Near Hiawassa River, East Tennessee,
Sept. 29th, 1863.

Previous to the opening of the battle before Chattanooga for some two weeks Gen. Wharton's division was alternately between La Fayette and Alpine, Georgia. The enemy was threatening us on our left with a heavy flank movement from Wills' Valley, behind the wall of Lookout Mountain, and hence the necessity that this cavalry be closely watched. At one time, our cavalry being principally called to another portion of the field, the enemy, coming across Lookout Mountain, advanced upon Alpine, and the Rangers, having but little support, were compelled to retire before very superior numbers. We met with no personal casualties further than the capture of Gus Hart, of Co. H, and wounding a number of horses.

Our time was occupied in picketing along the mountain passes and cutting down timber to obstruct the various gaps. Constantly, small scouts were being sent out upon the mountains to gain information in reference to the movements of the enemy, and many incidents of personal valor were occurring.

As the day of battle approached, the enemy was more stirring and daring. Finally, his cavalry occupied the south side of Lookout mountain, and it seemed his defiant army would now overrun Gen. Bragg, since he had so skillfully manoeuvered him out of Chattanooga.

Whilst our army was changing its base and seeking a good position to offer battle, the cavalry was constantly on the move from La Fayette to Summerville and Alpine.

It was very dry and warm, and the dust was almost unendurable. But suffocating as it was, it seemed our luck to make one trip every twenty-four hours. But every day hastened the crisis.

We have now passed through La Fayette and gone westward in the direction of McLemore's Cove, in the valley of West Chickamauga river, and on Friday, whilst awaiting orders, we hear heavy firing along the lines. On Saturday the cannonading increases quite early, and we are ordered to "saddle up" and proceed to "the front."

After standing in line of battle for several hours at a very respectable distance in teh woods, we move to a point lower down on the Chickamauga, to intercept a Federal train that is reported coming up from Wills' Valley, through McLemore's Cove. After some time had elapsed Gen. Wharton and Col. Harrison go to the front and order the Rangers to follow them, with the 11th Texas on [in?] our rear. It was evident something was on hand. The Rangers dash along in gallant style.

Coming into an open space, Chickamauga river is just below them. The dust which rises from the valley indicates the position of the advancing enemy. The Rangers were ordered to form on the left in the open field, whilst the 11th Texas was dismounted on the right. Our position was entirely exposed, and with no ability to help ourselves. Soon the column of the enemy's cavalry approached, coming along the road on the other side of the river. Seeing our men exposed, they dismounted, and crossing stream, crept up through the bushes and opened a heavy fire upon us.

It was badly planned, and we were the sufferers. The position was too much exposed, and we were finally compelled to retire, not however without having several men badly wounded and losing some horses.

Here Lieut. H. A. Emmerson, Co. K, was mortally wounded, dying the same night. Capt. Ferg. Kyle, slight in the elbow, and Aaron Burleson, slight, in the leg, Co. D; J. P. Caldwell, slight in the wrist, Co. E; H. H. McCrary, slight in the foot, Co. F; and W. H. Snyder, very severely in the knee, Co. I. Getting all our wounded off the field, we fell back about two miles and camped, throwing out pickets towards the river to guard a ford higher up at Glass' Hill. We can hear terrific firing of small arms along the centre and frong till 11 o'clock.

Gen. Wheeler, planning our fight this evening, is responsible for the failure, for, instead of sending us alone to that position, his whole force should have been thrown across the river and hurled upon the enemy, and they could easily have been routed. It is evident we have too many commanders, and not enough system.

We had a good night's rest, but by daylight were saddled. Very soon heavy firing is heard in front, for the enemy has attacked our pickets—Company D—at Glass' Mill on the river, but at length are repulsed. It is enough to throw the whole command into motion, and, falling back upon the Chattanooga road, we form and await the progress of events for two or three hours. At length we retrace the ground passed over yesterday for nearly a mile. The artillery takes a position on the hill overlooking the Mill—just on this spot the famous New Orleans Washington Artillery yesterday drove a battery of the enemy from his position in the valley beyond—and the cavalry, all dismounted save the Rangers, cross the river and, forming in the wooded bottom, march in gallant style until they come to the open fields beyond, when they advanced steadily upon the enemy, and charge him with loud yells.

In the meanwhile the Rangers are across, and charging through a lane and across the camp of the enemy, they boldly dash upon his lines, and, in conjunction with those on foot, they press him on his flank so heavily that he is compelled to flee for safety.

Here the fighting was stubborn. Determined to withstand the charge of the Rangers, the ensigns of two of the Federal regiments crossed their colors, but our charge was too impetuous, and in a few moments their colors were in our possession, and the field was also ours.

It was the 1st, 2nd, 3d and 4th Ohio cavalry which we repulsed so handsomely, killing one of their colonels, mortally wounding another, and capturing a third, besides leaving a number of their killed upon the field. The citizens said afterwards then had been buried.

But it was not without considerable loss to those of our own regiments dismounted, and a serious one to the Rangers. Here M. Van Wright was killed; W. H. Dromgool was shot in both thighs mortally, though living several days; John Lattimer severely in the thigh; Gus Walker through the ear; and John Kirkner slightly in the arm—all of Co. D. B. F. Burke through the side of the neck—Co. F. Addy Moore, slight, on nose; W. A. Murray severely in the knee, Co. H; and A. G. Wood severely, in foot, Co. I.

Among the first who was brought back to our temporary woods hospital was the chivalrous and daring Judge D. S. Terry, of California, who was acting on Gen. Wharton's staff, and was shot through the right arm above the elbow.
Here the field was ours, and the boasted Ohio cavalry was badly whipped and demoralized. So nobly did our dismounted Rangers fight that the enemy declared they were Longstreet's Virginia infantry.

Our work was now done, we withdrew from the valley, passing the field in which the Washington Artillery yesterday had taken a position after its success on the opposite hill, but the enemy now bringing to bear his heavy guns, for the first time in the war that noble and renowned battery was compelled to yield its position with the loss of some half dozen men.

Retracing our steps we halted for a little to rest upon the opposite side of the hill-the prisoners, our wounded and killed being brought to a farm house; and soon the two divisions of Wharton and Martin were in motion again. When the command moved, a detail was left to bury Van Wright, and in his lonely grave the gallant warrior and devoted Christian soldier was left far from kindred and home. It was a sad and mournful duty.

The command again passed by the camp ground of last night, and coming to the Chattanooga road, we advanced to the Chickamauga at Lee and Gordon's Mills. This had been a strong point which was held by the enemy, but he had been driven from it. Crossing over, the cavalry pressed forward, and although in constant hearing of the roar of small arms to our right and the booming of cannon, yet the country was clear, and for several miles we advanced northward to find that our left wing under Longstreet had driven the enemy before them, leaving several large hospital encampments, with many wounded and large medical supplies in our hands.

After dark our division recrossed the river, and falling back about four miles for corn, we camped; but Martin's division pushed on towards the enemy and watched his movements during the night. This was Sunday, the 20th, and a glorious day for our arms. The proud fee had been driven back at every point-on his right, center and left. Night alone put an end to the conflict, and saved him from ruinous defeat, if not from destruction.

Tonight the enemy withdrew westward to Missionary Ridge, and on Monday night continued his retreat northward to Chattanooga and the Tennessee river. On Monday morning our division is early in the saddle, and again crossing the river at Lee and Gordon's Mills, we join Martin and push forward through a perfectly desolated country in the direction of Lookout Mountain.

Reaching the valley which lies along the east foot of the mountain, the Rangers were ordered to move on the Chattanooga road and hold the enemy's cavalry in check until relieved. Reaching our position, we formed in line of battle and marched until sun-down, when we were ordered back to our camp of last night, some ten miles distant. During the afternoon we had occasional skirmishing in front, and although the Yankee cavalry was in view, yet they did not press us.

Next morning we learned that Gen. Wheeler and Gen. Wharton had taken the remainder of the command up to the valley, and at Crawfish Springs had intercepted about fifty wagons which were coming from McLemore's Cove, and, driving away or capturing the guard, they were all brought safely away, with their rich loads.

Again was the boasted Ohio cavalry scattered upon the hills!

Reaching camp at II o'clock, all were tired, and on Tuesday morning did not move very early.

At length, we are on the march again, and take the direct route to Chattanooga, via Rossville.

Soon after crossing the river, we see evidence of the fearful struggle through the two preceeding days.

Here is the ground over which Hood's Texas brigade fought so gallantly. The scarred and riven trees, the dead Yankees, and the new-made graves bearing the inscriptions, "1st Texas," "4th Texas," "5th Texas"-all told eloquently the fearful struggle in which our gallant brothers had fallen.

We could not refrain from dropping a tear of sorrow that, after all their miraculous escapes and perils on the bloody fields of the Old Dominion, they had come here to die! But they enlisted for their country's deliverance, and were willing to battle wherever duty called. They are heroes whose names shall ever live on the pages of our nation's history.

Going through a pass in Missionary Ridge, we soon reached Rossville, on the Tennessee-Georgia line, the former home of John Ross, the celebrated chief of the Cherokees, where we camped several weeks last summer. But the ravages of war have so desolated the place that I would not recognize it but for the noble spring that wells from the mountain's base.

Here we took the road leading in the direction of Lookout Peak, and several miles or less of Chattanooga but the enemy opened his batteries and we retired. Co. B had the honor of this feat, and here W. B. Echols was very seriously wounded in the thigh, and A. M. Bussey slightly in the hand. Lieut. Pue indulged in an artillery duel with great credit to himself and battery.

In the evening we were ordered to fall back a little and rest. After dark, the order was given to mount, and our two divisions traveled some eight miles up the valley, under Lookout Mountain, and camped for the night. Next morning we were soon in the saddle again, and, pursuing our journey some miles further on, we halted.

In a few hours the cooking utensils came up and for the first time in many days we are privileged to cook. Early in the afternoon an order came for 550 picked men from the brigade to report to Col. Harrison for some important expedition. The Rangers contribute a full share, and very soon they are off. The expedition is to proceed across the mountain on a tour of discovery and prepare the way for the balance to follow into Middle Tennessee. We are elated at the idea.

Tonight we have a delightful prayer-meeting, and from our hearts return thanks to "our Heavenly Father" for our preservation and for the glorious victories which have followed our arms. Next morning we were early on the march again.

We now learn that Col. Harrison did not cross the mountain last night, but the programme is changed. He heads eastward for Chickamauga Station, Tennessee, on the Georgia State Road, and we follow him. The route leads us across the entire battle field, from the left through the centre. Night brought us near the Station, where we camped. Next day we started for East Tennessee, which resulted in our raid across the river, of which I will tell you later.

This is the part Wheeler's Cavalry Corps bore in the battles before Chattanooga, otherwise known as "the Battle of Chickamauga."

Terry's Texas Rangers did a full share of the work assigned to the Cavalry. Although we were not directly engaged, as in other great battles, fighting the enemy, yet we were by no means idle. Now we were harrassing the flank of the enemy, now beating back his advance at some important point, now hovering on the hills and mountains, and anon sweeping through the valleys after his trains. Our labor was constant and most laborious. We contributed our part in gaining a most glorious victory. More anon.

R. F. Bunting,
Chaplain, Terry's Texas Rangers.