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

[432] wounded. Many have died since, among them four field officers: Major McGaughey, of the Sixteenth Alabama regiment; Major Carr, Thirty-second Mississippi; Major Hankins, Hankins' sharpshooters; Major Gibson, Gibson's battalion, attached to Thirty-third Alabama regiment. These officers, of the same rank, were all distinguished by former services on the field of battle. They were all of great merit, and their loss will be long deeply regretted by their commands. For further particulars, reference is made to reports of commanders of regiments and companies.

Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

Major: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by my brigade in the action of Sunday, the twentieth of September, 1863:

In obedience to orders from headquarters Breckinridge's division, of date September sixteen, 1863, I moved from my position on the Alpine road, near Lafayette, Georgia, on the Catlin's Gap road, at or near the latter place on the morning of the seventeenth. Here I remained in position until the morning of the eighteenth, when I was ordered to proceed on the Crawfish to Chattanooga road. I halted at the intersection of the two latter for about thirty minutes, when I marched to Pigeon Ridge, near Glass's Mill (stopping and forming line of battle for a short while, in the meantime), and again went into position. I remained at this place until Saturday, the nineteenth, when I was again moved down the Chattanooga road to Snow Hill. Skirmishers had scarcely been deployed, and the proper dispositions made, when I was ordered still further forward in a north-easterly direction to the battle-field as reinforcements to the right of our line, reported then to be hard pressed by the enemy. This move did not commence until five o'clock P. M.; hence I did not get into position until Sunday, the twentieth instant. Saturday night, the nineteenth instant, we slept on the edge of the battle-field, and moved out into position at four o'clock A. M., the next (Sunday) morning. We formed a line of battle at sunrise, this division being on the extreme right of the army — my brigade being in the centre of the division, and between the brigades of Brigadier-Generals Adams and Helm respectively. Skirmishers--twenty-five men from each regiment — were immediately deployed, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Badger, of the Fourth Florida regiment. Subsequently, orders were received to advance the line thus deployed, and for a regiment to be thrown forward to support them. In obedience thereto, I ordered Colonel Borden, commanding the Fourth Florida regiment, to take out his command as the support required. For the manner in which he manoeuvred it, while in advance, I respectfully refer to the accompanying report from him.

Between nine and ten o'clock, my brigade was ordered to advance. I moved out in good order, parallel to the Chattanooga road, about a half mile, not without first encountering two distinct lines of the enemy's skirmishers and driving them in. Here the brigade was halted and, by a flank movement, formed nearly perpendicular to its former position. Thus re-formed, I moved forward, and had not gone far before I encountered the enemy in heavy force and strongly intrenched. Here the battle raged fiercely. A concentrated fire of grape and canister, shot and shell, of every conceivable character, was poured into us from the front, while my left suffered no less from an enfilading fire equally galling and severe. Brigadier-General Helm's brigade, having encountered the enemy's breast-works, was unable to keep up the alignment, which, taken with the fact that the reserve ordered to our support failed to come up, and the further fact that my left, as well as my front, was thus exposed, the brigade — in fact, the whole line — was forced to retire. The troops of my command fell back simultaneously, forming in perfect order, not exceeding two hundred yards in rear of the position for which they had gallantly contested. From this position I was still further retired and placed in position on the extreme right of the division, acting as a support to the command of Major-General William H. T. Walker. Here I remained at rest for a few hours. During the interval, I had my cartridge-boxes all replenished, my command remaining quiet until four o'clock P. M. About that hour I was ordered to move my brigade to the extreme right of the line. Again formed nearly parallel to the Chattanooga road. This latter movement was ordered, that we might form part of a support to the brigades of Brigadier-Generals Liddell and Walthall. They were soon driven in, but were afterwards re-formed and thrown forward a second time. Just at this juncture, I was ordered to advance. Changing my direction by a left half wheel, I was brought to the enemy's line. Thus in position, I commenced the charge. My brigade pressed through two lines of our own troops, passed over the enemy's breastworks, and, with deafening shouts of patriotic enthusiasm, pursued the foe to the Chattanooga road, where, in obedience to orders, I halted, night putting an end to the conflict.

I respectfully refer to the accompanying statement, marked----, showing the regiment, name, and rank of every officer and soldier killed, wounded, and missing; also the character of the wounds.

I am much indebted to Colonel Dilworth, First and Third Florida; Colonel Borden, Fourth Florida; Lieutenant-Colonel Ray, Sixtieth North Carolina, and Captain Cone, Forty-seventh Georgia,