[473]
I had sent Lieutenant Ware, of the staff, to the left, and he reported to me that there were no troops on that flank; confirming the statement of Colonel Von Zeniken, commanding the left regiment.
I had gone myself to the right.
I deemed it proper therefore to halt and to rectify the alignment, which had become broken in the pursuit, before advancing further.
This had just been finished when Lieutenant-General Hill rode up and, observing that we had done well, directed that I should throw forward skirmishers for the distance of a mile.
A few moments afterwards I was ordered by Major-General Breckinridge to bivouac near the main Chattanooga road, and I accordingly moved back to this position.
Many prisoners remained within our lines during the charge, but no attention was paid to them; they numbered probably three or four hundred.
The position stormed was held by a brigade of United States regulars, under Brigadier-General King.
The enemy's dead and wounded marked the track of the brigade.
Many hundreds of small arms were found upon the field next morning.
A battery was taken by the Thirteenth and Twentieth Louisiana, but the gallant manner in which the remainder of the brigade behaved entitles them to share in the credit of the capture.
In the night our skirmishers, under Captain E. M. Dubroca, Company B, Thirteenth and Twentieth Louisiana, sent in thirty prisoners, among them several officers; and Major T. E. Austin's battalion brought in fifty more next day. The brigade halted victorious at night on the very ground whence it had recoiled at mid-day.
I would respectfully refer the Major-General commanding to the reports of subordinate commanders for the parts their commands bore in the battle.
Among the officers, Colonel Daniel Gober, Six-teenth and Twenty-fifth Louisiana, and Colonel Leon Von Zeniken, Thirteenth and Twentieth Louisiana, were conspicuous for courage and skill.
All the officers and men behaved with commendable gallantry.
Major C. H. Moore, Six-teenth and Twenty-fifth Louisiana; Major T. C. Kimball, Thirty-second Alabama; Captain H. A. Kennedy, Nineteenth Louisiana, who commanded in the evening charge, and Captain E. M. Dubroca, Thirteenth and Twentieth Louisiana, showed themselves officers well fitted to handle troops on the field.
The report of Captain C. H. Slocomb, Washington artillery, shows how large a share his command bore in the engagement.
I cannot speak in terms too high of the bearing of the officers and men of this battery.
The skill of the former is only equalled by the bearing of the latter.
Our valor-inspiring Chief of Artillery, Major Graves, of Major-General Breckinridge's staff, fell, mortally wounded, in the arms of Captain C. H, Slocomb.
He fell, where his heroic soul desired, on the battle-field, among those who loved him, and in the arms of a brave comrade.
But our success was not without heavy loss.
Our chivalrous commander, Brigadier-General D. W. Adams, was wounded in the charge of the morning, and fell into the hands of the enemy.
Lieutenant-Colonel R.. W. Turner, Nine-teenth Louisiana, was wounded, and the brave Major Loudon Butler, of the same regiment, breathed his last at the head of his regiment.
Of General Adams' staff, I am indebted for valuable services to John W. Labouisse, A. I. G., who was ever prompt and efficient, and to Lieutenants E. M. Scott and G. S. Yerger, likewise, for zeal and bravery.
Nor should I omit to pay a special tribute to the soldierly bearing of Lieutenant S. L. Ware.
He is entitled to much credit for his conspicuous gallantry.
The gallant Adjutant-General, Captain E. P. Guillet, was already wounded.
Major M. Hanly, A. Q. M., and Major W. V. Crouch, A. C. S., have, through-out the campaign, discharged their duties with fidelity and promptness.
The brigade entered the action with one hundred and twenty officers, and lost in killed and wounded thirty-three; with twelve hundred enlisted men, and lost in killed, wounded, and missing, three hundred and ninety-six.
It drove the enemy from two batteries which fell within our lines, only six guns of which, however, upon investigation, were positively taken by officers of the command.
About six hundred prisoners were likewise captured during the battle.
It only ceased the pursuit of the enemy at night and under orders.
One hour more of daylight had added largely to our captures.
I have the honor to remain,
Yours, very respectfully,
R. L. Gibson, Colonel, commanding.
