General Hardee, one of the bravest men in the Confederate service, led the advance and center, and made the attack.  Had I not been called to staff duty, I should have been in the advance with my company.  Glad was I that I was not called to fire upon the unsuspecting soldiers of my Northern home.  As the day dawned we could hear the musketry, first in dropping shots, then volley after volley, as the battle grew hotter.  A little after daylight we passed General Beauregard and staff, who were then over a mile in rear of the troops engaged.  He addressed each brigade as it passed, assuring them of a glorious victory, telling them to fight with perfect confidence, as he had 80,000 men available, who should come into action as fast as needed; and wherever reinforcements were wanted, Beauregard would be there.  This boast of 80,000 men the officers knew to be false, as he had not a man over 45,000; but as he expected 30,000 under Price and Van Dorn he counted them in, and added 10,000 more to strengthen confidence.  But neither he nor any other Confederate general asks any defence for such statements.  “Military necessity” will justify any course they choose to take in advancing their cause.  After we passed Beauregard, a few minutes of “double quick” brought our division to Grant’s advance pickets, who had been surprised and cut down by Hardee’s cavalry.  This was the first time many of the soldiers had seen men killed in battle, and they stepped carefully around the dead bodies, and seemed to shudder at the sight.  General Breckenridge observing it, said quickly, “Never mind this, boys; press on!” Before night, those who remained walked over dead bodies in heaps without a shudder.  We soon reached an open field, about eighty rods wide, on the further side of which we could see the camps, and the smoke of battle just beyond.  We here made a sharp detour to the right, and ascended a broken range of hills, pressing on for nearly a mile.  Here we took position just in front of General Albert Sidney Johnson and staff, and awaited orders.  General Breckenridge rode up to General Johnson, and after conversing in a low tone for a few minutes, Johnson said, so that many heard it, “I will lead your brigade into the fight to-day; for I intend to show these Tennesseans and Kentuckians that I am no coward.”  Poor general! you were not allowed the privilege.  We then advanced in line of battle, and General Statham’s brigade was engaged first.  “Boys,” said Breckenridge, “we must take that battery which is shelling Statham.  Will you do it?” A wild shout of “Ay, ay, sir,” and “Forward to take that battery,” was the word; but before we reached the ground it was withdrawn.  We now advanced, cautiously, and soon entered the camp of the Seventy-first Ohio Volunteers.  By this time, ten o’clock A.M., the battle seemed to be raging along the whole line.