Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 07.djvu/171

Rh enemy opposite Lee and Gordon's mill. The troops marched rapidly, yet it was late in the afternoon before this movement was completed. The division was hardly in position when I received an order from the General commanding the army to move to the right, cross the Chickamauga at a point farther down, and occupy a position to be indicated. The division crossed at Alexander's bridge, and arriving between 10 and 11 o'clock at night at a field about a mile and half in the rear of the right of our line of battle, bivouacked there by order of Lieutenant-General Polk. Remaining some time at Lieutenant-General Polk's camp-fire, I left there two hours before daylight (the 20th) to place my command in position. During the night General Polk informed me that I was to prolong the line of battle upon the right of Major-General Cleburne. Conducted by Major ————, of his staff, and Lieutenant Reid, Aid-de-Camp to General Hill, my division reached Cleburne's right a little after daybreak. Upon the readjustment of his line, I formed on his right, and became the extreme right of the general line of battle. Helm was on the left of my line, Stovall in the centre and Adams on the right—the last extending across a country road leading from Reid's bridge and striking the Chattanooga road at a place called Glenn's farm. The country was wooded, with small openings, and the ground unknown to me. Our skirmishers, a few hundred yards in advance, confronted those of the enemy. Our line was supposed to be parallel with the Chattanooga road.

Soon after sunrise I received a note from Lieutenant-General Polk directing me to advance, and about the same time Major-General Cleburne, who happened to be with me, received one of the same tenor. Lieutenant-General Hill having arrived, the notes were placed in his hands. By his order the movement was delayed for the troops to get their rations, and on other accounts.

Dilworth, who had been relieved by a cavalry force late the preceding evening and who had marched all night, now arrived and took his place in line. At 9½ A. M., by order of Lieutenant-General Hill, I moved my division forward in search of the enemy. At a distance of seven hundred yards we came upon him in force, and the battle was opened by Helm's brigade with great fury.

The Second and Ninth Kentucky, with three companies of the Forty-first Alabama regiment, encountered the left of a line of breastworks before reaching the thethe [sic] Chattanooga road, and though assailing them with great courage, were compelled to pause. From some cause, the line of my left had not advanced simultaneously