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

[393] whilst carrying an order in the thickest of the fight. From the character of the fighting, on both Saturday and Sunday, they were greatly exposed, and bore themselves as became gentlemen and soldiers fighting for all that is dear.

For the gallant dead we can but mourn. The noble, brave, and chivalrous Colquitt, who fell in command of Gist's brigade, was a soldier and a gentleman, a Christian and a friend. I hope I will be excused for paying, in my report, a tribute to his worth.

A map of the field and a list of casualties will accompany this report.

Gregg's brigade, which now forms a part of Walker's division, reported during the battle to Major-General Hood, whose official report will, doubtless, give an account of its operations. I am proud to hear it behaved with great gallantry.

I am, Colonel, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

Colonel: Having been called upon to report the operations of my command during and incident upon the battle of Chickamauga, I have the honor to make the following statement of facts, in order simply to designate the position of the command. I cannot, in justice to the officers and men, make a full official report, until the reports of subordinate commanders have been received. I trust, however, this statement will answer until a full report can be prepared:

On the twenty-seventh of August, my command, consisting of Wharton's and Martin's divisions, and Roddy's brigade, were stationed as follows: Estis's regiment, of Wharton's division, picketing Tennessee River from Bridgeport to Guntersville; Wade's regiment, Martin's division, from Guntersville to Decatur, and detachments from Roddy's brigade from Decatur to the mouth of Bear Creek. The main body of Wharton's division was stationed near Rome, Ga.; of Martin's division, near Alexandria, Alabama, and of Roddy's brigade, near Tuscumbia, Alabama. Two regiments of the corps were on detached duty with General Pillow.

On the twenty-seventh, General Martin's command, numbering about twelve hundred men, was ordered to Trenton, and General Wharton's to the vicinity of Chattanooga.

On the twenty-ninth, the enemy crossed the Tennessee River in force, driving back the pickets of Colonel Estis's regiment. About five hundred men of General Martin's division, under Lieutenant Colonel Malden, moved up Wills' Valley, and were placed on picket duty below Chattanooga.

It now became evident that the enemy were moving two divisions' of cavalry and McCook's corps of infantry over Sand Mountain and into Wills' Valley by the Caperton road. I was ordered to take post in Broomtown Valley, for the purpose of picketing the passes of Lookout Mountain. General Martin, with about twelve hundred men, guarded the passes from the Tennessee River to Niel's Gap, and General Wharton from Neil's Gap to Gadsden. These commands kept the enemy continually observed, and full reports concerning him were several times each day sent to army headquarters. Several columns of the enemy's cavalry were pushed over the mountain, all of which were successfully driven back.

On the twelfth of September, McCook's corps of infantry and Stanley's corps of cavalry moved over the mountain at Alpine, and, after a severe fight, our cavalry (under Colonel Avery, a most gallant and discreet officer) was compelled to fall back.

Skirmishing continued nearly every day until the seventeenth, when I was ordered to move into McLemore's Cove, by Dug and Catlett's Gaps, and attack the enemy, in order to male a demonstration in that direction. We fought for some hours, driving the enemy for some distance, but finally developed a force too large to be dislodged.

On the following day we moved to Owen's Ford, on Chickamauga River, leaving heavy pickets at all the gaps of the mountain as far as Gadsden.

About two P. M., I learned the enemy's cavalry were moving up McLemore's Cove. I moved across the river and warmly assailed their flank, dividing the column and driving the enemy in confusion in both directions.

During the night I received orders to guard well all the passes of the mountain and all the fords of the river down to General Longstreet's left flank, and to attack the enemy at every opportunity which presented itself. This order was complied with, and the remainder of my force was concentrated at Glass's Mill. A considerable force of the enemy, with artillery, were deployed on the opposite bank, and warm skirmishing commenced. As soon as arrangements could be made, I dismounted all my available force, crossed, and warmly assailed the enemy, hoping that we might draw troops from the centre, and thus create a diversion. After a short fight the enemy wavered. We charged him, and drove a largely superior force fully two miles to Crawfish Spring, killing and wounding large numbers, and taking thirty-five officers and men prisoners, besides the wounded. We were successful in creating the diversion, as the enemy thought our advance a heavy flank movement, and reinforced this point heavily. The enemy, in his accounts of the battle, state that General Longstreet flanked him at this point at the hour we made the attack. At this time I received orders to move my available force to Lee and Gordon's Mills, and attack the enemy. We arrived at that place about three o'clock P. M., crossed the river, and vigorously assailed