[CHAP. XXVIII.

R. S. Cole, private, Company H; Lieut [S. A.] Mason, Company B, and Captain E. [C.] Harbert, Company K, who were certainly not remiss in any part of their duty. I should not fail to make special note of Lieutenant C. M. Carter, who throughout the whole fight was most conspicuous in the extraordinary gallantry and courage displayed in front of his company and regiment. He unfortunately, however, fell in the last charge in the corn field so badly wounded that he died the next day. Major J. L. Harris and Adjt. T. H. Henderson conducted themselves with credit and gallantry during the whole action.

It may be necessary to mention that the center of the Sixth Regiment passed over the right gun of the battery on the hill.

Hoping that this will in part subserve the purpose for which it is intended, I beg leave to subscribe myself, your obedient, humble servant,

GEO. C. PORTER,

Colonel, Commanding Sixth Regiment Tennessee Vols.

Captain THOMAS H. MALONE, Assistant Adjutant-General.

Numbers 35.

Report of Major George W. Kelsoe, Ninth Tennessee Infantry.

CAMP NEAR DICK'S RIVER, KY.,

October 12, 1862.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the conduct of my regiment in the action of the 8th instant:

When drawn up in line near the hospital established for our brigade my command was harassed by the cannonading of the enemy, and here 1 private was killed and several wounded by the explosion of a bomb-shell. We were ordered forward, passing up a steep declivity by the flank, and took our position under a most galling fire. Immediately after getting under fire we were ordered to charge a battery of seven guns immediately in our front, the three left guns of the enemy covering our right wing. It was carried at once, the men all seemingly determined not to halt for any obstacle.

Here the color-bearer, Robert Gibbs, of Company C, fell while gallantly rushing on, and Corpl. M. C. Hooks, of the color guard, seized the flag and kept in front of the lines throughout the entire action, although severely bruised. At this point Lieutenant [P. T.] Fitzpatrick, commanding Company K,and Lieutenant [W. T.] Lawler, commanding Company G, were both killed while gallantly leading their companies. They did their duty nobly to the last. Lieutenant Col [John W.] Buford was wounded here, and the command devolved on me.

After the enemy abandoned these guns they formed a new line in rear of a lane fence, having the additional protection of being on the opposite side of the lane from us. From this fence they poured into our ranks such a destructive fire as to momentarily check our advance, but my men, determined to die rather than to waver, pressed on, in many cases bayoneting the more dogged of our opponents. The few who escaped fell behind a second line of the enemy drawn up behind the brink of a hill on which were planted four guns. Here every company had its commander struck down. The bravery of these officers had so far carried everything before us. Captain [J. W.] McDonald, First Lieuts. [James I.] Hall, [J. M.] Matthews, and [D. M.] Bell were mor-