Report of Col. F. C. Wilkes, Twenty-fourth Texas Cavalry, commanding Seventeenth, Eighteenth, Twenty-fourth, and Twenty-fifth Texas Cavalry (dismounted).
HDQRS. 17TH, 18TH, 24TH, AND 25TH TEXAS CAVALRY,
October 6, 1863.
SIR: I have the honor to report that on Saturday, September 19, about 4. 30, my regiment, numbering 735 rank and file and 29 officers of the line, together with 3 field officers, crossed the Chickamauga Creek, and after moving forward about 2 miles formed in line of battle about sundown. The regiment occupied the position on the right of Gen. Deshler's brigade, the right of which brigade rested on the left of Gen. Wood's brigade. We immediately moved forward, passing over the brigade of Gen. Preston Smith, and at a distance of about 600 yards we met the enemy. My company of skirmishers, which had been instructed to keep well to the front, being misled by t he darkness of the night, had come unexpectedly upon the enemy's line of battle and had been captured. After a short engagement with the enemy, especially upon the right of my command, he was routed with considerable loss in killed and wounded, and about 100 prisoners, principally form the Seventy-ninth Pennsylvania Regt.'s, together with the colors of each of these regiments and most of their field officers; also about 150 stand of small-arms, during which time the company of skirmishers made their escape.
In the engagement I lost 4 killed and 7 or 8 wounded.
The honor of capturing the colors belongs to Private L. Montgomery, of Company B, and Sergt. C. Martin and Private Pippen of Company K. Sergt. J. H. Griffin, of Company I, distinguished himself by his gallantry and coolness in taking command of his company when the only commissioned officer in it was absent and could not be found. I recommend that he be promoted to lieutenant. During this engagement I received a slight wound which partially disabled me, in consequence of which the command devolved on
Lieut.-Col. Coit and Maj. Taylor.
Having driven the enemy from the field, the action closed about 8 o'clock, and we bivouacked on the battle-field.
On Sunday morning, an hour before daylight, we reformed our line of battle and threw up temporary breastworks. Between 9 and 10 o'clock we were again ordered to the front. After advancing about 600 yards through the timber, we came upon an open field completely commanded by the enemy's batteries, and we made our way at a double-quick step across this field under a most terrific fire of shot and shell, grape and canister. During this movement we lost 8 or 10 men in killed and wounded. Having advanced near the enemy's lines, and finding a brigade already in front of us engaging the enemy, the command was ordered to halt, lie down, and await further orders. Just at this juncture, I received a contused wound upon the right leg which completely disabled me, and in consequence of which I was separated from the command until the close of the action.
The officers and men of the command up to this time, with a few dishonorable exceptions already reported, displayed remarkable gallantry. Maj. Taylor, now in command of the
regiment, and who was with it during the entire action of the 19th and 20th, will add to this a supplemental report.
I have the honor to be, yours, very respectfully, &c.,
F. C. WILKES,
Col., Comdg. Regt.
Capt. J. T. HEARNE,
Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
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Report of Maj. William A. Taylor, Twenty-fourth Texas Cavalry, commanding Seventeenth, Eighteenth, Twenty-fourth, and Twenty-fifth Texas Cavalry (dismounted).
[OCTOBER 6, 1863]
SIR: Being upon the right of the regiment at the time Col. Wilkes was wounded, I was ordered by Gen. Deshler to move the regiment by the right flank. After proceeding about 300 yards, I was ordered by Gen. Cleburne to front and advance, which I did immediately. The regiment met a regiment of Gen. Wood's brigade retreating from before the enemy (opening our lines to give it egress), and then closing up again, advancing
steadily to the crest of the hill immediately in front of the enemy's breastworks, the enemy hastily retiring from before them. Upon arriving at the crest of the hill, we were ordered to halt. It was here the regiment suffered terribly, losing about 200 in killed and wounded, and remained undaunted for three or four hours under a galling and continuous fire of grape, canister, and small-arms until it was ordered order, still keeping a line of
sharpshooters near the crest of the hill. Soon after the regiment assumed its new position, it was discovered that the enemy's skirmishers were flanking us on the right. Immediately upon discovering this movement of the enemy I ordered a company out as skirmishers to drive them back, which was done effectually. In a short time the enemy was routed, and the regiment was ordered to bivouac upon the field from which the enemy had been driven.
Respectfully submitted.
W. A. TAYLOR,
Maj., 17th, 18th, 24th, and 25th Regts. Texas Cav.
Source: Official Records
CHAP. XLII.] THE CHICKAMAUGA CAMPAIGN. PAGE 194-51
[Series I. Vol. 30. Part II, Reports. Serial No. 51.]