Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 08.djvu/519

Rh (from the skirmishers I suppose,) but a few shots from Capt. McDuffee's company soon scattered them, he capturing eight prisoners. The regiment continued to advance, and soon had possession of the ridge, meeting with no resistance except a slight skirmish on the left, here it was the brave and gallant Capt. Eubanks fell mortally wounded, and three privates severely wounded. I put my regiment in position, with its left resting on the Chattanooga road, and some thirty or forty paces from the valley road. I was at this time notified to take command of the brigade. As each regiment arrived it was put in position; on the right, the Forty-seventh Alabama, the Fourth Alabama in the center, the Forty-fourth Alabama on its right, and the Fifteenth Alabama on the right of the brigade. I immediately put out videttes in front of each regiment, along the valley road, and one company from the Fifteenth Alabama on the right across the ridge. I then ordered commanders of regiments to have their men put up breast-works of rails, logs, &c., which was promptly done; here we remained perfectly quiet about one hour, when the videttes in front reported a column of Yankees advancing up the Valley road, from the direction of Brown's Ferry. Orders were given to let them advance till the head of the column was opposite the left of my line, which was done, when a well directed fire drove them back in confusion; in a short time he rallied, returned, and made an effort to charge the works on the ridge, when they were handsomely repulsed, and gave back in confusion; he must have suffered severely in this charge from the cries and groans of the wounded in our front. Being driven back he rallied and left the road, crossing a field in our front; the left wing of the Forty-eighth Alabama, and an Arkansas regiment on my left, opened fire upon him, and caused some confusion in his ranks. In a short time an attack was made on my right, (which rested some two hundred yards from the valley road, with thick undergrowth between our works and the road,) which was handsomely repulsed. In a few minutes another and more vigorous attack was made upon the right, meeting the same fate as the first attack. Being fearful of a flank attack I now strengthened the company on the right with two other companies, one from the Fifteenth, and one from the Forty-fourth Alabama. Shortly afterwards I was notified by one of the pickets on the right, that a column of Yankees had passed around my right near the river; I notified General Law of the fact, and he sent forward the Fourth Texas regiment, which was promptly placed in position on my right, by Capt. Terrell, A. A. G. In a few minutes after placing this regiment in position a vigorous attack was made upon the front of the Fourth, Forty-fourth and Fifteenth Alabama, some two or