On the ‘morning of September 19, Brig. Gen. Preston Smith’s brigade was ordered in position to receive the advance of the enemy. The brigade was scarcely in position when my command was ordered to deploy in front of the position and advance to check the enemy. Had succeeded in deploying two companies, when the brigade moved forward to engage the enemy. My command was then assembled on the right of the brigade and moved forward in a line with the latter; succeeded in driving the enemy in our front some 600 yards. A part of the ground over which my command had to advance was an open space over timber recently fallen. Having exhausted my ammunition. I retired slowly and in good order with the brigade to the pos-tion first occupied. In this position I was ordered to support Turner s [Smith’s] battery, of Brigadier-General Maney’s brigade. The battery did good service in effectually checking the advance of the enemy in that direction, notwithstanding they (the enemy) were advancing in three lines. Here it was that the gallant Major Dawson was severely wounded in the groin and forced to leave the field. The command of the battalion then devolved upon myself, with Major Purl, of the Twelfth Tennessee Regiment, to assist me.
Late in the afternoon my command was again deployed in front of the brigade, and continued a brisk skirmish with the enemy until <ar51_116> Brigadier-General Deshler’s command came up and passed over my line. I was then ordered by Brigadier-General Smith, whom I met leading his brigade to support Brigadier-General Deshler, to return and support Turner’s [Smith’s]battery until further orders.
