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

The officers and men of the division, with exceptions so rare as to place in striking contrast to them the general good conduct, sustained their former reputation, and were alike worthy of each other.

To the gentlemen of my staff, I feel sincere gratitude for the prompt, fearless, and cheerful manner in which they discharged their duties. Major Wilson, Assistant Adjutant-General; Colonel Van Zinken, A. A. G., who had two horses shot under him; Captain Martin, A. I. G., who received a contusion from a grape shot; Lieutenant Breckinridge, Aid-de-Camp, whose horse was shot; Captain Semple, Ordnance Officer; Lieutenant Bertus (Twentieth Louisiana), A. A. I. G.; Dr. Heustis, Chief Surgeon; Dr. Kratz, on duty in the field; and Messrs. McGehee, Coleman, Mitchell, and Clay, volunteers on my staff, performed their duties in a manner to command my confidence and regard.

One member of my staff I cannot thank. Major R. E. Graves, Chief of Artillery, received a mortal wound in the action of Sunday, the twentieth. Although a very young man, he had won eminence in arms, and he gave promise of the highest distinction. A truer friend, a purer patriot, a better soldier never lived.

I am, Colonel, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

During the afternoon of Saturday, the nine-teenth ultimo, I moved my division in a westerly direction across the Chickamauga river, at Ledford's Ford, and having received orders to report to Lieutenant-General Polk, commanding the right wing of the army, I did so, and was directed by him to form a second line in rear of the right of the line already in position. Accordingly, soon after sunset, my division was formed, partially en echelon, about three hundred yards in rear of the right line. My right rested in front of a steam saw-mill, known as Jay's Mill, situated on a small stream running between the Chickamauga and the road leading from Chattanooga to Lafayette. My line extended from the saw-mill almost due south for nearly a mile, fronting to the west. Polk's brigade, with Calvert's battery, commanded by Lieutenant Thomas J. Key, composed my right wing; Wood's brigade, with Semple's battery, my centre, and Deshler's brigade, with Douglass' battery, my left wing. I now received orders from Lieutenant-General Hill to advance, passing over the line which had been repulsed, and drive back the enemy's left wing. In my front were open woods, with the exception of a clearing (fenced in), in front of my centre, .the ground sloping upwards as we advanced. Ordering the brigades to direct themselves by Wood's (the centre) brigade, and preserve brigade distance, I moved forward, passing over the first line, and was in a few moments heavily engaged along my right and centre. The enemy, posted behind hastily constructed breastworks, opened a heavy fire of both small arms and artillery. For half an hour the firing was the heaviest I had ever heard; it was dark, however, and accurate shooting was impossible. Each party was aiming at the flashes of the other's guns, and few of the shots from either side took effect. Major Hotchkiss, my Chief of Artillery, placed Polk's and Wood's artillery in position in the cleared field in front of my centre. Availing themselves of the noise and the darkness, Captain Semple and Lieutenant Key ran their batteries forward within sixty yards of the enemy's line and opened a rapid fire. Polk pressed forward at the same moment, on the right, when the enemy ceased firing, and quickly disappeared from my front. There was some confusion at the time, necessarily inseparable, however, from a night attack. This, and the difficulty of moving my artillery through the woods in the dark, rendered a further advance inexpedient for the night. I consequently halted, and, after readjusting my lines, threw out skirmishers a quarter of a mile in advance, and bivouacked. In this conflict, the enemy was driven back about a mile and a half. He left in my hands two or three pieces of artillery, several caissons, two or three hundred prisoners, and the colors of the Seventy-seventh Indiana and those of the Seventy-ninth Pennsylvania.

About ten o'clock next morning, I received orders from Lieutenant-General Hill to advance and dress on the line of General Breckinridge, who had been placed on my right. Accordingly, directing each brigade to dress upon the right, and preserve its distance, I moved forward. Breckinridge was already in motion. The effort to overtake and dress upon him caused hurry and some confusion in my line, which was necessarily a long one. Before the effects of this could be rectified, Polk's brigade, and the right of Wood's encountered the heaviest artillery fire I have ever experienced. I was now within short canister range of a line of log breastworks, and a hurricane of shot and shell swept the woods from the unseen enemy in my front. This deadly fire was direct, and came from that part of the enemy's breastworks opposite to my right and right centre. The rest of my line, stretching off to the left, received an oblique fire from the line of breastworks which, at a point opposite my centre, formed a retiring angle, running off towards the Chattanooga and Lafayette road behind.