Adam Badeau, Military history of Ulysses S. Grant from April 1861 to April 1865. Volume 1

[265] prisoners. Discovering, now, that his own left was nearly turned, the enemy made a determined effort to turn the left of Hovey, precipitating on that commander all his available force; and, while Logan was carrying every thing before him, the closely-pressed and nearly exhausted troops of Hovey were again compelled to retire. They had been fighting nearly three hours, and were fatigued and out of ammunition; but fell back doggedly, and not far. The tide of battle, at this point, seemed turning against the national forces, and Hovey sent back repeatedly for support. Grant, however, was momently expecting the advance of McClernand's four divisions, and never doubted the result. At thirty minutes past twelve, he had again dispatched to McClernand: ‘As soon as your command is all in hand, throw forward skirmishers and feel the enemy, and attack him in force, if an opportunity occurs. I am with Hovey and Mc-Pherson, and will see that they cooperate.’

That commander, however, did not arrive; and Grant, seeing the critical condition of affairs, now directed McPherson to move what troops he could, by a left flank, around to the enemy's right front, on the crest of the ridge. The prolongation of Logan to the right had left a gap between him and Hovey, and into this the two remaining brigades of Crocker were thrown. The movement was promptly executed; Boomer's brigade went at once into the fight, and checked the rebel advance, till Holmes's brigade came up, when a dashing charge was made, and Hovey and Crocker were hotly engaged for forty minutes, Hovey recapturing five of the guns he had already taken and lost. But the enemy had massed his forces on this point, and the irregularity of the ground prevented