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

[454] the thickest of it, distributing orders, rallying the men when broken, and setting an example to all of courage and devotion, and of a cool and intelligent discharge of duty under the most trying circumstances, worthy of all commendation. I acknowledge myself greatly indebted to them. I respectfully ask their promotion to the rank of Captains in the department in which they are serving. I also take great pleasure in noticing the cases of First Lieutenant G. R. McRae, Adjutant of the Twenty-ninth Georgia regiment, who was conspicuous in the fight, encouraging his men and rallying them when broken, and who, being left senior officer after the first engagement, assumed command of the broken remnants, and gallantly led them in again on the left of General Ector's brigade.

During the first day's fighting many prisoners were taken, but they were turned over at once and no account kept of them, and many were sent to the rear without a guard, not having men to spare for that purpose. One section of my battery alone was able to get into position, and did some service. The enemy had no artillery in our front, and we took no pieces. The field was not such as to render artillery useful.

In addition to the officers above-named who, being wounded, remained on the field, I will add the name of First Lieutentant A. H. Harrell, Company H, Twenty-ninth Georgia regiment. About one o'clock Sunday afternoon, private Thomas Henderson, Company A, Fourth Louisiana battalion, was captured by the enemy — he being in advance of his battalion — but, when the route of the enemy commenced, made his escape from his guard, and, seizing a rifle, on his return to our lines captured and brought in six of the enemy as prisoners, delivering them to the guard of Brigadier-General Bate.

I am, Captain, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

Major: I beg leave to submit the following report of the action of General Preston Smith's brigade (composed of the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth and Thirteenth Tennessee regiments, under command of Colonel A. J. Vaughan, Jr.; Twelfth and Forty-seventh Tennessee regiments, under command of Colonel W. M. Watkins; Eleventh Tennessee regiment, under command of Colonel G. W. Gordon; Twenty-ninth Tennessee regiment, under command of Colonel Horace Rice; Scott's battery, under command of First Lieutenant John H. Marsh; and a battalion of sharpshooters, composed of two companies from the Twelfth and Forty-seventh Tennessee regiments, one from the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Tennessee regiment, one from the Eleventh and one from the Twenty-ninth Tennessee regiments, under command of Major J. W. Dawson; One Hundred and Fifty-fourth senior Tennessee regiment, and Major William Green, Eleventh Tennessee regiment), Cheatham's division, Polk's corps, Army of Tennessee, in the battle of Chickamauga and the occupation of Missionary Ridge, on the nineteenth, twentieth, twenty-first and twenty-second days of September, 1863:

On the evening of the seventeenth September orders were received to move General Preston Smith's brigade out on the Ringgold road to the intersection of Lee and Gordon's Mill road, thence to Rock Spring church, where we bivouacked for the night in line of battle.

Early on the morning of the eighteenth of September, we were ordered to move forward in the direction of the ford below Lee and Gordon's Mill, on West Chickamauga. Our advance during the day was very slow, having to wait for Buckner's corps to pass to the front and effect a crossing of the creek, which they succeeded in doing about dark, after heavy skirmishing. We bivouacked at night, in line of battle, half a mile south of West Chickamauga.

Early on the morning of the nineteenth September, the brigade moved forward, crossed the creek, and formed in line of battle on the left of Jackson's brigade. As soon as the division effected a crossing, we moved forward near a mile, and formed line in similar order in rear of Buckner's corps. We remained in this position a short time, when we received orders to move by the right flank, in double-quick, to the support of General Walker, who for some time had been actively engaging the enemy. On arriving at the scene of action, we found General Walker stoutly resisted, and his command much exhausted from long and continued action. We were ordered to form line immediately. Formed, as before, on left of General Jackson's brigade. As soon as formed, we were ordered to advance and engage the enemy. We advanced but a short distance before we met the enemy, advancing. We engaged him at once, and furiously drove him before us six or eight hundred yards, forcing him to take shelter behind the breastworks from which he had advanced in the morning. We moved steadily forward until within musket-range of their works; and, not-withstanding we were subjected to a severe and concentrated fire both of musketry and artillery, the brigade kept up a steady and determined fire until the supply of ammunition was nearly exhausted. General Smith, being apprised of this, immediately informed General Cheatham of the fact, at the same time assuring him he was able to hold the position until he could forward a brigade to his relief. General Strahl was ordered forward. As soon as he occupied General Smith's position, General Smith withdrew his brigade, moved some four hundred yards to the rear, and re-formed his line.

During this engagement, beginning at about twelve o'clock M., and closing about two o'clock P. M., the officers and men of the different regiments of the brigade acted with conspicuous