General Joseph E. Johnston, Narrative of Military Operations During the Civil War

[343] other there; therefore the action was begun at shorter range. The Federal troops were in greater force, and deeper order, too, and pressed forward with the resolution always displayed by the American soldier when properly led. An attempt to turn the left was promptly met and defeated by Cheatham's reserve-Vaughn's brigade. After maintaining the contest for three-quarters of an hour, until more of their best soldiers lay dead and wounded than the number of British veterans that fell in General Jackson's celebrated battle of New Orleans, the foremost dead lying against our breastworks, they retired-unsuccessful-because they had encountered intrenched infantry unsurpassed by that of Napoleon's Old Guard, or that which followed Wellington into France, out of Spain. Our losses were:

In Hardee's corps.

	Killed.	Wounded.	Missing.	Total
Cheatham's Division	26	75	94	195
Cleburne's Division	2	9		11
Walker's Division	Killed or taken			80
				286

In Loring's corps.

	Killed.	Wounded.	Missing.	Total
Featherston's Division	8	13	1	22
French's Division	17	92	77	186
Walthall's Division	6	22	--	28
				522

The comparatively severe loss in French's division was accounted for by its position — on the descending crest of the end of Kenesaw — where it was exposed to the fire of about fifty guns; and by the turning of his line of skirmishers. That of Cheatham's was principally in the reserve, which fought in open ground, unprotected by intrenchments.