Colonel Charles E. Hooker, Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 12.2, Mississippi
Clement Anselm Evans, Ed.

[268] Ridge. Frequent battles, in which daring officers in their soldierly devotion exposed themselves recklessly until killed or disabled for life, made rapid promotion for those of lower grades, and frequently they in turn gave way to others below them. One cause of the undaunted courage of the soldiers of the Confederacy was the example of audacity set them by their gallant officers. The Atlanta campaign had barely started when the severe wounding of General Tucker, himself lately promoted, brought Colonel Sharp to the front and made him brigade commander. In his new sphere he displayed even more conspicuously the gallantry which had carried him so rapidly from one grade to another. At the battle of Ezra Church three new brigadier-generals came at once into prominence. Gen. John C. Brown, who on this occasion commanded Hindman's division, says in his report: ‘In the action Sharp's and Brantly's brigades acted with great gallantry.’ Again he says: ‘I must be pardoned for bearing testimony to the conspicuous gallantry of Brigadier-Generals Brantly, Sharp and Johnston, all of whom had received notice of their promotion a few moments before going into battle.’ Maj.-Gen. Patton Anderson, in a report of the operations of his division (formerly Hindman's), makes the following statement: ‘To the brigade commanders, Brantly, Sharp and Manigault, I am especially indebted for their prompt obedience to every order and cheerful co-operation in everything tending to promote the efficiency of their commands and the good of the service. Their sympathy, counsel and hearty co-operation lightened my burden of responsibility, and contributed to the esprit de corps, discipline and good feeling which happily pervaded the division, and without which the bravest troops in the world cannot be relied on.’ General Sharp led his brigade through the Tennessee campaign and afterward in the campaign of the Carolinas, fighting his last battle at Bentonville