Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 13.djvu/395

 394 Southern Historical Society Papers.

three batteries of artillery from Catoosa Station and vicinity of Ring- gold, Georgia, moved, under my command, with orders from head- quarters Army of Tennessee, to proceed via Pleasant Grove Church to Leet's lanyard. Law's brigade, under Colonel Sheffield, not having cooked its rations, was ordered to do so, and follow as promptly as possible. Benning's brigade was left, in compliance with orders, to guard the depot at Ringgold. My command then consisted of the following brigades, which moved in the order in which they are named, viz: Johnson's, McNair's, Gregg's and Rob- ertson's, with batteries, Everett's, Culpepper's and Bledsoe's, in the centre, and trains in rear of their respective brigades. The head of the column had not proceeded more than three miles on the road when a dispatch was received from Colonel Brent, headquarters Army of Tennessee, directing me, with the forces under my com- mand, to retrace my steps to the vicinity of Ringgold, and there to take the direct road to Reed's bridge, and to make a lodgment on the west bank of the Chickamauga Forrest's cavalry covering the front and right flanks of my column on the march from Ringgold. The command was promptly put on the new line of march, and soon after I received orders and the plan of operations, by which I was directed, as commander of the right column of the Army of Tennes- see, to attack the enemy in my front, in whatever force I might find them, and, after crossing Reed's bridge, to turn to the left by the most practicable route, and sweep up the Chickamauga towards Lee & Gordon's mill, while Major- Generals Walker and Buckner, cross- ing at Alexander's bridge and Tedford's Ford, were directed to join in my movement. The orders and plans of operations indicated that the attack on the enemy's left wing was expected to be initiated by the column under my command.

About eleven o'clock A. M., in compliance with orders previously received, I halted the column near Kuler's mill, on the Graysville and Lafayette road, four and a half miles from the former place. Captain Thompson, Assistant Chief of Artillery of General Bragg' s staff, re- ported to me at this point, with orders to move forward immediately, and through him my arrival and the hour thereof was reported to headquarters Army of Tennessee.

Being informed by citizens that the enemy was about one mile in advance, I formed a line of battle along the road McNair's, John- son's and Gregg's brigades in front, batteries in position, and Robert- son's brigade in reserve. While forming the line, Brigadier-General Forrest joined me with his escort, and proceeded to the front to