with promptness and fidelity the arduous duties assigned him. I am also under many obligations to my acting assistant adjutant-general, who acted coolly and gallantly in communicating my orders to the command. Brigade Quartermaster Bird, Commissary Hills, and Quartermaster Colburn, of the Thirty-third Ohio, conducted themselves so as to meet with my entire approbation. They coolly and effectually, under a heavy fire, directed the loading and removal of the stores. Under the circumstances, the necessity of longer holding the fort having passed, I acted according to instructions in withdrawing my command. I believe that the enemy, relying on their command of the Decherd road by their artillery and infantry fire, neglected until it was too late to throw a force in my front as they had done in my rear, which would have necessitated a retreat through the mountain by uncertain and difficult paths.

Very respectfully,

L. A. HARRIS,

Colonel, Commanding Ninth Brigade.

Captain JONES, Assistant Adjutant-General.

No. 2.

Report of Brigadier General Samuel B. Maxey, C. S. Army, with congratulatory orders.

CHATTANOOGA, TENN., August 31, 1862.

COLONEL: I send with this a copy of Brigadier-General Maxey's report of the affairs at Bridgeport and Battle Creek, in which a part of his command was engaged on the 27th instant. The affairs were conducted with judgment and spirit, desrving high commendation, and I shall be gratified if the general commanding sees proper to notice it in general orders. Such notice of the good conduct of new troops in their first engagement with the enemy would be gratifying and encouraging

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

SAM. JONES,

Major-General.

Lieutenant Colonel GEORGE G. GARNER,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

[Inclosure.]

HEADQUARTERS CONFEDERATE STATES FORCES,
Near Graham's, opposite Mounth of Battle Creek, Tenn.,

August 30, 1862.

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following report of the affairs in which a portion of the troops under my command were engaged on the 27th instant:

Early in the morning I ordered Captain P. H. Rice, commanding Company A, [J. R.] Howard's battalion Georgia and Alabama cavalry, to ford the Tennessee River about 2 1/2 miles below Bridgeport, and cautiously approach that place and attack the enemy. Captain Rice found, however, that the enemy had precipitately evacuated the night before. This being communicated to me, I ordered the Thirty-second Alabama Regiment of Infantry, Colonel [A.] McKinstry, which was concealed on the bank of the river, to cross. Captain Rice was in the mean time