Forrest's Cavalry Corps

Under Brigadier General Nathan B. Forrest on September 19, 1863, Forrest's Cavalry Corps included Armstrong's Division under Brigadier General Frank C. Armstrong and Pegram's Division under Brigadier General John Pegram. On the afternoon of September 18, Forrest crossed the Chickamauga above Reed's Bridge with a small detachment of his command and, after being joined by Davidson's Brigade of Pegram's Division, bivouacked near Alexander's Bridge. Early on September 19 he was ordered to proceed toward Reed's Bridge and develop the enemy. At 7:30 he struck the infantry of Brannan's Division of Thomas' Corps near Jay's Mill and was repulsed, his force fighting dismounted. Soon after 9 o'clock Forrest was reinforced from near Alexander's house by Wilson's Brigade, and soon after 10 o'clock by Ector's Brigade, both of Walker's Infantry Reserve Corps, but all Confederate forces were steadily driven back toward Jay's Mill until 11 a.m. About that hour Dibrell's Cavalry Brigade of Armstrong's Division reached Forrest. At the same time Walthall's and Govan's Brigades of Liddell's Division struck Baird's right and drove it back for some distance in confusion, but Liddell's Division was then taken in flank, and Forrest's and Walker's troops were pushed back toward Jay's Mill, in whose vicinity they remained for the rest of the afternoon. At this juncture General Armstrong arrived with Colonel Wheeler's Brigade and took command of his division.

Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia · United States