they hung to their bloody and fruitless task.

Brave men may honor bravery the world over. We can in all sympathy and
common brotherhood say: "They were of our blood and race. Peace to their
ashes. Give us the like to stand side by side with us, and we could fear
no quarrel, were it with the whole round world."

THE DEFENCE.

Having glanced at the situation from French's standpoint, let us step over
to the other side, as we may safely do at this lapse of time, and see how
it actually fared with the beleaguered garrison which we left in momentary
expectation of attack; and since General French has been heard, it is no
more than fair to quote from the graphic reports of the federal commander.

After narrating his preliminary movements, and the stations of the troops,
he proceeds:

"I directed Col. Rowett to hold the spur on which the 39th Iowa and
7th Illinois were formed, * * * and taking two companies of the 93rd
Illinois down a spur parallel with the railroad and along the bank of
the cut, so disposed them as to hold the north side as long as
possible. Three companies of the 93rd, which had been driven from the
west end of the ridge, were distributed in the ditch South of the
Redoubt, with instructions to keep the town well covered by their
fire, and to watch the depot where the rations were stored. The
remaining battalion of the 93rd, under Major Fisher, lay between the
Redoubt and Rowett's line, ready to reinforce wherever most needed.

"I had barely issued the orders when the storm broke in all its fury
on the 39th Iowa and 7th Illinois. Young's Brigade of Texans had
gained the west end of the ridge and moved with great impetuosity
along its crest till they struck Rowett's command, when they received
a severe check, but undaunted came again and again. Rowett,
reinforced by the gallant Redfield, encouraged me to hope we were
safe here, when I observed General Sears' brigade moving from the
North, its left extending across the railroad (opposite
Tourtellotte). I rushed to the two companies of the 93rd Illinois,
which were on the brink of the cut running north from the Redoubt,
they having been reinforced by the retreating pickets, and urged them
to hold on to the spur; but it was of no avail; the enemy's line of
battle swept us back like so much chaff, and struck the 39th Iowa in
flank, threa