Bate's Brigade

On September 19, 1863, at 4 p.m., Bate's Brigade of Stewart's Division in Buckner's Corps held its second position, commanded by Brigadier General William B. Bate and composed of the 58th Alabama, 37th Georgia, 4th Georgia Battalion Sharpshooters, 15th Tennessee, 37th Tennessee, 20th Tennessee, and Eufaula Artillery. At 4:30 p.m. the center of the brigade crossed the LaFayette Road at this point, with its left south of the Brotherton house, its right near the southeast corner of the field east of the Poe house, and Clayton's Brigade on its left. The line advanced under severe fire, gradually swinging toward the northwest. Its left pierced the Union center and opened an enfilading fire on troops and batteries near the Poe house, forcing that Union force to withdraw to the north line of the Poe field behind a strong line of guns. The arrival in the Dyer field of the head of Brannan's Union Division moving from the north caused the withdrawal of Bate's left regiments, while the right, advancing through the Poe field, was repulsed at 5 p.m. by twenty guns and supporting infantry assembled there. The brigade captured four pieces of artillery, suffered losses of 48.7 percent, and all but three of its field officers were wounded.

Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia · United States