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front of the latter.
Beauregard had massed his forces on his right the evening previous, under General Bragg, to grasp the Landing, and in consequence this flank was strong for defense in the morning.
The Confederate pickets and skirmishers encountered by the advanced line of
Nelson's division were those of
Forrest's cavalry regiment.
They gradually fell back in the direction of
Hardee's line, then being formed near and beyond
McClernand's old encampments, to the rear of which they retired soon afterwards, to take position on
Hardee's right flank.
Nelson's advancing line soon encountered
Chalmers's brigade and
Moore's regiment, added to which was an extemporized command, consisting of the 19th Alabama, of
Jackson's brigade; the 21st Alabama, of
Gladden's brigade; and, says
General Chalmers, in his report,
1 the
Crescent (Louisiana) regiment; also a Tennessee regiment, under
Lieutenant-Colonel Venable; and another
Alabama regiment (the 26th), under
Lieutenant-Colonel Chadwick, supported by batteries.
They not only checked
Nelson's force, but compelled it to fall back some distance, when, being supported by the advance of
Crittenden's division, it again resumed the offensive, at about eight o'clock A. M.; and
Hazen's brigade, on
Nelson's right, being now pushed forward with great gallantry, forced the
Confederates back, with the temporary loss of a battery.
They soon rallied, and, aided by their batteries and other small reinforcements which
General Beauregard very opportunely sent them, resumed the offensive at nine o'clock A. M., recovering their former position and their lost battery, inflicting a severe loss on
Hazen's brigade, and compelling that officer to call earnestly for aid. Meanwhile,
Nelson's left brigade, under
Ammen, was sorely pressed, and was in serious danger of being turned on its left.
This brigade [says Van Horne] fought gallantly to maintain a position second to none on the field, but at length began to give ground, and a decided advantage to the enemy seemed inevitable, as Nelson had neither artillery nor infantry to direct to his support, Hazen's brigade having been shattered, and Buell's being needed in its own position.
But the impending disaster was averted by Terrell's regular battery of McCook's division, which, having just arrived from Savannah, dashed into position, and, by its rapid and accurate firing, silenced the enemy's first battery, which was aiding the infantry force pressing Ammen.
Subsequently, the enemy repeated the attack, and endangered
