HEADQUARTERS POLK'S CORPS, ARMY OF TENNESSEE, COLONEL: In reply to your communication* I would respectfully submit to the commanding general the following statement, explanatory of the failure to make an attack upon the enemy, as ordered, at daylight on the 20th: After leaving army headquarters on the night of the 19th, where I received a verbal order to attack the enemy at daylight, I rode immediately to my headquarters, beyond Alexander's Bridge, where I arrived 11 p. m: On the way, accompanied by General Breckinridge, I met with a staff officer of Lieutenant-General Hill, to whom I communicated my orders, and from whom I learned that General Hill's headquarters were at Thedford's Ford. I asked him to say to General Hill that my headquarters were beyond and near to Alexander's Bridge, and that I desired to see him there. On arriving at my headquarters, I issued orders, dated 11.30 [o'clock], to Lieutenant-General Hill and Major-General Cheatham to attack the enemy simultaneously at daylight, General Walker's division being held in reserve. I also posted two couriers at the bridge to keep up fires and inform persons where my headquarters were. My orders were sent by couriers to the headquarters of the respective generals-General Hill's to Thedford's Ford. The couriers to Generals Cheatham and Walker returned promptly. The courier sent to General Hill, after searching for the general through the night, returned about daylight, saying that he could not find him. General Hill did not make his appearance at my headquarters. Hearing nothing of the attack, and not knowing where to find General Hill, I sent staff officers in haste directly to Generals Breckinridge and Cleburne, with information that General Hill could not be found, and with orders to make the attack at once, and rode myself to the front. Shortly afterward I received, in reply to these orders, a communication from General Hill, stating that his divisions were getting their rations, and would not be ready to move for an hour or more, and also reporting that Breckinridge's wagons had been lost between Thedford's Ford and the battle-field. On reaching General Hill's line, I saw General Cleburne, of General Hill's corps, and asked if he had received my order to attack. He said he had received it in the presence of General Hill. I found also that General Hill had delayed his attack in consequence of a misapprehension on his part as to the relation between his line and that of General Cheatham, he supposing that Cheatham's line was formed, as he said, on his left at nearly a right angle to his own. In this he was mistaken. The relation of the lines were such as is indicated in the accompanying diagram.t General Hill mistook the line of one of Cheatham's reserve brigades (Jackson's) for that of his front line. The order to attack was then repeated and executed. Respectfully, colonel, your obedient servant, L. POLK, Lieut. Col. GEORGE WILLIAM BRENT, * See p. 54. COLONEL: In my reply to your note of the 22d, asking for the reasons of the failure to attack the enemy at daylight on Sunday, the 20th, there occurs this passage: "My orders were sent by courier to the headquarters of the respective generals-General Hill's to Thedford's Ford. The couriers to Generals Cheatham and Walker returned promptly," &c. The memorandum from which that statement was made was furnished from the office of my adjutant-general, through whom orders are transmitted and received. On a careful examination of the facts since that reply was forwarded, I find that as the couriers were about to leave General Walker came to my camp and received his orders in person. The fact is not material, but as it is proper to have what occurred stated as it happened, the correction is made and this paper submitted as a supplement to my reply. I am, colonel, respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieut. Col. GEORGE WILLIAM BRENT. ADDENDA. L. POLK, Lieutenant-General. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TENNESSEE, [Lieutenant-General POLK:] GENERAL: The general commanding directs that you hold your command in readiness to move at daylight in the morning. I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, GEORGE WM. BRENT. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TENNESSEE, La Fayette, Ga., September 12, 1863-a. m. [Lieutenant-General POLK:] GENERAL: The general commanding directs that you will at once proceed with Cheatham's division and take position at Rock Spring. You will order forward also the rest of your corps as soon as practicable. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TENNESSEE, La Fayette, Ga., September 12, 1863-12 o'clock at night. [Lieutenant-General POLK:] GENERAL: I have your dispatch* giving me your position and the disposition of the enemy opposite to you. Your position seems to be a strong one for defense, but I hope will not be held unless the enemy attacks early. We must force him to fight at the earliest moment and before his combinations can be carried out. Your generals who advise the concentration of the larger portion of the army with you only know of Crittenden's corps being opposed to you, and did not know of the advance again of a heavy infantry force in the cove upon this place, and of another from the south, preceded by a very large cavalry force. However, to avoid all danger, I shall put Buckner in motion in the morning and run the risk here. You must not delay attack for his arrival, or another golden opportunity may be lost by the withdrawal of our game. Had you and the generals with you had the information in my possession at the date of your dispatch your conclusions might have varied. But I trust that the cavalry sent south may hold the enemy in check until you can finish the job intrusted to you. Action, prompt and decided, is all that can save us. The troops are ready to respond. I am, general, very truly, yours, BRAXTON BRAGG. CIRCULAR.] HDQRS. POLK'S CORPS, ARMY OF TENNESSEE, Rock Spring Church, September 12, 1863-11.30 p. m. Major-General Cheatham will take position on the left of the line, his left resting on the high ground on the southwest of Anderson's residence, extending thence to the right across Gordon's Mills road, so as to cover one-half of the indicated line of battle. All the rest of his troops not required for that purpose will be held in reserve. Major-General Walker will place the left of his line so as to rest on Cheatham's right and extend thence across the Ringgold road to the extreme right of the line. So many of his troops as are not necessary to cover his front line will be held by him as his reserve. The troops of Major-General Hindman and of any other infantry command that may be present will be held as a general reserve to be disposed of by the lieutenant-general commanding as occasion may require. The cavalry of General Pegram will cover the right and that of General Armstrong the left of the line so formed. The lieutenant-general commanding cannot permit the troops under his command to engage in the battle now before us without expressing to them his profound sense of the importance of the issues which hang upon the result. If we are successful the star of the Confederacy rises in the ascendant. The spirits of our friends everywhere will be cheered and our homes made happy. The thorough defeat of the enemy now would blast the prospects of our cruel invaders. The lieutenant-general knows that the troops he has now the honor to command have long and eagerly desired an opportunity to confront their adversaries. That opportunity is now offered them, *See 8 p. m., p. 44. 4 R R-VOL XXX, PT II and he confidently believes that they have the power as well as the will to make themselves felt as no troops were ever felt before. They will not fail to remember that this is the enemy by whom their property has been destroyed, their hearthstones desolated, their women insulted and outraged, their altars profaned, and they will sternly avenge their wrongs. By command of Lieutenant-General Polk: [THOMAS M. JACK,] Assistant Adjutant-General. *HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TENNESSEE, In the Field, La Fayette, Ga., Sept. 13, 1863—12.30 a. m. [Lieutenant-General POLK:] GENERAL: The enemy is approaching from the south, and it is highly important your attack in the morning should be quick and decided. Let no time be lost. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEORGE WM. BRENT, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TENNESSEE, In the Field, La Fayette, Ga., September 17, 1863. [Lieutenent-General POLK:] GENERAL: You will proceed to execute the instructions received from the commanding general as soon as the road is cleared by the commands of Generals Buckner and Walker. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEORGE WM. BRENT, HEADQUARTERS OF ARMY OF TENNESSEE, Lieutenant-General POLK: General Wheeler is upon your left. General Hill is also supporting your left and rear. Respectfully, KINLOCH FALCONER, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TENNESSEE, In the Field, Leet's Tan-yard, September 18, 1863. [Lieutenant-General POLK:] GENERAL: The general commanding desires me to say that should General Buckner be pressed, you will sustain him from Cheatham's *See Bragg's report, p. 30. division. He wishes you to communicate with General Buckner. Should you send any force to his relief you will advise General Hill of the fact. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEORGE WM. BRENT, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TENNESSEE, In the Field, Leet's Tan-yard, September 18, 1863. [Lieutenant-General POLK:] GENERAL: On march to this place the general commanding found Robertson's reserve out of its line of march. He, therefore, has made other disposition of it. Respectfully, GEORGE WM. BRENT, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TENNESSEE, In the Field, Leet's Tan-yard, Sept. 18, 1863—8.30 p. m. [Lieutenant-General POLK:] GENERAL: Generals Walker and Buckner are now at the fords and ordered to cross at daylight. The commanding general directs you to move General Cheatham's division at daylight to its right, to cross the river as circumstances may demand. General Hill has been ordered to move to his right, to correspond with your movement. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, KINLOCH FALCONER, HEADQUARTERS POLK'S CORPS, ARMY OF TENNESSEE, Brigadier-General MACKALL, Assistant Adjutant-General: GENERAL: This morning General Forrest sent me by his adjutantgeneral an earnest request for one of General Armstrong's brigades. As General Hill is closing upon my left, I had no occasion for more than one brigade of cavalry, and therefore consented that Dibrell's brigade, of Armstrong's division, should go to General Forrest. I report this fact for your information. Respectfully, general, your obedient servant, HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TENNESSEE, In the Field, Thedford's Ford, September 19, 1863. [Lieutenant-General POLK:] GENERAL: Our line is moving up the Chickamauga from this place, Hood on the right, Walker in the second line, Buckner on |