Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 13.djvu/388



Battle of Chickamauga. 337

REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL B. G. HUMPHREYS.

HEADQUARTERS BRIGADE, NEAR CHATTANOOGA, TENN.,

October 8th, 1863. Jo Major], M. GOGGIN,

Assistant Adjutant- General :

MAJOR, In obedience to orders I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken by this brigade in the action of the 2Oth of September:

The brigade arrived on the battlefield, at Alexander's Bridge, at two o'clock A. M. on the 2oth, from Western Virginia. About ten o'clock General Kershaw ordered me into line of battle on his left. Heavy firing was heard in our front, when we advanced in line parallel to the Lafayette road.

Crossing the road, we found the enemy on a hill at the edge of an old field. General Kershaw at once engaged him, and drove him from his position. At this time, General Bushrod Johnson rode up to me and requested me to move my brigade to General Kershaw's right, as the enemy was massing in that direction and threatening a flank movement. I immediately moved to General Kershaw's right, met the enemy in force, drove in his skirmishers and found him entrenched on a hill with artillery. After engaging him and reconnoitering his position, I found it impossible to drive him from it.

I immediately informed General Longstreet of the enemy's posi- tion and strength, and received orders from him to hold my position without advancing, while he sent a division to attack him on the right and left. The attack on my left was first made with doubtful success; the attack on my right was successfuf, driving the enemy from his position in great confusion. It was now dark, and no further pursuit was made.

I refer you to the accompanying lists of casualties. The brigade captured during the day over four hundred prisoners, five stands of colors and twelve hundred small arms. On the 22d, learning that a party of the enemy was on the mountain, near the gap at Rossville, I detached thirty men from the Eighteenth Regiment, and the com- mand of Captain Ratcliff, Company A, and Lieutenant Ottenburg, of Company K, to skirmish for them. They succeeded in capturing nine officers and one hundred and twenty men, making a total of