Diary of Private W. J. Davidson, Sunday Morning, September 20, 1863

. . . up and ready for battle at an early hour, and, after day-light, were allowed to build small fires.

Under the dense fog, no demonstration was made on either side until a late hour in the morning, and the opportunity was improved by our generals to make a better disposition of their forces than had existed on the preceding day. Gregg's Brigade was moved to the right, where the heaviest fighting had been, and was expected to take place again. It formed the second line, of which there were three, and was not expected to make the first charge. As soon as the fog cleared away, the battle opened on the extreme right and gradually came on down to the left, the artillery firing being much heavier than it was the day before. Between 10 and 11 o'clock, the enemy's batteries at one point opened and shelled us furiously for some time, our line lying down and taking it easy until the command "Forward" was given, when it advanced steadily and in splendid order until it overtook the brigade in front, which, after capturing the first line of works, had halted in the face of a terrible fire of artillery and musketry from across a field. There were said to be sixteen pieces disputing our advance here, supported by lines of infantry. The brigade in our front being sheltered by a shallow ravine, seemed loth to quit its vantage-ground, and Colonel Sugg, commanding Gregg's Brigade, asked permission of its commander to pass over it, which was granted. We sprang forward at the word with loud yells, and in a few seconds were under the play of the enemy's batteries in an open stubble-field. Our line made no halt or waver, but dashed ahead, and in a brief time had captured the guns, shooting down some of the gunners and clubbing others as they stood at their posts. The second line of fortifications, just in rear, was carried by the same assault-the infantry flying in disorder before us. This brigade being now ahead of every thing, was halted to allow other parts of the line to come up, when, if it had been pushed forward a couple of hundred yards, it could have captured, almost without resistance, a large train of wagons and ordnance. Its advanced position created some apprehension of a flank-fire, and, to meet this contingency, it was filed to the right, and skirmishers were thrown out to find out the situation. I was again called upon for this duty, though very tired and thirsty. We advanced, cautiously, from tree to tree, and sprang the game a half mile off, posted in a strong position among the hills. While on this duty, a solitary horseman came dashing through the woods from the front, and, not knowing our whereabouts, found himself in unexpected range of our rifles. Every man in the line fired upon him except myself. He looked so fine, on his gray charger, with fancy trappings, that I hadn't the heart to do so. Only one shot took effect, and this was fired by John Jobe, just as he was in the act of escaping over the hill. Moving forward to the top of a ridge, we found the enemy's skirmishers on the other side, but Captain Feeney's Company soon drove them back on the main body. The brigade now came on, and took position on the ridge, and waited for the enemy's attack, which, from the signs at the front, was momentarily expected. It had not long to wait. With a feeble cheer, a heavy force advanced through the woods and opened a furious fire. The brigade to our right—the same over whose heads we had charged at the opening-gave way and left us exposed to a heavy cross-fire. The colonel now ordered us to retire a short distance, until the other brigade could be rallied, when we moved forward again. Now ensued the hardest and closest engagement we ever had, the enemy being in heavy force; but, notwithstanding that our line was thinned by the casualties of battle already, we held our ground against the odds for two hours before reinforcements came to our help. These came under the same withering fire to which we were exposed, and suffered heavily. The fire was kept up obstinately by both sides, and it was not until a little before sunset that the enemy showed signs of weakening, when we made a charge, driving them over the hill, which they contested to the last inch. Again they rallied, but this time for a few minutes only, when they gave way and quit the field in disorder. Night and the tired condition of our troops prevented any further pursuit. Just before the enemy retreated, and as I was in the act of ramming down the last out of sixty cartridges, I was struck in the hip and rendered hors du combat.

Our loss this day was heavy, both in officers and men, though my company was comparatively favored. Doc. Conway had his shoulder shattered; Robert Fulton, flesh wound in arm, which proved fatal; Charley Bagley, in the shoulder; Billie Hill, in the shoulder, severe; and Tom Pinkerton, in the chest. Other companies in the regiment lost heavily, and other regiments in the brigade lost more than ours. Colonel Tillman was wounded in the shoulder; Major Robinson, in the groin; Colonel Beaumont was killed; Captain Wm. March, of the Forty-first, fell while leading his men in a charge. I was carried off the field, after the fight, by Lieutenant Chafin and Mathew Hathcock, and reached the Field Hospital during the night.

The hospitals were all crowded with our own and the enemy's wounded, and the surgeons could not attend to half of them. I remained there nearly a week, when I was so much improved that I could assist my friends who were worse hurt. Thos. Halbert was wounded in his good arm, but I don't think he will lose it. Doc. Conway is badly hurt, but we are keeping his arm cool with water, and hope to save it. We came to this place (Empire Hospital) last Tuesday, and are comfortably situated. I intend returning to my command to-morrow.

SOURCE: Edwin L. Drake, Editor, The Annals of the Army of Tennessee and Early Western History, Vol. 1, pp. 366-8

Diary of Private W. J. Davidson, October 4, 1863

EMPIRE HOSPITAL, ATLANTA, GA., Oct. 4th.

SINCE the 20th of August, I have had little opportunity, and less inclination, to write in my diary. About the 10th of September, Gregg's Brigade received orders to take the cars for Atlanta, Ga., and we were soon on our way via Mobile, where mean whisky upset some of the boys. At Montgomery, I went to the theatre and witnessed a very poor play. On the way from this place to Atlanta, a soldier was killed by falling between the cars while running. On arrival at Atlanta, we camped two days near the city, and then took the train for Resaca, on the road to Chattanooga, where we again rested for two days. In leaving Atlanta, I became separated from the regiment, which left at 7 o'clock P.M., and did not get off until the next morning, when I succeeded in getting aboard of the train carrying the Fiftieth Tennessee, General Gregg and Staff, and the brigade commissary stores. Three miles north of Marietta, the car containing the subsistance broke down, and had to be thrown off the track; consequently, about twenty-five of us had to walk back to Marietta and wait for the next train. The order turned out to be a piece of good fortune for the party, as the train we left was run into by a down train that night and completely demolished-eighteen men being killed and seventy-five wounded, mostly of the Fiftieth Tennessee. This accident occurred on Sunday night, September 13th. On Monday, I got on board the passenger train, and, after a run of a few miles, the rear coach ran off, but no one was seriously injured, though the escape was miraculous. This accident occurred at Big Shanty, and here I had to remain until the following day, when I was enabled to get through to my regiment at Resaca without further delay. Wednesday morning, we were again en route to Ringgold, and reached the burnt bridge, two miles below that town, just at night-fall. Soon after, the Forty-fourth Tennessee came up and camped near us. In this regiment we found many friends and acquaintances. Thursday morning, we had orders to cook two days' rations, but our supplies being behind, we could not do so. Saw where General Forrest had whipped the enemy a few days before. During the day we heard that a battle was expected every day between Bragg and Rosecrans, and that we were now in seven miles of the enemy's advance. General Bragg had increased his army by reinforcements from Virginia and Mississippi, and was supposed to have about sixty-five thousand men wherewith to match Rosecrans' one hundred thousand hitherto victorious and well-armed troops. Thursday evening, a courier announced to General Gregg that the enemy's cavalry had driven in our pickets beyond Ringgold, and were then in possession of the place. In a short time, the brigade was under arms and on the march. Had to wade the Chickamauga three times in going one-half a mile. Heard artillery firing ahead, but, after taking position on a hill overlooking the town, learned that Bushrod Johnson's Brigade had driven the enemy off. The brigade was then marched back to camps and ordered to cook four days' rations, which consumed the greater part of the night.

At 4 o'clock Friday morning, the march was resumed, with the understanding that there was to be a vigorous pursuit of the enemy. Gregg's and Johnson's Brigades were formed into a division under command of the latter—Colonel John S. Fulton succeeding him in command of the brigade. By daylight the troops were fairly in motion, and, passing through Ringgold, took a westerly course, which, in seven miles, brought us up with the enemy. Our line of battle was quickly formed in an open field, and ordered forward to the edge of the woods in which the enemy was supposed to be covered; but, after advancing some four hundred yards it was halted, and skirmishers were thrown forward. No hostile force was found, and, after a vigorous shelling of the woods, the brigade was moved by the left flank some distance and again ordered forward. The Chickamauga Creek was waded and the steep acclivities beyond were climbed in vigorous pursuit of the enemy, who showed no disposition to come to an engagement. The line of battle kept pushing ahead for several miles, through thickets and dense woods, until more open ground was reached, when a short halt was made to rectify the alignment; after which the advance was resumed, passing through a Yankee camp which had been abandoned a short while before. Just about dark our brigade came up with the enemy's skirmishers, and, the whole division joining in the yell with which the Thirtieth Tennessee opened the ball, these were quickly driven in. Night now being at hand, a halt was made and the men were ordered to sleep upon their arms. A general silence seemed to pervade both lines, in view of the prospect of a heavy battle on the morrow. The night was remarkably cool for the season of the year, and before morning we were allowed to unsling blankets for comfort. At sun-rise, September the 19th, our brigade was thrown into position on a rocky ridge along the west bank of the Chickamauga, and skirmishers thrown out in readiness for the attack which we had reason to believe the enemy would make during the morning; but it was near 10 o'clock before the battle opened with artillery and heavy musketry on the right. In our front every thing was quiet except the rattling of artillery-wagons, as they were being moved up to where the fighting was going on. The engagement gradually extended along the line until at midday it had reached the right of Johnson's Division, and the roar of conflict had been continuous.

We could hear Cheatham's men cheering as they charged and drove the enemy, and the feebler cheer of the other side as it took the offensive, and, in turn, drove Cheatham back.

About 2 o'clock, being on the skirmish line, my attention was drawn to matters more directly in our own vicinity by the whizzing of a few minnie bullets at the front. I then saw a brigade of "blue coats" approaching in splendid order at a double quick, and I apprised Lieutenant Chafin, the officer in command, of the fact; but every one said they were our own men, and it was concluded not to fire at any event until they came closer. When they were within two hundred yards or less, we saw they were Yanks, and no mistake, and firing one round we ran in, according to orders. I took deliberate aim at an officer on horseback, but never learned the effect of my shot. As we reached the main line it was kneeling and at a ready, and perfectly cool. The retiring skirmishers had hardly time to get into their places before the enemy appeared and opened fire with a heavy volley. Our boys now opened with a will, and a severe combat of thirty minutes ensued without any relative change on either side, when our opposers fell back out of range. Bledsoe's Missouri Battery aided materially in the repulse by its splendid firing, which it kept up after the enemy was beyond the range of musketry. About this time General Gregg rode up to Colonel Tillman, commanding the Forty-first, and told him to move forward and see what those fellows are doing down there in the heavy timber." The command was given to forward along the whole brigade, and forward we went in splendid order. At the foot of the hill a halt was called, while skirmishers were thrown out. Colonel Tillman ordered Lieutenant Chafin to detail some of his best men and deploy them as skirmishers at least three hundred yards in advance of the brigade; the three first files of company C were called for, and we went forward, deploying at a double quick, and firing as a "blue coat" came in view. We found the enemy lying down in line of battle waiting for us, and reported the fact. I heard General Gregg's stentorian "Forward!" and a wild yell, as the boys came on at a charge. We waited until they came up, and fell into our places. The whole division was yelling and firing as it went; the bushes were too thick to allow good order or much execution. The yell seemed to have done the work, for the enemy gave way, leaving their dead and wounded and throwing down their guns and knapsacks. The charge was kept up for a half mile, when progress was stopped by a heavy battery in front of Johnson's Brigade, and which we had to give them time to take, the order being for us to preserve line. While waiting here we learned that our gallant General Gregg had been severely, if not mortally, wounded. Colonel Walker, of the Third Tennessee, took command of the brigade. At this stage word was passed along the line that the enemy was moving up in our rear, and we were ordered to fall back, which was accomplished just in the nick of time. After reforming, a half wheel to the right was made to protect the flank, and this position was maintained the rest of the evening. Captain Feeney's Company was thrown forward as skirmishers as night was coming on. The fighting in front of our brigade was over for that day, but was still heavy on the left wing. Of the casualties in the brigade I knew nothing. In the Forty-first the loss was very light, considering that, for a time, we were exposed to a heavy cross fire. We had killed and wounded a great number of the enemy, and captured a few prisoners, besides a number of guns and knapsacks. Three-fourths of a mile of ground had been gained since morning. Of individual acts of heroism on the part of officers and men I will not speak, nor of the few who showed arrant cowardice at the first fire. At dark, Company C was relieved from skirmish duty by a company from the left of the brigade. James Wilson and myself, being detailed to go for water, set out with the canteens of the company, and walked about two miles before obtaining a supply. On our return we wandered about in the woods, completely lost, for about two hours, when we accidentally stumbled upon the line, just as we were about broken down and had given up in despair. During the night, logs and rocks were piled up as protection against bullets. The atmosphere was again quite cool and foggy. General Gregg was in advance of the line when he was wounded, and was left in the hands of the enemy for awhile, who rifled him of his sword, money and watch, and were taking him off the field when he feigned death and was left on the ground. His wound is in the neck, and not considered dangerous. Colonel Granberry, of the Seventh Texas, received a painful wound during the day. All of the other regiments suffered more than the Forty-first. Colonel Sugg, of the Fiftieth Tennessee, was wounded, but, after being attended by the surgeon, came back and took command of the brigade, which, in the meantime, had devolved upon Colonel Walker, of the Third.

SOURCE: Edwin L. Drake, Editor, The Annals of the Army of Tennessee and Early Western History, Vol. 1, p. 325-9