attered like fallen leaves. On
came the triumphant enemy in heavy masses, while Van Cleve's disordered
horde swept back with it Hazen's supporting regiments. All but one.
Colonel Aquila Wiley of the Forty-first Ohio Infantry, seeing the coming
avalanche of fugitives, broke his line to the rear by companies and
allowed the flying mass to pass through the intervals. Then instantly
reforming his line, Wiley delivered a volley by battalion upon the
advancing foe. The latter, his ranks loose, as usual in a headlong
pursuit, was staggered and stopped in Wiley's front, but pressed forward
on his right, and had got well to his rear in that direction before the
guns of the Forty-first were reloaded. At a double-quick step Wiley
changed front to the rear on his left company, and sent another volley
among the swarming enemy on his right. Twice he repeated this manoeuvre,
and, gaining ground to the rear with each change of front, kept back the
enemy from front and flank until he could take his place in good order
upon a new line on a ridge to the rear.

Meantime, Hazen was not idle. Seeing the inevitable result when Van
Cleve's lines wavered, he dashed down the road to some unemployed
batteries. These he got quickly into position to enfilade the enemy as
he passed over Van Cleve's abandoned ground, and while Wiley with his
Forty-first was striking in front and flank to clear himself of the
surrounding foes, Hazen's batteries were pouring shells at short range
into the well-ordered supporting troops which the enemy was hurrying
forward to improve the success he had gained. Bragg had actually crossed
the Rossville road and cut the Army of the Cumberland in two, with
nothing in the gap but one regiment of three hundred men. But the
enfilading artillery smote asunder the solid ranks which were to follow
up the victory and left their advantage a barren triumph. Night fell and
ended there the first day's battle.

The blessed night! better for the Army of the Cumberland then than
thirty thousand fresh men. Under its sheltering mantle a thousand
necessary things were done. We knew well enough that the struggle must
be renewed in the morning, but we hoped that it would not be taken up on
our side under such disadvantages as had been against us in the day just
closed. So when, some time after dark, an order came to move down the
road to the left, it was gladly obeyed. We were going into position, it
was evident, though where and how none of