Owen Wister, Ulysses S. Grant

[95] the current of a gathering tide. Bragg's attention must be distracted. from him down here, somehow. And so this battle takes its final unexpected splendid shape, and passes like a great song into our history. Four of our greatest — Thomas, Sherman, Sheridan, Grant — stand together in it, the only time they ever did so,--a gathering of chiefs, indeed; and with them in their splendour, as is fit, inspired by them to share their own renown, stands the American volunteer, reckless at the right time, suddenly immortal with wild courageous wisdom. He is told, by way of experiment, to advance to the base of the hill — that centre which Bragg had been thinning — and there take Bragg's lowest line of works. Again he goes steadily, as if on parade, with flags flying and music playing. Then he swiftly charges, and next finds himself master of the rifle-pits, with prisoners captured he has not time to know how.