Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 13.djvu/394

 Battle of Chickamauga. 393

mental commanders. My pride and satisfaction with the conduct of my entire brigade in the engagement could not be more complete. Officers and men each acted as if impressed with the feeling that the destinies of the country depended upon his own faithful, earnest and intelligent discharge of duty. I shall not attempt to particularize.

The only member of my staff with me during the whole day was Captain C. R. Holmes, Acting Adjutant-General. To him, as on all previous occasions of this character, I am greatly indebted for the most valuable and gallant services. He represented me on the right wing of my brigade.

I detailed Second Lieutenant H. L. Tarley to act as aide-de-camp, and cannot too highly commend his gallantry, activity and efficiency under the most trying circumstances. As an evidence of my appre- ciation, I detailed him to accompany the captured flags to Richmond. Lieutenant W. M. Dwight, Acting Adjutant and Inspector-General, joined me in the afternoon and aided me with his usual efficiency. In the absence of horses for myself and staff, I detailed one man from each regiment as orderlies to communicate with the command.

All of them rendered efficient service, and two, M. F. Milan, Com- pany A, Third South Carolina regiment, and Rawlins Rivers, Com- pany I, Second South Carolina regiment, were killed in the discharge of that duty. Rivers had attracted my notice by gallant and intelli- gent services in the same position at the battle of Fredericksburg.

I have the honor to be,

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

. J. B. KERSHAW,

Brigadier- General Commanding.

REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL B. R. JOHNSON.

HEADQUARTERS, CHATTANOOGA,

October 24th, 1863.

Major W. SELLERS,

Assistant Adjutant- General:

SIR, I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by the division under my command in the action of the Chick amauga:

At five o'clock A. M., September i8th, 1863, four brigades and