Report of Brig. Gen. William B. Bate, C. S. Army, commanding Breckinridge's division, Breckinridge's corps.

Headquarters Breckinridge's Division,
Near Dalton, Ga., December 14, 1863

Colonel: In obedience to General Orders, No. 17, dated headquarters Breckinridge's corps, December 4, 1863, I have the honor to submit the following report of the p art taken by Breckinridge�s division in the battle of Missionary Ridge on November 25:

The division I had the honor to command in the recent engagement near Chattanooga, Tenn. (known as Breckinridge�s division), was composed of Brig. Gen. J. H. Lewis� (Kentucky) brigade, Brig. Gen. J. J. Finley�s (Florida) brigade, and Bate�s brigade, composed of Georgians and Tennesseeans, commanded by Col. R. C. Tyler, and a battalion of artillery commanded by Captain Cobb, and composed of Captains Cobb�s, Slocomb�s, and Mebane�s batteries.

Lewis� brigade, by order from army headquarters, was withdrawn from Chickamauga Station on the evening of November 23 to a point on Missionary Ridge between the headquarters of General Bragg and Major-General Breckinridge. On the same evening, when the enemy advanced and took possession of the knoll, or Orchard.Hill, capturing pickets on my right, the two brigades commanded by Brigadier- General Finley and Col. R. C. Tyler, then encamping at the base of Missionary Ridge in front of the headquarters of Major-General Breckinridge, were ordered under arms and in the trenches. Assistance being called for on the right, Colonel Tyler was ordered to report with his command to Brigadier-Geiieral Anderson as a temporary supporting force. He returned after dark to his designated place in the trenches, with the loss of 1 man killed and 3 wounded. Thus located, the entire command remained during the 24th without participating in any of the operations of that day. In the early part of that night I was directed by Major-General Breckinridge to move my command to the summit of the ridge immediately in rear of the place I then occupied. This II did by sending the artillery, under command of Captain Slocomb, via Rossville, moving the infantry directly up the hill, as was contemplated in the order. effecting the change.

About 12 o�clock at night I received an order from corps headquarters to send Lewis� brigade to report to Major-General Cleburne, on the right, which was promptly done.

Daylight on the morning of the 25th found the two remaining brigades of the division on the crest of the ridge, Tyler�s right resting at General Bragg�s headquarters and Finley�s prolonging the line to the left, while the enemy, like a huge serpent, uncoiled his massive folds into shapely lines in our immodiate front. Fatigue parties were detailed and put to work on the defenses which Lewis had commenced the day previous, the command having stacked arms in line of battle a short distance back from the brow of the hill, secure from the shells that occasionally greeted us, and which met a prompt replication from Slocomb�s and Cobb�s batteries, the former near the center and the latter the right of my line; this reply annoyed and checked a line advancing on our left oblique, and relieved from the peril of capture our pickets yet in the advanced trenches. Requisition having been made, in accordance with orders from corps headquarters, to furnish 180 men, with complement of field and line officers, as a picket force to confront the enemy along our immediate line, the First Florida Regiment (dismounted) Cavalry and the Fourth Florida Regiment, both small, were detailed for this duty on the 24th, and Major Wall, of the Fifteenth and Thirty-seventh Tennessee Regiments, as division officer of the day.

The pressure of the enemy on-our front on the morning of the 25th ultimo forbade the relief of this force, and hence it remained on that day; the officer. of the day was substituted by Lieutenant-Colonel Badger, of tlie Fourth Florida. By repeated application from the front, representing the picket force there without support on the left, and remembering the misfortunes of the 23d in the picket line to our right, I was induced, upon consultation with the corps commander, to send the Seventh Florida Regiment as a reserve to our picket line. This little force, under the frown of such a horrid front, remained defiant, and, in obedience to orders, maneuvered handsomely amid the peril of capture until, by order, it found a lodgment in the trenches at the foot of Missionary Ridge, with it's right resting at Moore�s house, on the left of the Sixtieth North Carolina Regiment (of Brigadier-General Reynolds� command), and its left adjoining the command of Brigadier-General Strahl at a new redoubt where the main line of defense diverges in the direction of Lookout Mountain. Knowing the disadvantage under which the line, strung out without reserves on the summit of the ridge, would labor in resisting with a plunging fire (no other could be given) the advance of three strong lines, I ordered that it hold the trenches at all hazards. To give them up was to give the enemy a shelter behind them, if he chose to stop there, or to pursue rapidly up the hill, under cover of our retiring line, and gain a lodgment with but little resistance. I give the 6bove interjectional sentence because the obedience of this order may have resulted in the capture of brave and obedient soldiers.

About 1 p. m. I was ordered by my corps commander to remove the division by the right flank until its right should rest on the left of Brig. Gen. Patton Anderson�s line. In the execution of the order I found Adams� brigade, of Stewart�s division (Colonel Gibson commanding), extended on the left of General Anderson�s line with a brigade space between. I Communicated this fact through Captain McCawley, of my staff, to General Breckinridge, and desired to know if in the adjustment of my line this brigade was to be regarded as a part of Anderson�s line. I was answered in the affirmative, and so made my dispositions. In a few moments, however, I received a message from General Breckinridge directing me to report in person to him at General Bragg�s quarters, which I did. General Breckinridge was in the act of going toward Rossville, and directed me to General Bragg, who gave instructions to let my left rest on the Crutchfield road where it crossed the hill, as General Anderson wanted space on his left for .Reynolds� brigade in case it was retired from the trenches, a fact which General Anderson had made known to me through Captain McCawley, of my staff, and Captain Parker, of General Bragg�s staff. My right had under the previous order arrived nearly to the left of General Anderson�s brigade, commanded by Colonel Tucker, when the countermanding order caused a left flank movement until the left of Finley�s brigade rested on the Crutchfield road. Cobb�s (Kentucky) battery had been detached in the forenoon by General Breckinridge, and by his order detained on the left of General Bragg�s quarters in the line subsequently occupied by Adams� brigade, of Stewart�s division; Slocomb�s was on an eminence near my right, and Mebane�s near the center of my line. The temporary earth-works thrown up at these points was a hinderance to the successful use of the pieces, they being too close to the crest of the hill to admit of being placed in front of them, and being necessarily in rear could not be sufficiently depressed to command the slope of the hill in front. The eminence on which Slocomb�s battery was placed projected beyond the &eneral western elope of the ridge, with a slight depression on the right, which gave the advantage of an enfilading fire in that direction. From the top of the ridge to the intrenchments at the foot is 600 or 800 yards, and beyond this an open field of about 900 yards in width.


When ordered to move to the right at 1 o�clock I sent a staff officer to bring that part of Finley�s command in the trenches to the ridge to rejoin his brigade. The order was given and the troops commenced ascending the hill, but upon making the fact known to General Breckinridge he directed it to remain. When we changed locality our relative position to this command was changed, our left on the ridge not reaching to a point opposite its right at Moore�s house.

As to the part taken by this command in the trenches, I respectfully refer to the reports of the division officer of the day, Lieutenant-Colonel Badger, and other officers commanding it.

Hindman�s division, commanded by Brigadier-General Anderson, was on my right, and Major-General Stewart�s division on my left. These dispositions having been made, we awaited the onset of the foe, who seemed confidently resting as a giant in his strength on the plain below, while volleys on the right told� of the conflict being waged.

About 3 or 4 p. m. the enemy initiated a movement along my entire front by advancing a heavy line of skirmishers, followed by two unbroken lines of battle, with heavy reserves at intervals. But a slight resistance was given to this advance by the troops of Reynolds� brigade, in the trenches of our immediate front. They abandoned the ditches on the approach of the enemy�s skirmishers and sought refuge at the top of the hill, breaking and throwing into slight confusion the left of Finley�s brigade as they passed through. Major Weaver, of the Sixtieth North Carolina Regiment, seemed to be in command. He rallied and formed these troops (who seemed to be from two or three different regiments of Reynolds� brigade) across the Crutchfleld road a few paces in rear of the main line. A well-directed and effective fire having been opened on the advancing line, handsomely repulsed it, throwing a portion of it behind our vacated trenches and precipitated others on their second line, which, being out of range of small-arms, I ordered the firing to cease and the line to fall back a few paces to replenish ammunition and give the artillery an unobstructed sweep. This was executed coolly and without confusion. I took occasion during this interval to push a few sharpshooters forward on the declivity of the hill in front of the smoke as vedettes. Order was soon restored in the ranks of the enemy and another onward movement made in systematic and defiant style. My infantry was again advanced to the verge of the ridge and opened a spirited fire, which was constantly replied to. During this charge my attention was called to some scattered troops a few hundred yards to my right, making their way, apparently without resistance, to the top of the hill. Believing them to be Confederates falling back from the trenches, I forbade my right firing upon them, and sent a staff officer to ascertain who they were. Upon receiving the answer, I directed upon them a right-oblique fire of infantry and artillery from the right of Tyler�s command. It drove him to his left, but did not check his ascent of the ridge. In a few moments I saw a flag waving at the point in the line of General Anderson�s division, beyond the depression in the ridge, where a section of artillery of Dent�s battery had been firing and was then located. I thought it a Confederate flag, but on a nearer approach and more minute inspection I soon detected the United States colors. The line in my front had recoiled a second time, but was rallied and was advancing up the hill in such numbers as to forbid the displacing of any of my command. I was ordered by General Bragg to withdraw a portion of my command and dislodge him if possible; but upon suggesting that I was without reserves, and the danger of withdrawing when so hard pressed on the front, which would necessarily cause a gap in my line, he directed me to take such as could be best spared. I at once took the command under Major Weaver, which had come from the ditches and were aligned across the Crutchfield road, it being disengaged, and moved it at a double-quick some 500 or 600 yards to the elevation on the right and rear of where the enemy had formed near his flag. I was unable notwithstanding the assistance of Major Weaver, to get this command farther, and could only form it on the hill at right angles to my line, protecting that flank, and seek to dislodge him by a well-directed fire or hold him in check until the repulsed brigade in Anderson�s line could be rallied and retake their lost ground. Having made this disposition and opened fire, I left Lieutenant Blanchard, of my staff, to report the result and returned to my own line, which was being dangerously pressed. It was but a few moments until the second and third flags were on the ridge near the same spot, and the enemy in such numbers as to drive away the command under Major Weaver. This command, upon the advance of the enemy, broke and retired in disorder. The enemy turned our guns upon us and opened a fire of musketry from our right and rear. This advantage gained caused my right to give back.

In seeking to rally the right I did not see the exact time when the flag went up at the left of General Bragg�s headquarters, but refer to the reports of Brigadier-General Finley, Lieutenant-Colonel Turner (who subsequently commanded Bate�s brigade), and Colonel Mashburn, Lieutenant-Colonel McLean, of Florida brigade, and Major O�Neill, commanding Tenth Tennessee.

The enemy formed a line of battle and moved down upon our right at right angles with that flank. Dent�s battery was turned upon us, sweeping our lines from right to left, and, among other effects produced, destroyed two of Slocomb�s limbers. Our men of the extreme right gave back in some confusion, and in gallantly seeking to rally them Col. R. C. Tyler was dangerously wounded. Meanwhile the enemy had gained the summit of the ridge on our left and subjected us to a fire from that source. He was rapidly enveloping the division, and yet the larger portion of it was on the front line with the artillery. I then moved the command, which was in much confusion, to the rear, ordering the batteries and that portion still remaining on the front of the ridge to retire to the line on which we were rallying. There was much difficulty in stopping the debris which had sloughed off from the first line, but through the personal exertions of General Bragg and staff and many subaltern officers, we formed a line about 1,000 yards from the one just abandoned in a most eligible position across the road leading from General Bragg�s quarters to the pontoon bridge at Bird�s Mill. During the process of its formation General Bragg ordered me to hold the position as long as tenable, and then cross the Chickamauga and report to him at Chickamauga Station. This line was soon molded into proper shape and organized to resist the assault then threatened by an exultant foe. Skirmishers were thrown forward, under Major Wall, Fifteenth and Thirty-seventh Tennessee, on the right, and Major Austin, of Adams sharpshooters (who was there with a part of this command), on my left. Artillery was planted near the road. I sent officers to push the artillery and ordnance .across the bridge and to stop all stragglers. I withdrew from this line the Sixth Florida, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel McLean, and moved it back as a nucleus for another line. I then placed this main (now front) line under command of Brigadier-General Finley, with instructions to hold it as long as possible; when forced, to fall back on the next line. Colonel Rudler was ordered to take command in Tyler�s place, but was soon badly wounded and taken from the field. I remained with this line until the sharpshooters were driven in and it became well and successfully engaged.


It was now nearly dark, and I repaired to a field near the junction of the roads leading to Bird�s Mill from Missionary Ridge and established a line, with the field in front, under supervision of Lieutenant-Colonel McLean; this line was formed across the roads. Having thrown out skirmishers along the front and flanks, I proceeded to join General Finley�s line, which meantime was hotly engaged, not only checking, but causing the enemy to recede, thus enabling a quiet and orderly withdrawal of that line. This fight was made by a retreating force against an advancing and victorious one. It lasted for nearly an hour after night, and staid the onward movement which was pressing us back to the bridge. For further particulars of this fight, I refer to report of General Finley.

I met the head of this column with Major-General Breckinridge, at whose order it had retired. Not having seen the general since in the earlier part of the evening, when he left General Bragg�s quarters to look after the left, I informed him of General Bragg�s last order to me and the locality of my next line. He bade me carry out those orders, and with some additional instructions then delivered he proceeded to join General Bragg. Not pursued by the enemy, I leisurely moved the command to the pontoon bridge, leaving the third line under Lieutenant-Colonel McLean, with instructions to hold it until ordered to retire. I saw Major-General Stewart at the bridge, and reported to him my instructions from General Bragg. My command being in good order, I moved it to the east bank of Chickamauga and bivouacked, meantime ordering Lieutenant-Colonel McLean to join me, of which withdrawal I notified General Stewart. I reported to General Bragg as ordered, and in two hours moved my command on the Ringgold road, running east of the railroad; thence through that place and to Tunnel Hill next day, and the succeeding one to Dalton, where I was joined by Mebane�s battery and subsequently by Lewis� brigade. Lewis� brigade being separated from the command during the fight and retreat, I respectfully refer to his report for the operations of that command. The service of the artillery, under command of Captain Cobb, was fought successfully and gallantly.

My accomplished assistant adjutant-general, Maj. George W. Winchester to whom I feel much indebted for his efficiency and gallantry on this as well as other fields�in seeking to extricate a part of the command as the enemy enveloped us, lost his liberty if not his life, no tidings of his fate having since reached me. CoL R. C. Tyler, commanding brigade, who bore himself as became his reputation won on other and more fortunate fields, was dangerously wounded in discharging his duty. Col. A. F. Rudler succeeded him in command. He, too, fell a victim to a severe and disabling wound in the fight after dark.
Lieut. Col. J. J. Turner, of the Thirtieth Tennessee, as ranking officer, then assumed command of this brigade. His coolness and courage was marked throughout.

I cannot, in justice to the generous and brave, consistently close this without expressing my thanks to Brigadier-General Finley for his gallant bearing and prompt assistance in every emergency.

I take the liberty of mentioning Lieut. Col. Joseph T. Smith, of the Thirty-seventh Georgia, and Maj. J. M. Wall, Fifteenth and Thirty- seventh Tennessee, for special gallantry on this occasion.

To the members of my staff�Capt. G. W. McCawley, Lieuts. T. E. Blanchard and James H. Bate�I also make my acknowledgements for promptness and gallantry on the field.

The casualties of this command were: Killed, 43; wounded, 224; missing, 590. Most of the latter were Floridians who were in the trenches.

For further particulars I respectfully refer to the reports of subaltern officers.

I am, colonel, very respectfully,
Wm. B. Bate,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.

Col. George William Brent,
Assistant Adjutant-General.