ime to execute the now absolutely necessary movements in order to rectify
positions of troops and to form a new line from Hazen's left toward the
right, Rousseau's Division was again ordered into the cedars. General
Thomas himself gave the orders for the advance of the Regular Brigade,
saying to its commander: "Shepherd, take your brigade in there," pointing
southwest toward the cedar forest, "and stop the rebels." The brigade,
without the battery, for which there was no suitable position in this
movement, was at once put in march, advancing to the front (south) along
the railroad and turnpike. After reaching the further side (south) of the
open ground, it was suddenly directed to the right to enter the cedar
forest, and after a change of direction slightly to the right, it was
halted along the edge of the cedars facing southwest and west. During this
movement the 2d Battalion of the 18th executed a change of front to the
south, by companies on its left company, as if at ordinary battalion
drill, then marched by the right flank into the cedars; the other
battalions moved up by their flanks and shortest routes, preserving proper
intervals. This, all accounts agree, was about noon. The line was then
advanced about fifty yards, until our retreating troops were in sight. The
15th held the right; the 2d Battalion of the 18th the left, which rested
less than one hundred yards from the south end of the woods; each
battalion occupied the best position the rocky ground in its front
afforded, and the brigade covered a front of a little over one-fourth of a
mile. Let us review the situation: Negley and Grose were retiring; Cruft
was covering Negley's retreat and following him; Hazen's right was
falling back; the enemy's force was victorious and reinforced by three
brigades--according to a Murfreesboro' rebel paper and Bragg's
report--which were fresh and intact and commanded by Jackson, Preston and
Adams, and in this breach stood the forlorn hope of the army, the Regular
Brigade. Hazen's right retiring, left the left flank of the brigade
uncovered, but John Beatty's Brigade covered that point and the rear in
reserve; on the right of the brigade, Scribner came up to cover that flank
and to connect with troops still further on the right. As soon as the
front of a battalion was clear of our retiring troops, its fire commenced;
this waiting for our men to retire, and, meanwhile, receiving the enemy's
fire without being able to reply, was