Negley； and anticipating momentarily the attack of the enemy on our left； Rosecrans ordered Crittenden to move Wood's division to the front； to fill the position occupied by Negley of which McCook was notified by Rosecrans in person。 Rosecrans； when first at McCook's line； was greatly dissatisfied with McCook's position。 He now called McCook's attention to the defects in his line； that it was too light； and that it was weakened by being too much strung out； and charged him to keep well closed up on the left at all hazards。 Leaving McCook； Rosecrans then returned to Negley； and found to his surprise that the brigades in front had not yet been relieved and started to Thomas after his repeated orders； as Wood's division had only reached the position of Negley's reserve。 Greatly irritated at this； Rosecrans gave preemptory orders and Wood's division was at once placed in front； closed up on the right of Brannan。
A heavy fog hung over the battlefield during the early morning。 Bragg； before daylight with his staff； took position immediately in the rear of the centre of his line； and waited for Polk to begin the attack； waiting until after sunrise with increasing anxiety and disappointment。 Bragg then sent a staff officer to Polk to ascertain and report as to the cause of the delay； with orders urging him to a prompt and speedy attack。 Polk was not found with his troops； and the staff officer learning that he had spent the night on the east side of Chickamauga Creek； rode over there and delivered his message。 Bragg； impatient at
