sion consisted of four
brigades, but one was on detached duty, and he had three in
line--Lowrey's on his right, then Govan's, then Granbury's. First
crossing a field in his front, Lowrey entered the extension of the woods
that has been mentioned, and on emerging on the other side his right
came in view within easy range of the 42d, and that regiment opened an
enfilading fire, Lowrey's line being then almost perpendicular to the
line of the 42d. It was this accident of Lowrey's right passing within
range of the 42d that led to the failure of Hood's plan, which, up to
that minute, had been a great success. When the 42d opened fire the two
guns at the pike also opened, their fire crossing that of the 42d, and
the 64th, running forward and intermingling ranks with the 42d, poured
in their fire. When our fire had thus developed our position, out in
those wide fields they could see just what we had. They pulled down the
rims of their old hats over their eyes, bent their heads to the storm of
missiles pouring upon them, changed direction to their right on
double-quick in a manner that excited our admiration, and a little later
a long line came sweeping through the wide gap between the right of the
42d and the pike, and swinging in towards our rear. Our line stood firm,
holding back the enemy in front until the flank movement had progressed
so far as to make it a question of legs to escape capture when the
regimental commanders gave the reluctant order to fall back. The contact
was then so close that as the men on our right were running past the
line closing in on them they were called on with loud oaths, charging
them with a Yankee canine descent, to halt and surrender; and, not
heeding the call, some of them were shot down with the muzzles of the
muskets almost touching their bodies. By the recession of the two
regiments on the flank the rear of the four regiments in the woods
became exposed. They were attacked at the same time by Forrest in front,
and by Cleburne on their right and rear, and were speedily dislodged.
The attack was pressed with so much vigor that in a few minutes after
the 42d had opened fire Bradley's entire brigade was in rapid retreat
towards Spring Hill, with Cleburne in close pursuit, and pouring in a
hot fire. In falling back we had to cross the valley of a small stream,
and I never think of our strenuous exertions to get out of a
destructive cross-fire, while running down the easy slope leading to the
s