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

[411] after eleven o'clock A. M., a general advance was ordered, which, commencing somewhere on the right, included Hindman's division on the left. The enemy occupied the ground in our front, along the road leading from Chattanooga to Lee and Gordon's Mill. Their line was formed along the fence at Brotherton's house, and they had a battery in the open field south of the house, where Johnson's brigade had captured a battery on Saturday. The enemy also occupied two lines of breastworks, made of rails and timber, extending along my front and to the left of it, in the woods west of Brotherton's farm. By order of Major-General Hood, I moved my division forward and at once engaged the enemy. We advanced about six hundred yards through the woods, under a heavy fire of artillery and infantry, which swept our ranks with terrific effect, and crossed the road to Lee and Gordon's Mill, the left brigades of my division passing on either side of Brotherton's house. Our charge was irresistible, and the Yankees who did not flee were killed and captured at the fences and out-houses. Among the latter is especially mentioned Colonel F. A. Bartleson, of the One-Huddredth Illinois regiment, who was captured, with many others, by Johnson's brigade.

Everett's battery now took a position in a field south of Brotherton's house, and opened to the front and left, firing about six rounds to the piece, and my line again moved forward under a heavy fire from the enemy's breastworks. The fire was so heavy that my right brigade faltered for a moment, and some of the men commenced falling back, but it was soon rallied and moving forward again. My whole line, Gregg's brigade in rear, supported by Hood's division, under Law, in a third line, swept forward with great force and rapidity and carried the breastworks, from which the foe precipitately retreated, under a heavy fire, particularly directed to the. left, from my left brigade. Having advanced some distance in the woods west of Brotherton's farm, to the foot of a small ascent covered with a thick growth of young pines, my right brigade halted under the effect of a heavy fire, which was also severely damaging my second line. Colonel Suggs now pushed to the front the three regiments of Gregg's brigade which had formed my second line, Johnson's brigade moving to the left at the same time, and again my line advanced rapidly on the enemy, driving them from the woods east of Dyer's house, McNair's brigade bearing to the right.

Our lines now emerged from the forest into open ground on the border of long open fields, over which the enemy were retreating, under cover of several batteries, which were ranged along the crest of a ridge on our right and front, ruling up to the corner of a stubble-field, and of one battery on our left and front, posted on an elevation in the edge of the woods, just at the corner of a field near a peach orchard, and southwest of Dyer's house. The scene now presented was unspeakably grand. The resolute and impetuous charge, the rush of our heavy columns, sweeping out from the shadow and gloom of the forest into the open fields, flooded with sunlight, the glitter of arms, the onward dash of artillery and mounted men, the retreat of the foe, the shouts of the hosts of our army, the dust, the smoke, the noise of fire-arms, of whistling balls and grapeshot, and of bursting shell, made up a battle scene of unsurpassed grandeur. Here General Hood gave me the last order I received from him on the field: “Go ahead and keep ahead of everything.” How this order was obeyed will be best determined by those who investigate all the details of this battle.

The unusual depth of our columns of attack, in this part of the field, and the force and power with which it was thrown upon the enemy's line, had now completely broken and routed their centre and cast the shattered fragments to the right and left. Everett's battery was here ordered into action on the right of Johnson's brigade and opened upon the retreating foe, while my line continued to advance.

There was now an interval of eight hundred yards between Hindman's division on my left and my command. Johnson's brigade on the left bore but slightly to the right, its left regiment stretching across the road from Dyer's house to Crawfish road, and passing on both sides of the house. Gregg's brigade, in. the centre, moved a little to the right, so as to flank and capture nine pieces of artillery on its right, posted on the ascent to the eminence,, in the corner of the field north of Dyer's house. McNair's brigade, now somewhat in the rear of the two left brigades, moved obliquely to the right and directly upon the eminence. My line was here uncovered by. Hood's division, which must have changed its direction to the right.

The nine pieces captured by Gregg's brigade are reported by Colonel Suggs, commanding, as having been taken from the field by a detail under Adjutant Fletcher Beaumont, of the Fiftieth Tennessee regiment, who caused the Yankee drivers to drive some of the teams to the rear. Four of these pieces, three-inch rifles, belong to the First Missouri Federal battery, and are now in possession of the First Missouri Confederate battery (Bledsoe's), attached to Gregg's brigade. A statement made by Adjutant Beaumont in regard to the capture is herewith enclosed.

In this advance, Brigadier-General E. McNair, commanding the right brigade, and Colonel Harper, of the First Arkansas regiment, of that brigade, were wounded — the latter mortally, and the command of McNair's brigade devolved upon Colonel Coleman, of the Thirty-ninth North Carolina regiment. Colonel Coleman reports that McNair's brigade charged and carried the eminence in the corner of the field to our right, capturing the ten guns, eight of which were immediately carried off, and two were subsequently removed, and that the brigade fell back for want of ammunition and support, and formed on the left of Robertson's brigade, of Hood's division. Whether Colonel Coleman's report