McCook, early in the morning, on going to the front found that Wood's division, not having the battle-front of Negley's, did not occupy the entire of the rude barricade thrown up by Negley's troops, and that portion of it on Wood's right was not occupied by any of our forces.Wood, on meeting McCook, explained to him that his left was well protected, resting on Brannan's right, and that his orders were to keep well closed up on Brannan.On the right of this gap to the right of Wood, McCook had posted Wilder with his brigade, who had been ordered to report to McCook and receive orders from him.McCook then directed Sheridan to bring forward one of his brigades and occupy with it the space between Wood's right and Wilder.As McCook started to leave this portion of the line, he met Davis's division marching toward this vacant space.Davis was directed at once to post one of his brigades in this part of the line, holding the other in reserve.When the brigade Sheridan sent arrived, McCook placed it in column as support to Davis on his right and rear.At this time Thomas again reporting that he needed reinforcements and the right as yet not being actively engaged, Rosecrans concluded that Bragg's efforts were still looking to the possession of the roads on our left, and that he was massing his troops on his right, thus prolonging his line on that flank.He then, at 10.10 A.M., ordered McCook to withdraw as far as possible the force on the right and reinforce Thomas, stating that "the left must be held at all hazards, even if the right is withdrawn wholly back to the present left." Five minutes after the receipt of this order McCook received one dated 10.30 A.M., directing him to send two brigades of Sheridan's division at once with all possible dispatch to support Thomas and to send the third brigade as soon as it could safely be withdrawn.McCook immediately sent Lytle's and Walworth's brigades of Sheridan's division on the double quick to the support of Thomas.
The battle increasing in fury and volume was gradually approaching the centre from the left, but Thomas still sustaining the brunt of the fight was compelled to send again and again for reinforcements.
Beatty's and Stanley's brigades of Negley's division had been sent from the right.Van Derveer with his brigade of Brannan's division also reported.Barnes's brigade of Van Cleve's division had also been ordered to Thomas, and now the two of Sheridan's divisions were under orders to proceed to the left.About this time Lieutenant-Colonel Von Schrader of Thomas's staff, who had been riding the lines, reported to Thomas that there were no troops on Reynolds's right, and a long gap existed between Reynolds and Wood;not aware that Brannan's division although not in front line was still in position, retired in the woods a short distance back, but not out of line.This information was at once sent by Thomas to Rosecrans, who immediately directed Wood to close up the line on Reynolds and support him, and sent word to Thomas that he would be supported if it required all of McCook's and Crittenden's corps to do so.
On receipt of this order--impossible for him to execute literally--Wood undertook to carry it out by withdrawing his entire command from the front, leaving a gap of two brigades in the line of battle, moving to the rear past Brannan's division, to where Reynolds was posted in line.Into the gap thus made by Wood, Davis attempted to throw sufficient force to hold that portion of the line thus vacated, by posting his reserve brigade.
Just at this time the order of battle on the enemy's lines had reached Longstreet's command, who, seeing this gap, ordered his troops, formed in heavy columns, to advance.Into this gap there poured Stewart's, Hood's, Kershaw's, Johnson's, and Hindman's divisions, dashing impetuously forward, with Preston's large division as supports.Our right, disabled as it was, was speedily turned, the line of battle on the enemy's front extending nearly from Brannan's centre to a point far to the right of the Widow Glenn's house, and from the front of that portion of the line Sheridan's brigades had just been taken.McCook, to resist this fierce assault, had only Carlin's and Heg's brigades of Davis's division and Laibold's brigade of Sheridan's division.On finding the rebel troops pressing through the space vacated by Wood, McCook ordered Lytle and Walworth to change front and return to assist in repelling the enemy.Wilder and Harrison closed in on Sheridan with their commands as speedily as possible, and aided in resisting the enemy's attack.Davis, being overpowered by the immense numbers of the rebels, was compelled to retire to save his command.Laibold was in turn driven back in confusion, and the tide of battle then struck Lytle and Walworth, who contended nobly against the overpowering columns, and for a time checked the advance of the enemy on their immediate front.The rebel troops swarming in, turned the left of these brigades, and they were compelled to withdraw to escape being surrounded.At this point the gallant Lytle was killed.Here our army lost several thousand prisoners, forty guns, and a large number of wagon-trains.
Once more the right of the army was broken all to pieces, and five brigades of that wing cut off entirely from the rest of the command.
