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

[435] my right, passing in rear of and almost at right angles with my line. Under these circumstances, and to avoid the danger of collision with our own troops in the darkness, I sent a staff officer to advise the division General of the result of my movement, with the information that I had halted for further orders. My staff officer returned, reporting that he did not find General Cheatham, but had delivered my report to Lieutenant-General Polk, who directed that I should remain where I was. I then bivouacked for the night in the enemy's breastworks, where, I understood, had been the main position of Thomas' corps. My loss in this engagement was light compared with that of the previous day.

On Monday, at two o'clock P. M., the enemy having abandoned the field and, during the preceding night, withdrawn to Chattanooga, our march commenced toward that point. We bivouacked for the night on Chickamauga Creek, about----miles from the battle-field.

Early Tuesday morning we resumed the march, gaining the road leading from Chickamauga Station to Chattanooga, about one mile and a half east of Missionary Ridge. Advancing by this road, it was ascertained the enemy occupied the ridge, and, after a short halt, for the purpose of reconnoitring, my brigade, being in front, was ordered by Major-General Cheatham to drive them from and take possession of the ridge. My line was formed on the right of the road and properly sustained with skirmishers. With these dispositions my command was adadvanced to the attack, and after a spirited engagement of a few moments the enemy was driven, and the ridge top was in our possession. My loss in this affair was eighteen killed and wounded.

Through all the trials and dangers incident to their part in this memorable battle, the conduct of my command was such as might have been expected of intelligent and patriotic veterans. Their ranks had been thinned on many other fields, yet all were eager here to strike for the right as though there was no death, no suffering before them, but only their cause to serve.

I feel it proper, in addition to those whose good conduct has been mentioned in connection with their wounds, to express my thanks to Colonels Porter and Field, commanding regiments, and their associate field officers, Lieutenant-Colonel Buford, Lieutenant-Colonel House and Major Allen, for their zealous and efficient aid throughout the engagement. Also to Major Maney, commanding battalion of sharpshooters, and Captain Bostwick, of the Seventh Tennessee regiment, who commanded the regiment with gallantry and ability after the fall of all its field officers. Lieutenant Turner, commanding battery, deserves especial notice for the effective and decisive manner in which his battery was commanded and served. I also mention Lieutenant Henry, of the battery, for his gallant and efficient conduct. My staff--Captain Porter, Assistant Adjutant-General; Lieutenant House, Aid-de-Camp, and Lieutenant Ruble, Assistant Adjutant and Inspector-General--have my thanks for their courage and great assistance throughout the engagement. Private William Whitthorne, for the time disabled, by a wound received in a former action, from carrying his musket, tendered his services, and I must commend his intelligence and gallantry in conveying my orders to different parts of the field.

Lists of casualties in my command have been furnished. Reports of battalion commanders herewith filed, are referred to for particulars and for instances of gallantry in their commands.

Very respectfully,

Sir: On the morning of the nineteenth instant, my brigade, composed of the Fourth and Fifth, Nineteenth, Twenty-fourth, Thirty-first and Thirty-third Tennessee regiments, and Captain Stanford's rifle battery, moved by the right flank, in compliance with orders from division Headquarters, and crossed Chickamauga Creek about three miles below Lee and Gordon's Mill. From this point, and about the middle of the day, we moved rapidly to the right about two miles, where we halted and formed in line of battle immediately on the left of General Maney's brigade. About one o'clock P. M., I received an order from General Cheatham to move forward, which I did, and took a position immediately in rear of General Smith's brigade, which was at that time hotly engaged with the enemy, and some two hundred yards in front of the position I had taken.

Shortly after taking this position, General Smith sent me word that he was about to be driven back, and wished me to come to his support, which I did at once, moving forward over his line to a small elevation some two hundred and fifty yards in his front, entirely relieving him, and engaging the enemy. In a short time after thus engaging the enemy, General Smith rode up to me, and told me that my left flank was still in rear of General Wright, and that my right flank was not supported by any one, and that I was in a position to be flanked by the enemy on my right, unless I immediately moved in that direction. Discovering, however, that General Wright had retired, and that none of our troops were in my front, and knowing the great danger of attempting a flank movement in the presence and under the fire of an enemy, and expecting General Maney to come up on my right, I did not move in that direction until General Smith rode up to me a second time, and told me that General Cheatham directed that I should close the gap between myself and General Jackson, by moving to the right. I then concluded that General Maney had been ordered elsewhere,