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

Saturday, September nineteenth. Early this morning a detail of intelligent men was made, five from each regiment, to reconnoitre the enemy's line. They reported to me, about ten A. M., the enemy one and a quarter miles distant and in our front. The Forty-fourth Tennessee took its position on the right of the brigade, and the line of the brigade conformed to that of Gregg's, on our left, and Robinson's, on our right, which encompassed the top of a low ridge. The firing commenced on our right about eight A. M., and continued along the line until Cheatham became engaged.

About one P. M., the skirmishers of the Seventeenth Tennessee, as well as those of Gregg's brigade, were driven in. A general engagement was now commenced on our left, the left companies of the Seventeenth Tennessee participating by firing obliquely to the left. At this time Everett's battery was placed behind the extreme left of the Seventeenth Tennessee, the fire of which drove the enemy back at this point.

Shortly after, the command to move forward was given, the left regiment to touch to the right until we reached the road, when the right would move slowly, that the left may come up to the road, thus to change direction slightly to the right. But this order was not fully carried out. We did not advance exceeding seven hundred yards, when the enemy opened fire upon us, and we became hotly engaged. The enemy had planted a battery, which struck about the centre of the Forty-fourth Tennessee regiment, and which opened upon our advancing lines, throwing, in rapid succession, grape and canister, and supported by infantry, whose fire of small arms was heavy, well directed and disastrous. The entire brigade now became hotly engaged (during this engagement Major Lowe, of the Twenty-fifth Tennessee, was wounded), which lasted nearly an hour, the enemy making a stubborn resistance, gradually retiring, he having advantage of both under-growth and ground, but finally was driven across the Chattanooga and Lafayette road. The Seventeenth Tennessee regiment, on approaching the road, was halted and opened fire on the enemy in its front, distant about two hundred yards, in a woodland; the under-growth having been cut out, the enemy were in full view. The Forty-fourth Tennessee was still engaging the enemy. The Twenty-fifth and a portion of the Twenty-third Tennessee regiments crossed the road, the other portion of the Twenty-third being with the Seventeenth Tennessee, and gained the cover of the woods, and moved to the flank of the enemy's battery, still firing upon the right of our line, at right angles with my present line, gaining a fence, under which they opened fire, delivering several volleys, ceased firing, re-loaded, and charged the battery, driving the enemy's gunners from their guns and killing several horses. The caissons were moved off by the enemy, leaving their pieces on the field. The Seventeenth Tennessee and the other portion of the Twenty-third Tennessee had crossed the road, having driven the enemy. The Seventeenth Tennessee here lost an officer killed, two officers and about twenty men wounded. In this engagement the Forty-fourth Tennessee suffered heavily, sustaining a loss in killed and wounded. A portion of Robinson's extreme left (Texans) and part of the Forty-fourth Tennessee had been driven back, but about two-thirds of the Forty-fourth Tennessee crossed the road. Here Lieutenant-Colonel McEwen, Jr., five company officers (Captain Jackson one of the number), and fifty men were wounded and six men killed; among the latter, Sergeant T. A. Johnson, color-bearer, one of the bravest of the brave. Lieutenanant-Colonel McEwen, Jr., however, remained with his command, after he was wounded, until obliged to retire from exhaustion. Lieutenant-Colonel Tillman, of the Forty-first Tennessee, Gregg's brigade, rode up to me at this time, stating that the enemy was moving down the road to my left, and would soon be in my rear; doubting the report, I suggested that our lines were connected on our left, and that a flank or rear movement could not, therefore, be made by the enemy. I, however, found that but two regiments of Gregg's brigade had moved up with my line, and they had retired. Lieutenant-Colonel Tillman had thus lost sight of his regiment, and, in company with him and Lieutenant-Colonel Floyd, I started to the road to satisfy myself as to the correctness of this report; I had gone but a short distance when I discovered a column of the enemy moving by the flank in direction of the Seventeenth Tennessee regiment, which rapidly gained its rear. I heard distinctly the commander's halt, front, and immediately their fire was pouring upon our flank and rear. Here a general stampede ensued, so sudden and unexpected was the movement. We fell back two hundred yards in rear of the Chattanooga and Lafayettte road and re-formed. In this flank movement of the enemy, the Seventeenth Tennesse regiment lost eleven officers, including their gallant Major Davis, who was wounded, and about sixty men taken prisoners. The brigade built temporary breastworks, behind which it remained during the night, in line of battle. Our skirmishers, under Major McCarver, were directed to occupy the Chattanooga and Lafayette road, but this could not be done; the lines on my right and left not conforming thereto; I, however, instructed them to be posted within fifty yards of the road.

Sunday, twentieth September. This morning my line connected on the right with McNair's (Gregg being in the next line in our rear), and General Hindman on the left. Everett's battery took position between my left and the right of Law's. Shortly after nine A. M., the skirmishers, under direction of Lieutenant-Colonel Ready, fell back to the breastworks, bringing those of the enemy after them. A well-directed fire from