Show A STONE RIVER INCIDENT r I How Gen McCnnn Honored Hi yojmer Command Then Fighting AgaUwt llim Special CorresponJeoeel I I I I PniLADEirniA June 22 I During tho battle of Stone River the following fol-lowing incident took place which while its it-s freely talked about at that time by those in the Army of tbe Cumberland has never yet appeared in print to my knowledge It was on Friday afternoon that Rosecrans came to the conclusion that Bragg was going to make a heavy attack on tile left flank and repeat the tactics of a few days before when ho had been so successful on the other flank of the Federals In addition to the usual preparations to meet such an attack Rose craus brought up two or three of time reserve batteries One of them was that of the Fourth United States artillery and it was put in position at one of the most promiuen points IOn iOn I i-On the Confederate side Bragg was mak ing all preparations for an attack on what ha supposed was a beaten foe But his opinion on this latter point was not shared by his generals and especially by Breckenridge whose corps was to make the charge and who tried to dissuade Bragg from his purpose but Bragg ordered Breckenridgo to go in and in bo went Advancing in beautiful order Breckenridges forces swept the Federal skirmishers out of the way and when in sight of the lines took up the charge with that vim and ardor that was so characteristic of their attacks and which so often were successful But in this instance they made a mistake for in fifteen minutes after the Federal main Una had got to work the Confederates were beaten off with a loss of 2000 men Gens Brecken ridge and Bragg as long as they lived quarreled as to who was to blame for tho slaughter I Among the Confederate troops that charged so furiously was the division of Maj Gen J P McCann who rode in gallantly at the head of his men Before the war ho bad been a lieutenant in the regular army and his old command tbo Fourth United States artillery was just in bis front No one could have dono more than ho did on that day to win success and no troops could have done better than those he led but nothing could withstand the storm of grape and canister that was sweeping the advancing ranks away and they broko and ran Me Cann still leading was at this time not more I than fifty feet in front of his old battery Even through the smoke of their guns the men recognized their old commander while he remembered the faces of his former command com-mand and although chagrined at defeat be could not repress his feelings of admiration at the splendid work his old battery was doing Tnrning his horse straight to tho front be rose up in his stirrups and swinE w I tog his hat in the air over his head he yelle i Three cheers for the Fourth artillery I I Then turning he slowly picked his w ay back from among the dead and dying and rejoined his division unhurt C H h I |