the positions and condition of their commands heard, and orders given for the disposition of the troops for the following day. Thomas's corps, with the troops which had reenforced him, was to maintain substantially his present line, with Brannan in reserve. Orders were sent to General Negley to move his division from Crawfish Springs and above, where he had been holding the line of the Chickamauga, to Widow Glenn's, to be held in reserve to give succor wherever it might be required, at half- McCook, maintaining his picket-line till it was past four P.M. He reported with his division, driven in, was to close on Thomas, his right reand as the indications that our centre was being fused, and covering the position at Widow Glenn's. driven became clearer he was despatched in that house, and Crittenden to have two divisions in direction, and soon found the enemy had dis-reserve near the junction of McCook's and lodged Van Cleve from the line, and was forming Thomas's lines, to be able to succor either. there even while Thomas was driving his right. Plans having been explained, written orders Orders were promptly given Negley to attack him, which he soon did, and drove him steadily until night closed the combat. General Brannan, having repulsed the enemy on our extreme left, was sent by General Thomas to support the centre, and at night took a position on the right of Reynolds. Colonel Wilder's brigade of mounted infantry occupied during the day a position on the La Fayette road, one mile north of Gordon's Mill, where he had taken position on the afternoon previous, when, contesting the ground step by step, he had been driven by the enemy's advance from Alexander's bridge. given to each, and read in the presence of all, the wearied corps commanders returned about midnight to their commands. No firing took place during the night. The troops had assumed position when day dawned. The sky was red and sultry. The atmosphere and all the woods enveloped in fog and smoke. As soon as it was sufficiently light, I proceeded, accompanied by General Garfield and some aids, to inspect the lines. I found General McCook's right too far upon the crest, and General Davis in reserve on a wooded hill-side west of and parallel to the Dry Valley road. I mentioned these defects to the Minty's cavalry had been ordered from the General, desiring Davis's division to be brought same position about noon of the nineteenth to down at once, moved more to the left and placed report to Major-General Granger at Rossville, in close column by division doubled in the centre which he did at daylight on the twentieth, and in a sheltered position. was posted near Mission Mills, to hold in check I found General Crittenden's two divisions the enemy's cavalry on their right from the direc-massed at the foot of the same hill, in the valley, tion of Ringgold and Greysville. and called his attention to it, desiring them to be moved further to the left. The reserve corps covered the approaches from the Chickamauga toward Rossville, and the extension of our left. The roar of battle hushed in the darkness of night, and our troops, weary with a night of marching and a day of fighting, rested on their arms, having everywhere maintained their positions, developed the enemy, and gained thorough command of the Rossville and Dry Valley roads to Chattanooga, the great objects of the battle of the nineteenth of September. General Thomas's troops were in the position indicated, except Palmer's line was to be closed more compactly. Satisfied that the enemy's first attempt would be on our left, orders were despatched to General Negley to join General Thomas, and to General McCook to relieve Negley. Returning to the right I found Negley had not moved, nor were McCook's troops coming in to relieve him. Negley was preparing to withdraw his two brigades from the line. He was ordered to send his reserve brigade immediately and follow it with the others, only when relieved on the line of battle. General Crittenden, whose troops were nearest, was ordered to fill General Negley's place at once, and General McCook was notified of this We also had indubitable evidence of the pre-order, growing out of the necessity of promptly sence of Longstreet's corps, and Johnson's forces, by the capture of prisoners from each. The battle had secured us these objects. Our flanks covered the Dry Valley and Rossville roads, while our cavalry covered the Missionary Ridge and the valley of Chattanooga Creek, into which latter place our spare trains had been sent on Friday the eighteenth. And the fact that at the close of the day, we had present but two brigades, which had not been opportunely and squarely in action, opposed to superior numbers of the enemy, assured us that we were greatly outnumbered, and that the battle the next day must be for the safety of the army and the possession of Chattanooga. THE BATTLE OF THE TWENTIETH. During the evening of the nineteenth, the corps commanders were assembled at headquarters at Widow Glenn's house, the reports of sending Negley to Thomas. Proceeding to the extreme right, I felt the disadvantages of its position, mentioned them to General McCook, and, when I left him, enjoined on him that it was an indispensable necessity that we should keep closed to the left, and that we must do so at all hazards. On my return to the position of General Negley, I found to my astonishment that General Crittenden had not relieved him, Wood's division having reached the position of Negley's reserves. Peremptory orders were given to repair this, and Wood's troops moved into position, but this delay subsequently proved of serious conse quence. The battle began on the extreme left at half-past eight A.M., and it was forty-five minutes past nine o'clock when Negley was relieved. An aid arriving from General Thomas requesting that Negley's remaining brigades be sent forward as speedily as possible to succor the left, General Crittenden was ordered to move Van Cleve with all possible despatch, to a position in the rear of Wood, who closed in on Brannan's right. General McCook was ordered to move up to close in on Wood, and fill an opening in the line. On my return from an examination of the ground in the rear of our left centre, I found to my surprise that General Van Cleve was posted in line of battle on a high ridge, much too far to the rear to give immediate support to the main line of battle, and General Davis in line of battle in rear of the ridge occupied by General Negley's reserve in the morning. General Crittenden was ordered to move Van Cleve at once down the hill to a better position, and General Davis was also ordered to close up the support of the line near Wood's right. The battle, in the mean while, roared with increasing fury and approach from the left to the centre. Two aids arrived successively within a few minutes from General Thomas, asking for reenforcements. The first was directed to say that General Negley had already gone and should be nearly at hand at that time, and that Brannan's reserve brigade was available. The other was directed to say that General Van Cleve would at once be sent to his assistance, which was accordingly done. A message from General Thomas soon follow ed that he was heavily pressed, Captain Kellogg, A. D.C., the bearer, informing me at the same time that General Brannan was out of line, and General Reynolds's right was exposed. Orders were despatched to General Wood to close up on Reynolds, and word was sent to General Thomas that he should be supported, even if it took away the whole corps of Crittenden and McCook. General Davis was ordered to close on General Wood, and General McCook was advised of the state of affairs, and ordered to close his whole command to the left with all despatch. General Wood, overlooking the direction to "close up" on General Reynolds, supposed he was to support him by withdrawing from the line and passing to the rear of General Brannan, who, it appears, was not out of line, but was in echelon, and slightly in rear of Reynolds's right. By this unfortunate mistake a gap was opened in the line of battle, of which the enemy took instant advantage, and striking Davis in flank and rear, as well as in front, threw his whole division in confusion. The same attack shattered the right brigade of Wood before it had cleared the space. The right of Brannan was thrown back, and two of his batteries, then in movement to a new division, were taken in flank and thrown back through two brigades of Van Cleve, then on the march to the left, throwing his division into confusion, from which it never recovered until it reached Rossville. While the enemy poured in through this breach, a long line, stretching beyond Sheridan's right, was advancing. Lerbold's brigade shared in the rout of Davis. Sheridan's other two brigades in movement toward the left, under orders to support Thomas, made a gallant charge against the enemy's advancing column, but were thrown into disorder by the enemy's line advancing on their flank, and were likewise compelled to fall back, rallying on the Dry Valley road, and repulsing the enemy, but they were again compelled to yield to superior numbers, and retired westward of the Dry Valley, and by a circuitous route reached Rossville, from which they advanced by the La Fayette road to support our left. Thus Davis's two brigades, one of Van Cleve's, and Sheridan's entire division were driven from the field, and the remainder, consisting of the divisions of Baird, Johnson, Palmer, Reynolds, Brannan, and Wood, two of Negley's brigades, and one of Van Cleve's, were left to sustain the conflict against the whole power of the rebel army, which, desisting from pursuit on the right, concentrated their whole effort to destroy them. At the moment of the repulse of Davis's division, I was standing in rear of his right, waiting the completion of the closing of McCook's corps to the left. Seeing confusion among Van Cleve's troops, and the distance Davis's men were falling back, and the tide of battle surging toward us, the urgency for Sheridan's troops to intervene became imminent, and I hastened, in person, to the extreme right, to direct Sheridan's movement on the flank of the advancing rebels. It was too late. The crowd of returning troops rolled back, and the enemy advanced. Giving the troops directions to rally behind the ridges west of the Dry Valley road, I passed down it, accompanied by General Garfield, Major McMichael, and Major Bond, of my staff, and a few of the escort, under a shower of grape, canister, and musketry for two or three hundred yards, and attempted to rejoin General Thomas and the troops sent to his support, by passing to the rear of the broken portion of our line, but found the routed troops far toward the left, and hearing the enemy's advancing musketry and cheers, I became doubtful whether the left had held its ground, and started for Rossville. On consultation and further reflection, however, I determined to send General Garfield there, while I went to Chattanooga, to give orders for the security of the pontoon-bridges at Battle Creek and Bridgeport, and to make preliminary disposition either to forward ammunition and supplies, should we hold our ground, or to withdraw the troops into good position. General Garfield despatched me from Rossville, that the left and centre still held its ground. General Granger had gone to its support. General Sheridan had rallied his division, and was advancing toward the same point, and General Davis was going up the Dry Valley road to our right. General Garfield proceeded to the front, remained there until the close of the fight, and despatched me the triumphant defence our troops there made against the assaults of the enemy. The fight on the left after two P.M., was that of the army. Never, in the history of this war at least, have troops fought with greater energy and determination. Bayonet-charges, often heard of, but seldom seen, were repeatedly made by brigades and regiments, in several of our divisions. After the yielding and severance of the division of the right, the enemy bent all efforts to break the solid portion of our line. Under the pressure of the rebel onset, the flanks of the line were gradually retired until they occupied strong, advantageous ground, giving to the whole a flattened crescent shape. From one to half-past three o'clock, the unequal contest was sustained throughout our line. Then the enemy, in overpowering numbers, flowed around our right, held by General Brannan, and occupied a low gap in the ridge of our defensive position, which commanded our rear. The moment was critical. Twenty minutes more and our right would have been turned, our position taken in reverse, and probably the army routed. Fortunately, Major-General Granger, whose troops had been posted to cover our left and rear, with the instinct of a true soldier and a General, hearing the roar of battle on our left, and being beyond the reach of orders from the General Commanding, determined to move to its assistance. He advanced and soon encountered the enemy's skirmishers, whom he disregarded, well knowing that, at that stage of the conflict, the battle was not there. Posting Colonel Daniel McCook's brigade to take care of any thing in the vicinity and beyond the left of our line, he moved the remainder to the scene of action, reporting to General Thomas, who directed him to our suffering right. Arrived in sight, General Granger discovered at once the peril, and the point of danger-the gap-and quick as thought he directed his advance brigade upon the enemy. General Steadman, taking a regimental color, led the column. Swift was the charge and terrible the conflict, but the enemy was broken. A thousand of our brave men, killed and wounded, paid for its possession, but we held the gap. Two divisions of Longstreet's corps confronted the position. Determined to take it, they successively came to the assault. A battery of six guns, placed in the gorge, poured death and slaughter into them. They charged to within a few yards of the pieces, but our grape and canister and the leaden hail of our musketry, delivered in sparing but terrible volleys from cartridges taken, in many instances, from the boxes of their fallen companions, was too much even for Longstreet's men. About sunset they made their last charge, when our men, being out of ammunition, rushed on them with the bayonet, and they gave way to return no more. The fury of the conflict was nearly as great on the fronts of Brannan and Wood, being less furious toward the left. But a column of the enemy VOL. VII.-Doc. 15 had made its way to near our left and to the right of Colonel McCook's position. Apprised of this, General Thomas directed Reynolds to move his division from its position, and, pointing out the rebels, told him to go in there. To save time, the troops of Reynolds were faced by the rear rank, and moved with the bayonet at a double-quick, and with a shout walked over the rebels, capturing some five hundred. This closed the battle of the twentieth. At nightfall the enemy had been repulsed along the whole line, and sunk into quietude, without attempting to renew the combat. General Thomas, considering the excessive labors of the troops, the scarcity of ammunition, food, and water, and having orders from the General Commanding to use his discretion, determined to retire on Rossville, where they arrived in good order, took post before morning, receiving supplies from Chattanooga, and offering the enemy battle during all the next day, and repulsing his reconnoissance. On the night of twenty-first we withdrew from Rossville, took firm possession of the objective point of our campaign-Chattanooga―and prepared to hold it. The operations of the cavalry during the battles on the nineteenth were very important. General Mitchell, with three brigades, covered our right flank along the line of the Chickamauga, above Crawfish Springs, against the combined efforts of the great body of the rebel cavalry, whose attempts to cross the stream they several times repulsed. Wilder fought dismounted near the centre, intervening two or three times with mountain howitzers and Spencer rifles very opportunely. On the twentieth, Minty covered our left and rear at Missionary Mills, and later in the day on the Ringgold road. General Mitchell, with his three brigades, covered our extreme right, and with Wilder, after its repulse, extended over Missionary Ridge, held the whole country to the base of Lookout Mountain, and all our trains, artillery, caissons, and spare wagons, sent there for greater safety, retiring from the field. He was joined by Post's brigade of Davis's division, which had not closed on the army, and was not in action. On the twenty-first the cavalry still covered our right as securely as before, fighting and holding at bay very superior numbers. The number of cavalry combats during the whole campaign have been numerous, and the successes as numerous, but the army could not have dispensed with those of the nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty-first. OUR ARTILLERY fired fewer shots than at Stone River, but with even greater effect. I cannot but congratulate the country on the rapid improvement evinced in this arm of the service. Our loss of pieces is in part attributable to the rough wooded ground in which we fought and the want of experience in posting artillery, and partly to the unequal nature of the contest, our infantry being heavily outnumbered. For the details of these actions, the innumera- outnumbered, yet we foiled the enemy's flank ble instances of distinguished bravery, skill, and movement on our left, and secured our own posigallantry displayed by officers of every rank, tion on the road to Chattanooga. The battle of and above all for self-reliant, cool, and steady the twentieth was fought with all the troops we courage displayed by the soldiers of the army, had, and but for the extension and delay in closin all arms, in many instances even shining ing in our right, we should probably have driven above that of their officers, I must refer to the the enemy, whom we really beat on the field. I accompanying reports of the corps, division, bri- am fully satisfied that the enemy's loss largely gade, regimental, and battery commanders. The exceeds ours. reports of the cavalry command are not in, for the best of all reasons, that they have been out nearly ever since, writing with their sabres on the heads and backs of the enemy. The signal corps has been growing into usefulness and favor daily for the last four months, and now bids fair to become one of the most esteemed of the staff services. It rendered very important service from the time we reached the valley of the Tennessee. For its operations I refer to the report of Captain Jesse Merrill, Chief Signal Officer. Our medical corps proved very efficient during the whole campaign, and especially during and subsequent to the battle. A full share of praise is due to Dr. Glover Perin, Medical Director of the Department, ably assisted by Dr. Grose, Medical Director of the Fourteenth, Dr. Perkins, Twentieth, and Dr. Phelps, Twenty-first army corps. It is my duty to notice the services of those faithful officers who have none but myself to mention them. To Major-General Thomas, the true soldier, the prudent and undaunted commander, the modest and incorruptible patriot, the thanks and gratitude of the country are due for his conduct at the battle of Chickamauga. Major-General Granger, by his promptitude, arrived and carried his troops into action in time to save the day. He deserves the highest praise. Major-General McCook, for the care of his command, prompt and willing execution of orders, to the best of his ability, deserves this testimonial of my approbation. I bear testimony, likewise, to the high-hearted, noble Major-General Crittenden. Prompt in the moving and reporting the position of his troops, always fearless in the field of battle, I return my thanks for the promptness and military good sense with which he sent his division toward the noise of battle on the nineteenth. To Brigadier-General James A. Garfield, Chief of Staff, I am especially indebted for the clear and ready manner in which he seized the points of action and movement, and expressed in orders the ideas of the General Commanding. Colonel J. C. McKibben, A. D. C., always efficient, gallant, and untiring, and fearless in battle. Lieutenant-Colonel A. C. Ducat, brave, prompt, and energetic in action. A very great meed of praise is due Captain Horace Porter, of the ordnance, for the wise system of arming each regiment with arms of the same calibre, and having the ammunition-wagons properly marked, by which most of the difficulties in supplying ammunition where troops had exhausted it in battle were obviated. From this report will be seen that we expended two million six hundred and fifty thousand rounds of musket-cartridges, seven thousand three hundred and twenty-five rounds of cannon ammunition. We lost thirty-six pieces of artillery, twenty caissons, eight thousand four hundred and fifty stand of small arms, five thousand eight hundred and thirty-four infantry accoutrements, being twelve thousand six hundred and and seventy-five rounds less of artillery, and six hundred and fifty thou-battle. sand rounds more of musketry than at Stone River. From the report of Lieutenant-Colonel Wiles, Provost-Marshal General, it will be seen that we took two thousand and three prisoners. We have missing, of which some six hundred have escaped and come in, and probably seven hundred or eight hundred are among the killed and wounded. Of our wounded about two thousand five hundred fell into the hands of the enemy, swelling the balance of prisoners against us to about five thousand five hundred. It is proper to observe that the battle of Chickamauga was absolutely necessary to secure our concentration and cover Chattanooga. It was fought in a country covered with woods and undergrowth, and wholly unknown to us. Every division came into action opportunely, and fought squarely on the nineteenth. We were largely Major Frank S. Bond, Senior A. D. C.; Captain J. P. Drouillard, A. D. C.; Captain R. S. Thoms, A. D. C., deserve very honorable mention for the faithful and efficient discharge of their appropriate duties always, and especially during the Colonel James Barnett, Chief of Artillery; Lieutenant-Colonel S. Simmons, Chief Commissary; Lieutenant-Colonel H. C. Hodges, Chief Quartermaster; Dr. G. Perin, Medical Director; Captain Horace Porter, Chief of Ordnance; Captain William E. Merrill, Chief Topographical Engineer; Brigadier-General J. St. Clair Morton, were all in the battle and discharged their duties with ability and to my entire satisfaction. Colonel William J. Palmer, Fifteenth Pennsylvania cavalry, and his command, have rendered very valuable services in keeping open communications and watching the movements of the enemy, which deserve my warmest thanks. Lieutenant-Colonel W. M. Ward, with the Tenth Ohio, Provost and Headquarter Guard, rendered efficient and valuable services, especially on the twentieth, in covering the movement of retiring trains on the Dry Valley road, and stopping the stragglers from the fight. Captain sion marched six miles on the Trenton road from Garner and the escort deserve mention for untir- Shellmound. ing energy in carrying orders. September 4.-Negley's division camped at Brown's Spring, at the foot of Sand Mountain, in Lookout Valley; Brannan's division at Gordon's Mill, on Sand Mountain; Reynolds's division at foot of Sand Mountain, two miles from Trenton; Baird's division crossed the river at Bridgeport, and camped at that point. Lieutenant-Colonel Goddard, A. A. G.; Lieutenant-Colonel William M. Wiles, Provost-Marshal General; Major William McMichael, A. A. G.; Surgeon H. H. Sexes, Medical Inspector; Captain D. G. Swaim, A. A. G., Chief of the Secret Service; Captain William Farear, A. D. C.; Captain J. H. Young, Chief Commissary of Musters; September 5.-Corps headquarters at Moore's Captain A. S. Burt, Acting Assistant Inspector- Spring. First division (Baird's) arrived at Moore's General; Captain Hunter Brooke, Acting Judge- Spring. Negley's division still in camp at Brown's Advocate; Captain W. C. Margendant, Acting Spring. He reports having sent forward a reconTopographical Engineer; Lieutenant George Bur- noissance of two regiments of infantry and a secroughs, Topographical Engineer; Lieutenant tion of artillery to scour the country toward ChatWilliam Porter, Acting A. D. C.; Lieutenant tanooga, and secure some captured stores near James Reynolds, Acting A. D. C.; Lieutenant Macon Iron-Works. They captured some confedM. J. Kelley, Chief of Couriers; Assistant Sur-erate army supplies. No report from Brannan's geon D. Bache, were on the field of battle, and there and elsewhere discharged their duties with zeal and ability. I must not omit Colonel J. P. Sanderson of the regular infantry, who, having lately joined us, on those two days of battle acted as Aid-deCamp, and carried orders to the hottest portions of the field. Of those division and brigade commanders whose gallantry, skill, and services were prominent, individual special mentions accompany this report. A list of names of these, and others of every grade, whose conduct, according to the reports of their commanders, observes special praise, is also herewith sent. W. S. ROSECRANS, REPORT OF MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS. HEADQUARTERS FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS, CHATTANOOGA, TENN., Sept. 30, 1863. GENERAL: I have the honor to report the operations of my corps from the first of September up to date, as follows, namely, General Brannan's (Third) division crossed the Tennessee River at Battle Creek; General Reynolds's (Fourth) division at Shellmound; General Baird ordered to cross his (First) division at Bridgeport, and to move to Taylor's Store; General Negley's (Second) division to cross the river at Culperton's Ferry, and to report at Taylor's Store also. division. Reynolds's division in camp at Trenton; Brannan somewhere in the neighborhood. Corps headquarters at Warren's Mill. September 6.- Baird's division encamped at Warren's Mill. Negley's division reached Johnson's Crook. Beatty's brigade was sent up the road to seize Stevens's Gap; met the enemy's pickets, and it being dark, did not proceed further. The Eighteenth Ohio, of Negley's division, went to the top of Lookout Mountain beyond Paine's Mills; met the enemy's pickets, and dis persed them." The head of Brannan's division reached Lookout Valley two miles below Trenton. Reynolds's division in camp at Trenton. Rumors of the enemy's design to evacuate Chattanooga. Corps headquarters at Brown's Spring. September 7.-Baird's division closed up with Negley's in the mouth of Johnson's Crook. Negley gained possession of the top of the mountain, and secured the forks of the road. Brannan's division reached Trenton. Reynolds remained in camp at that place. Corps headquarters still at Brown's Spring. September 8.-Baird's division remained in its camp of yesterday, at the junction of Hurricane and Lookout Creeks. Negley's division moved up to the top of Lookout Mountain, at the head of Johnson's Crook, one brigade occupying the pass; another brigade was sent forward and seized Cooper's Gap, sending one regiment to the September 2.-General Baird's division moved foot of the Gap to occupy and hold it. One reto Widow's Creek. General Negley reports hav-giment was also sent forward to seize Stevens's ing arrived at Moore's Spring, one and a quarter Gap, which was heavily obstructed with fallen miles from Taylor's Store, and two miles from trees. Brannan's division occupied the same poBridgeport. He was ordered to cross the moun-sition as last night. Reynolds's division headquartain at that point, it being the most direct route to Trenton, in the vicinity of which the corps was ordered to concentrate. ters at Trenton, with one brigade at Paine's Mill, three miles south of Trenton. Headquarters of the corps still at Brown's Spring. September 3.-Headquarters of the Fourteenth September 9.-Baird's division moved across army corps moved from Bolivar Springs at six Lookout Mountain to the support of Negley. A.M., via Culperton's Ferry to Moore's Spring, on Negley's division moved across the mountain and the road from Bridgeport to Trenton. Baird's di- took up a position in McLemore's Cove, near Rovision reached Bridgeport but could not cross, in gers's farm, throwing out his skirmishers as far as consequence of damage to the bridge. Negley's Bailey's Cross-Roads. Saw the enemy's cavalry division marched to Warren Mill, on the top of in front, drawn up in line. Citizens reported a Sand Mountain, on the road to Trenton. Bran- heavy force concentrated in his front at Dug nan's division reached Graham's Store, on the road Gap, consisting of infantry, cavalry, and artillery. from Shellmound to Trenton. Reynolds's divi-Brannan's division in same camp as yesterday. |