Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 13.djvu/380

 Battle of Chickamauga, 379

brigade suffered severely, both in officers and men. Their conduct was most gratifying and needs no praise from me.

As the result of the afternoon's work, to which each brigade con- tributed its full share, I claim that we rescued the battery of Wright's brigade and the flag of one of his regiments; that twelve pieces of artillery were wrested from the enemy, from two to three hundred prisoners were captured, and several hundred stands of small arms secured and sent to the rear, and the enemy's line pierced near its centre and driven back beyond the Chattanooga road. Among the prisoners was Lieutenant-Colonel Von Schraden, Assistant Inspector General on the staff of the Federal General Thomas. Of the artillery actually captured, I am unable to ascertain how many pieces were ultimately secured. After night, Major Eldridge, Chief of Artillery, sent four pieces and one caisson beyond the Chickamauga.

The men being exhausted, and night approaching, after distributing ammunition, Brown's brigade was formed in Iront, facing the Chat- tanooga road; Clayton on the right and facing in that direction, as there were no troops of ours within half a mile of us towards the right. Bate's brigade on the left and in rear of Browns. During the night a number of stragglers from the ranks of the enemy were picked up and sent to the rear by my skirmishers or pickets. I should have stated that owing to the difficulties of the ground, its advantages being altogether with the enemy, it was found impracti- cable to use artillery. During the night the enemy were heard con- structing defences, and moving artillery towards his left.

After leaving General Bragg, as mentioned, I saw no officer whose rank was superior to my own for the rest of the day. Having been separated from the corps to which the division was attached, a staff officer was sent after night the earliest moment practicable to re- port to Major-General Buckner, who directed that we should remain in position until further orders.

Early the next morning, 2Oth, Lieutenant- General Longstreet, who had arrived during the night, came to see me, and informed me that I would receive my orders on that day directly from him, that the attack was to commence on our extreme right at daylight, was to be followed on the left, and gradually, or rather successively, to extend to the centre, and that I should move after the division on my right or the one on my left had moved according to circumstances. Ap- prising him of the fact that there were no troops to the right, at least within half a mile, he directed me to move something more^ quarter of a mile in that direction. This was done. Brown's