CAMPAIGNING WITH MAX. 119 



confusion, one of our brigades demoralized and 

 put to flight, and the enemy still pressing our 

 rear and reaching for our flanks. At last, to- 

 wards night, it became evident that a stand 

 must be made or all would be entirely lost, and 

 at Ivy Farm, near Pontotoc, we found a broad, 

 open hill top, with large fields, high fences, and 

 stout log-houses, which offered an opportunity. 

 By this time the command was too widely sep- 

 arated, and some of it too much disorganized, 

 for the concentration of even a whole brigade, 

 but a part of Hepburn's and a part of my own 

 were disentangled from the corral of fugitives 

 and brought into line. Both of our generals 

 were upon the field, and to our surprise both 

 seemed brave and resolute; and this not with 

 the resolution of despair, for the actual imme- 

 diate necessity of fighting often steadies nerves 

 which are easily shaken by the anticipation of 

 danger. Brave they were, but not always of the 

 same mind, and conflicting orders continued to 

 add to our embarrassment and insecurity. 



It is not worth while to detail all the incidents 



