The morning wore slowly away, and on our part of the line everything was
remarkably quiet. There was some skirmishing toward the right between
eight and nine o'clock, but evidently nothing serious. The barricade was
finished, and there was nothing to do but to lie behind it and wish for
water as the day grew warmer and thirst became more intense.--But what
is that?
There was a sharp rattle of Springfield rifles from Baird's skirmishers,
a third of a mile to our left and hidden from sight by the woods. In a
moment came a crash of musketry which brought every man to his feet.
Baird's skirmishers had been driven in, and his main line had hurled its
thousands of bullets as the attacking enemy came into view. Instantly
the answering fire was given, and then followed the continuous rattling
roar of a fierce general engagement. Wounded men began to come out of
the wood where Baird was as they made their way alone toward the
hospitals or were carried off by the hospital corps. Suddenly, a hundred
men with arms in their hands emerged from the woods into the open field
behind Baird, straggling and without order. These were not wounded men.
No: it was too plain that Baird's division was giving way. A moment
more, and the lower end of the open field was filled with a dense mass
of men as Baird's disordered lines poured forth out of the woods, which
were swarming with the exultant enemy. Through and behind the retreating
mass the mounted officers rode furiously, their swinging sabres
flashing in the sun as they alternately commanded and exhorted their men
to rally and breast the storm of lead which the enemy was hurling upon
them.
Pages:
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174