122
At the angle in the Confederate works held by Bate, atShy’s Hill, the circumstances were different. His lines, aswe have seen, were enfiladed and taken in reverse; his para-pet was levelled for some distance; the closeness of Couch ’sbutteries, the near approach of our skirmishers, the attenua-tion of Bate’s troops, the cover for the approach of the as-sailing force under the hill-slope, all combined to neutralizethe advantage of modern weapons, and to give the assaultthe preponderance of chances which justify it. While thefire upon the angle was kept up with increasing severity,McArthur ordered Colonel McMillan to form his brigadein the hollow before Couch ’s works, and when they shouldbe half-way up the hill, the brigades to the left were to ad-vance in echelon, attacking the lower line before them.
Wilson’s dismounted cavalry had been advancing from thesouth, gaining position after position, and increasing theirardor as they advanced. Their numbers enabled them tooutflank Govan’s brigade, which Hood had sent to assistChalmers in holding them back, and as they approachedSchofield’s position Stiles’s brigade of infantry came inclose support. 1 The balls from this attacking force werenow falling in rear of Bate and Lowry, and the men of Cle-burne’s old division were vainly trying to form a line longor strong enough to match that which was coming from thesouth. Wilson had gone in person to Thomas, at Schofield’sposition, to report what his men were doing, and reachedhim just as McMillan’s brigade was seen to rush forwardupon the slope of Shy’s Hill. At a sign from Schofield,Ciox’s division started also on the run, Doolittle’s brigade in
1 In his report General Schofield expressed some disappointment that this bri-gade had not been able to get forward faster; but Colonel Stiles’s account of themiatter and of the nature of the ground show that he accomplished all that couldb<e expected of so small a force moving over rough, detached hills.