Twenty-First Army Corps

Under Major General Thomas L. Crittenden, the Twenty-First Army Corps included the 1st Division under Brigadier General Thomas J. Wood, the 2d Division under Major General John M. Palmer, and the 3d Division under Brigadier General Horatio P. Van Cleve. During the afternoon and night of September 18, 1863, this corps was concentrated at Lee and Gordon's Mill. On September 19 at 11 A.M., hearing heavy firing on General Thomas' line, Crittenden sent Palmer's Division to his support, and General Rosecrans also directed that Van Cleve's Division be sent. Palmer became engaged about 1 P.M. on the right of Johnson on Thomas' line, and Van Cleve attacked on Palmer's right, east of Brotherton's, about 2 P.M. Palmer remained engaged throughout the afternoon, first supported by Van Cleve and later by Reynolds of Thomas' Corps, but with Johnson well to the left and front, Van Cleve at 4 P.M. was driven across the LaFayette road at Brotherton's by Stewart's Division, rallied there, and was soon forced by Stewart beyond the Crawfish Springs road, where he bivouacked. Barnes' Brigade of Van Cleve remained south of Viniard's, fighting on the right of Davis' Division of McCook's Corps until sunset. Buell's Brigade of Wood became engaged at Viniard's on Davis' left at 3:30 P.M. and thereafter at intervals until sunset. Harker's Brigade of Wood, proceeding up the LaFayette road toward Brotherton's about 4 P.M., struck with two regiments upon the rear of Fulton's Brigade of Bushrod Johnson's Division west of that road and south of Brotherton's, causing Johnson's withdrawal at 5 P.M.

Georgia · United States