Report of Colonel Alfered J. Vaughn, 13th
Tennessee Volunteer Infantry
commanding Preston Smith's Brigade
at the Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia
In Field, in front of Chattanooga, Tenn., October 4,
1863
Major; I beg leave to submit
the following report of the action of General Preston Smith's Brigade (
composed of the 154th and Thirteenth Tennessee Regiments, under command of
Col. A.J. Vaughn, Jr.; 12th and 47th Tennessee Regiments, under command of
Col. W.M. Watkins; 11th Tennessee Regiment, under command of Col. G.W.
Gordon; 29th Tennessee Regiment, under command of Col. Horace Rice;
Scott's Battery under command of 1st Lieut. John H. Marsh; and a battalion
of sharpshooters composed of two companies from the 12th and 47th
Tennessee Regiments, one from 154th Tennessee Regiment, one from the 11th
and one from the 29th Tennessee Regiments, under command of Maj. J.W.
Dawson, 154th Senior Tennessee Regiment and Maj. William Green, 11th
Tennessee Regiment, Cheatham's Division, Polk's Corp, Army of Tennessee in
the battle of Chickamuga and the occupation of Missionary Ridge in
September 19, 20,21, and 22;
On the evening of September 17, orders were
recieved to move General Preston Smith's Brigade out on the Ringgold road
to the intersection of Lee and Gordon's Mills Road; thence to Rock Church,
where we bivouacked for the night in line of
battle.
Early on the morning of September
18, we were ordered to move forward in the direction of the ford below Lee
and Gordon's Mill and West Chickamauga. Our advance during the day was
very slow, having to wait for Buckner's Corp to pass to the front and
effect a crossing of the creek, which they suceeded in doing after heavy
skirmishing. We bivouacked at night in line of battle half mile south of
West Chickamauga. Early on the morning of September 19, the brigade moved
forward and crossed the creek and formed in line of battle on the left of
Jackson's Brigade.
As soon as the division
effected a crossing, we moved forward near a mile; formed line in similiar
order in rear of Buckner's Corp; remained in this position a short time,
when we recieved orders to move by the right flank in double quick to the
support of General Walker, who for sometime had been actively engaging the
enemy. On arriving at the scene of action we found General Walker stoutly
resisted, and his command much exhausted from long and continued action.
We were ordered to form line immediately. Formed, as before, on the left
of General Jackson's Brigade. As soon as formed we were ordered to advance
and engage the enemy. We advanced but a short distance before we met the
enemy advancing. We engaged him at once, and furiously drove him before us
600 or 800 yards, forcing him to take shelter behind the breastworks from
which he had advanced in the morning. We moved steadily forward until
within musket range of their works, notwithstanding, we were subjected to
a severe and concentrated fire, both of musketry and artillery, the
brigade kept up a steady and determined fire until the supply of
ammunition was nearly exhausted. General Smith, being apprised of this, at
once informed General Cheatham of the fact, at the same time assuring him
he was able to hold the position until he could forward a brigade to his
relief. Whereupon, General Strahl was ordered forward, and as soon as he
occupied General Smith's position, General Smith withdrew his brigade and
moved some 400 yards to the rear and reformed his
line.
During this
engagement, begining at about 12m and closing about 2p.m., the officers
and men of the different regiments of the brigade acted with conspicous
gallantry, discharging every duty and reponding to every order with
commendable promptness.
Since acted so
well I cannot particularize. Scott's Battery, under command of First
Lieutenant John H. Marsh, advanced with the brigade and took position as
ordered, under a heavy and destructive fire of the enemy, so much so that
a number of men and horses were disabled before the battery was placed for
action. Immediately a rapid and well directed fire was opened upon the
enemy with telling effect upon his ranks. This fire was vigorously
maintained until the brigade was relieved and ordered to the
rear.
It was in this engagement that First
Lieut. John H. Marsh was severely, if nor dangerously wounded while
gallantly encourging his men and inspiring them by his own distinguished
coolness and heroism. The command the3n devolved upon Second Lieut. A.T.
Watson, who throughout the engagement acted with commendable
bravery.
In bringing on the engagement and
in driving the enemy, the battalion of sharpshooters did efficient
service, both officers and men, acted well their
parts.
After supplying the command with
ammunition and taking position as ordered, it was found that Scott's
Battery was so disabled by the loss of men and horses as to be unfit for
action during the evening. Turner's Battery, of Maney's Brigade, was
ordered to report ot General Smith. It was placed on the right of the
brigade, and did effective service in checking the second advance of the
enemy. Throughout the evening Lieut. Turner poured a murdeous fire into
the enemy's ranks. His coolness and disregard of danger elicited the
highest praise from the officers and men of the entire brigade. It was
while supporting this Major Dawson, 154th Senior Tennessee Regiment, in
command of the battalion of sharpshooters, was severely wounded in the
groin.
The enemy, finding it impossible to drive
us from our position, sullenly retired out of range, and comparatice quiet
prevailed along our lines until 6 p.m., when General Smith, being informed
a night attack was determined upon, was ordered that so soon as General
Deshler's Brigade, of Major General Cleburne's Division, should advance to
his front, to move his brigade forward as General Deshler's support. After
having advanced in this order some 200 yards, the engagement was commenced
on the right, and extended to Deshler's Brigade, in our front. Advancing a
short distance farther, it being quite dark, a portion of this brigade
became somewhat confused and fell back on our line. General Smith orderede
them to move forward, which order was obeyed, and we continued to advance
but a short distance when they, a second time fell back on our line and
were again urged forward by General Smith. Instead of moving direct to the
front, they obliqued to the left and uncovered the two right regiments of
General Smith's Brigade. In the darkness General Smith did not know this,
and a third time coming upon troops at a halt in his immediate front,
presuming them to belong to General Deshler's command, he and Capt. Thomas
H. King, volunteer aide, rode to the front to ascertain the delay. On
riding up to the line (which proved to be the enemy) and asking who was in
command of these troops, he was discovered to be a Confederate officer,
and he and Capt. King were both killed. I, at the same time was in front
of my regiment, accompained by Capt. Donelson, acting assistant adjutant
general to General Smith, to know the cause of the delay of what I
supposed to be a portion of General Deshler's command. Riding up to a
soldier, I asked him what command he belonged. Discovering that I was a
Confederate officer, he fired at me, missing me, but killing Capt.
Donelson, who was by my side. I immediately ordered some files from the
12th Tennessee Regiment to shoot him, which they did, killing him
instantly. The line in front, seeing their situation, cried out, "Don't
shoot, we surrender." I then rode forward and found them in the act of
grounding their arms. Discovering a stand of colors in my front, I asked,
" Who has those colors?", the reply was , "The color bearer," I then said
, "Sir, to what command do you belong?", He replied, " To the 77th
Pennsylvania Regiment." I then took from him the stand of colors and
handed them to Capt. Carthel, 47th Tennessee Regiment, and ordered him to
turn them, with the prisoners captured (about 300 in number) over to
General Cheatham.
The reason I have been thus
explicit in detailing the facts connected with the capture of the stand of
colors is because they were claimed to have been captured by General
Deshler's command.
Being informed that
General Smith had been killed, I assumed the command of the brigade, the
command of my regiment devolved upon Lieut. Col. R.W.
Pitman.
After
there was no more firing of consquence, orders were recieved from Major
General Cheatham to biviuac in line of battle for the reminder of the
night.
On the 20th, my brigade was not
actively engaged, being held as a reserve. We were, however, subjected to
a heavy artillery fire, killing and wounding several men. Late in the
evening we were ordered to the extreme right, where re remained until the
morning of September 21. I then ordered the batallion of sharpshooters,
under command of Majors Green and Purl, to deploy so as to cover the front
of my brigade and move as far as the top of Missionary Ridge, or discover
the whereabouts of the enemy. In a short time they reported the enemy in
the valley around Chattanooga. At 3 p.m. we were ordered to the extreme
right of the line, and biviuacked for the night near Bird's
Mill.
On the morning of September 22, we
moved on the Shallow Ford Road in the direction of Chattanooga. When we
arrived at the foot of Missionary Ridge, we formed line of battle on the
left of General Maney's Brigade and advanced to the top of the ridge
meeting but little resistance, though the enemy was posted
strongly.
Accompanying this will be found
the reports of several regimental commanders; Major William Green,
commanding battalion of sharpshooters, and Lieut. A.T. Watson, commanding
Scott's Battery of the action taken by their respective commands, to which
your attention.
A list of the casualties
of the brigade has already been forwarded to
headquaters.
I cannot close this report
without alluding to the very efficient service rendered me by Capt. J.W.
Harris, inspector general, General Smith's staff, in carrying and
executing all orders in the most prompt manner possible. Also, Capt.
Emmett Cockrill, aide to General Smith, deserves especial notice manner in
which he discharged every duty assigned
him.
Thanks are due Major King, brigade
commissary, for keeping the troops so well provided with rations during
the campaign from LaFayette, Ga.,to this place. Also, to Major Beecher,
brigade quartermaste, for the efficient manner in which our wounded me
were carried from the field. Thanks are also due Capt. Henry K. Beatty,
brigade ordnance officer, for the prompt and efficient manner in which the
command was kept constantly supplied with ammunition. Also special credit
is due Lieut. J.W. Cochran, brigade provost marshal, for the promptness
and efficiency displayed in discharging the duties of his
office.
Especial attention is called to
Colonel Rice's report in reference to the gallant conduct of Ed. H.
Clayton, courier to General
Smith.
A.J. Vaughn,
Jr.
Colonel
Commanding
Maj. James D. Porter, Jr.
Assistant Adjutant
General