after a stubborn resistance for half an hour he was driven, his ranks so thinned, broken, and scattered that it was again impossible for him to rally, and seeking safety in flight, the town with his stores, &c., were abandoned to us, and after an ineffectual pursuit 3 miles beyond the town we went into camp after twelve hours' hard fighting and marching.

A list of the prisoners taken by this command is already in your office.

It is with deep sorrow that I mention the fall of Colonel Ed. Fitzgerald, of the One hundred and fifty-fourth Senior Tennessee Regiment, who fell early in the morning at the head of his regiment. As a man he was kind and gentle in his bearing, as a soldier he was equal to the discharge of his duty, as an officer diligent in executing the orders of his superiors, and as a leader in battle was ever to be found in the foremost ranks.

I would also mention Lieutenant Colonel [J. A.] Butler, of the Second Tennessee Regiment, who fell while leading his regiment in the last charge before Richmond. His life was given to the country while driving the vandal hordes from Southern soil and from the sacred precincts of the last resting place of the dead, which their commander had not scrupled to profane with his iniquitous clan. He sleeps there with the gallant dead of his command around him.

The gallant conduct of Colonel B. J. Hill is worthy of conspicuous mention. Two horses were shot under him and three bullets struck his person. In spite of this he led his brigade without an apparent intermission, each casualty to him being so speedily succeeded by a quick remedy as to cause his appearance in the lead of his command to appear without interruption in the various contests through which he so valiantly passed.

Colonel A. J. Vaughan, jr., who commanded the Second Brigade after I assumed command of the division, repeated the exhibition of judgment and coolness which he had displayed in leading his regiment in the first engagement of the day.

I cannot close this report without bearing testimony to the gallant conduct of the officers and privates of the command generally, and to say that I refrain from particularizing because of the great length to which this report would be extended.

I fell it due to a gallant foreigner to call your attention to his bearing throughout these several bloody conflicts-Lieutenant Colonel [C. J.] Polignac. Though not born on our soil, a stranger to nearly the entire command, not prompted by the many incentives which impel us to battle for our rights, but led on to see the right prevail and the sordid meanness of our foe punished, he had freely exposed himself to all the dangers of warfare, leading the gallant little band of which he was temporarily in command through the thickest of the fight and cheering them on to victory. He deserves the thanks of this country.

I here take great pleasure in speaking of the material service rendered me during the several engagements by Captain M. W. Cluskey, assistant adjutant-general; Captain J. H. Edmondson, brigade inspector; Major A. M. Looney, volunteer aide-de-camp, and Mr. F. B. Rodgers, my aide-de-camp, who in his personal encouragement of the troops when in the most desperate moments of the first engagement attracted my attention as well as that of his brother members of my staff and won the admiration of the entire command; to Lieutenants Hanly, Mayo, and Jetton, of Brigadier-General Cleburne's staff, who reported to me for duty after their general was wounded.

Herewith inclosed I submit the reports of Colonels Hill and Vaughan,* commanding the brigades of this division, to which reference is made

---------------

*Not found.

---------------