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[329] loss had been inflicted on us. The enemy advanced near enough to cut down so many horses in Estep's battery that he could not bring off his guns; but as our infantry held its ground, they did not fall into the hands of the enemy.

After the attack had been repelled some of the men of the brigade of Sheridan's division kindly drew the pieces to the ravine, or rather dip in the ground in rear of the ridge on which the battery was posted, where Captain Estep retook possession of them. For this act of soldierly fraternity and kindness I desire publicly and officially to return my thanks, and those of my division, to the troops who rendered it, and I only regret that I do not know the number of the brigade and the name of its commander, that I might more distinctly signalize them in my report. The day was now far spent, in truth, it was now near sunset. No further serious demonstrations were made by the enemy on our immediate front. The troops were posted in a strong position to resist a night attack, the brigade of Sheridan's division and Buell's brigade being in juxtaposition, the former on the right and the latter on the left.

Harker's brigade was held as a reserve in the edge of the woods on the western side of the road, and Bradley's battery was posted near to it, to cover the troops in the front line. Just after nightfall a sharp fire ran along the line, caused by some movement of the enemy, which at first was taken for an advance, but in the end proved it to be nothing more than a picket demonstration. Jaded, worn, and thirsty, the men laid down to pass a cheerless, comfortless night on the battlefield. It affords me much pleasure here to record a Samaritan deed rendered to my division during the night by Colonel Harrison, of the Thirty-ninth Indiana, and a part of his mounted regiment. The men were very thirsty, but the distance to water was so great that but a few could hope to get permission to go for it. During the night Colonel Harrison brought us some four hundred canteens of good water. They were distributed among my men as equitably as possible, and proved the cooling drop to the thirsty soldiers. Estep's battery was refitted during the night, and was ready for service the next morning. Between midnight and daylight of the morning of the twentieth I received an order to move my command to a position on the slope of Missionary Ridge, to be held there as a part of the reserve of the army in the coming conflict of the morning.

The movement was quietly and successfully made. In the early morning I was directed to move my division to the eastward from the slope of Missionary Ridge, and take the position hitherto occupied by Negley's division, keeping my left in constant communication with General Brannan's right. Colonel Barnes's brigade of Van Cleve's division was ordered to report to me for service during the day.

Placing his brigade on the left, Harker's in the centre, and Buell's on the right, (the whole formed in two lines, the first one deployed, the second one in double column closed in mass, with their batteries following and supporting,) I advanced my command, and occupied the position assigned. In doing so I met with no opposition from the enemy. I was instructed not to invite an attack, but to be prepared to repel any effort of the enemy. In throwing out skirmishers to cover my front I aroused the enemy, and had quite a sharp affair with him. By a very imprudent advance of his regiment at this moment, done without an order, Colonel Bartleson (moving himself in advance of his troops) was shot from his horse, and either killed or very severely wounded; it was imposssble to decide which, on account of the proximity of the place where he fell to the enemy's lines. He was an accomplished and gallant officer, and a high-toned, pure-minded gentleman. His loss is a serious disadvantage to his regiment and to the service. The position my command then occupied closed the gap in our lines between Sheridan's left and Brannan's right. Although I had not been at all seriously engaged at any time during the morning, I was well satisfied that the enemy was in considerable force in my immediate front, consequently I was extremely vigilant. Such was the status of the battle in my immediate vicinity when I received the following order:

headquarters, D. C., September 20, 10.45 A. M.
Brigadier-General Wood, commanding Division:
The General commanding directs that you close up on Reynolds as fast as possible, and support him.

Respectfully, &c.,

Frank J. Bond, Major, and A. D. C.

I received the order about eleven o'clock. At the moment of its receipt I was a short distance in rear of the centre of my command. General McCook was with me when I received it. I informed him that I would immediately carry it into execution, and suggested that he should close up his command rapidly on my right to prevent the occurrence of a gap in our lines. He said he would do so, and immediately rode away. I immediately despatched my staff officers to the brigade commanders with the necessary orders, and the movement was at once begun. Reynolds's division was posted on the left of Brannan's division, which, in turn, was posted on the left of the position I was just quitting. I had consequently to pass my command in rear of Brannan's division to close upon and go to the support of Reynolds. So soon as I had got the command well in motion I rode forward to find General Reynolds, and learn where and how it was desired to bring my command into action. I did not find General Reynolds, but in my search for him I met Major-General Thomas, to whom I communicated the order I had received from the commanding General, and desired to know where I should move my command to support General Reynolds. General Thomas replied that General Reynolds did not need support, but that I had better move to the support of General Baird, posted on our extreme left, and who needed assistance. I exhibited my order to him, and asked whether he would take the responsibility of changing it. He


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