Report of Maj. James M. French, Sixty-third Virginia Infantry.
CAMP SIXTY-THIRD VIRGINIA REGT.,
Near Chattanooga, Tenn., September 25, 1863.
SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part
taken by this regiment in the action of September 19 and 20, on
Chickamauga River, Ga.:
My regiment having been detached as a guard for the ordnance
train, on the evening of the 19th, I was ordered to rejoin the
brigade, leaving two companies back as a guard with the
ordnance. I joined my brigade accordingly with eight companies,
where we were held in reserve.
On the morning of the 20th, it was moved with the remainder of
the brigade to a position in supporting distance of a battery,
protected by fortifications thrown up the night previous.
At about 3 p. m. it was moved with the brigade to the front in
the direction of Chattanooga and placed in line of battle,
Fifty-eighth North Carolina on the right, Fifth Kentucky on the
left, Sixty-third Virginia Regt. occupying the center. It was soon
afterward moved by the enemy. The enemy occupied a range of
ridges, from which they had successfully repulsed several
assaults made by our troops. The approach to the enemy's
position was very difficult, owing to deep ravines and
depressions partly covered with thick undergrowth. After
emerging from this thicket my regiment moved steadily on under
a heavy fire from the enemy until gaining the summit of the hill
upon which the enemy was posted. When within 15 paces of the
enemy, my regiment was halted and poured a deadly fire into his
ranks. The enemy gave way before them. I was in the act of
making a charge when I received information that they were our
friends we were firing upon. My regiment was ordered to cease
firing. This mistake gave the enemy time to rally, which he did,
taking position on a ridge at an angle of about 25.
Just here I would state that a portion of the Fifty-eighth North
Carolina, having been forced to fall back, left my right exposed
to an enfilading fire from the enemy. This fire was most terrific,
which caused me to change my front a little, retaining the ground
from
which we had driven the enemy. In this part of the
engagement I lost several of my best officers and men killed and
wounded.
An incessant fire was kept up until abut sundown, when the
enemy ceased firing.
The fifty-eighth North Carolina, Fifth Kentucky, and my
regiment advanced to within a short distance of the enemy, when
they proposed to surrender and laid down their arms. When we
arrived within about 40 yards of them, they retook their arms
and pored a heavy fire into our ranks, which caused us to fall
back a short distance to our position on the hill, from which
place we continued to fire into them. Our ammunition being
now almost exhausted, we supplied ourselves as far as possible
from the boxes of the killed and wounded. We again advanced
in conjunction with Col. Trigg's brigade, when we succeeded in
capturing 249 prisoners, including several field officers. The
prisoners being secured and sent to the rear, we encamped upon
the battle-ground.
I am pained to state that in this engagement I lost about one-third
of the number engaged in killed and wounded.
The position we took and held was the same from which some of
our troops had been twice repulsed.
The instanced of personal coolness, courage, and daring are too
numerous to mention. Both officers and men did their whole duty.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. M. FRENCH,
Maj., Comdg. Sixty-third Virginia Regt.
Capt. JOHN B. Maj.,
Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
Source: Official Records
PAGE 447-51 KY., SW. VA., TENN., MISS., ALA., AND N. GA. [CHAP. XLII.
[Series I. Vol. 30. Part II, Reports. Serial No. 51.]
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