opening an enfilading fire upon the troops in front of
McCook, and one section advanced far enough to take in reverse the
batteries that were engaged with Crittenden and McCook.

General Crittenden's division moved a little after five o'clock to
Nelson's right. Colonel W.S. Smith's brigade connected with Nelson and
continued his line. General J. T. Boyle's brigade was formed in rear of
the left wing of Smith's brigade. A little after six o'clock McCook
marched to the front with Rousseau's brigade, and formed on Crittenden's
right, but facing to the west. The Fourteenth Wisconsin, assigned to
Prentiss' division, not arriving at Pittsburg till Monday morning,
reported to General Crittenden, and acted during the day as a part of
Colonel Smith's brigade. General Buell describes the line thus formed as
follows; "The force under my command occupied a line of about a mile and
a half. In front of Nelson's division was an open field, partially
screened toward his right by a skirt of woods, which extended beyond the
enemy's line, with a thick undergrowth in front of the left brigade of
Crittenden's division; then an open field in front of Crittenden's right
and McCook's left, and in front of McCook's right woods again, with a
dense undergrowth. The ground, nearly level in front of Nelson, formed a
hollow in front of Crittenden, and fell into a small creek or ravine,
which empties into Owl Creek, in front of McCook. What I afterward
learned was the Hamburg road (which crosses Lick Creek a mile from its
mouth) passed perpendicularly through the line of battle near Nelson's
left. A short distance in rear of the enemy's left, on high, open
ground, were the encampments of McClernand's and Sherman's divisions,
which the enemy held." This line is almost identical with the line held
by McArthur, Hurlbut, Prentiss, and Wallace, Sunday afternoon. Buell's
cavalry was not brought up, and, from want of transportation, only three
batteries--Bartlett's and Mendenhall's of Crittenden's division, and
Terrill's of McCook's division. But these were served with remarkable
efficiency.

When Crittenden took position, his skirmishers were advanced across the
open field to the edge of the timber in front. This dense growth, called
in the reports "chapparal" and "jungle," covered both slopes of a
hollow, which was threaded by a rivulet with muddy borders, and was the
scene of many a bloody repulse the day before, in the repeated assaults
upon Prentiss.