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

[391] wounded, and one missing; in enlisted men, two hundred and fifty-six killed, one thousand three hundred and ninety-nine wounded, and ninety-seven missing. Whole loss, two hundred and seventy-two killed, one thousand four hundred and eighty wounded, and ninety-eight missing.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

Colonel: The reports of the commanding officers of the brigades and divisions having been received, I hasten to forward them to headquarters, together with my report as commander of the reserve corps:

On the 18th of October, I was ordered by the commanding General to cross the Chickamauga at Alexander's Bridge, if practicable — if not, to cross at Byron's Ford, about one and a half miles below. Before reaching the bridge, I was informed that I would have to fight for it, as it was held by the enemy. General Liddell, commanding division, was ordered to advance with Walthall's and Govan's brigades (Colonel Govan commanded General Liddell s brigade). General Walthall advanced upon the bridge, and became engaged with the enemy, and, after a short and sharp encounter, took the bridge, which was torn up by the enemy, making it necessary for the command to cross at Byron's Ford. Colonel Govan's skirmishers were also engaged. Ector's and Wilson's brigades were held in reserve, and not engaged. Byron's Ford was crossed at night by the troops, but the ordnance wagons, in consequence of the rocky and uneven nature of the ford, were not crossed until morning. Colonel Wilson's brigade was left to guard the wagons, and the rest of the command bivouacked about a mile from the ford. I received an order that night to report to General Hood's command.

Early in the morning, General Forrest asked for a brigade of infantry, and the commanding General (General Bragg) directed me to order a brigade to report to him. Shortly afterwards, hearing firing, I remarked to the commanding General (General Bragg) that I thought Wilson's brigade was engaged, and that I would hasten to it. He directed me to attack with all the force I had. [General Liddell labors under a misapprehension in the first part of his report. when he speaks of my sending for orders and making a reconnoissance. I had been on the field before I saw General Liddell, and had received orders from the commanding General (as I state in my report) before I went on the field, and was satisfied of the large force of the enemy, and sent for reinforcements before I met him. When I did meet him we had some conversation about the forces, etc., which I do not remember. He is mistaken in regard to time.] On reaching the ground I found that Wilson's and Ector's brigade (having also been taken by Forrest, without any authority from me) were heavily pressed, and, from the greatly superior numbers of the enemy, were compelled to fall back. I refer you to Colonel Wilson's report for the part his brigade took in the action. General Ector is absent, his brigade having been ordered to Mississippi; and I have no report from him, but his brigade acted with the greatest gallantry. I ordered Liddell's division up as soon as I reached the ground, and they came up as quickly as possible, formed in line of battle, and moved up in gallant style and attacked the enemy. I refer you to General Liddell's report, and to General Walthall's and Colonel Govan's for particulars. This division, too, after a desperate and gallant struggle had to fall back. Discovering, on my arrival on the ground, that my command had encountered a heavy force, I sent immediately back to the commanding General for reinforcements. About one o'clock General Cheatham came up, and was informed by me where his division was needed. I refer you to his own report for his part in the action. About five P. M. (I had no watch, but this was about the time), General Polk came up and took command, and my command acted under his orders. I am satisfied that there were more than Thomas' corps engaged; and all northern accounts state that parts of Crittenden's and McCook's were engaged. The unequal contest of four brigades against such overwhelming odds is unparalleled in this revolution, and the troops deserve immortal honor for the part borne in the action. Only soldiers fighting for all that is dear to freemen could attack, be driven, rally and attack again such superior forces. Two lines of battle of the enemy were broken in the first attack by Wilson; and when he was compelled to retire from the front of the breastworks which the enemy had fallen behind, the fight was taken up by Liddell's division, and the enemy's line broken again, when he again took refuge behind his breastworks, and Liddell was compelled to fall back. The troops were rapidly formed again, and the unequal contest was carried on from between nine and ten A. M., by my command until about half-past 1 P. M., when, as I have said, Cheatham's division came up. In the afternoon at about five o'clock, my command was ordered by General Polk to support Cleburne. General P. will doubtless report what then happened.

I was directed, Saturday night, by General Polk (to whom I was then ordered to report) to hold my reserve corps in readiness to support an attack upon the enemy, which would take place at daylight, and to support Cheatham's division. I was on the ground at daylight ready for the attack. The attack was not made at that time, and between about nine and ten I was ordered, instead of supporting Cheatham, to support Hill's corps, a part of the right wing