hands their care was committed (we being short of commanding officers) and who deserves special notice for his coolness and bravery, seeing the charge, made their escape. I collected my command together and moved on the ridge of the mountains until I struck the Chattanooga road.

We were flanked by the enemy twice during our march, but escaped notice. We arrived in Chattanooga about daylight of the 21st. Lieutenant Hubbard commanded the left half battery and Lieutenant Currier the right. Their conduct was that of brave and efficient officers. I wish to express the greatest satisfaction in the good fighting qualities of our men, for greater bravery under such severe circumstances could not have been shown. If particular mention was admissible, I would notice the cool conduct of Corpl. John W. Fletcher, in command of the fifth piece, who though taken prisoner at his gun, by his coolness escaped his captors.

Great praise is due to our non-commissioned officers and privates, whose terrible loss in the short space of ten minutes testifies the terrible fire under which they were while working their guns. I cannot mention an instance of cowardice during the action.

For several days prior to the battle I had been suffering with neuralgia and severe sick headache, which continued, and I was hardly able to sustain myself in saddle, and nothing but an overpowering desire to be with my men in the struggle kept me from leaving the field.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

CORTLAND LIVINGSTON, Lieutenant, Commanding Third Wisconsin Battery.

Capt. G. R. SWALLOW,

Chief of Artillery, Third Division.

No. 198.

Reports of Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger, U. S. Army, commanding Reserve Corps.

HEADQUARTERS RESERVE CORPS,

ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND, Chattanooga, September 30, 1863. COLONEL: I have the honor to submit the following report of the recent operations of a part of the Reserve Corps :

On the 6th instant, I received orders from the general commanding the Army of the Cumberland to concentrate at Bridgeport, Ala., as much of my corps as could be spared from the duty of guarding the railroad, depots, exposed points north of the Tennessee River, &c., and from that point to move them to the support of the main body of the army.

McCook's brigade, which was relieved by Colonel Mizner, was ordered from Columbia to Bridgeport, where it arrived on the 10th instant. Two brigades of General Steedman's division, which were relieved from duty along the lines of railroad from Murfreesborough to Cowan, and from Wartrace to Shelbyville, by other troops from the rear, arrived at Bridgeport on the 11th instant. The Twentysecond Regiment Michigan Infantry, under command of Colonel Le Favour, was sent direct to Bridgeport by railroad from Nashville,

The

and was there attached to General Steedman's command. Eighty-ninth Regiment Ohio Infantry was also attached to the same command, having been sent to Bridgeport from Tracy City.

The difficulties to be overcome in forwarding and in concentrating these troops, and in bringing forward others to partially supply their place in so short a period, can only be appreciated when the large space of country over which they were scattered, the great distance from which relief had to come, and the necessity of leaving no point of communication exposed, is fully known.

On the 12th instant, McCook's brigade, with Barnett's battery, was pushed to Shellmound.

At 7 o'clock on the morning of the 13th instant, I started the following-mentioned forces, under the immediate command of Brig. Gen. James B. Steedman, on a forced march_from_ Bridgeport, Ala., for Rossville, Ga., viz: the First Brigade, First Division, Reserve Corps, commanded by Brigadier-General Whitaker; Second Brigade, First Division, Reserve Corps, commanded by Col. J. G. Mitchell; the Twenty-second Regiment Michigan Infantry, Eightyninth Regiment Ohio Infantry, Eighteenth Ohio Battery, and Company M, First Illinois Artillery, and at the same time I started Colonel McCook's command from Shellmound for the same place. These forces arrived at Rossville, a distance of 35 miles from the place of starting, the next day at 10 a. m., having marched the whole distance through a suffocating dust and over a very rocky and mountainous road, on which it was exceedingly difficult for troops to travel.

I established my headquarters at Rossville, and there remained awaiting orders from the general commanding the Army of the Cumberland.

He

At 3 o'clock on the morning of the 17th instant, in accordance with orders that I had given him, General Steedman started from his camp at Rossville, with six regiments of infantry and a battery of artillery, for the purpose of making a reconnaissance in the direction of Ringgold. In this undertaking he met with no resistance from the enemy until within 2 miles of that place. Here he encountered the enemy's pickets, whom he drove rapidly across the East Chickamauga, following them one mile and a quarter. then halted and planted a section of artillery, by the fire of which he soon drove the enemy, who appeared to be in force, out of and beyond the town. Having accomplished the object of the reconnaissance, and discovering large clouds of dust arising from the Tunnel Hill and La Fayette roads, and which were approaching his position, he deemed it prudent to return to Rossville, and at once marched back to within 8 miles of that place, where he halted for the night.

The enemy advanced and shelled his camp before midnight, but they fell back and disappeared before morning. At daylight he broke up camp, started back to Rossville, and arrived there at 1 p. m. of the same day.

At 4 p. m. on the 18th instant, I ordered Brigadier-General Whitaker to move at once with his brigade, and take possession of the crossing of the Chickamauga at Red House Bridge, and at the same time Col. Daniel McCook was ordered to march to the support of Colonel Minty, who was disputing the crossing of the Chickamauga at Reed's Bridge with the enemy. Colonel McCook arrived within 1 mile of the bridge at dark, where he encountered the enemy, and with whom he had a slight skirmish, taking 22 prisoners.

At 5 p. m. of the same day, I sent Colonel Mitchell, with his brigade, to strengthen and support Colonel McCook, and he joined him during the night.

General Whitaker was prevented from reaching the Red House Bridge by coming in contact with a superior force of the enemy on the road leading thereto. He had a severe skirmish, losing 60 men killed and wounded, but he held his ground until the next morning, when he received re-enforcements. The enemy, however, withdrew from his immediate front before daylight.

The enemy obtained possession of Reed's Bridge on the afternoon of the 17th 18th].

At daylight on the morning of the 18th [19th], Colonel McCook sent Lieutenant-Colonel Brigham, with the Sixty-ninth Ohio Infantry, to surprise the enemy and gain possession of it. He gallantly charged across the bridge, drove the enemy from it, and, in accordance with instructions received from General Steedman, destroyed it by fire. As the enemy were gathering in force around Colonel McCook, I sent him an order, at 6 o'clock on the morning of the 19th instant, to withdraw from that position. This order was executed by 7 a. m.

I now posted Colonel McCook's brigade at the junction of the Cleveland and Ringgold roads, covering the approaches to the rear and left flank of that part of my forces which were then on the road leading to the Red House Bridge, while Colonel Mitchell's brigade was led by General Steedman to the assistance of General Whitaker. Nothing further than slight skirmishing occurred in our front during the remaining part of the day. Yet all indications led us to believe that a large force of the enemy confronted us.

The position of my forces on the morning of the 20th instant, and up to the hour of battle, was as follows: Colonel McCook's brigade was moved to a point near the McAfee Church, and was placed in such a position as to cover the Ringgold road; General Whitaker's brigade, together with Colonel Mitchell's, retained the same position that they had the evening before; and Colonel Minty, who reported to me at daylight on the morning of the 20th, with a brigade of cavalry, was posted at Missionary Mills, which positions completely covered our extreme left flank.

The enemy did not make his appearance in our immediate front during the morning, but large clouds of dust could be seen beyond our position arising from the La Fayette and Harrison roads, moving in the direction of the sound of battle.

At 10.30 a. m. I heard heavy firing, which was momentarily increasing in volume and intensity on our right, in the direction of General Thomas' position. Soon afterward, being well convinced, judging from the sound of battle, that the enemy were pushing him hard, and fearing that he would not be able to resist their combined attack, I determined to go to his assistance at once. It was now about 11 a. m. I started with General Whitaker's and Colonel Mitchell's brigades, under the immediate command of General Steedman, and left Colonel McCook's brigade at the McAfee Church in position to cover the Ringgold road.

General Thomas was at this time engaging the enemy at a point between the La Fayette and Dry Valley roads, in the vicinity of house, about 34 miles from our place of starting. We had not proceeded more than 2 miles when the enemy made his appearance in the woods on the left of our advancing column, about three-fourths of a mile from the road.

They opened upon us quite briskly with their skirmishers and a section of artillery. I then made a short halt to feel them, and becoming convinced that they constituted only a party of observation, I again rapidly pushed forward my troops.

At this juncture, I sent back and ordered up Colonel McCook's brigade to watch the movements of the enemy at this point, to keep open the La Fayette road, and to cover the open fields on the right of the road, and those that intervened between this point and the position held by General Thomas. As rapidly as possible, Colonel McCook brought up his brigade, took the position assigned to him, and held it until he marched to Rossville from the field of battle at 10 p. m. At 6 p. m. the enemy opened an artillery fire upon Colonel McCook, but he soon silenced their battery, which had done little or no damage to his troops. At about 1 p. m. I reported to General Thomas. His forces were at that time stationed upon the brow of and holding a "horseshoe ridge." The enemy were pressing him hard in front and endeavoring to turn both of his flanks.

To the right of this position was a ridge running east and west, and nearly at right angles therewith. Upon this the enemy were just forming. They also had possession of a gorge in the same, through which they were rapidly moving in large masses, with the design of falling upon the right flank and rear of the forces upon the Horseshoe Ridge. General Thomas had not the troops to oppose this movement of the enemy, and in fifteen minutes from the time when we appeared on the field, had it not been for our fortunate arrival, his forces would have been terribly cut up and captured.

As rapidly as possible I formed General Whitaker's and Colonel Mitchell's brigades, to hurl them against this threatening force of the enemy, which afterward proved to be General Hindman's division.

The gallant Steedman, seizing the colors of a regiment, led his men to the attack. With loud cheers they rushed upon the enemy, and, after a terrific conflict lasting but twenty minutes, drove them from their ground, and occupied the ridge and gorge. The slaughter of both friend and foe was frightful. General Whitaker, while rushing forward at the head of his brigade, was knocked from his horse by a musket-ball, and was for a short time rendered unfit for duty; while 2 of his staff officers were killed, and 2 mortally wounded.

General Steedman's horse was killed, and he was severely bruised, yet he was able to remain on, duty during the day. This attack was made by our troops, very few of whom had ever been in an action before, against a division of old soldiers, who largely outnumbered them; yet with resolution and energy they drove the enemy from his strong position, occupied it themselves, and afterward held the ground they had gained with such terrible losses. The victory was dearly won, but to this army it was a priceless one.

There was now a lull in the battle. It was of short duration, however, for within thirty minutes after we had gained possession of the ridge, we were impetuously attacked by two divisions of Longstreet's veterans.

Again the enemy was driven back, and from this time until dark the battle between these two opposing forces raged furiously.

Our whole line was continually enveloped in smoke and fire. The assaults of the enemy were now made with that energy which was inspired by the bright prospect of a speedy victory, and by a consciousness that it was only necessary to carry this position and crush our forces to enable him to overthrow our army and drive it across

the Tennesse River. Their forces were massed and hurled upon us for the purpose of terminating at once this great and bloody battle. But the stout hearts of the handful of men who stood before them as a wall of fire quailed not. They understood our perilous position and held their ground, determined to perish rather than yield it. Never had a commander such just cause for congratulation over the action of his troops.

The ammunition which was brought in our train to this part of the field was divided with Generals Brannan's and Wood's divisions early in the afternoon, and we soon exhausted the remainder. All that we could then procure was taken from the cartridge boxes of our own and the enemy's dead and wounded. Even this supply was exhausted before the battle was over, and while the enemy was still in our front, hurling fresh troops against us. It was almost dark; the enemy had been driven back, but we had not a round of ammunition left. All now seemed to be lost if he should return to the contest. Anticipating another attack, I ordered the command to be given to the men to stand firm, and to use the cold steel. After an ominous silence of a few minutes, the enemy came rushing upon us again. With fixed bayonets our troops gallantly charged them and drove them back in confusion. Twice more were these charges repeated and the enemy driven back before darkness brought an end to the battle. Night came, and the enemy fell back whipped and discomfited.

At 3 p. m. Brigadier-General Garfield, chief of staff, appeared upon that part of the field where my troops were then hotly engaged with the enemy. He remained with us until dark, animating and cheering both officers and men.

Although they were not under my command, I cannot refrain from herein noticing the troops that held the Horseshoe Ridge, and from testifying to their heroic bravery and unflinching steadiness under the heaviest fire. Their commanders, Generals Brannan and Wood and Colonel Harker, behaved with unqualified bravery and gallantry.

At 7 p. m. I received instructions from Major-General Thomas to withdraw my troops from the position they held at dark, to march back to Rossville and to cover the rear of the forces falling back upon that place with McCook's brigade. These instructions were promptly carried out, and I went into camp that night in accordance therewith. My two brigades numbered 216 commissioned officers and 3,697 men when they went into this action. Between the hours of 1 p. m. and dark there were killed, wounded, and missing 109 commissioned officers and 1,623 men, a total of 1,732.

These losses are subdivided as follows:

Killed, 235; wounded, 936; missing (all of whom, with the exception of a very small fraction, were taken prisoners), 561.

Herewith is filed a tabular statement showing the strength of each regiment as they went into battle on the 20th instant, and the casualties in the same.

Among the gallant dead who fell upon the field of battle was Capt. William C. Russell, my assistant adjutant-general. He fell with his face to the enemy, in the thickest of the battle, while discharging an important duty. His loss is severely felt. Through his sterling qualities of heart and head he became the idol of his corps. All who knew him now lament the loss of an accomplished soldier and sincere gentleman.