Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 7.djvu/710

Rh regimental commanders, were wounded, and Maj. J. K. Allen reported missing.

At Nashville Sears' brigade was attached to Walthall's division, which, with Loring's, fought creditably in the battle. Loring's division occupied a line one mile long, across the Granny White pike, on the left of the army. On the 15th of December, after the redoubts in front had been lost, Loring's men were ordered to re-form in line at right angles to their former position, to check the rush of the exulting enemy. "This was gallantly and successfully done by this fine division," General Stewart reported. Brigadier-General Sears late in the day lost a leg and was captured. On the next day the repeated assaults of the enemy were repelled with vigor until about the middle of the afternoon. The brigades of Sharp and Brantly fought with determination and coolness under Gen. Edward Johnson during the two days, as their heavy losses abundantly testify, Sharp losing 30 killed and 81 wounded and Brantly 76 killed and 140 wounded.

During the retreat General Walthall, with Featherston's brigade and several others, Featherston's brigade including seven Mississippi regiments, now having an effective total of 411, formed the infantry of the famous rear guard under Forrest, which fell back slowly, repeatedly striking effective blows at the enemy, marching through the snow and ice, many of them barefooted, but saving the remnant of the army from destruction.

During all this campaign, as during the Atlanta campaign, the Mississippi cavalrymen, under Chalmers and Jackson, were daily engaged in arduous and effective duty from November 21st to December 27th. At Spring Hill, where the opportunity to destroy Thomas' army was missed by the infantry, Chalmers' and Jackson's men, aided by Cleburne, pressed the enemy vigorously, after which Jackson struck the retreating column near its head and without support fought all night. The