In 1895, the U.S. War Department published a list of missing regimental & battery reports from the battle of Chickamauga and from the "battles about Chattanooga," along with a plea for copies of such information "in the possession of veterans or their families."
J.B. Polley, a member of Hood's brigade who was wounded early in the battle of Chickamaga and removed from the field, wrote prolifically after the war and summed up the situation with, "because of the loss of a leg at Chickamauga, Gen. Hood made no official report.... If Gen. Robertson or the regimental commanders... made reports, they have been lost" Polley, Hood's Tx. Brigade, 200).

Besides so many regimental headquarters being over-run on Missionary Ridge, I have heard of a warehouse of Army of Tennesse reords being burned just before Atlanta fell, to prevent their falling into Federal hands.

Listed as missing reports from Chickamauga are the 1st Florida Inf. and McCant's battery.

Listed as reports missing from the Chattanooga battles are Florida's 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, & 1st Cavalry (dismtd), and McCant's battery again.

Can any of you Florida history buffs direct me to such reports from diaries, special collections, or post-war newspaper recollections? I will gladly help any of you get such reports into the Chickamauga Chattanooga National Military Park files, if you wish. With Findley's Florida brigade occupying such a central position near the Federal breakthrough at Missionary Ridge, it appears that Florida's sacrifice and participation, doesn't receive its fair recognition. Thanks, Joe