Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 16.djvu/391

 The Battle of C hickamauga. 385

hand, after losing several horses and a number of artillerists. At that point we could make no further advance in consequence of greatly depleted ranks and want of artillery on our side, while the enemy was superior to us, five-fold in numbers, in position naturally stronger than ours, rendered stronger still by a rudely constructed breastwork of logs, with three batteries in full play upon our line. That position we held until the firing ceased at nightfall, when, being considerably in advance of the troops on our right, we were with- drawn some three hundred yards, and the whole line ordered to be dressed. The loss in killed and wounded on the igth was about one hundred ; probably one hundred prisoners captured.

We lay under arms that night with orders to be ready for action by dawn following, not however to advance and renew combat until firing should be heard nearing us on the right coming down the line, as it was not deemed advisable to press the enemy too hotly below his centre until General Folk's corps had driven his left (our right) across the Chattanooga road, so as to cut off the best road of retreat. For some reason, I have never learned, General Folk's troops did not begin the fight of Sunday, the 2oth, before 10 o'clock A. M., or very little before. At the appointed signal we began to advance, and had proceeded but a few hundred yards before coming up with a brigade (I think from Arkansas) at a halt. We passed it, obliquing somewhat to the left, and soon engaged the enemy. Six regiments of infantry were supporting a battery of four (4) guns ; at least, in capturing the battery (which we did), six infantry regiments had representatives among the prisoners, besides the artillerists. In charging this battery it was that General Benning had his horse killed under him. With his pocket-knife he cut the traces, etc., of another from a caisson, mounted him bareback, and in a few moments, so mounted, led another charge upon a battery of four (4) guns, which was also captured by his brigade. The officer in command of that battery stood to his post, discharging his pistol as we advanced until we were within twenty feet of him, when he fired at and shot down a private of Captain Breazeal's Company, A (I regret that I cannot recall his name, though I knew him well), who was rushing a few feet in advance (and directly in advance of myself) for the colors. That shot emptied the officer's pistol. Then it was he pro- posed surrender. Before I could tell him that his conduct was, in effect, raising the " black- flag" he was riddled with bullets. Flight was as dangerous as standing, and he doubtless determined to do all the harm he could, then take his chances for safety in surrender. I