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

[444] to retire. I was myself struck by a grapeshot, and compelled to dismount for a short time. The Thirty-eighth Alabama regiment, scarcely breaking its line, fell back only a short distance. The other regiments promptly reformed near the position originally occupied by them, and moved forward to rejoin it. General Brown's brigade was re-formed by Colonel Cook (General B. having been wounded) on my left, and General Bate's brigade upon my right. My own and General Brown's brigade soon moved forward again to the road, and then to the right, towards the enemy, who were ascertained to be there in strong position. General Bate was formed in my rear, and in this position the command remained until about five o'clock P. M., when I again moved my brigade forward. Soon coming upon the enemy behind breastworks, they were gallantly charged by my whole line with great spirit, the enemy fleeing in wild disorder across a large open field, upon the edge of which I ordered a halt, and the brigade continued to fire as long as the enemy could be seen. Many taking refuge in and around a hospital (Kelly's house), I sent forward, first, the Thirty-eighth, and afterwards the Eighteenth Alabama regiments, which, together, captured three hundred prisoners, besides near the same number of wounded.

Thus terminated the part taken by this brigade in the battle of Chickamauga. I have omitted to say anything about the battery, because it was under the Chief of Artillery for the division, except a short time, during which I had no opportunity of using it. I suppose the report in regard to it will more properly be made through the Chief of Artillery.

The brigade went into action on the nineteenth with thirteen hundred and fifty-two, total effective, and ninety-four officers. It lost in the two days, twelve officers killed dead upon the field, and eighty-nine men. Thirty have since died. Thirty-four officers and four hundred and forty-nine men were wounded and fifteen missing, making the aggregate, killed, wounded, and missing, six hundred and twenty-nine. This does not include many who were slightly wounded and did not leave the field. The brigade captured two pieces of artillery, three hundred and ninety-six prisoners, besides about two hundred and fifty wounded and in hospital. It collected twelve hundred and forty-nine muskets and rifles, six hundred and forty sets of accoutrements and twenty thousand cartridges. The greater portion of the guns and ammunition were carried off the field by my own ordnance wagons. I claim for my brigade that it was the first and the last in the division to encounter the enemy; the first in the army to pierce the enemy's centre and cross the Chattanooga road, which was done on Saturday evening near Brotherton's house. I conclude this report by tendering my cordial thanks to, and testifying in behalf of, the gallant men composing this brigade, in all whose ranks there appeared not a single coward, and to the officers, worthy of such men, leading. them in every charge. My thanks are particularly due to Captain J. M. Macon, A. A. G., Lieutenant J. Vidence, Assistant Inspector-General, and Lieutenant W. N. Knight, Aid-de-Camp, who rendered me prompt and valuable services throughout the whole engagement, never once shrinking from their duty. To the commanders of regiments, I also make my acknowledgments for the efficient manner in which they directed and kept their commands together, the most difficult of all duties upon the field. I also tender my thanks to Major-General Stewart, who was everywhere and under all circumstances present with his command. To the gallant dead, a contemplation of whom saddens our hearts, we give our tears and a hearty “well done!” May the God of battles give us courage to emulate their heroic examples, and, when the time shall come, bravely to share their fate.

I am, Major, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

Major: I have the honor to submit the following report of the participation had by my brigade in the late three days battle of the Chickamauga, comprising the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth ultimo:

Having been ordered to advance, take possession of and hold Thedford's Ford, but not to bring on a general engagement unless indispensable to the accomplishment of these objects, I moved my command at once, at a double-quick, and occupied a wooded eminence commanding it, and placed my battery, the Eufala light artillery, on a cleared hill to the front and left, which overlooked the enemy, and within a few hundred yards of his position. The attack, in which the Fourth Georgia battalion of sharpshooters, Major Caswell, and my artillery alone were engaged, was brisk and spirited. In the meantime, however, the entire brigade was subjected to a severe shelling from the enemy just above Alexander's Bridge, and across the Chickamauga, by which one man was killed and five or six wounded. After a few well-directed shots from my battery, which Captain Oliver placed promptly in position, the enemy gave way. This was the opening fight of the battle of the Chickamauga. We bivouacked near the camp of the enemy, commanding the two fords — Thedford's and the Bend Ford — where I crossed my command next morning at an early hour, and formed line of battle in rear of Brigadier-Generals Brown's and Clayton's brigades, the whole under command of Major-General Stewart. We moved in this order, bearing to the right, through a corn field