Comte de Paris, History of the Civil War in America. Vol. 4.
Henry Coppee , LL.D., Ed.

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[291] his orders, will therefore bring into action, at three different points, only a small portion of his force—namely, in the centre, three battalions; on the left, one brigade only; on the right, one brigade and the half of another. Twelve guns, raised with much trouble on the hills, will support these attacks.

Although the character of the ground renders difficult a concerted movement, Sherman, while engaging the enemy in the centre, might avail himself of his great numerical superiority to try and turn on the north-east the flank of the extremity of Cleburne's line. He cannot be laboring under an illusion as to the efficacy of this first attack, undertaken with an insufficient force on formidable positions defended by upward of six thousand men. But it is not without reason that he leaves eight brigades in reserve. Deceived by Grant's despatch, which no subsequent order has modified, he waits until Thomas is engaged before making a determined attack on these positions which he has so unexpectedly encountered.

As early as eight o'clock in the morning the Federal columns come down the slopes opposite Cleburne: he has ample time to prepare to receive them. The column in the centre has the least space of ground to go over; it will be the first to make the attack. Corse, leaving his reserves at the neck, gallantly ascends the ridge with his three regiments. Despite a deadly fire, he reaches the last projection which offers some protection to his men, but he cannot clear the eighty-five yards of ground which separate him from the top. It is nine o'clock: the fight has not yet commenced either on the right or on the left. Corse summons to him the rest of his brigade and springs to the attack; but he is seriously wounded and his forces repulsed. Hardee and Cleburne in turn endeavor, but in vain, to push back into the ravine the Federals, who obstinately cling to their position. On both sides the number of the combatants is limited by the configuration of the ground: they cannot be placed in thick masses upon these narrow ridges, which the bullets furrow in every direction. For an hour the two contending parties drive and repulse each other without any marked advantage. Finally, toward ten o'clock, the troops that Sherman has posted on his two wings take their turn and fall in line. It is time, for