156                                HISTORY OF THE SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT O.V.V.I.

           Generals Smith and Leggett placed their men to the rear of the works, and met the charge with the same determined spirit that had characterized them in meeting the former onslaught. The enemy came with deafening yells, and were met with murderous volleys, and again successfully driven back. Again they rallied and forced their way up to our works, and again were repulsed with great slaughter. In the several attacks from the front and rear the enemy seemed fully impressed with the belief that they would not only repossess themselves of Leggett's hill, but would capture both his and Smith's Division, and thus wipe out the Seventeenth Corps. After the fourth repulse, the rebels seem to have concluded that Blair's command could not be captured, and so turned their attention to retaking the hill.            For this purpose, they brought in a fresh Division, (Cheatham's) of Hardee's Corps, and massed upon General Smith's left flank. This of course compelled General Smith to change his front. General Blair several times sent word to General Leggett that it was all important to hold the hill, and General Leggett as often replied "that if the Third Division were driven from the hill, there would not be enough of it left ever to fight another battle." He was constantly passing up and down his line, cheering his men, and exhorting them to hold the till at all hazards, and not to leave it while a man was left to pull a trigger. He was always greeted with loud cheers from his men, and had thousands of promises that the hill should be held. General Smith was no less vigilant, and though almost a stranger in his command, having been with the Division but two days, had already won the admiration of his officers and men, by his skill and bravery.

           In the change of front it was necessary to take the whole of the Fourth Division and the Second Brigade of the Third Division out of their works, and though greatly fatigued with the previous fighting, they were obliged to meet, without protection, the advancing column of the enemy's fresh troops. All who witnessed the fighting at this time, pronounce it the most desperate they ever saw. The fight almost immediately became a hand-to-hand conflict. The officers became engaged with their swords, and the men with their bayonets, and in many cases even with their fists.

           The heaviest part of this engagement fell on the Sixty-Eighth and Seventy-Eighth Ohio; but they stood like rocks, determined to die or conquer. The enemy was at last repulsed – again leaving the ground covered with their slain.

           In the midst of this engagement, while to all others the fate of the day seemed to hang in the balance, General Blair sent a messenger to General Leggett to enquire whether he thought he could hold the hill. General Leggett coolly replied: "Tell General Blair the hill is just as safe as if there was not a rebel within a thousand miles of it." He had many times seen his men fight before, and he knew what confidence to repose in them. Had either the Sixty-Eighth or Seventy-Eighth Ohio given way at a single point, the hill would have been lost, and perhaps the Army of the Tennessee with it. Too much praise cannot be awarded to Generals Smith and Leggett for their skill and dauntless courage in this action.

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