ORs: (CS) Report of Gen. B. R. Johnsonn - July 12, 1863

War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies
Series 1, Volume 23, Part 1, Page 601-10

HDQRS. JOHNSON’S BRIGADE, STEWART’S DIVISION,
London, Tenn., July 12, 1863.

SIR:
In compliance with Special Orders, No. 21, dated headquarters Stewart’s division, July 8, 1863, I have the honor to submit the following report of the operation of this brigade at Hoover’s Gap, and during the movement from that point to the vicinity of Chattanooga, embracing the period from June 24 to July 6:

My brigade consists of the Forty-fourth Tennessee Regiment, Col. John S. Fulton; Twenty-fifth Tennessee Regiment, Col. J. M. Hughs; Twenty-third Tennessee Regiment, Col. R. H. Keeble; Seventeenth Tennessee Regiment, Lieut. Col. W. W. Floyd; Jefferson Artillery (a battery of four pieces), commanded by Capt. P. Darden (Napoleon guns).

At about 1 p. m. on Wednesday, June 24, a dark and rainy day, two boys, muddied with hard riding, appeared at my headquarters at Fairfield, and reported the enemy advancing from Hoover’s Gap. Within a few minutes a wounded cavalryman and the adjutant of the First [Third] Kentucky Cavalry Regiment confirmed this report. I immediately ordered my brigade under arms, and soon after received an order from Major-General Stewart to hold my command in readiness to move at a moment’s warning.

By the time that my brigade was formed, a part of [J. R.] Butler’s First [Third] Kentucky Regiment of Cavalry, under Lieutenant-Colonel [J. W.] Griffith, which had in part occupied Hoover’s Gap, appeared at the intersection of the road down Noah’s Fork with the Fairfield and Manchester road, about 600 yards from my headquarters, and stated to me that the enemy in force had moved rapidly upon the cavalry in the gap, and that Colonel Butler, of the First [Third] Kentucky, with a portion of that regiment, had moved before them down the Manchester pike, while Lieutenant-Colonel Griffith’s detachment moved in front of a Federal force, which followed them down the Noah’s Fork road. I immediately moved my brigade through the heavy rain to the junction of these roads, replenished the ammunition of Lieutenant-Colonel Griffith’s detachment, and, by instruction from Major-General Stewart, sent it back with my aide-de-camp (Capt. W. T. Blakemore) on the Noah’s Fork road to find the position of the enemy. This detachment went to a point 1 1/2 miles from the Manchester pike and some 3 miles south of Beech Grove. Here the detachment was divided, one-half proceeding direct to Beech Grove by a country road; the other half was instructed to go to the same point by way of Noah’s Fork road and the Manchester pike. The two parties met at Beech Grove without seeing anything of the enemy. The McBride Creek road and the road toward Manchester were then picketed, and the balance of Lieutenant-Colonel Griffith’s detachment moved forward to the hill on the right of the pike and in front of Hoover’s Gap. This position was taken soon after the Federal cavalry (which had passed down the Manchester pike) had returned and the Federal infantry had fallen back over Garrison’s Fork, under the attack of Brigadier-General Bate’s brigade, which had advanced from its encampment between Fairfield and the gap and engaged the enemy. On proceeding down the McBride Creek road to join my headquarters, Captain Blakemore captured a Federal cavalryman and turned him over with his horse and equipments to a guard of Lieutenant-Colonel Griffith’s command.

About 4 p. m. my brigade moved through the rain and mud from Fairfield, under orders from Major-General Stewart. The Forty-fourth Tennessee Regiment was placed in position on the Puncheon Camp road, beyond Mr. Neill’s plantation and near Mr Wood’s house, and the Twenty-fifth, Twenty-third, and Seventeenth Tennessee Regiments, with Darden’s battery, proceeded to a point on Garrison’s Fork, near Jacobs’ Store, to support Brigadier-General Bate’s command, where it arrived about 6 p. m. One section of Darden’s battery was immediately placed in position on a wooded eminence on the south side of the Manchester pike and on the right of Bate’s brigade. It fired a few rounds at one of the enemy’s batteries, when it became too dark to aim with accuracy, and the firing ceased. The other section of this battery was placed on the same eminence during the night.

About dark, I was ordered to relieve as far as possible Bate’s brigade. The Twenty-third Tennessee Regiment relieved Brigadier-General Bate’s battalion of sharpshooters, on the right of the Garrison Fork, on the right of Bate’s line, and in front of the Thirty-seventh and Fifteenth Tennessee Regiments, which regiments also retired when the Twenty-third advanced to take its position as skirmishers. At the same time the Twenty-fifth Tennessee Regiment relieved Col. [A. F.] Rudler’s Georgia regiment on a hill on the west side of Garrison’s Fork and on the left of Bate’s line, while the Seventeenth was placed on a conical hill about 1,200 yards west of Garrison’s Fork, and about 600 yards to the left of the hill occupied by the Twenty-fifth Tennessee Regiment, all on the old Sharp farm. It was quite dark when the Seventeenth took its position, and the enemy’s line seemed to be imperfectly indicated by a few camp-fires in the woods about 400 yards in front. The Twentieth Tennessee Regiment, of Bate’s brigade, was not relieved at the time, but occupied a position immediately on the left or west of the Garrison Fork and on the right of the Twenty-fifth Tennessee Regiment. In this position, with a strong line of skirmishers in front, my men rested as far as possible on their arms during the night. They were exposed to a drenching rain from about 3 till 6 o’clock on the morning of June 25. Indeed, the whole period included in this report was remarkable for the number of heavy rains, to all of which our troops were exposed without tents or any other shelter.

Brigadier-General Clayton’s brigade arrived in rear of my line about 10 p m and with Capt. J. W. Green, of the Engineers, and Brigadier-General Clayton. I was engaged most of the night in selecting the excellent positions on my right which that brigade occupied before the dawn of day. The Forty-fourth Tennessee Regiment, which Major-General Stewart had ordered up, arrived at my lines by daylight and took the position occupied by the Twenty-third, which was moved to the west side of the Garrison’s Fork, and relieved the Twentieth Tennessee Regiment, of Bate’s brigade.

About 3 o’clock at night a section of artillery (two brass pieces) was posted on the hill with the Twenty-fifth Tennessee Regiment, about 100 yards in front of that regiment. When the enemy discovered these guns in the morning, they moved a battery to a position in front of the knob occupied by the Seventeenth, and in a short time disabled one of the pieces by a shot through its trail. The section was then withdrawn and replaced by a section of iron rifled Parrott guns from the Eufaula Battery, of Brigadier-General Bate’s brigade.

At about 9 o’clock on the morning of June 25, Darden’s battery opened upon the enemy advancing in line of battle. The infantry soon retired and a battery responded, until Captain Darden ceased firing by order of Major-General Stewart. The section of the Eufaula Battery stationed with the Twenty-fifth became engaged at the same time. The fire of the enemy’s artillery was mostly directed during the day and the following morning at the positions held by our batteries, and exhibited excellent practice. The heavy line of skirmishers of the Forty-fourth Tennessee Regiment, consisting of Company A (the only company of that regiment armed with long-range guns), kept up a continued fire on the enemy’s skirmishers in the skirt of woods near Jacobs’ Store, though they were repeatedly instructed to reserve their fire and not to waste their ammunition.

About 10 o’clock, these skirmishers having nearly exhausted their ammunition, I relieved them by 100 men from the Twenty-third Tennesse’ Regiment, for whom I exchanged the sarne number of men of the Forty-fourth, armed with percussion muskets. About 600 yards to the left and rear of the knob occupied by the Seventeenth Tennessee Regiment is a piece of woods on the slope of the hill in front of Mr. Robertson’s house. This hill was on the prolongation of the enemy’s line, and was separated from the woods which they occupied by a cloverfield about 500 yards wide. Lieutenant-Colonel Floyd very judiciously posted Company H, of his regiment, under its captain ([G. W.] O’Neal)., near the Robertson house, to watch the movements of the enemy and check his advance if he attempted to move in that direction. The Seventeenth remained quietly in position during the day and succeeding night, but the skirmishers all along the rest of my line continued to fire at those of the enemy, taking deliberate, and in many eases effective, aim. The enemy in front of the Twenty-fifth were seen carrying away the killed or wounded, which quite excited the marksmen of this regiment.

The Twenty-third lost this day Sergt. A. J. Puryear, of Company A, mortally wounded, and Second Lieut. A. T. Donaldson and Private A. J. Potter, of Company A, slightly wounded. The Twenty-fifth lost Privates W. J. Barry, of Company D, killed, and Lewis Odle, of Company E, wounded in the leg.

About 5 p. m. Captain Darden received orders from Major-General Stewart to fire 6 rounds, when the battery on Signal Hill, on the right of the Manchester pike, opened fire. The order was complied with, and his shots seemed to be very effective on the battery of the enemy in his front.

In the afternoon of June 25, the Ninth Alabama Regiment, of Bate’s brigade, took position on the right of the Forty-fourth Tennessee Regiment and on the left of Darden’s battery. At dark the Forty-fourth Tennessee was ordered to the west of the Garrison Fork, and took the position occupied by the Twenty-third, which was moved to a spur of the hill on which the Twenty-fifth and a section of theEufaula Battery was posted. The firing of skirmishers did not entirely cease during the night, and the enemy commenced the work with much spirit early in the morning, my skirmishers duly responding.

Between 10 and 11 a. m. on June 26, a heavy line of the enemy’s skirmishers entered the clover-field on the left of the Seventeenth and between the woods occupied by Captain O’Neal’s company and those occupied by the Federals. The line of skirmishers was followed by two lines of infantry, about 200 yards apart, of which I especially noticed one regiment formed in column of divisions. Lieutenant-Colonel Floyd, anticipating this movement of the enemy by aid of the indications furnished by the bursting of caps and other signs of preparation in the enemy’s lines, threw his regiment in position, facing to the westward, to meet it, and opened a heavy fire on the left flank of the enemy when it was from 300 to 600 yards distant, passing through the clover-field, and with the aid of a few rounds from the section of the Eufaula Battery checked it, throwing it into some disorder. The enemy’s columns were then making quite a circuit around Colonel Floyd’s position, and othar lines were seen advancing on their left and rear. As the enemy’s skirmishers approached the woods near the Robertson house, Captain O’Neal’s men, posted behind trees, opened fire on them, and drove them back to the main line.

About this time, a messenger from Major-General Stewart rode up to me on the hill occupied by the Twenty-fifth Tennessee Regiment, and told me that General Stewart bade him say to me that he would have to fall back, and that I had aswell commence the movement. I also at this time discovered the Twentieth Tennessee Regiment, which had been posted on the Puncheon Camp road, moving out into the open field, quite a mile distant, in a direction toward the right flank of the enemy. Nearly directly in rear of and about 600 yards from the hill occupied by the Twenty-fifth and Twenty-third Tennessee Regiments, and of about equal height with it, is an open eminence toward which the enemy’s line was advancing. I ordered Colonel Hughs to leave his skirmishers behind, and to move his regiment with the section of the Eufaula Battery on to that eminence, and sent to Colonel [T. B.] Smith, of the Twentieth, to inform him of the nature of my movement, and suggest to him the propriety of uniting with the left of my command.

At the same time I ordered the Twenty-third Tennessee Regiment to move to the hill occupied by the Forty-fourth, and change front, so as to face and resist the enemy. To Colonel Floyd I sent instructions to falt back with the Seventeenth Tennessee Regiment, having early in the day informed him in regard to the position he should take if compelled to abandon the hill on which he was stationed. Through Lieutenant-Colonel [John L.] McEwen [jr.], I ordered Colonel Fulton, of the Forty-fourth, to hold his position as long as it was safe, and then follow the movement of the other regiments of the brigade.

In the mean time Captain O'Neal held his position according to instructions received from Lieutenant-Colonel Floyd, keeping up a rapid fire until the enemy reached a fence some 40 yards in his front, and then he retired over favorable ground with the loss of 1 man wounded, who fell into the hands of the enemy. While the Seventeenth was engaging the column moving around our left flank, the enemy’s skirmishers advanced to the edge of the field in its former front, and opened a brisk fire on the right of the regiment, and on its skirmishers, still deployed on the hill. Colonel Floyd held his position until the enemy had made a partial wheel to their left, and had passed the prolongation of his line, and he then retired by the left flank in excellent order, moving nearly parallel to the enemy’s lines under the ineffectual fire of a battery of artillery and the enemy’s advancing skirmishers. Immediately after the Seventeenth commenced retiring, a column of the enemy advanced from the woods in front of the hill it was quitting, and the enemy were seen all over the top before the skirmishers of the Seventeenth had reached the foot of the slope. The Seventeenth was engaged here some twenty-five or thirty minutes, and lost 1 man killed and 7 wounded. The skirmishers of the Twenty-fifth, under Captain [J. H.] Curtis, engaged those of the enemy in front, and held possession of the hill which that regiment had occupied and abandoned until the knob, abandoned by the Seventeenth, was overrun by the enemy and the flank of the Seventeenth Was under their cover. Corpl. J. J. Robinson ,of Company E,Twenty-fifth Tennessee Regiment, was severely wounded here during the skirmishing.

Captain O’Neal, of the Seventeenth, and Captain Curtis, of the Twenty-fifth Tennessee Regiments, deserve great credit for the manner in which they commanded their skirmishers.

As soon as the orders were distributed for the change of positions in my brigade, I hastened to the eminence, which I had ordered to be occupied, and found the Twenty-fifth and the Eufaula Battery taking their position on it. I soon discovered that the enemy’s line extended beyond the hill, and was moving still farther to my left. I consequently ordered Colonel Hughs to move the Twenty-fifth Tennessee Regiment by the left flank along the edge of the woods, extending out to our left and bordering the open fields, through which the Federals were advancing, and to keep the enemy in view and skirmishers well out to the front. The Seventeenth Tennessee Regiment now ascended the hill, and was formed behind the fence on the crest of the eminence, where it commanded a full view of the enemy’s lines. The first line was within abont 600 yards of the Seventeenth, and the troops before noticed advancing from the woods on the enemy’s left and rear seemed to form a third line. Their number was perhaps 8,000 or 10,000 men. The lines in front of the Seventeenth raised a shout, and started forward at double-quick time, but at the second or third round of the Seventeenth, with perhaps as many rounds from the section of artillery, the front was decidedly checked and thrown into confusion. The section of the Eufaula Battery was now withdrawn without any order from or through me, but I have since understood that it was withdrawn by an officer of General Stewart’s staff After holding this eminence some fifteen or twenty minutes, during which the enemy was moving still to their right and around the base of the eminence, evidently with a view to outflank us, the Seventeenth fell back some 200 yards, during a very heavy shower of rain, which concealed the movement of the enemy from view. A Federal battery placed on the eminence first abandoned by the Seventeenth soon opened on our present position, and I ordered Lieutenant-Colonel Floyd to move his regiment by the left flank in the manner before indicated for the Twenty-fifth, and to connect with the latter regiment.

In the mean time the Twenty-third Tennessee Regiment maintained the position to which I had ordered it until there was some 800 yards between it and the Seventeenth, and I sent instructions to unite with that regiment, which it now did, and moved to the left with it. The Forty-fourth continued to hold its first position,’and skirmish with the enemy in its front until the column of the enemy, advancing in the hollow in its rear, had gained the rear of its left flank, When it moved by the right flank, passed under the hill along the Garrison Fork, and formed on the right of the Twenty-third near the eminence to which the Twenty-fifth was first ordered when our movement commenced, and which had just been abandoned by the Seventeenth. These movements were all- conducted in an admirable manner, and as the object was evidently not to engage in a general battle, the movement of each regiment was well timed.

About the time that the Seventeenth, Twenty-third, and Forty-fourth were being put in motion by the left flank to move after the Twenty-fifth along the skirt of woods before indicated, Major [J. W.] Eldridge, of the artillery, reported to me with one Napoleon gun and a section of two light field pieces of [Frank] Maney’s battery, which I requested him to place in position near Brigadier-General Bate’s old headquarters (the Amick house).

About the same time I was informed, in answer to my inquiry of one of Major-General Stewart’s staff (Major Eldridge, I think), that the other troops of the division had passed the Fairfield road immediately in my rear. When the middle of my brigade had reached the poiut indicated, I found the three guns duly posted under Captain Darden. Major Eldridge here informed me that he would post the other three guns of Darden's battery on an eminence near the Fairfield road, on the south side of the Matt Martin farm, and stated when Captain Darden fell back he would go to that position. Some 4 or 5 rounds were fired by our artillery, when the enemy’s batteries, which had continually annoyed my infantry with shells during their flank movement, directed their fire on the position occupied by the guns under Captain Darden. The skirmishers of my leading or left regiment (the Twenty-fifth) also became engaged here with the enemy’s skirmishers. The artillery under Captain Darden then retired, under the impression that the instructions were to fire oniy a few rounds before doing so. As I rode back to look after the artillery, I was informed that the enemy was pressing down on my left, between the Twenty-fifth and Twentieth Tennessee Regiments, the latter of which had fallen back to my. line. As the line of woods here bore off from the direction of the Fairfield road, and I reflected that to fall back through the wide fields in our rear, closely pursued by the enemy, might be attended by a heavy sacrifice of men, for which there seemed no necessity, I concluded to order my command back over the fields of the Matt Martin farm to a piece of woods on the south side, to which the enemy could only advance through open ground, exposed to the fire of our artillery. The enemy’s artillery still continued to throw at my line both shot and shell, which were generally aimed too high. We, however, passed out of their line of fire when we entered the second woods. The two light pieces of Maney’s battery fell back with Captain Darden, and a section of [Thomas H.] Dawson’s battery, under Lieutenant [R. W.] Anderson, now reported to me in the woods occupied by the brigade. I selected for it a position near a small cabin, and I directed Lieutenant Anderson, who commanded the section, to mask his pieces and only fire canister shot when the enemy should approach to the proper distance. My infantry I placed on the right and left of the section of artillery, mostly under cover of large fallen timber, with instructions not to fire until tbe enemy should approach to within short range. The Twentieth Tennessee Regiment was here placed on the extreme left of my line. The skirmishers I threw out in front, with instructions not to show themselves, and to retire before the enemy without firing a gun. The [enemy] soon approached, and by some means ascertaining the position of my line, threw into the Seventeenth and the battery some shells, which exploded with remarkable accuracy, while their skirmishers opened wifh small-arms and were responded to. My brigade fell back to gain a better cover, and the section of artillery returned to the rear of the strip of woods. I again pressed forward my line and rearranged its position, when Major-General Stewart ordered the section of artillery under Lieutenant Anderson to its former position. Major [Thomas K.] Porter, of the artillery, acting on General Stewart’s staff, now took charge of the duty of posting this section of artillery, and during the subsequent shelling of our line by the enemy’s artillery he was wounded on the head by a fragment of a shell. The enemy failed to advance to close range, and finally they ceased firing at about 3 p. m., without drawing from my command more than a few discharges from some of my skirmishers. The Seventeenth had here 11 men wounded, one mortally; the Twenty-third had 3 men wounded, and the Twenty-fifth 1 slightly wounded in the arm. Anderson’s section lost 1 horse.

My brigade was thus engaged in maneuvering and skirmishing for a period of about four hours, during which the Seventeenth was perhaps most exposed, and suffered the greatest losses.

The conduct of the skirmishers and the officers commanding them in the Seventeenth and Twenty-fifth I have already reported.

On June 25, the skirmishers of the Forty-fourth Tennessee Regiment repulsed in a handsome manner three attacks of the enemy, made with a view to drive them from the skirt of woods which they occupied. Lieutenant [W. A.] Vernon, of the Twenty-third, is especially mentioned by his colonel for the manner in which he discharged his duties in command of the skirmishers of that regiment. He is also mentioned as an officer of merit, who has served in several battles and always with honor, Major [J. G.] Lowe, of the Twenty.third, is also named for his attention, zeal, courage, and watchful foresight.

The movements of my brigade were all made nuder fire, and were performed neatly, without straggling, and with promptness and precision alike creditable to the officers and men. Captain Darden’s battery frequently fired on the enemy’s skirmishers after it retired to the eminence indicated.

After 3 p. m. June 26, only a few shots were fired by sharpshooters, and at 3.30 a. m. on the 27th, the enemy again commenced picket firing. At daylight I received orders to move via Fairfield, Wartrace, IRoseville, and Normandy to Tullahoma. As my brigade was moving off, Captain Darden’s battery fired several rounds at a small squad of cavalry which appeared at about 1,000 yards distant, and then joined our movement, having fired at Hoover’s Gap and vicinity 147 rounds of fixed ammunition, viz, 132 of shell and 15 of round shot. My brigade, preceded by the Twentieth Tennessee Regiment, attached to it for the time, moved deliberately and quietly in rear of the division, and arrived at Tullahoma, without any further skirmishing with the enemy, at 7 p. m. June 27. On the 28th, 29th, and until about 4 p. m. on June 30, my brigade remained at Tullahoma. The last two days it was formed in line of battle on the right of the McMinnville road and in rear of General Brown’s brigade, and had heavy details engaged in working on the defenses at that place.

At about 4 p. m. on June 30, my brigade, by order of Lieutenant-General Hardee, and guided by Captain [G. M.] Helm, of the Engineers, took position to the right and rear of our defenses, about 5 miles southeast of Tullahoma, at the junction of the Manchester and Winchester road with a road approaching the Chattanooga Railroad from direction of Hillsborough. I found here at dusk in the evening Brigadier-General Martin with a cavalry force, who informed me that a regiment of Federal infantry had passed toward Manchester about one hour before my arrival. The road furnished indications that infantry had been passing, and information to that effect was gathered from citizens. My brigade rested in line of battle across the Manchester and in rear of the Hillsborough road, with cavalry pickets from Brigadier-General Wharton’s command in my front and on my flanks. Generals Wharton and Martin rested in my vicinity during the night.

At dawn on the morning of July 1, my brigade, under orders, through Captain Helm, from Lieutenant-General Hardee, left the cavalry in its rear and moved toward Decherd. it crossed Elk River by the Bethpage Bridge, and rested about 1 mile south, near the house of Mr. Corn, from 8 a. m. until about 4 p. m.; then it moved across the Bethpage Bridge, and was placed in line of battle about 1 1/2 miles in front of it, to support, under command of Major-General Cleburne, Brigadier.General Churchill’s brigade. The enemy fired a few shots from their artillery, which passed over my command. My brigade then moved to the left en échelon to Brigadier-General Churchill’s brigade. At dark my brigade again crossed the Bethpage Bridge, received orders to reduce the baggage at Decherd to 800 pounds per wagon, and rested during the night near Mr. Corn’s, about 6 miles from Decherd.

On Thursday morning (July 2), my brigade moved back to the Bethpage Bridge, and passed up to the intersection of the Hillsborough and the Bethpage and Brakefield Point roads, about 3 miles from the bridge. After placing my brigade in position across the former road, I sent, by order of Major-General Stewart, the Twenty-fifth Tennessee to join the Twenty-sixth Tennessee Regiment, of General Bate’s command, and to support the cavalry under General Martin at Morris’ Ford, on the Hillsborough road. The Twenty-fifth was detached about two hours and a half and occupied two positions near the ford, both out of line of the enemy’s fire. A section of Darden’s battery was moved up to Morris’ Ford at the same time with the Twenty-fifth, and tookposition 250 or 300 yards on the left of the llillsborough road, on the bank of the river. The opposite bank, as far as could be seen along the river and for 200 yards back from the stream, was covered with woods, in which the enemy’s cavalry and perhaps a section of artillery were posted. Brigadier-General Martin’s cavalry brigade were stretched along the southern bank of the stream and were skirmishing with the enemy, exposed to occasional discharges of canister, shell, and shot. The section of Darden’s battery opened on the enemy at from 250 to 300 yards. It fired first at the position of the enemy’s artillery pointed out by General Martin, and then shelled the woods. The enemy commenced falling back at the first shot, and by the time the sixth shot was fired their cavalry had gained the lane bordered by wide fields beyond the woods, along which they moved in column, presenting an admirable mark for our artillery, and one upon which every shell seemed to take effect. They were thrown into great confusion, and many loose horses were seen running away without their riders. The artillery retired through the fields under cover.

Far up the lane a wagon train was seen, extending into the woods beyond. They may have been ambulances or a pontoon train. Drivers attempted to turn and move off, but one or two shells exploded among them and produced the wildest confusion. The fleeing cavalry and teams became all mingled together. Gradually the lane was, however, cleared.

The, loss of the enemy here is supposed to have been quite large, and recent reports, through Northern papers, confirm this impression. Captain Darden here fired 48 rounds of shell, making a total of 195 rounds fired at Hoover’s Gap and [during] the evacuation of Middle Tennessee.

Under General Stewart s immediate order, the brigade, with the Twenty-sixth Tennessee Regiment, under Colonel [John M.] Lillard, moved about 11 a. m. from this position nearly up to Brakefield Point. About 2 p. m. I was ordered to move back my brigade, with the Twenty-sixth Tennessee Regiment, to the intersection of the Hllsborough with the Bethpage and Brakefield Point road, and to detain in position the Twentieth Tennessee Regiment, which had been left on the road south of Bethpage Bridge. The Twentieth Tennessee Regiment arrived just at the moment I started to comply with this order, and upon application of the colonel (T. B. Smith) it was suffered by Major-General Stewart to remain behind, with the orders to move in case of any action on the part of my command.

Upon my advance, I found General Martin’s cavalry had fallen back to the intersection of the roads which I was ordered to occupy, and I formed my command about 1 mile in rear, across the Brakefield road, and threw forward the Seventeenth Tennessee Regiment and a section of Darden’s battery to within about 1,000 yards of the intersection of the roads. We remained in this position perhaps one hour, during which the skirmishing of our cavalry at the intersection of the roads grew pretty warm, and Brigadier-General Wharton came up from toward Cowan with a large re-enforcement of cavalry, with which I had requested him to occupy the ground on that side. I received orders to retire just as Major-General Wheeler came upon the field. My command, including the Twentieth and Twenty-sixth Tennessee Regiments, moved, with the Seventeenth in rear, to the foot of the mountains, and rested for the night.

On July 3 and 4, my brigade continued in rear of the troops (Hardee’s corps), marching on the road which passes by University Place. The Seventeenth moved in rear of the brigade on the 3d, and the Twentieth on the 4th of July, quietly and without being threatened by the enemy. The Twenty-sixth Tennessee Regiment rejoined General Brown’s brigade on July 3.

On the night of July 4, we bivouacked on Battle Creek. On July 5 and 6, the brigades of Generals Clayton and Liddell occupied in succession the position of rear guard.

On July 6, the infantry, artillery, ambulance, and ambulance train of my brigade passed the Tennessee River on the pontoon bridge at Kelly’s Ferry in three-quarters of an hour, and bivouacked in the afternoon at Wauhatchie Station, on the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad. Here the movement, which will probably be known as the Evacuation of Middle Tennessee, terminated.

As I have not communicated with the officers commanding the Twentieth and Twenty-sixth Tennessee Regiments, or with those commanding the sections of the Eufaula, Maney’s, or Dawson’s battery since they left my command, I can only report from observation and unofficial information the part they took in the movement while connected with my command. I may make omissions in regard to them, which will no doubt be supplied by the commanders of the brigades to which they were attached.

The list of casualties in my brigade was forwarded on the 10th instant. I submit the following recapitulation:

Command.	Killed.		Wounded.		Captured or Missing.		Aggregate.
	Officers.	Men.	Officers.	Men.	Officers.	Men.
17th Tennessee		1		16	1	1	19
23d Tennessee		1	1	3			5
25thTennessee		1		5		1	7
44th Tennessee				2		3	5
Battery
Total		3	1	26	1	5	36

The number of officers and men who were left in Middle Tennessee by desertion and otherwise, and have not yet returned, are as follows:

Command.	Officers.	Men.
17th Tennessee	3	125
23d Tennessee		52
25th Tennessee		47
44th Tennessee		104
Battery		4
Total	3	332

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

B. B. JOHNSON,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.

Maj. B. A. HATCHER,
Assistant Adjutant-G.eneral.

 

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