uced four regiments, of I know not what command, which I found idle
in the woods, to move forward and form a second line.

At this time Captain Wilson, whom I had sent to General Negley some time
before the Second Brigade reached me, to inform him of my position and
need of assistance, returned, and brought from him a verbal order to
retire to the hill in the rear and join him. Convinced that the
withdrawal of the troops at this time from the position occupied might
endanger the whole left wing of the army, I thought best to defer the
execution of this order until I could see General Negley and explain to
him the necessity of maintaining and reinforcing it with the other
brigade of our division. But before Captain Wilson could find either
Colonel Taylor, who had in charge the Fifteenth Kentucky and One Hundred
and Fourth Illinois, or General Negley, the enemy made a fierce attack
on Stanley's brigade and forced it back. The unknown brigade which I had
posted in the rear to support it retired with unseemly haste, and
without firing a shot.

At this juncture frightened soldiers and occasional shots were coming
from the right and rear of our line, indicating that the right wing of
the army had either been thrown back or changed position. Stanley's
brigade, considerably scattered and shattered by the last furious
assault of the enemy, was gathered up by its officers and retired to the
ridge on the right and to the rear of the original line of battle.
Wilson and I made diligent efforts to find Taylor, but were unable to do
so. I was greatly provoked at his retirement without consulting me, and
at a time, too, when his presence was so greatly needed to support
Stanley. But later in the day I ascertained from him that he had been
ordered by Major Lowrie, General Negley's chief of staff, to join Negley
and retire with him to Rossville. He also had much to say about saving
many pieces of artillery; but it occurred to me that his presence on the
field was of much more importance than a few pieces of trumpery
artillery off the field. Why, at any rate, did he not notify me of the
order which he had received from the division commander? The charge of
Stanley's brigade had not occupied to exceed thirty minutes, and as soon
as it was ended I had returned to find him gone. The Colonel, however,
did, doubtless, what he conceived to be his duty, and for the best. His
courage had been tested on too many occasions to allow me to think that