Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 07.djvu/173

Rh The brigades advanced in fine order over a field and entered the woods beyond. Stovall soon encountered the extreme left of the enemy's works, which, retiring from the general north and south directions of his entrenchments, extended westwardly nearly to the Chattanooga road. After a severe and well contested conflict, he was checked and forced to retire. Adams, on the west of the road, met two lines of the enemy, who had improved the short time to bring reinforcements and reform nearly at a right angle to the troops in his main line of works.

The first line was routed, but it was found impossible to break the second, aided as it was by artillery, and after a sanguinary contest, which reflected high honor on the brigade, it was forced back in some confusion. Here General Adams, who is as remarkable for his judgment on the field as for his courage, was severely wounded and fell into the hands of the enemy.

Lieutenant-Colonel Turner, of the Nineteenth Louisiana, was wounded, and the gallant Major Butler, of the same regiment, was killed.

Stovall had gained a point beyond the angle of the enemy's main line of works. Adams had advanced still farther, being actually in rear of his entrenchments. A good supporting line of my division at this moment would probably have produced decisive results. As it was, the engagement on our right had inflicted heavy losses and compelled him to weaken other parts of the line to hold his vital point. Adams' brigade reformed behind Slocomb's battery, which repulsed the enemy by a rapid and well directed fire, rendering on this occasion important and distinguished service.

By order of Lieutenant-General Hill, my division was withdrawn a short distance to recruit, while the troops of Major-General Walker engaged the enemy. My new line was about six hundred yards in advance of the position on which I formed first in the morning, with a slight change of direction, which brought my right relatively nearer the Chattanooga road. Soon after taking this position an attack was reported on our right flank. It proved to be Granger's corps coming up from Rossville and threatening our right with a part of his force.

At the request of Brigadier-General Forrest, I sent him a section of Cobb's battery, under the command of Lieutenant Gracie, who assisted handsomely in repulsing the enemy.

At the request of the brigade commanders, the artillery of the division had been ordered to report to the brigades with which