Johnson's Division

Johnson's Division of McCook's Corps, commanded by Brigadier General Richard W. Johnson, held this line before daylight on September 20, 1863, after withdrawing the previous evening from the vicinity of Winfrey's House in the face of Cleburne's attack. Berry's Brigade was in front and Willich's in reserve, with Baird's Division on the left and Palmer's on the right, while Dodge's Brigade was transferred before the attack to the left of Baird's Division. The front was protected by a breastwork of logs. At about 10 a.m., Cleburne's Division attacked the fronts of Johnson and Palmer, but after about an hour of desperate fighting it was repulsed with heavy loss. There was then little fighting on this front until late afternoon, while part of Berry's and all of Willich's Brigades helped repel persistent attacks on Baird's left. At 4 p.m., Willich's Brigade moved behind Baird's line, skirted the woods, cleared them of scattered enemy forces, and took position in the southeast corner of Kelly field to the right of Reynold's Division. Soon after 5:30 p.m., Johnson was ordered to follow Palmer in withdrawing, but because his command was heavily attacked at that moment, Johnson and Baird held their lines briefly before withdrawing hastily and in disorder to the woods west of Kelly field. They were not pursued into the forest and then moved to Rossville by way of McFarland's Gap. During the two days of fighting, the division lost 148 killed, 940 wounded, 554 missing, for a total of 1,642.

Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia · United States