Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 08.djvu/512

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, November 3rd, 1863.

Captain,—I have the honor to report that my brigade was detached about the 8th October for duty beyond Lookout mountain. The object of keeping a force in that locality, as I understood it, was to blockade the road leading from Chattanooga to Bridgeport, which passed near the point of Raccoon mountain, and on the opposite (or west) side of the Tennessee. This object was accomplished by placing riflemen along this bank of the river (which, at this point, is about three hundred yards wide,) to fire upon the enemy's wagon trains as they passed. In order to secure the riflemen who were engaged in blockading the road, it was necessary to picket the river from that point to the bend near the foot of Lookout mountain, a distance of five miles. This would either prevent the enemy from crossing above and cutting them off, or give them sufficient warning to enable them to withdraw. I employed two regiments in blockading the road and picketing the river, and held the remaining three, with a section of Barrett's battery in reserve, at a convenient point for reinforcing any part of the line. As the line was long, and necessarily weak, my principal security for holding it was in having a sufficient reserve to foil the enemy if he should attempt a crossing, by throwing it upon him before he could strengthen himself on this side.

On the 25th of October, by orders from division head-quarters, three of my regiments were withdrawn and brought to this side of Lookout, leaving the two on picket, and the section of artillery. Being notified that Brigadier-General Jenkins would be absent for a few days, from daylight on the 27th, and that I would be left in command of the division, I came to this side of the mountain, leaving Captain L. R. Terrell, A. A. General, as my representative to superintend the operations in Lookout Valley.

On the morning of the 27th, just before daylight, the enemy taking advantage of the fog, which was very dense, commenced the passage of the river at Brown's ferry. They crossed in two boats, carrying about forty men each. They were fired upon by the picket at that point, and the landing was resisted as long as possible. Information of the movement was in the meantime conveyed to Captain Terrell, who at once brought forward the reserve, consisting of about one hundred and