as will appear from a special report to the Adjutant-General of the State, dated January 4, 1867, in which he states:

"I find it rather a difficult matter to satisfactorily give you the information called for in your letter of the 20th ultimo.

"The 4th Michigan cavalry has so often distinguished itself, both by the brilliancy of its charges and the stubbornness of its fighting, that I doubt if you will find two men agree on the two engagements in which it was most distinguished.

"Some would claim Stone River where it charged three times, each time driving a brigade of rebel cavalry from the field; others, some of the many 'raids around Murfreesboro', where the sabre charges of the 4th Michigan and 7th Pennsylvania were the admiration of the entire Army of the Cumberland; others, the fight with Dibrell's brigade at Sparta and Sperry's Mill, on the 9th and 17th of August, 1863, or the hard day's fighting at Reed's Bridge, near Chicamauga, on the 18th of September, where the 4th Michigan, 7th Pennsylvania, and 4th regular cavalry (973 of all ranks) fought the entire of Hood's corps from 7 o'clock in the morning until 5 o'clock in the evening, leaving 102 rebel dead within one hundred yards of the eastern end of the bridge, and preventing the carrying out of Bragg's order of battle of that date, the first part of which reads:-'1. Johnson's column (Hood's) on crossing at or near Reed's Bridge will turn to the left by the most practicable route, and sweep up the Chicamauga towards Lee & Gordon's mills.'

"Some again would claim Lovejoy's Station, Ga., on the 20th of August, 1864, where the same little brigade, then numbering under 800 men, scattered Ross's Texan brigade, sabering over 500 of them.

"After considering the subject fully, I selected Shelbyville, Tenn., on the 27th of June, 1863, and Latimer's Mill, Ga., on June 20, 1864. At both these places the success of my brigade was mainly attributable to the brilliancy and tenacity of the fighting of the 4th Michigan cavalry, then under command of Major F. W. Mix.

"At Shelbyville I found myself with a force of 1500 men in front of formidable breastworks, with an abatis of over one-fourth of a mile in width in front of them, behind which Generals Wheeler and Martin had an opposing force of 4,000 men, and three pieces of artillery. I detached the 4th Michigan, in command of Major Mix, well to the right, with orders to force their way through the abatis, and assault the works, and if successful to turn to the right and sweep up the entrenchments, promising that so soon as I heard their rifles speaking, I would make the direct assault on the Murfreesboro' and Shelbyville pike. They did their work so well that as I entered the works on the main road they joined me from the right, having carried the works and taken prisoners from six different regiments. The fruits of that day's work were the whole of the enemy's artillery and 599 prisoners, while over 200 dead bodies were afterwards taken out of Duck creek, into which I had driven Wheeler and his entire command."

The loss of the regiment was only seven wounded and nine prisoners. The important part taken by the 4th cavalry in the great battle of Chicamauga, while in command of Major Mix, warrants it in being placed among the many engagements in which that regiment distinguished itself.

In Col. Minty's report of the part taken by his command from the 13th to the 24th September, 1863, including the battle of Chicamauga, he

says:

September 13th.-With the 4th U. S. cavalry, 4th Michigan cavalry, 7th Pennsylvania cavalry, and one section of the Chicago Board of Trade

battery, I marched from Chattanooga, and reported to Major-Gen. Crittenden, commanding 21st army corps, at Gordon's Mill.

"September 14th.-Under orders from Major-Gen. Crittenden, I crossed Missionary Ridge into Lookout Valley.

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September 15th.-Marched back to Gordon's Mill, where Gen. Crittenden ordered me to proceed to Pea Vine Valley, and encamped near Leet's Cross-roads. I crossed the Chicamauga at Reed's Bridge, and shortly before dark encamped on Pea Vine creek, near Peeler's Mill, and sent out scouts towards Grayville, Ringold, Leet's, and Rock Springs. Same night I reported to Major-General Crittenden the information brought by these parties, and in answer received a letter from Capt. Oldershaw, A. A. G., 21st army corps, of which the following is an extract: The major-general commanding directs me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this date, informing him that Forrest is at Ringold, Longstreet at Dalton, Pegram at Leet's, and Buckner at Rock Springs; all this would indicate infantry, which the major-general cannot believe.'

"September 16th. Strong scouting parties advanced towards me from Ringold and Leet's; they were promptly met, driven, and followed. At the same time my pickets on the Lafayette and Harrison road, which lies between Pea Vine Ridge and the Chicamauga, were attacked from towards Lafayette, thus threatening my communications via Reed's Bridge. I immediately fell back to that road, thus securing the bridge, but at the same time I kept possession of the roads in Pea Vine Valley by picketing strongly. My scouts towards Leet's ran into the rebel infantry and lost one man shot through the head. This was promptly reported to Major-General Crittenden, whose answer was the same as yesterday, viz: 'Nothing but dismounted cavalry.'

September 17th.-Slight skirmishing between my scouts and those of the enemy. The scout from Grayville reported that General Steadman's brigade of the reserve corps had passed through that place on a reconnoissance towards Ringold. On the return of my courier from Gordon's Mill he reported Col. Wilder's brigade of mounted infantry was encamped on the west side of the Chicamauga creek, at Alexander's Bridge, about two miles above me.

"September 18th.-At 6 A. M. I sent one hundred of the 4th U. S. cavalry towards Leet's, and one hundred from the 4th Michigan and 7th Pennsylvania towards Ringold. At about 7 A. M. couriers arrived from both scouts, with information that the enemy was advancing in force. I immediately strengthened my pickets on the Lafayette road, and moved forward with the 4th Michigan and one battalion of the 4th regulars and the section of artillery and took up a position on the eastern slope of Pea Vine Ridge, and despatched couriers to Major-General Granger at Rossville, Colonel Wilder at Alexander's Bridge, General Wood at Gordon's Mill, and Gen. Crittenden at Crawfish Springs. On this day the 4th Michigan lost eleven in killed and wounded and three as prisoners. The enemy, infantry in force with about 200 cavalry, advanced steadily, driving my skirmish line back to my position on the side of the ridge. The head of a column getting into good range I opened on them with the artillery, when they immediately deployed and advanced a strong skirmish line. At this moment I observed a heavy column of dust moving from the direction of Graysville towards Dyer's Ford; I sent a courier to Col. Wilder asking him to send a force to hold the ford and cover my left, and sent my train across the creek. As the force from Grayville advanced I fell back until I arrived on the ground I had occupied in the morning. Here Col. Miller, with two regiments and

two mountain howitzers, reported to me from Col. Wilder's brigade. I directed Col. Miller to take possession of the ford, and again advanced and drove the rebel skirmish line over the ridge and back on their line of battle in the valley, where a force was in position, which I estimated at 7,000 men. Thirteen sets of regimental colors were visible.

"The rebel line advanced, and I was steadily driven back across the ridge. My only means of crossing the creek was Reed's Bridge, a narrow, frail structure, which was covered with loose boards and fence rails, and a bad ford about three hundred yards higher up. I masked my artillery behind some shrubs near the ford, leaving one battalion of the 4th regulars to support it, and ordering the remainder of that regiment to cross the bridge, holding the 4th Michigan and 7th Pennsylvania in line to cover the movement. Before the first squadron had time to cross the head of a rebel column carrying their arms at 'right shoulder shift,' and moving at the double quick, as steadily as if at drill, came through the gap not five hundred yards from the bridge. The artillery opening on them from an unexpected quarter evidently took them by surprise, and immediately checked their advance, again causing them to deploy. The 4th Michigan followed the 4th regulars, and the 7th Pennsylvania the 4th Michigan. One squadron of the 4th regulars, under Lieut. Davis, most gallantly covering the crossing of the 7th Pennsylvania. One squadron of the 4th Michigan, under Lieut. Simpson, on picket on the Harrison road, was cut off by the rapid advance of the enemy; they made a gallant resistance, and eventually swam the creek without the loss of a man. The artillery crossed the ford in safety, and I placed it in position to dispute the crossing of the bridge, from which Lieut. Davis's men had thrown most of the loose planking. Here I was soon hotly engaged and was holding the rebels in check, when I received a note from the officer in charge of my wagon train (which I had sent back to Gordon's Mill) stating 'Col. Wilder has fallen back from Alexander's Bridge; he is retreating towards Gordon's Mills, and the enemy is crossing the river in force at all points.' I sent an order to Col. Miller to join me without delay; and on his arrival I fell back to Gordon's Mill, skirmishing with the enemy, who followed me closely. With less than 1,000 men, the old first brigade' had disputed the advance of 7,000 from 7 o'clock in the morning until 5 o'clock in the evening, and during that time fell back only five miles. On arriving at Gordon's Mill my men were dismounted, and, with Col. Wilder's brigade and a brigade from Gen. Van Cleve's division, repulsed a heavy attack about 8 o'clock P. M. We lay in position all night within hearing of the enemy and were without fires, although the night was bitterly cold. At break of day General Palmer's division relieved us. I then moved to the rear and procured forage for our horses and rations for the men, who had been entirely without since the previous morning.

September 19th.-Moved along the rear to the left to protect the trains moving into Chattanooga. Camped near Rossville.

"September 20th.-Under orders from Major-General Granger, I marched to the ford at Missionary Mills, and sent strong patrols to Chicamauga Station and Graysville without meeting the enemy. Towards the afternoon I received orders from General Granger to take possession of the position. then occupied by him on the Ringold and Rossville road. On arriving on the ground I found that General Granger had already marched to the assistance of General Thomas. Being anxious to know what was in front of me, I pushed forward towards Red House Bridge, and found Scott's brigade of cavalry and mounted infantry, about 1,500 strong, moving into position on our side of the creek. I immediately attacked them, and after a spirited

skirmish of about an hour's duration drove them across the creek, with considerable loss.

"September 21st.-During the night General Thomas fell back to the heights of Missionary Ridge at Rossville, and this morning I found myself about two miles directly in front of his line of battle. The rebels advanced in three columns from the direction of Missionary Mills, Red House Bridge, and Dyer's Ford. I skirmished with their advance for a couple of hours, and then fell back to Rossville, with a loss of one officer and seven men killed and one officer and thirteen men wounded. I was then ordered to the left to watch the movements of the enemy.

"September 22d.-Under orders from Major-General Thomas, the 4th regulars moved during the night to Rossville and took possession of the gap vacated by our retiring infantry, At 6 A. M. I heard firing in the direction of Rossville; leaving strong pickets in the passes over the ridge I moved forward with the 7th Pennsylvania and 4th Michigan to support the 4th regulars, but found that Capt. McIntire had judiciously fallen back, the enemy having turned his flank by advancing on the road from Gordon's Mills. I retired to Chattanooga, skirmishing sharply.

"September 23d.-With the 3d Pennsylvania and 4th Michigan I worked in the trenches all night, and at 4 A. M. crossed the Tennessee river and encamped at Oposum creek, from whence I picketed the river from Washington to Sandy Shoals.

"The loss in my brigade from the day I was detached from the division until I crossed the Tennessee river on the 24th was under 100 men, of whom only 15 were missing, and of those 15, 9 are known to be either killed or wounded; while during that time, in prisoners alone, I took from the enemy 439 men."

Colonel Minty, in calling the attention of the commanding General to the gallant conduct in the battle of Chicamauga of certain officers of his brigade whom he considered entitled to special mention, says of Lieutenant Simpson, 4th Michigan cavalry:

"Lieutenant J. H. Simpson, 4th Michigan cavalry, commanded the squadron of his regiment on picket on the Harrison Road, on the 18th, which was cut off by the rapid advance of the enemy. After fighting as long as he possibly could, he swam the Chicamauga and brought in his squadron, with no casualties but one man and one horse slightly wounded." On the 30th, the regiment, in command of Major Horace Gray, having been ordered to Cotton's Ferry, on the Tennessee river, to support a battalion of U. S. cavalry, it was attacked and driven back by a large body of Wheeler's rebel cavalry, who had crossed the river. Here Lieutenant Edward Tucker was mortally wounded, and died at Chattanooga on the 7th of October following.

On the 1st of October it again had a skirmish with Wheeler's cavalry, who was engaged in making a raid on the communication of the army. The 4th participated in the pursuit of Wheeler, and on the 3d skirmished with his rear-guard.

On the 28th of March, 1864, excepting a detachment of 128 mounted men, the 4th proceeded, via Chattanooga and Stevenson, to Nashville, where it arrived on the 31st. It here received new horses and equipments and was armed with the Spencer carbine. On the 14th of April the regiment marched to Columbia, Tenn., where it joined the 2d cavalry division. Marching from this place with 878 men present, on the 30th, the regiment proceeded through Shelbyville and Tullahoma, and over the Cumberland mountains to Bridgeport, Ala., thence crossed the Raccoon, Lookout, and

Pigeon mountains to Lafayette, and thence across Taylor's Ridge, to Villanon, Ga., where it arrived May 10th. On the 15th the command attacked the enemy's cavalry at Tanner's Bridge, nine miles from Rome, routing and pursuing them seven miles, when meeting a superior force with artillery, it retired, the regiment having lost in the affair 6 wounded and 4 missing, and captured a number of prisoners. From Woodland, on the 18th, seven companies were sent towards Kingston on a reconnoissance. Meeting rebel cavalry, the detachment drove them for some miles, and until it encountered a force of rebel infantry in front. The enemy's cavalry then threw themselves on its flanks and rear, and nearly enveloped the detachment, but it finally succeeded in cutting its way through with the loss of 24 in killed, wounded and missing. Among the wounded was Lieutenant Randolph, mortally, who died on the 30th of that month.

Colonel Minty, in his report to the Adjutant-General of the State already referred to, says, regarding the operations of his command at Lattimer's Mill, on Noonday creek:

"To give you some idea of the magnitude of the fight at Lattimer's Mill, I hand you herewith a copy of a supplementary report of the battle, made by me as brigade commander, on the 7th July, 1864, to Captain R. P. Kennedy, Assistant Adjutant-General, and which is as follows:

"I beg to hand you the following extracts from a letter published at Atlanta, Ga., in the afternoon edition of the Memphis Appeal of the 25th June, 1864, as a supplementary report of the fight at Lattimer's Mill, on the 20th June:

"On the 20th instant, two divisions-Kelly's and Martin's-and one brigade Williams'-of our cavalry, went round to the left flank and rear of Sherman's army, it was said, to capture a brigade of Yankee cavalry, stationed at McAfee's. We succeeded in getting to the right place, where the enemy-Minty's brigade-was vigorously attacked by Williams and a portion of Anderson's brigade. After a sharp conflict the enemy were driven from the field, Hannon's brigade having come up and attacked them on the flank. The Yankees fought desperately and fell back slowly, with what loss we are unable to ascertain, as they carried off their wounded and most of their dead. To one who was an eye-witness, but not an adept in the art of war,' it seemed very strange that the whole Yankee force was not surrounded and captured. Dibrell's brigade was drawn up a few hundred yards from and in full view of the battle-field, with Martin's whole division immediately in the rear. This is one of the best fighting brigades the Yankees have, and to have captured or routed it would have added a bright feather to the plume of the successful hero accomplishing the feat. After he (Minty) had been driven from his first position, Martin's whole division was brought up, and lost several men of Allen's brigade. Brigadier-General Allen had his horse shot. The 8th Confederate and 5th Georgia, of Anderson's brigade, lost several killed and wounded. Williams' Kentucky brigade lost several good soldiers.'”

Colonel Minty adds in his report: "According to the above, there was the following rebel force in the field: Kelly's and Martin's divisions, consisting of the brigades of Anderson, (six regiments,) Hannon's, (five regiments,) Allen's, (five regiments,) and Johnson's, (five regiments,) and the independent brigades of Williams and Dibrell, composed of five regiments each, say in all twelve regiments, with an average of 300-3,600; the 5th Georgia numbered over 800. The entire force I had engaged was 7th Pennsylvania, 170 men, and 4th Michigan, 283-in all 453. These few men held their ground against the repeated assaults of the enemy for over