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

[406] General Forrest. It became at once apparent to all that we were fighting overpowering numbers. General Forrest, having sent several messages for the infantry to come up, finally went for them himself, ordering me to hold the position until their arrival. In obeying this order, our loss was about one-fourth of the command, including several officers. Nearly every colonel of the brigade had a horse shot under him. Although the highest praise is due to all the gallant men engaged in this (for cavalry) remarkable fight, I must not omit mentioning particularly Colonel Goode, of the Tenth Confederate cavalry, whose horse was shot, and Captain Arnold, Sixteenth battalion Tennessee cavalry, who was badly wounded. Our next engagement with the enemy was with Colonel Minty's brigade mounted infantry, being a part of the rear-guard of General Rosecrans' army. After driving his skirmishers for more than a mile, we found him strongly posted on Missionary Ridge. We drove him from one fine position, but were unable to dislodge him from the summit; from which, however, he retired during the night. In holding the ground gained, my command was subjected to a heavy fire of canister at three hundred yards range. Both General Davidson and Colonel Scott lost several men, among whom, I regret to say, was the gallant Lieutenant-Colonel Fain, of the Sixth Georgia, badly wounded. The steadfastness with which both brigades bore this artillery fire was admirable in the extreme, especially as evincing the discipline of the men. General Davidson again met the enemy on the twenty-second, on the Chattanooga and Harrison road. With a part of his brigade he attacked and routed the Fifty-ninth Ohio infantry, took a number of prisoners, arms, &c., and was prevented from capturing the brigade entire only by a mistake of one of his own regiments, which fired upon the portion headed by himself.

It will be observed that my report is confined to the operations of the brigade lately commanded by myself. This is because the other brigades of the division have, in the exigencies of the service, been separated from me. For Colonel Scott's operations, I refer you to his report, herewith enclosed.

I am, Major, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

N. B.--General Davidson will furnish you, at the earliest opportunity, with a complete list of the casualties and captured property.

Respectfully, &c.,

Major: In accordance with orders from Brigadier-General Pegram, I herewith forward my report of the operations of this brigade during the recent active operations of this army. After covering the evacuation of East Tennessee, and removing all stores on the lines of railroad as far as Ringgold, Georgia, I reported to General Pegram, on the Chattanooga and Lafayette road. On the eleventh instant, under orders from General Forrest, I proceeded to Ringgold, where I encountered the advance of the enemy, General Crittenden's corps, and, after a sharp skirmish, fell back towards Dalton, to a strong position, which I held for two hours. Forced from it, I retreated slowly on to Tunnel Hill, fighting the enemy at every available point until night, when reinforcements from the command of General Forrest, who had been present during the day directing the movements, arrived. The next morning the enemy retired, and, following them, I skirmished heavily with their rear, on the twelfth and thirteenth instant, as far as the Lafayette road, near Leet's Tanyard.

On the fourteenth, under orders from General Forrest, I returned to Ringgold, and remained near that place until the evening of the seven teenth instant, when the enemy again advanced upon Ringgold from the direction of Graysville. I marched out to meet them and drove them back. That night the enemy encamped about five miles from Ringgold, on the Chattanooga road, with four regiments of infantry, one of cavalry, and a battery. About midnight, with four companies of the Second Tennessee cavalry and one piece of artillery, I surprised their camp, throwing the whole force into confusion. After a sharp fight, I retired to my camp at Ringgold, the enemy not following.

On the eighteenth, by command of General Pegram, I proceeded to Red House, nine miles from Chattanooga, and drove in the advance of the enemy's reserve corps under General Granger. On the nineteenth I marched and engaged the enemy, seven regiments of infantry and a battery, with two hundred men from my command, composed of the Second and Fifth Tennessee, First Louisiana, the detachment of Morgan's command, and the Louisiana battery of two rifle pieces and two mountain howitzers. After a fierce engagement of several hours, during which I drove the enemy more than two miles and disabled one of their guns, my ammunition failing, I withdrew to my camp at the creek, the enemy too much exhausted to pursue. On the twenty-first, I held the left of the road in General Pegram's attack upon Missionary Hill, and on the twenty-second, under orders from Major-General Cheatham, I proceeded on his right, and, crossing Missionary Ridge, descended in the valley to the Western and Atlantic Railroad, about three miles from Chattanooga. Here I encountered the Fifty-ninth Ohio infantry, and drove them, in confusion, into Chattanooga. Following up, I attacked the enemy in his intrenchments, and drove them from their first line of rifle-pits. Night coming on, General Pegram