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[388] The arrival of Cheatham's division determined them to assume the offensive, in the hope of preventing a junction of the Federal forces, which had already been effected since morning without their knowledge. Bragg was present on the field of battle, but he left the actual command to Polk. The two divisions of Hardee's corps were separated from the Federals by Chaplin's Creek. Anderson was opposed to Rousseau and Sheridan; Buckner on his right faced Jackson. Cheatham found himself at first on the left of Anderson; but by a fortunate chance he was withdrawn from this position, and, after a fruitless march toward the extreme right, was placed in reserve behind the other two divisions. If he had commenced the battle on the left, he would have roused Crittenden and brought him back to the battle-field, from which he kept away, as will be presently seen. Toward two o'clock Buckner and Anderson put themselves in motion. The latter, with the brigades of Jones and Brown, attacked Rousseau's line formed by the brigades of Lyttle and Harris. The Union troops made a vigorous resistance, compelling the enemy to show himself openly. The assailants sustained heavy losses. Their two brigadiers were wounded; they gained no ground. But on their right Liddell's brigade, led by Buckner, took advantage of the wood which stretched across the valley, to approach Terrill's Federal brigade unperceived. It instantly deployed, and suddenly opening fire marched directly upon the enemy's guns. Jackson was killed at the first discharge. His soldiers, novices in war, could not recover from this surprise, but were dispersed. Terrill sacrificed his life in vain efforts to rally them. Eleven guns fell into the hands of the Confederates. Webster, who came up with Jackson's second brigade, checked for a moment the rush of the victors; but their onset had staggered the whole Federal line. Rousseau, attacked on his left flank, fell back upon Doctor's Creek. Adams came up to take the place of the Confederate brigades of Jones and Brown in front of him. In order to render Liddell's success complete by bearing more to the right, Buckner sent forward Cleburne's brigade, whose intrepid chief, scarcely recovered from the wound received at Rogersville, was again severely wounded. Webster, after having momentarily rallied the debris of Jackson's division, was, in turn, mortally

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Buckner (4)
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D. R. Jones (2)
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