Numbers 317.

Report of Colonel W. S. Dilworth, Third Florida Infantry, commanding First and Third Florida Infantry.

HDQRS. FIRST AND THIRD FLORIDA REGTS., Near Chattanooga, Tenn., September 27, 1863.

SIR: I have the honor to submit to the brigadier-general commanding the following report of the part taken by my command in the recent battle near the Chickamauga River:

On the morning of the 19th instant, I was left with my regiment . . . . A little before 10 o'clock [next morning] the order was given to advance. My regiment was on the right of the brigade and Adams' brigade was on my right. We pushed forward through the woods and were in a few moments engaged. As we charged the enemy fell back through the woods and an open field beyond, leaving three brass pieces in front of the right wing of my regiment and many prisoners to fall into our hands. One of these pieces I sent to the rear, but judging it to be imprudent to withdraw many men from the ranks, as the guns were already safe, I left them on the field and they were removed subsequently by Adams' brigade, which came up a little after us.

I was then ordered to take a new position to thwart an anticipated flank movement of the enemy from the left, rendered practicable by the advance of our division. This movement was not attempted, and soon the whole brigade was formed on the prolongation of my line, throwing me on the extreme left. In a few minutes we were ordered to move forward, and a line of skirmishers was thrown out and they immediately opened a brisk fire. It became apparent that the right of the enemy extended considerably beyond my left, and as there was no support for my left I feared that the enemy would turn my flank; but the order to advance was positive, and we advanced up the hill at a double-quick under a galling fire from the enemy, who was fighting behind some hastily constructed breastworks. The colors were not more than a dozen steps from the enemy, and in another minute we would have driven them from their works, but the regiments to my right were already falling back, and, as I had anticipated, the enemy was getting in my rear and pouring a destructive fire upon my left flank. I therefore gave the order to fall back, and by obliquing to the left I withdrew the regiment in safety and rallied it at the foot of the hill. Lieutenant J. Cabell Breckinridge, of Major-General Breckinridge's staff, was here of essential service to me. Riding fearlessly along where the balls fell thickly about him, he cheered the men by his noble example and rallied them by his encouraging words.

My loss in this charge was very heavy. Samuel [V.] Neeley [Ens., 1st Fl.], the color bearer, fell near the breastworks, and Robert McKay [Co. K], of the color guard, close to his side, both severely wounded, and 4 of the color company were left dead on the field. The infirmary detail did its duty faithfully, and by removing the wounded as they fell prevented the enemy from capturing them. . . . . There are many others who deserve special notice, among them Corpl. C. P. Ulmer, Company H, Third Florida, of the color guard, who seized the colors when they fell from the hands of the color bearer while under a heavy fire and bore them bravely through the rest of the contest. . . . .

W. S. DILWORTH,
Colonel, Commanding.

OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 1, vol 30, Part 2 (Chickamauga)
Chapter XLII. THE CHICKAMAUGA CAMPAIGN. pp 232-234