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Vicinity of the “Hornets' Nest.”
from photographs taken in 1885.
the stump in the field on the right is said to mark the spot where General Albert Sidney Johnston was killed.
The point of woods beyond the field is supposed to be the place which the Confederates called the “Hornets' Nest.”
the “peach orchard” was a little to the left of the field in the middle ground, and behind the house (in the lower picture) which is across the road from the field in which General Johnston was killed.-editors. |
supported by the arrival of the second line,
Cleburne, with the remainder of his troops, . . . entered the enemy's encampment, which had been forced on the center and right by . . .
Gladden's,
Wood9s, and
Hindman's brigades.”
while
Sherman was repelling
Cleburne's attack,
McClernand sent up three
Illinois regiments to reenforce his left.
But
General Polk led forward
Bushrod R. Johnson's brigade, and
General Charles Clark led
Russell's brigade, against
Sherman's left, while
General Johnston himself put
A. P. Stewart's brigade in position on their right.
Supported by part of
Cleburne's line, they attacked
Sherman and
McClernand fiercely.
Polk said: “the resistance at this point was as stubborn as at any other point on the field.”
Clark and
Bushrod R. Johnson fell badly wounded.
Hildebrand's Federal brigade was swept from the field, losing in the onslaught 300 killed and wounded, and 94 missing.
Wood's brigade, of
Hindman's division, joined in this charge on the right.
As they hesitated at the crest of a hill,
General Johnston came to the front and urged them to the attack.
They rushed forward with the inspiring “rebel yell,” and with
Stewart's brigade enveloped the
Illinois troops.
In ten minutes the latter melted away under the fire, and were forced from the field.
In this engagement
John A. McDowell's and
Veatch's Federal brigades, as well as
Hildebrand's, were demolished and heard of no more.
Buckland retreated and took position with
McClernand.
In these attacks
Anderson's and
Pond's Confederate brigades joined with great vigor and severe loss, but with unequal fortune.
The former had one success after
