Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 10.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[333] were either killed or wounded, and that their bodies fell into the hands of the enemy. Taking the number of the killed, and wounded, and missing, it will be found to be thirty-four and ninety one-hundredths (34.90) per cent. of my whole command. These figures show an almost unparalleled loss. They attest the severity of the conflicts through which my command passed on the nineteenth and twentieth. The record of its participation in the great battle of the Chickamauga is written in blood. Before closing my report, I deem it my duty to bring to the notice of the commanding General certain facts which fell under my observation during the progress of the conflict on the twentieth. As I was moving along the valley with my command, to the support of General Reynolds, in conformity with the order of the commanding General, I observed on my left (to the west of me) a force posted high up the ridge. I inquired what force it was, and was informed it was a part of a brigade of General Negley's division. I was informed that General Negley was with this force in person. I remember seeing distinctly a battery on the hill-side with the troops. At the time, it was certainly out of the reach of any fire from the enemy. This was between eleven and twelve o'clock in the day. A little later in the day, perhaps a half or three fourths of an hour, when I became seriously engaged, as already described, with the large hostile force that pierced our lines and turned Brannan's right, compelling him to fall back, I looked for the force I had seen posted on the ridge, and which, as already remarked, I had been informed was a part of General Negley's division, hoping, if I became severely pressed, it might reenforce me, for I was resolved to check the enemy if possible. But it had entirely disappeared. Whither it had gone I did not then know, but was informed later in the day it had retired towards Rossville; and this information I believe was correct. By whose orders this force retired from the battle-field I do not know; but of one fact I am perfectly convinced, that there was no necessity for its retiring. It is impossible it could have been at all seriously pressed by the enemy at the time; in fact, I think it extremely doubtful whether it was engaged at all.

Near sundown of the twentieth I met General John Beatly not far from where I had fought the enemy all the afternoon. He was entirely alone when I met him, and did not seem to have any special command. I at once came to the conclusion that he had not retired from the battle-field when the bulk of the division he is attached to did. At the moment I met him I was engaged in halting some troops that were crossing the valley north and east of my position, and who appeared to have straggled away from the front on which General Thomas's command had been engaged all the day. General Beatly desired to know where I desired these troops re-formed. I pointed out a position to him, and desired him to re-form them, which he said he would do. I then rode back to my command.

It is proper that I should remark that I did not see the Corps commander from about nine and a half o'clock A. M. on Sunday, the twentieth, to some time after sunrise of the twenty-first, when I met him at Rossville.

The officers of my staff performed their duties well in the late arduous campaign, as well on the march and in camp as on the battle-field. I deem it due to them to record their names in my official report, and to thank them individually for their valuable assistance and cooperation: Captain M. P. Besto, assistant adjutant-general, Lieutenant J. L. Zargaw, Fifty-eighth Indiana, aid-de-camp, Lieutenant George Shafer, Ninety-third Ohio, aid-de-camp, Lieutenant-Colonel T. R. Palmer, Thirteenth Michigan, inspector-general, Surgeon W. W. Blair, Fifty-eighth Indiana volunteers, medical director, Captain L. D. Myers, assistant-quartermaster, Captain James McDonald, commissary subsistence, Captain William McLaughlin, Thirteenth Michigan, topographical engineer, Captain J. E. George, Fifteenth Indiana, commissary of muster, Lieutenant P. Halderman, Third Kentucky, ordnance officer, Captain M. Reiser, Sixty-fourth Ohio, provost-marshal, up to the occupation of Chattanooga, when his leg was accidentally broken, since which time his duties have been well performed by Lieutenant Ehlers of the same regiment. Captain Cullen Bradley, Sixth Ohio battery, who, in addition to commanding his own battery, ably performs the duties of chief of artillery. It affords me much pleasure to mention in my official report the true courage and faithful devotion exhibited throughout the entire conflict by two members of my personal escort. Early in the conflict of Sunday my color-bearer was wounded. The colors were then taken by Sergeant Samuel Goodrich, company A, One Hundredth Illinois, who bore aloft my standard through the remainder of the day, remaining with me all the time. Private Robert Lemmon, company I, Fifty-eighth Indiana, a member of my escort, rode immediately in rear of me through the whole conflict of Sunday, the twentieth. Whenever I called, this brave and devoted boy, a youth of not more than sixteen or seventeen years of age, responded.

I have the honor to forward herewith, as accompaniments to my report, first, official report of Colonel Harker, commanding Third brigade, (with sub-reports of regimental commanders,) marked “A;” second, official report of Colonel Buell, commanding First brigade, (with sub-reports of regimental commanders,) marked “B;” third, return of effective force taken into action nineteenth September, marked “C;” fourth, return of casualties in the battles of the nineteenth and twentieth, marked “D” fifth, map showing the various positions of command in the battles of the nineteenth and twentieth, marked “E.”

I cannot conclude my report of the participation of my command in the great battle of the Chickamauga, a battle in which the fate of the proud army of the Cumberland hung. trembling in the balance,--in truth, a battle in whose result the great nation's life seemed involved,--without returning thanks to Almighty Providence for his merciful deliverance vouchsafed to us from the hosts of our enemies. For his protection of myself