HEADQUARTERS SECOND
BRIGADE, THIRD DIVISION,
Chattanooga, Tenn., September 27, 1863.
CAPTAIN: I submit the
following report of the part taken by the Second Brigade,
Third Division, Fourteenth Army Corps, on the 19th and 20th
days of September, 1863:
On the night of the
18th instant this brigade, with the balance of the division.
Col. John T. Croxton, of the Fourth Regiment Kentucky
Infantry, commanding, marched from Morgan's Ford on the
Chickamauga Creek, in Walker County, Ga., along the
Chattanooga road, obliquing to the right where this road
intersects with the road leading to Ringgold.
The brigade was on the
march all night of the 18th instant; arrived in the vicinity
of the enemy about 6 o'clock in the morning of the 19th.
After halting and taking a hasty cup of coffee, firing was
heard in front; the column was immediately on the march
forward, on the Ringgold road. The colonel commanding was
here informed that a brigade of the enemy had been cut off,
and was immediately in our front, supposed to be in the
vicinity of the Chickamauga Creek. We advanced about 1 mile
on this road (Ringgold) and formed line of battle in the
woods, facing nearly east, the Seventy-fourth Indiana on the
right, Col. C. W. Chapman commanding; the Fourth Kentucky,
Lieut. Col. P. B. Hunt commanding, on the left; the Tenth
Indiana, Col. W. B. Carroll commanding, in the center, these
three regiments forming the front line; Fourteenth Ohio,
Lieut. Col. H.D. Kingsbury commanding; Tenth Kentucky, Col.
William H. Hays commanding, forming the reserve. Skirmishers
were thrown out in front, under command of Major Van Natta,
of the Tenth Indiana. They advanced but a short distance when
they were charged upon by the rebel cavalry, supposed to be
those under the command of Forrest. The skirmishers
immediately returned to the line. The advance line gave them
one volley, fixed bayonets, and charged, which caused them to
"skedaddle" in haste, with considerable loss.
The line of battle was
immediately reformed, and skirmishers advanced again under
command of the same officer, who soon after was wounded and
taken from the field. The skirmishers advanced about 500
yards, when they came in contact with the enemy's
skirmishers. After considerable firing on both sides, a flank
movement was discovered. The reserve regiments were at once
brought forward, the Fourteenth Ohio on the right and the
Tenth Kentucky on the left.
I was here ordered by
Colonel Croxton, commanding the brigade, to take command of
the right wing, leaving Lieutenant-Colonel Baker in command
of the Seventy-fourth Indiana.
An advance being
ordered, the troops moved forward steadily, and with a
determination to drive the enemy from the field, but, instead
of finding one brigade to contend with, we had the combined
forces of Longstreet and Breckinridge.
We succeeded in
checking them, but they soon recovered, and being in force
they soon commenced flanking us on the right. We were
compelled to fall back, which was done in good order.
A new line of battle
was now formed on the right, and nearly at right angles with
the first, for the purpose of meeting the flank movement
being made by the enemy, and again advanced this line,
driving the enemy before us a short distance. At this time,
our ammunition being nearly exhausted, we fell back to a
ridge and there held our position until we were relieved by
King's brigade of General Baird's division. The brigade then
returned to the rear of the battery (which had been ordered
back about 300 yards, to take position on a ridge commanding
an open field in our rear, so that if the enemy forced us
back beyond it the battery could rake them with grape and
canister), forming line of battle on the right and left of
it, and replenished the men with 60 rounds of ammunition. It
was in this last charge (before we were relieved by King's
brigade) that we lost very heavily in officers and men.
Colonel Carroll, Tenth Indiana, fell mortally wounded, and
Lieut. Col. P. B. Hunt was severely wounded in the leg. Both
were, however, brought from the field.
It soon became apparent
that the enemy was driving King's brigade. This brigade being
again ordered to advance, moved by the flank to the right (in
order that it might be unmasked by King's command) about 400
yards. The positions of the regiments were, viz: Fourteenth
Ohio on the right, Fourth Kentucky on its left,
Seventy-fourth Indiana on left of Fourth Kentucky, the Tenth
Indiana on left of Seventy-fourth, the Tenth Kentucky on left
of Tenth Indiana, and the Thirty-first Ohio,
Lieutenant-Colonel Lister commanding, which had been ordered
at the beginning of the action to our support, on the extreme
left. I was directed by Colonel Croxton to take command of
the right wing, he remaining on the left.
The enemy was now
approaching us en masse of not less than three columns, and
was giving us a heavy fire of grape and canister. The order
was given to charge, which was done in fine style, and with
the determination to drive the enemy, which they did, some
300 yards, capturing their battery of five guns and bringing
them from the field. In this charge the left of the brigade
retook seven pieces of artillery, five guns belonging to the
Indiana cavalry,(*) and two Parrotts of First Michigan, and
brought them off the field. There was a desperate struggle
for the ground, but, they being in such overpowering force,
and flanking us again on the right, we were compelled to fall
back, which we did in good order, and disputing every foot of
ground until we came to a good position, which we held until
relieved by Johnson's division.
In the last charge we
again lost heavily, as the list of killed and wounded will
show. It was in this charge that my horse was shot from under
me, and fell heavily upon me, breaking my arm and injuring me
seriously otherwise, but I continued on the field during the
balance of the day.
. . .
The brigade lost very
heavily in killed and wounded. See reports of regimental
commanders, copies of which I herewith submit.
I cannot close this
report without mentioning the manner in which the staff of
the colonel commanding the brigade acquitted themselves.
Lieut. Charles V. Ray, acting assistant adjutant-general;
Charles B. Mann, provost-marshal, who was seriously wounded
while carrying dispatches on the field; Capt. J. W. Riley,
topographical engineer; Wilbur F. Spofford, assistant
inspector-general, and John E. Simpson, aide-de-camp (who, I
regret to say, is among the missing, and is supposed to have
been captured), all did their duty, always found upon the
field in the thickest of the battle, and for the assistance
[they gave] me while in command of the brigade the first day,
I return them my thanks.
The total number of
casualties in the two days' fighting is: Officers killed, 5;
officers wounded, 48. Enlisted men killed, 120; enlisted men
wounded, 665. Officer missing, 1; enlisted men missing, 88.
Total killed, wounded, and missing,
The effective force of
the brigade was on the day of battle: Officers, 115; enlisted
men, 2,164. Battery officers, 4; enlisted men, 118.
Aggregate, 2,401.
Before closing this
report I must testify to the manner in which the officers of
the brigade conducted themselves on the trying occasion of
each day, and I refrain from particularizing individual
instances of heroic daring and gallantry, for where all do
their duty bravely and well, as the officers of this brigade
did on this occasion, it would be unjust and improper to make
distinctions and institute comparisons by which others
equally deserving and meritorious might be injured.
I have the honor to
be, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. W. CHAPMAN,
Colonel, Commanding Second Brigade.
[Capt. LOUIS J. LAMBERT,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Third Division.]
