Johnson's division on one side and Reynolds's on the other
remained as steady as rocks.
It was nearly eleven o'clock, and all had prospered with us thus far.
The enemy was getting his share of bloody repulses, of which we had had
more than enough the day before. The attacks upon our line had begun
upon the left, and were traveling toward our right. The two armies were
thus brought together gradually, something after the manner of
scissor-blades when they are slowly closed. The four divisions on the
left had already successfully withstood the shock, which it was to be
supposed the enemy had made as heavy as possible at that point, since
the left was the vital point of the whole line. Success there would give
him the line of retreat to Chattanooga, with Rosecrans's entire army
shut out. Besides, we knew that the line was stronger toward the right,
where at least two divisions were in reserve. No one apprehended
disaster, therefore, when a long and rapid roll of musketry far to the
right told that the enemy was attacking there. "Brannan and Wood are
attending to 'em now!" said General Palmer, standing in a group of
officers in rear of Hazen's brigade. The talk went on as before--about
the successful defences of the morning, the barricade, Baird's splendid
recovery, etc. But soon everybody was listening anxiously to the sounds
of the battle on the right. The roar of musketry had worked round until
it was behind our right shoulders as we stood facing to our front.
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