CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of my
command during the 27th, 28th, and 29th days of October last:
The regiment broke camp on the morning of the 27th and moved in the rear of the
Seventy-eighth New York Volunteers, the men carrying four days' rations and 60 rounds of
ammunition. Arrived at Shellmound Station about 3 p.m., and bivouacked. I furnished for
work on the pontoon bridge at that place a detail of 6 officers, 16 non-commissioned
officers, and 110 men, who were on duty from 8 p.m. until 1 a.m., the 28th.
At 4 o'clock, the regiment was called out, and at 5 took up line of march, following
the One hundred and thirty-seventh New York Volunteers. We arrived at a point on
Wauhatchie Valley, near the junction, at about 5 p.m., and bivouacked in edge of a wood
near and to the left of the railroad in two lines, the left wing being in rear of the
right, my position being at the right of the One hundred and thirty-seventh New York
Volunteers. At 11 p.m. the regiment was put under arms, but the men were allowed to lie
down behind their arms with their belts on.
At 12 a.m. the 29th, I was directed by the general commanding brigade to move by the
left flank and follow the One hundred and thirty-seventh New York Volunteers to form line
of battle. In accordance with directions I moved directly forward until I came to a road
which ran to the right at an angle of about 45 degrees from the direction I was pursuing,
which road I was directed to follow.
The attack upon our position began at 12.30 a.m., October 29, and at the moment of the
attack the position of my regiment was as follows: Marching left in front, diagonally
toward the enemy, with the rear rank exposed to their fire, the leading company being
about 25 yards in rear of the right company of the One hundred and thirty-seventh New York
Volunteers, which was just forming by "forward into line." The generals
commanding division and brigade, both mounted, and attended by their staffs and orderlies,
were on the line of battle directing its formation, when the enemy opened fire along his
whole line from a distance of about 100 yards. In an instant the mounted men attending the
generals, forming a cavalcade of some 20 horsemen, became very much scattered and broke to
the rear, passing through my regiment in a dozen different places. In addition to those,
two or three ambulances and wagon teams, attached to headquarters, also passed through my
lines. The regiment was thus entirely broken to pieces and disorganized, with no company
formations whatever, and all exposed to a terrific fire. I immediately threw the left and
leading company back to the rear, and commenced reforming the line parallel with and about
50 yards in rear of the One hundred and thirty-seventh New York Volunteers, which was at
that time actively engaged. As the line was nearly formed, I received direction from
Lieutenant Davis, of division staff, to place the regiment by the side of the wagon road,
perpendicular to the line of battle, to guard against an attack upon our right flank. I
immediately changed "front forward," and took the position indicated. The enemy
immediately attacked in my front, when, finding it possible to shelter the men, I moved
the regiment forward some 20 yards to the railroad embankment and opened fire. After the
regiment had expended 3 or 4 rounds, the enemy, consisting of a force of two regiments,
withdrew from our front. I remained in that position until about 6 a.m. the 29th.
Too much credit cannot be given to the officers and men of the command on this
occasion. Entirely broken to pieces and disordered, the line was rapidly reformed in a new
direction, and a change of front executed, the men being all the time exposed to a
murderous fire from a distance of about 150 yards, with a loss of but 3 stragglers. Owing
to our sheltered position along the railroad, our loss was quite small compared to that of
other regiments, being 1 man killed and an officer and 11 men wounded. About 6 a.m. my
regiment was moved to a position in rear of the center of the line, and held in reserve.
By direction of Colonel Ireland, commanding the brigade, I sent forward one company as
skirmishers, which found large numbers of the enemy's killed and wounded, and arms in
front, and which captured and sent in quite a number of prisoners.
About 8.30 a.m., by direction of the general commanding division, I sent out a scouting
party, consisting of the sergeant-major and 10 men, who examined the country along the
banks of a creek running along the base of Lookout Mountain for a distance of about 1 ½
miles, to a point opposite the point of the mountain, discovering the route taken by the
enemy before and after the attack, and finding several of the enemy's dead in the woods
opposite the position occupied by my regiment during the action and several stand of arms,
which they brought in. About 11 a.m. the regiment was detailed for picket duty, and was
posted across the road leading to Kelley's Ferry, to the left and rear of our position.
While the conduct of both officers and men was so nearly unexceptionable, it would be
almost impossible to discriminate between them, but I cannot forbear calling particular
attention to the gallant bearing of Orderly Sergeant Truair, of Company G, who was in
command of his company, none of its officers being present with it. I am greatly indebted
to Capt. Robert E. Hopkins, acting field officer. His coolness and judgment was worthy of
special commendations. His assistance to me was invaluable. Annexed is the list of
casualties.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. B. RANDALL,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Comdg. 149th New York Volunteers.
Capt. C. T. GREENE,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
