J. A. Smith's Brigade

J. A. Smith's Brigade, part of Cleburne's Division under Brig. Gen. James A. Smith and Col. Hiram B. Granbury, included the 6th and 10th Texas Infantry under Col. Roger Q. Mills, the 15th Texas Dismounted Cavalry under Col. Roger Q. Mills, the 7th Texas under Col. Hiram B. Granbury, and the 17th, 18th, 24th and 25th Texas Cavalry Dismounted under Maj. William A. Taylor. On Nov. 24, 1863, as the head of Cleburne's Division, the brigade arrived on this ground from a point on the ridge south of the Shallow Ford Road at 2:30 P.M. and was ordered to move rapidly to occupy what was later known as Sherman Heights north of this position. Finding the enemy in occupation, Gen. Smith established his line in rifle pits extending from this point northward along the crest of the ridge. Later the brigade was withdrawn and formed around this knoll, leaving space at its north point for Swett's Battery, commanded by Lieut. H. Shannon, to enfilade the former line. Mills's regiment formed the left facing westward, and Granbury's and Taylor's commands continued the line eastward from the battery. Throughout the desperate fighting of Nov. 25, the brigade maintained its lines, repulsed all attacks, lost Gen. Smith and Col. Mills wounded, captured four battleflags, aided in the capture of several hundred prisoners, and covered the withdrawal at night.

Chattanooga, Tennessee · United States