Suddenly there was an ominous
sound in front of Van Cleve's division, which was in the main line next
on the right of Palmer.
Hazen leaped upon his horse. "Now Van Cleve is in for it!" he exclaimed.
"They're coming for him!"
Quickly getting the men under arms, Hazen moved his brigade behind Van
Cleve to act as a support, and awaited the coming attack. It came like a
whirlwind, and Van Cleve's lines were scattered 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.
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