No. 21.

Reports of Brigadier General P. R. Cleburne, C. S. Army, commanding Fourth Division.

HDQRS. 2nd Brigadier, 4TH DIV., ARMY OF KENTUCKY,
Richmond, Ky., September 1, 1862.

GENERAL: On the morning of the 29th ultimo I was ordered by you to advance on the Richmond road to a point where the road emerged from a gap in the hills about 5 miles from the foot of Big Hill, and to act as advance guard of the army.

About 5 p.m. I heard cannonading in my front, and learned that Colonel Scott's cavalry were being driven in and they had already lost one of the mountain howitzers. Subsequently the cannonading ceased, and Colonel Scott, coming into camp, informed me he was encamped in the road in my front; that our whole front was well picketed; that the enemy were not advancing. Still feeling uneasy about our situation, with an unknown force of the enemy in our front, I determined, as a matter of precaution, to form line of battle facing the supposed direction of the enemy. This was not accomplished until some time after dark. I then warned commanders of regiments at the first alarm to bring their regiments to their prescribed positions on this line, and then dismissed them, retaining, however, my battery and company of sharpshooters on the line. I had scarcely dismissed them, however, before firing and yelling was heard in our front, and almost simultaneously a multitude of stragglers, consisting of part of Colonel Scott's cavalry brigade, sick men, baggage wagons, servants leading horses, came flying in the utmost consternation, closely pursued by the whole of Colonel Metcalfe's command of United States cavalry, who were firing on them and yelling as though they were all excited with liquor. I reformed my line rapidly, leaving the road clear. When within 25 steps two companies of the Forty-eighth Tennessee fired on the enemy's advance and checked it. The enemy then dismounted one regiment of cavalry and again advanced. It was very dark and they could not see my line of battle, but they kept up a continuous fire on our camp-fires, which were blazing brightly 300 yards in our rear. A few sharpshooters were now pushed forward, the enemy showing great reluctance to advance, and in spite of curses and threats, which we could plainly hear, the whole force of the enemy precipitately retreated.

In this affair we had but one man wounded. The enemy had several dangerously wounded. We captured 30 prisoners, 100 stand of arms, and several horses. The enemy retreated in such haste they cut the reins of their horses, which, as before stated, they had hitched for the purpose of advancing on foot, fearing it would take too much time to unhitch them. My men slept in line of battle without any supper, and at daylight again advanced in search of the enemy.

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

P. R. CLEBURNE,

Brigadier-General, Commanding Second Brigade.

Major General E. KIRBY SMITH,

Commanding Army of Kentucky.

[Indorsement.]

HDQRS. DEPT. OF E. TENN., Knoxville, Tenn., Nov. 16, 1862.

Respectfully forwarded. Owing to movement from Kentucky this communication, being mislaid, could not be sooner forwarded.

E. KIRBY SMITH,
Lieutenant-General.