that our forces had fallen back nearly to the junction of Bull Gulch and
Buck Lick Run, he ordered Hudson to move rapidly and strike the enemy in
flank where the line had been broken by the falling back of their left
and center. This order was executed with much alacrity and was a great
success. Hudson struck the detached portion of the enemy's army in
flank and rear, and doubled them up (over the very ground from which
our forces had fallen back the day before), capturing many prisoners
and several pieces of artillery. Here he met a young officer whom he had
noticed moving rapidly to the front and assaulting the enemy with his
command at any and every point where he could hit him.

"Hudson rode up to him and inquired his name.

"'My name, sir, is Stephen Lyon. I belong to an Ohio regiment. I joined
the Army of the Center only a short time since, and this is my first
battle. I have lost many men; my Colonel and Lieutenant-Colonel were
both killed, and I am the Major and now in command of the regiment.'

"This was my fifth son in line of birth, and sixth in the service. I am
digressing, however. Their conversation was here cut short, as Gen. Buda
had ordered an advance along his line, which was the left wing of the
army. The advance was duly made. The rebels, however, in the meantime
had been re-enforced on this part of their line. The contest, therefore,
became a very stubborn one on both sides. The advance of Buda was soon
checked, and the fighting became desperate. Both armies to our right
seemed to have partially ceased their advance, seemingly to understand
how the event was being decided on this part of the line. The enemy
was driven slowly to the rear for some distance. A halt then came and a
rally on the part of the rebels. They organized into column of regiments
and made a desperate attempt to break the center of our left. Buda
massed his artillery against them, keeping it well supported, and mowed
them down with shell and canister until they lay in piles on the ground.
They advanced to the assault three times with a heroism and desperation
seldom witnessed in any ancient or modern battle, but each time back
were their shattered columns sent in utter confusion. Thus the battle
continued until late in the afternoon, when both parties reorganized for
a last and desperate struggle. The lines of the enemy showed all along
the skirts of timber, leaving the open space to our right and center,
and extending to Buck Li