[274] front of Cumming's line, evidently for the purpose of co-operating with and making a demonstration in favor of their assaulting column. The number of his troops massed for this purpose, who had been in plain sight until the view was obscured by the mist, the serious weakness of Cumming's force, there not being a man for yards upon some parts of the line, and the certainty that to reinforce the command near the “Craven house” from Cumming was to give the enemy an opportunity to cut us off from the main body, without even a show of resistance, are facts which rendered it highly improper to withdraw a man from that line.I have already stated that he had but two brigades to hold the lines from Chattanooga creek to the Chattanooga road at the base of the mountain; the force early that morning at the “Craven house slope” had consisted of two brigades, Moore's and Walthall's, and was now reinforced by the larger part of a third, Pettus', while, on the mountain top, there were but one very small brigade and two regiments of another, the larger portion being between the front and the works, the other picketing and holding a line of about ten (10) miles.
I had been directed by General Bragg, if I needed reinforcements, to call for them (see letter marked C), and as soon as I saw that the enemy were attacking and would carry the point, I availed myself of the order, and called both upon Generals Breckinridge and Bragg for them by a staff officer. I instructed him to say to them that if they would send me reinforcements, I would, when the fog rose, attack the enemy in flank by sharpshooters on the mountain crest, and descending Smith's trail take him in rear, and, I doubted not, drive him from the slope. This statement I repeated by three other staff officers, sent at intervals of a half hour. After waiting for some time for an answer, I received a verbal order from General Bragg, to the effect that no reinforcements could be sent me — that I must withdraw as best I could, under cover of the mist and night, and that one brigade would be sent to the base of the mountain to cover the withdrawal. Subsequently, I received the following note:
2 1/2 O'clock P. M.The General-Commanding instructs me to say, that you will withdraw your command from the mountain to this side of Chattanooga creek, destroying the bridges behind. Fight the enemy as you retire. The thickness of the fog will enable you to retire, it is hoped, without much difficulty.After dark, Major-General Breckinridge, then my corps commander, reached the foot of the mountain with one brigade-Clayton's — to be used in covering the withdrawal, by which Walthall's and a part of Pettus' command, as has been heretofore stated, were relieved.
I was engaged in issuing the necessary orders for the retirement of the troops when Major-General Cheatham, a part of whose division was then under my command, arrived. He informed me that he had come to consult with me, but not to take command.
