Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 13.djvu/397

 396 Southern Historical Society Papers.

the line of battle, extending across the right-hand or western road, to move forward.

General Hood, however, here took command, and directed one regiment of Gregg's brigade to be marched in line of battle, extend- ing across the left-hand or eastern road; the other regiments of the command to be moved in rear along that road in column of com- panies. Marching in this order, we proceeded rapidly past a burning house near Alexander's Ford, penetrating between the enemy and the Chickamauga to a point nearly opposite their centre, about two miles and a half from the steam saw-mill, and about one mile west of Dalton's Ford, when, in the darkness of the evening, the skirmishers at the head of the column became engaged, and Gregg's brigade was immediately deployed under a sharp fire, which wounded three men, one (First Sergeant of Company D, Seventh Texas regiment) mortally. McNair's and Johnson's brigades were immediately de- ployed, facing southwest, and supporting Gregg's brigade. Robert- son's brigade formed a line near the wagon train in rear, facing northwest, while the Forty-fourth Tennessee regiment, of Johnson's brigade, remained as rear-guard of the train. Our front line was now about eight hundred yards from Vinyard's house, on the road from Chattanooga to Lee & Gordon's mill. The whole Yankee army was in our front mainly at Lee & Gordon's mill on our right flank and rear, while our army was still on the east side of the Chickamauga. My command was the first to cross the stream, and none of our troops crossed at any point until our column had swept the west bank in front of their respective places of crossing. One- third of our forces was required to remain awake during the night, and the rest slept upon their arms.

Obstructions to cavalry were hastily placed in our front, skirmish- ers were thrown out to the field east of Vinyard's house, one hun- dred and fifty yards in front of our left flank, and scouts were sent out nearly to the road to Lee & Gordon's mill.

September igth, 1863. On making an examination of our posi- tion, early in the morning, I discovered that our skirmishers were within one hundred and fifty yards of General Preston's division, which had crossed the Chickamauga at Dalton's Ford during the night; that our line was in front, and nearly perpendicular to his, and that most of our army had crossed at points lower down, placing our column near the left of our army. Major Robertson, with his eight pieces of artillery, was now detached from my command, and Rob- ertson's brigade was united with the other brigades of Hood's divi-