most
likely be made on that road and on his right. Gen. Papson, seeing that
one brigade of the enemy had advanced to the crossing on Cherokee Run,
did not hesitate, but ordered Gen. Anderson to attack it, which he did
at once. The contest was a sharp one, but the enemy were driven back
very much broken up, with heavy loss in killed and wounded. Papson then
threw Palmerston's division in on the extreme left, on high ground,
covering the road and crossing well with artillery. In the afternoon
a strong force under Polkhorn advanced, and furiously attacked the two
divisions under Anderson and Palmerston. The contest raged for over an
hour.

"Palmerston was driven from his position, and our cavalry, which had been
posted on his left, was broken into fragments. Gen. Anderson changed
front with his left brigade and struck Polkhorn in flank and forced
him back on his main line. Palmerston was now supported by Sherlin's
division and his former position retaken. By this time Longpath had come
up on Polkhorn's left and had assailed violently Critsinger's left, and
after a severe struggle, in which the loss was great on both sides, our
lines gave way and the rebels came through and down the slope of the
hill in perfect swarms. Papson, quietly and coolly, as if in church,
threw a portion of his corps into the breach and checked the advance.
He then adjusted Critsinger's line and moved at once against Longpath's
right and broke it, driving it back in great confusion. He then advanced
his whole line and drove the enemy back for some distance through the
woods on to his reserves, and in this position night closed in on the
two armies. During the night Rosen-felt came up with McCabe's Corps,
which was now posted on a ridge to the right of Critsinger. This being
done, he had his corps commanders assemble at his Headquarters, now near
Papson. When all were together the manner of the enemy's assault was
stated and various views given as to his number. Some contended that his
whole army was engaged; some, his right wing only.

"General Papson was of a different opinion. He thought that the day's
battle had been fought on the part of the enemy by his advance merely;
that he was marching rapidly, believing that he could pass around
our left flank on the Mission House Road, by way of Roseville, into
Chatteraugus without much of a struggle, thinking our army all to be
on the Bridgeton and Fayette road; that in the morning they would attack
wi