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hastily done； they being formed to the front under a terrible fire。
Scarcely were they aligned when the same horde of Confederates that
had overwhelmed Davis and Laiboldt poured in upon them a deadly fire
and shivered the two brigades to pieces。 We succeeded in rallying
them； however； and by a counter attack regained the ridge that
Laiboldt had been driven from； where we captured the colors of the
Twenty…fourth Alabama。 We could not hold the ridge； though； and my
troops were driven back with heavy loss； including General Lytle
killed； past the widow Glenn's house； and till I managed to establish
them in line of battle on a range of low hills behind the Dry Valley
road。
During these occurrences General Rosecrans passed down the road
behind my line； and sent word that he wished to see me； but affairs
were too critical to admit of my going to him at once； and he rode on
to Chattanooga。 It is to be regretted that he did not wait till I
could join him； for the delay would have permitted him to see that
matters were not in quite such bad shape as he supposed； still； there
is no disguising the fact that at this juncture his army was badly
crippled。
Shortly after my division had rallied on the low hills already
described； I discovered that the enemy； instead of attacking me in
front； was wedging in between my division and the balance of the
army； in short； endeavoring to cut me off from Chattanooga。 This
necessitated another retrograde movement； which brought me back to
the southern face of Missionary Ridge； where I was joined by Carlin's
brigade of Davis's division。 Still thinking I could join General
Thomas； I rode some distance to the left of my line to look for a way
out； but found that the enemy had intervened so far as to isolate me
effectually。 I then determined to march directly to Rossville； and
from there effect a junction with Thomas by the Lafayette road。 I
reached Rossville about o'clock in the afternoon； bringing with me
eight guns； forty…six caissons； and a long ammunition train； the
latter having been found in a state of confusion behind the widow
Glenn's when I was being driven back behind the Dry Valley road。
The head of my column passed through Rossville； appearing upon
Thomas's left about 6 o'clock in the evening； penetrated without any
opposition the right of the enemy's line； and captured several of his
field…hospitals。 As soon as I got on the field I informed Thomas of
the presence of my command； and asked for orders。 He replied that
his lines were disorganized； and that it would be futile to attack；
that all I could do was to hold on； and aid in covering his
withdrawal to Rossville。
I accompanied him back to Rossville； and when we reached the skirt of
the little hamlet General Thomas halted and we dismounted。 Going
into one of the angles of a worm fence near by I took a rail from the
top and put it through the lower rails at a proper height from the
ground to make a seat； and General Thomas and I sat down while； my
troops were moving by。 The General appeared very much exhausted；
seemed to forget what he had stopped for； and said little or nothing
of the incidents of the day。 This was the second occasion on which I
had met him in the midst of misfortune； for during the fight in the
cedars at Stone River； when our prospects were most disheartening； we
held a brief conversation respecting the line he was then taking up
for the purpose of helping me。 At other times； in periods of
inactivity； I saw but little of him。 He impressed me； now as he did
in the cedars； his quiet； unobtrusive： demeanor communicating a
gloomy rather than a hopeful view of the situation。 This apparent
depression was due no doubt to the severe trial through which he had
gone in the last forty…eight hours； which； strain had exhausted him
very much both physically and mentally。 His success in maintaining
his ground was undoubtedly largely influenced by the fact that two…
thirds of the National forces had been sent to his succor； but his
firm purpose to save the army was the mainstay on which all relied
after Rosecrans left the field。 As the command was getting pretty
well past； I rose to go in order to put my troops into camp。 This
aroused the General； when； remarking that he had a little flask of
brandy in his saddle…holster； he added that he had just stopped for
the purpose of offering me a drink； as he knew I must be very tired。
He requested one of his staff…officers to get the flask； and after
taking a sip himself； passed it to me。 Refreshed by the brandy；I
mounted and rode off to supervise the encamping of my division； by no
means an easy task considering the darkness； and the confusion that
existed among the troops that had preceded us into Rossville。
This done； I lay down at the foot of a tree； with my saddle for a
pillow； and saddle…blanket for a cover。 Some soldiers near me having
built a fire； were making coffee； and I guess I must have been
looking on wistfully； for in a little while they brought me a tin…
cupful of the coffee and a small piece of hard bread； which I
relished keenly； it being the first food that had passed my lips
since the night before。 I was very tired； very hungry； and much
discouraged by what had taken place since morning。 I had been
obliged to fight my command under the most disadvantageous
circumstances； disconnected； without supports； without even
opportunity to form in line of battle； and at one time contending
against four divisions of the enemy。 In this battle of Chickamauga；
out of an effective strength Of 4；000 bayonets； I had lost 1；517
officers and men； including two brigade commanders。 This was not
satisfactory indeed； it was most depressingand then there was much
confusion prevailing around Rossville； and； this condition of things
doubtless increasing my gloomy reflections； it did not seem to me
that the outlook for the next day was at all auspicious； unless the
enemy was slow to improve his present advantage。 Exhaustion soon
quieted all forebodings； though； and I fell into a sound sleep； from
which I was not aroused till daylight。
On the morning of the 21st the enemy failed to advance； and his
inaction gave us the opportunity for getting the broken and
disorganized army into shape。 It took a large part of the day to
accomplish this； and the chances of complete victory would have been
greatly in Bragg's favor if he could have attacked us vigorously at
this time。 But he had been badly hurt in the two days' conflict； and
his inactivity on the 21st showed that he too had to go through the
process of reorganization。 Indeed； his crippled condition began to
show itself the preceding evening； and I have always thought that；
had General Thomas held on and attacked the Confederate right and
rear from where I made the junction with him on the Lafayette road；
the field of Chickamauga would have been relinquished to us； but it
was fated to be otherwise。