antry which had turned our flank. The 2d
Kentucky regiment, and a section of artillery under Captain
Bragg, had previously been ordered from the right to re-enforce
our left, and arrived at a most opportune moment. That regiment,
and a portion of the 1st Illinois, under Colonel Hardin,
gallantly drove the enemy, and recovered a portion of the ground
we had lost. The batteries of Captains Sherman and Bragg were in
position on the plateau, and did much execution, not only in
front, but particularly upon the masses which had gained our
rear. Discovering that the enemy was heavily pressing upon the
Mississippi regiment, the 3d Indiana regiment, under Colonel
Lane, was despatched to strengthen that part of the line, which
formed a crotchet perpendicular to the first line of battle. At
the same time Lieutenant Kilburn, with a piece of Captain Bragg's
battery, was directed to support the infantry there engaged. The
action was, for a long time, warmly sustained at that point, (p. 341)
the enemy making several efforts, both with infantry and
cavalry, against our line, and being always repulsed with heavy
loss. I had placed all the regular cavalry, and Captain Pike's
squadron of Arkansas horse, under the orders of Brevet
Lieutenant-Colonel May, with directions to hold in check the
enemy's column, still advancing to the rear along the base of the
mountain, which was done in conjunction with the Kentucky and
Arkansas cavalry under Colonels Marshall and Yell.

In the mean time our left, which was still strongly threatened by
a superior force, was farther strengthened by the detachment of
Captain Bragg's, and a portion of Captain Sherman's batteries to
that quarter. The concentration of artillery fire upon the masses
of the enemy along the base of the mountain, and the determined
resistance offered by the two regiments opposed to them, had
created confusion in their ranks, and some of the corps attempted
to effect a retreat upon their main line of battle. The squadron
of the 1st Dragoons, under Lieutenant Rucker, was now ordered up
the deep ravine which these retreating corps were endeavoring to
cross, in order to charge and disperse them. The squadron
proceeded to the point indicated, but could not accomplish the
object, being exposed to a heavy fire from