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[152] encounters Brannan's right formed by Connell's brigade, and, availing himself of the fact that Wood's departure has left Brannan's right in disorder, assails it at once in front and flank, Kershaw advances rapidly and reaches the little corduroy road which Wood has caused his troops to take so as to gain Kelly's fields. It is about half-past 11 o'clock. Buell, who brings up the rear of Wood's division, has not gone over more than a few hundred yards when Kershaw unexpectedly falls upon the flank of his long column. It has barely time to form in order of battle and open fire, but at such close quarters that it cannot arrest the impetuosity of the Southerners. In an instant the line is forced, driven in, and the greater part of the brigade is irretrievably scattered: one of the two accompanying batteries is captured, while the other escapes by retreat from the battlefield. Johnson, who was on the left of Law's division and placed under Hood's orders, advances at the same time with him as far as the main road under the fire of the enemy's skirmishers supported by a few pieces of artillery. Fulton's brigade passes near the Brotherton house; the artillery remains upon a cultivated slope in the neighborhood of that house, and the infantry enters the woods, taking Kershaw's left for a guide. Thus, Johnson arrives upon the points which Davis is about to occupy. The latter, warned by the resistance on the part of the sharpshooters, has had a half hour to establish himself behind the barricades thrown up by Negley, but he cannot extend his lines along the entire length of these barricades, for he has only twelve hundred combatants left, and finds himself absolutely isolated on the west of Dyer's farm. However, being well posted in a copse of young pine trees which embarrasses the movements of the assailants, he repulses for the first time Mc-Nair's brigade, and even carries confusion into Fulton's. Johnson must make Gregg advance, so as to allow his two other lieutenants to outflank Davis' line. The latter, thus menaced, cannot long resist forces three times as numerous as his own. Robertson's brigade, which has passed in front of Kershaw, comes to take position by the side of Gregg and supports his attack. The two small Union brigades, driven back in disorder, scatter in the woods, cross Dyer's farm, and are no longer anything else than a mass of fugitives deaf to the voice of command, making

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Fulton, Mo. (Missouri, United States) (2)
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