AVERASBORO AND BENTONVILLE.

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tried to take Morgan in reverse. Colonel MeClurg, of Davis’sstaff, who was taking a warning of this to Morgan, narrowlyescaped capture by them. Mitchell and Vandever nowfaced to the rear and quickly routed these, the FourteenthMichigan Begiment, the same which had taken the colorsin the preceding charge, now capturing those of the Fifty-fourth Virginia in the charge to the rear. The Confederate troops had exhausted their power upon Davis’s corps, andJohnston, knowing well that by this time heavy reinforce-ments were approaching, directed Hardee and Bragg to re-call their men as soon as the wounded could be earned fromthe field. Even after dark a detachment, seeking its wayback, came again in rear of Mitchell’s brigade, but was re-ceived with a volley which made them drop their arms andfly precipitately. Hardee’s wing reoccupied the line alongthe north of the Cole farm, but early next morning Braggwas drawn back till the angle at the centre was salient in-stead of re-entrant, and the left flank rested near Mill Creekfacing toward the East, whence Sherman was to be lookedfor with Howard’s troops.

Slocum’s dispatch of two o’clock, which seems to havereached his commander about five, was written before thebattle was fairly opened; and Sherman, while determiningto concentrate upon Johnston next day unless he retreated,made no immediate change in his dispositions, except todirect Kilpatrick’s cavalry to remain with Slocum insteadof passing to the right flank, as had been intended. At twoin the morning of the 20th, however, Sherman was rousedby a message from Slocum, dated at eight o’clock, telling ofthe hard fighting of the latter part of the day. A courierwas at once sent to Hazen’s division (which was with How-ard’s trains, and nearest Slocum) to hasten instantly to hisassistance. The other divisions of Logan’s corps were atVon. X —9