Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 07.djvu/598

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, December 3, 1863. Captain, Assistant Adjutant-General:

Captain—In obedience to orders from division headquarters, I submit the following report of the part taken by my brigade in the battle of Taylor's ridge.

Shortly after daylight on the morning of the 27th ultimo, General Cleburne ordered me to move my brigade through the gap in Taylor's ridge at Ringgold, and place my command so as to defend a road leading to his rear, and at same time place myself in communication with Seventh Texas regiment, placed on top of Taylor's ridge. This move was completed by 9 o'clock A. M. I went in person to the top of Taylor's ridge to see the commanding officer of the Seventh Texas regiment. Before arriving there I met a straggler, who told me the enemy were crossing Taylor's ridge to the right of General Cleburne's position. I immediately ordered up the First Arkansas regiment, and arriving in column at the top of the ridge, found the skirmishers of the enemy in twenty steps of the top, on the Ringgold side of the ridge. Firing commenced before the First Arkansas had formed line of battle, and continued during the entire time of bringing the regiment into position. After a stubborn contest for some half hour, I succeeded in driving the enemy back to the foot of the ridge, where they immediately formed, and, being heavily reinforced, commenced to move up the hill again. I now ordered up the fifth Confederate regiment, and General Lowry coming up with three of his regiments, arrested their approach. The enemy advancing up the hill, continued to oblique rapidly to the left. So I was compelled to move by the right flank to meet them. They advanced in column of regiments, and fought stubbornly, coming in twenty yards of my line. They were again repulsed with heavy loss, and fell back in the greatest confusion some distance beyond the foot of the ridge. In this attack the First Arkansas regiment took some twenty prisoners and two stands of colors. I could now see heavy columns of infantry approaching Ringgold by way of the railroad bridge. After a considerable delay, about 12 M., the enemy commenced moving a column rapidly by the left flank of a road running some two hundred yards from the foot of the ridge. I again moved by the right flank, and watched their movements.