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No.
112. On the morning of the 19th instant, I moved with the brigade from Steven's Gap, at the foot of Lookout Mountain, at about 9 a.m. to Crawfish Spring, where the battle was then going on. We arrived on the battle-ground at about 1 p.m. and after a rest of ten minutes, took position on the left of the brigade, in the reserve line, the Twenty-ninth Indiana in my front and the Seventy-ninth Illinois on my right. I was ordered to throw up a platoon on my left as skirmishers, as that part was unprotected. As soon as this was done the line moved forward at the double -quick, Immediately coming in sight of the enemy, and driving him by a charge a distance of at least 1 mile, when it was halted and again formed. In this charge my regiment suffered severely, losing several commissioned officers and a large number of men, most of which were but slightly wounded. We were from here ordered to move by the left flank and formed on the right of the First Brigade of this Division; my front was slightly changed to the right. This movement I have since learned left a gap of some extent on the right of this brigade, giving the enemy a partial chance to flank us. At 5 p.m. the firing had ceased in our front, but was still kept up on our left, or in front of General Willich's Brigade - however not to such an extent as to attract a great deal of our attention - and the men were ordered to lie down on their arms. At dark all was quiet, appearance showing the fight had ended for that day. After dark the enemy charged our front and the right flank of the brigade with such an overwhelming force that the front rank was completely annihilated by his first fire, while our reserve dare not fire on account of our own men. The reserve now moved up and held him until he came directly on our right flank, and within talking distance, when we fell back to near the point where we first formed, where we lay during the night. In consequence of the extreme darkness and the dense forest, the enemy captured quite a number of men and officers. Among the latter were Major Fitzsimmons, Lieutenants Sterling and Foster, all of whom had conducted themselves with great coolness and bravery. The next morning a temporary work of logs was thrown up, and preparations made for a hard battle, as it became evident that the enemy greatly outnumbered us. There was no firing of any consequence until about 9 o'clock, when the enemy again made his appearance along our whole front and again charged us, but was repulsed with heavy loss. I was now moved to the left into a gap and became engaged, but in a few moments the enemy fell back and firing again checked. Part of my regiment was sent on the skirmish line, and troops kept forming on our left, as it became evident from the cloud of dust that the enemy was massing on that point. At about 12m. our suppositions were confirmed by his making a heavy assault upon our front and left, driving the latter back a short distance, when we rallied and check him, afterward regaining our position. All was now quiet in our front until about 3 p.m. when the enemy again attacked, and a fight of about one hour took place, after which we were ordered to fall back to Pigeon Gap, where we lay during that night. On the morning of the 21st instant, we again built a temporary work and remained in it during that day, but nothing of importance took place in our front. At about 10 o'clock that night, a retreat was ordered, and our line, except pickets, was quietly withdrawn as far as Chattanooga, where my regiment arrived at about 4 a.m. on the 22nd. Here the men took the first two hours of undisturbed sleep they had had since the night of the 17th, but at 6 o'clock we were again under arms, and at about 7 moved farther to the right, and again formed line. I was now placed on the left of the brigade, the Twenty-ninth Indiana on my right and the Twenty-first Illinois, of General Davis' Division, on my left. Rifle-pits were immediately commenced, but were constructed into a heavy breastwork capable of keeping off heavy shot. Nothing of importance in which my regiment took place until the morning of the 25th instant, when we were again withdrawn from our work and moved about three-quarters of a mile to the rear where we now lie. There have been no casualties in my regiment since the 20th instant, which I have already reported.* This has been the hardest battle in which the regiment ever had part, as at Shiloh and Stone's River we had twice the number of men engaged, while the total loss of each was not as great as this. There is no record that will show harder fighting and better behavior of men than was displayed in this battle under the most trying circumstances. The officers (excepting two) and men were as cool as through a parade. I might mention many deeds of daring and bravery, but to note all would lengthen the report and to mention part would do injustice to others. I heartily thank them for their conduct, assuring them that they have merited the names of true soldiers and patriots. The friends and relatives of the wounded and dead have my heartfelt sympathy, and I feel proud to say that their brothers and sons fell true soldiers, with not a stain upon them. Respectfully submitted. O. D. Hurd, Lieut. Col., Comdg. Thirtieth Regiment Indiana Vols. Capt. E. P. Edsall, Acting Assistant Adjutant General, Second Brigade
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