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

[413] broken on our left, and I could see no troops in that direction. It. subsequently appears that General Hindman's division gallantly drove back to the west and south the enemy's line in his front and on my left, inflicting a heavy loss on them and thus relieving us from danger in that direction.

Riding towards our right and rear some half a mile, I came upon Brigadier-General Kershaw advancing with his brigade through the open field upon the eminence near to which we had captured the battery of nine guns in our advance, and where I saw the United States flag now floating, the position having been reoccupied by the enemy. Here I learned that Major-General Hood had been wounded. Colonel Cunningham, of his staff, informed me that Brigadier-General Kershaw's brigade was much needed to attack the position in its front, and I consequently had to seek further for support. I sent Captain Blakemore, who joined me here, to find and bring up General McNair's brigade, and, after riding sometime, I found on the road, approaching my command, Major-General Hindman and Brigadier-General Anderson, to whom my Aid had communicated my necessities and wishes. Being informed that Brigadier-General Deas' brigade would move to support my left, and that General Anderson was then advancing to fill up the vacancy on my right, I returned to my command with a view to driving the enemy from my flank, directed Dent's battery to open fire to the rear of the eminence, about six hundred yards to our right, on which r had seen the United States flag floating, and on which I left Kershaw's brigade advancing.

More than an hour had now been spent in this position, and I resolved to press forward my line, even before support reached me. I therefore proceeded to form my line, facing to the north,, along and in continuation of the north end of the field; Gregg's brigade on the right and Johnson's brigade on the left, extending through the corn field south of Villetoes' house and to the Crawfish road. My line being formed, I was advised that the enemy occupied the ridge beyond Villetoe's corn field and west of the Crawfish road, and it therefore became necessary to protect our left flank by skirmishers thrown out in that direction from Johnson's brigade. The advance commenced about the time Deas' brigade formed, facing to the west on the ridge we had just left. I directed Brigadier-General Deas to move his brigade directly to its front until his right flank should reach the position of my left, then to wheel to the right, sweeping the ridge west of the Crawfish road, and come up and form on the left of my line of battle.

The crest of the spur of Missionary Ridge north of Villetoe's house extends. east and west in its general direction, but crosses to the south about the middle. At the east and west ends of the crest are the most elevated points of the spurs. On the slope north of the west end is Snodgrass' house, at which were the Headquarters of Generals Rosecrans and Thomas during the latter part of the battle. Towards the south the slope from the crest is gradual for some distance in several places; and especially so at the west end, and terminates towards the cove in an abrupt, serrated declivity, presenting to our approach from the south several secondary spurs or knobs, with intervening short ravines. Along the crest of this spur the last desperate struggle of the northern army was made at the battle of Chickamauga.

Gregg's and Johnson's brigades, followed by Dent's and Everett's batteries, advanced in line towards the north, the left passing over the wagons, caissons, and pieces of artillery near Villetoe's house and reaching to the Crawfish road. There were a number of wounded Federals at Villetoe's house. The ladies of the family, who had taken shelter from danger on Saturday and Sunday beneath the floor, now burst forth and greeted our soldiers with slapping of hands and shouts of joy, presenting an impressive scene. The brow of the secondary spurs north of Villetoe's house were gained without resistance by Gregg's and Johnson's brigades, and by Anderson's, which had come up on our right, during our advance. The line was then halted, the alignment connected, and the two regiments of Gregg's brigade which were formed on the left of my line in the morning, now returned to their brigade. Four of Dent's Napoleon guns and Everett's battery of three guns were placed in position on the spur occupied by Johnson's brigade, and two pieces of Dent's battery were placed upon the hill with Gregg's brigade. There was now no support on the left of Johnson's brigade, though Deas' brigade was every moment expected there.

A few minutes before two o'clock P. M., after the artillery had opened fire, the order was given to advance from this position with a view of gaining the main crest of the ridge in our front, which was some thousand yard distant on our left, but, much nearer on our right on account of its curvature to the south in the middle. The enemy opened fire upon our left before it advanced one hundred yards. Our movement was, however, continued for a time, until my left formed a position in which it was enabled to hold the enemy in check. But the Federals moved up on our flank along a secondary spur, which united at the elevation at the west end of the main ridge with that upon which Johnson's brigade was fighting, and this movement was held in check some time by our troops firing obliquely to the left. The advance of Brigadier-General Anderson on our extreme right was a gallant and impetuous charge. It encountered a heavy force of the enemy posted in a strong position, from which they .poured a volume of fire that speedily repulsed the charge. Gregg's brigade gained the crest of the ridge, after a sharp contest, driving the foe down the northern slope of the ridge and delivering a damaging fire in the retreating masses; but the enemy returned to the attack, and there being now no support on our right, the line commenced