Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 12.djvu/397

 General Bragg and the Chickamauga Campaign. 387

the 1 2th and to attack on the Peavine Church on Greysville road on the morning of the 13th. He had no orders to find and attack Crit- tenden on the I2th, nor, when found at Lee and Gordon's Mills on the 13th, was he ordered to cross the Chickamauga and attack him there.

EXTRACT FROM GENERAL BRAGG S REPORT.

Our movement having thus failed in its justly anticipated results, it was determined to turn upon the Third corps of the enemy, approaching us from the direction of Chattanooga. The forces were accordingly with- drawn to Lafayette, and Polk's and Walker's corps were moved imme- diately in the direction of Lee and Gordon's Mills. The one corps of the enemy in this direction was known to be divided — one division having been sent to Ringgold. Upon learning the dispositions of the enemy from our cavalry commander in that direction on the afternoon of the twelfth, Lieutenant-General Polk, commanding the advance forces, was directed in the following note :

Headquarters Army Tennessee, Lafayette, Ga.,6 P. M.,Sept. 12. Lieutenant General Polk :

General, — I enclose you a dispatch from General Pegram. This presents you a fine opportunity of striking Crittenden in detail, and I hope you will avail yourself of it at daylight to-morrow. This division crushed, and the others are yours. We can then turn on the force in the cove. Wheeler's cavalry will move on Wil- der so as to cover your right. I shall be delighted to hear of your success. Very truly yours,

Bra.xton Bragg.

To attack at daylight on the 13th. Upon further information, the order was renewed in two notes, at later hours of the same day, as follows:

extract from general critten. den's report. September 11, at i A. M. — The General commanding feeling uncer- tain about the position and strength of the enemy in our front, ordered me to proceed to the front at once- Was misled by the guide and did not reach my command until si.x A. M. ; and two of my orderlies on duty with Captain McCook in search of me, thinking I had taken the wrong road, were captured, he narrowly escap- ing. Early in the morning. Colonel Harker, with his brigade, was moved back to Rossville, and by night made a reconnoissance up the Rossville road, as far as Gordon's Mills, driv- ing squads of the enemy before him. At half-past two P. M., gave General Wood his orders through one of my staff, who received them in person from Department Headquarters to move his other brigade at once to Gordon's Mills to support Colonel Harker, and at hve P. M. my staff of- ficer reported to me at Rmggold. My entire Second and Third divisions were then at Ringgold. General Hazen, with his brigade, having crossed the river yesterday, rejoined his division (Palmer's) to-day. Col- onel Deck, with Second brigade, Van Cleve's division, (left at McMinn- ville to guard stores,) rejoined his command on the ninth. Your in- structions received at this time, and dated a quarter-past nine A. M, were to move with the balance of my corps on the Chickamauga and Pea Vine Valley roads, keeping in view two