Comte de Paris, History of the Civil War in America. Vol. 3.
Henry Coppee , LL.D., Ed.

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[242] the pieces posted on the right. The dismounted cavalrymen, who form the extreme Federal left, are driven back: Forrest's artillery occupies their position and takes the Unionist regiments in flank. Colonel Jordan, seeing Coburn's lines thus broken, does not think it proper to execute the orders he has received: instead of going to the assistance of his brave comrades, he takes his cavalry and Aleshire's battery back to the place where the train and the regiment left in charge of it are waiting. The Nineteenth Michigan and the Twenty-second Wisconsin, thus turned and deprived of the support they had relied upon, form themselves en potence, facing east; but they cannot long defend themselves in this position, and are driven back west of the turnpike, upon the hillock which the Indiana regiments still hold. The hill situated north of this hillock affords an excellent position. The Federal cavalry, the artillery, and the Onehundred-and-twenty-fourth Ohio might, by posting themselves there, secure the retreat of the rest of the brigade, but the troops, influenced by Jordan's action, do not appear to think of anything else but to leave the battlefield, and they speedily follow the train along the Franklin road. These troops are soon joined by a portion of the Twenty-second Wisconsin, which during the recent change of front Lieutenant-colonel Bloodgood has separated from the rest of the regiment with untoward haste. Forrest's manoeuvre, however, has not failed to attract Coburn's attention: he is trying to make his line fall back in order to gain the heights upon which he expects to give assistance to the rest of his troops. But this movement is interrupted by a general attack from all the enemy's forces. While Starnes is pressing Coburn's left, Armstrong and Whitfield charge him again in front and on his right. The Federals defend themselves bravely, and finally succeed in repulsing the persistent assaults of their adversaries. Coburn avails himself of the respite that this advantage gives him to bring all his forces to the rear. But Forrest soon makes his appearance, and again obliges him to stop. The combat is renewed with violence: the Federals, having the advantage of position, once more drive back the assailants. Forrest then, instead of persisting in attacking them on the flank, orders his mounted men to get back into the saddle, and, rapidly gaining