45.3
repulsed the assaulting foe, and soon the entire line of works was reoccupied,the enemy sullenly giving up the prize which was so nearly won. Stewart’scorps, which was on Cheatham’s right, filling the space to the river, kept abreastof its valiant companion, and, meeting no obstacle, reached the works near theUnion left before Cheatham made the breach at the Columbia Pike. Owingto the peculiar formation of the field, the left of Stewart’s line was thrownupon the same ground with the right of Cheatham’s; the two commands therebecame much intermingled. This accounts for so many of General Stewart’sofficers and men being killed in front of Reilly’s and Casement’s regiments.
Where there was nothing to hinder the Union fire, the muskets of Stiles’sand Casement’s brigades made fearful havoc; while the batteries at the rail-road cut plowed furrows through the ranks of the advancing foe. Time aftertime they came up to the very works, but they never crossed them except asprisoners. More than one color-bearer was shot down on the parapet. Itis impossible to exaggerate the fierce energy with which the Confederatesoldiers, that short November afternoon, threw themselves against the works,fighting with what seemed the very madness of despair. There was not abreath of wind, and the dense smoke settled down upon the field, so that,after the first assault, it was impossible to see at any distance. Throughthis blinding medium, assault after assault was made, several of the Unionofficers declaring in their reports that their lines received as many as thirteendistinct attacks. Between the gin-liouse and the Columbia Pike the fightingWas fiercest, and the Confederate losses the greatest. Here fell most of theConfederate generals, who, that fateful afternoon, madly gave up their lives;Adams of Stewart’s corps—his horse astride the works, and himself within afew feet of them. Cockrell and Quarles, of the same corps, were severelyWounded. In Cheatham’s corps, Cleburne and Granbury were killed nearthe pike. On the west of the pike Strahl and Gist were killed, and BrownWas severely wounded. General G. W. Gordon was captured by Opdycke’sbrigade, inside the works. The heaviest loss in all the Union regimentsWas in the 44th Missouri , the advance guard of Smith’s long-expected reen-forcement, which had been sent to Columbia on the 27th, and was here sta-tioned on the right of the raw regiment that broke and ran at the first onset°f the enemy. Quickly changing front, the 44tli held its ground, but witha loss of 34 killed, 37 wounded, and 92 missing, many of the latter beingWounded. In the 72d Illinois , its companion, every field-officer was wounded,a,) d the entire color-guard, of one sergeant and eight corporals, was shotdown. Its losses were 10 killed, 06 wounded, and 75 missing.
While this infantry battle was going on, Forrest had crossed the river withbis cavalry some distance east of the town, with the evident purpose of get-fbig at Schofield’s wagons. But he reckoned without his host. Hatch andCboxton, by General Wilson’s direction, fell upon him with such vigor thatbe returned to the south side and gave our forces no further trouble. AtNightfall the victory was complete on every part of the Union lines. Buthere and there on the Confederate side desultory firing was kept up till longaftei- dark, though with little result.