Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 11.
Reverend J. William Jones, Ed.

[315] considerably exposed to artillery fire during the day. Being informed by a staff officer of the commanding General, that General Hood, who had advanced to my right, was hard pressed, and being requested to reinforce him, as far as I could, I immediately, about 3 o'clock P. M., sent to his assistance the brigade of Colonel Trigg. The gallant and successful charge of this brigade drove back the advancing enemy and relieved the left of Hood, which was outflanked and retiring before the enemy's heavy attack. During the day both Stewart's division and Trigg's brigade had penetrated the enemy's line and passed beyond the Chattanooga road; but at night both were drawn back into positions which would conform to to the general line, which had pushed forward during the day's action. During the night of the 19th I materially strengthened the position on the left by entrenchments.

On the morning of the 20th, Lieutenant-General Longstreet assumed command of the left wing. About 2 o'clock in the afternoon he, in person, ordered me to conduct Preston's division— leaving one regiment and a battery to hold the left—to the Chattanooga road. Between 3 and 4 o'clock it was formed as follows: Gracie's and Kelly's brigades in two lines, at right angles to the road north of Brotherton's, and just in rear of Poe's, commonly called the ‘Burnt House’; Trigg's brigade just south of Brotherton's house, and supporting Williams's artillery. At this time Stewart was in line, his left advanced in front of Preston's right, his right receding, forming an obtuse angle with Preston's line. In his front was a heavy breastwork of logs, on the summit of a slight ridge heavily wooded and strongly held by the enemy's infantry and artillery. His right flank was opposite the angle of this work; his centre, facing towards the northwest, was opposed to the flank of the work, which was perpendicular to the road. On Stewart's right, in front of the face of the work, and parallel to the Chattanooga road, was Cleburne's division, of Hill's corps. Brigadier-General Law's brigade, of Hood's division, was in line perpendicular to the road to the left, and slightly in advance of Preston, and close by the burnt house (Poe's), near which was a battery of Hood's artillery. A personal reconnoissance, in company with the Lieutenant-General commanding, showed an advantageous position for artillery in front of Poe's burning house, from which point the enemy's main line, which fronted eastward, and was situated a little to the east of Kelly's field, was exposed to an enfilade fire, or rather to a fire slightly in reverse. His right flank, as before stated, was