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scene, and welcomed with exultant joy the long-desired day. His presenceinspired all who came near him. His sentences, sharp, terse, and clear, hadthe ring of victory in them. Turning to his staff, as he mounted, heexclaimed: “ To-night we will water our horses in the Tennessee River.” Itwas thus that he formulated his plan of battle; it must not stop short of entirevictory. To Randall L. Gibson, who was commanding a Louisiana brigade,he said: “ I hope you may get through safely to-day, but we must win avictory .” To Colonel John S. Marmaduke , who had served under him inUtah , he said, placing his hand on his shoulder: “ My son, we must this dayconquer or perish.” To the ambitious Hindman, who had been in the van-guard from the beginning, he said: “You have earned your spurs as amajor-general. Let this day’s work win them.” With such words, as herode from point to point, he raised a spirit in that host which swept awaythe serried lines of the conquerors of Donelson. Friend and foe alike testifyto the enthusiastic courage and ardor of the Southern soldiers that day.
General Johnston ’s strategy was completed. He was face to face with hisfoe, and that foe all unaware of his coming. His front line, composed of theThird Corps and Gladden’s brigade, was under Hardee, and extended fromOwl Creek to Lick Creek, more than three miles. (See maps.) Hindman’sdivision of two brigades occupied the center, Cleburne’s brigade had the left,and Gladden’s the right wing—an effective total in the front line of 9024. Thesecond line was commanded by Bragg. He had two divisions: Withers’s, oftwo brigades, on the right, and Ruggles’s, of three brigades, on the left. Thebrigades were, in order from right to left, as follows: Chalmers, Jackson,Gibson, Anderson, Pond. This second line was 10,731 strong. The third line,or reserve, was composed of the First Corps, under Polk, and three brigadesunder Breckinridge. Polk’s command was massed in columns of brigadeson the Bark road near Mickey’s, and Breckinridge’s on the road from Mon-terey toward the same point. Polk was to advance on the left of the Barkroad, at an interval of about eight hundred paces from Bragg’s line; andBreckinridge, to the right of that road, was to give support wherever itshould become necessary. Polk’s corps, 9136 strong in infantry and artillery,was composed of two divisions : Cheatham’s on the left, made up of BushrodR. Johnson’s and Stephens’s brigades, and Clark’s on bis right, formed ofA. P. Stewart’s and Russell’s brigades. It followed Bragg’s line at a distanceof about eight hundred yards. Breckinridge’s reserve was composed of Tra-bue’s, Bowen’s, and Statham’s brigades, with a total, infantry and artillery, of6439. The cavalry, about 4300 strong, guarded the flanks or was detached onoutpost duty; but, both from the newness and imperfection of their organiza-tion, equipment, and drill, and from the rough and wooded character of theground, they could do little service that day. The effectives of all arms thatmarched out to battle were about 39,630, or, exclusive of cavalry, 35,330.
The Federal army numbered present 49,232, and present for duty 41,543.But at Crump’s Landing, five or six miles distant, was General Lew Wallace ’sdivision with 8820 present, and 7771 men present for duty. [See page 538.]General Nelson’s division of Buell’s army had arrived at Savannah on Satur-