Jones, and Lieut. J. A. Grover, assistant adjutant-general of the Seventeenth Brigade, were captured by the enemy. I regretted the capture of those young gentlemen deeply. They had behaved most gallantly during the day, and I can truly say deserve well of their country.

Major Hopkins, with three companies of the First Michigan Mechanics and Engineers, remained on the field during the day, and late in the evening formed a line of battle on a line with a portion of the Seventeenth Brigade on the left of the road. Their force was too small to oppose the advancing column of the enemy. They took shelter behind Clark's house, but were forced to retire with the Seventeenth Brigade, which was done in good order. They lost quite a number in wounded and missing.

The conduct of the officers and men under the fire of the rebels was admirable. The Eighty-eighth Indiana, Colonel Humphrey, was with the Seventeenth Brigade on the right. It was not under my eye, but I was informed that it [though a new regiment] behaved well.

I have thus given a general statement of the battle and such incidents as occur to me. It was a hard and gallantly fought field, and the country is called upon to mourn the loss of many brave men who fought in it. My division fought it under many disadvantages. It was attacked on ground well known to the enemy and fixed upon by him as the battle-field, and while it was on the march and it was impossible for us to know much of the nature of the ground on which we fought. My men too were suffering intensely for want of water, having been scantily supplied for a day or two; but they fought it bravely and against three or four times their number of the best soldiers of the rebel army and under the directions and eyes of Bragg, Buckner, Polk, Cheatham, and other prominent generals of the rebel army. If of the old troops any man flinched I do not know it and have not heard of it. Very few men of the undisciplined new regiments behaved badly.

I had an opportunity of seeing and knowing the conduct of Colonel Starkweather, of the Twenty-eighth Brigade; Colonel Harris, of the Ninth Brigade, and the officers and men under their commands, and I cannot speak too highly of their bravery and gallantry on that occasion. They did cheerfully and with alacrity all that brave men could do.

Colonel Lytle, of the Seventeenth Brigade, fell severely wounded while gallantly maintaining his position on the right, and doubtless the country is as much indebted to him and the brave men of his brigade as to those whose conduct I witnessed.

To the whole division I tender my sincere thanks for their gallantry on that bloody day.

I also acknowledge my indebtedness to Lieut. F. J. Jones, my assistant adjutant-general, and to Lieuts. William P. McDowell, L. S. Hartman, D. L. Rousseau, and Harrison Millard, my regular aides, and to W. F. G. Shanks, my volunteer aide, for gallant bearing and efficient services rendered on the battle-field.

I also acknowledge my indebtedness to Lieuts. George W. Landrum, of the Second Ohio; William Quinton, of the Nineteenth Illinois; James H. Connelly, of the Thirty-seventh Indiana, and the Signal Corps of the Third Division for gallantry and valuable services on the field. They attended me voluntarily, though not their place to do so, through the thickest of the fight.

My orderlies, Sergt. Damos Emory and the rest, behaved gallantly through the battle.

Col. Buckner Board, of the Second Kentucky Cavalry, and his command