Organization of the troops in the Department of Tennessee, General Braxton Bragg, C. S. Army, commanding, August 10, 1863 & July 31, 1863

Liddell’s Brigade
Swett’s battery, Capt. Charles Swett [Mississippi Battery]
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Numbers 98. Report of Captain Charles Swett, Warren Light Artillery.

CHICKAMAUGA, TENN., July 27, 1863.

CAPTAIN: In compliance with your order of yesterday's date, the following is a report of the part taken by the Warren Light Artillery Company, under my command, in the skirmishing at Liberty Gap, Tenn., of the 24th, and 26th of last month:

On July [June] 24, at about 3 p. m., while in camp at Belluckle, an order was received from brigade headquarters to get the company in readiness to move toward Liberty Gap, where a portion of the brigade was then on duty, and also a section of the Warren Light Artillery. Lieutenant [H.] Shannon was at once sent forward, I following immediately with the right section of the battery. On reaching a point within a mile of the gap, found the section that was at the gap, under command of Lieutenant [W. P.] McDonald, on the right of the road and in a commanding position. The Napoleon gun was taken from that place by Lieutenant Shannon to a point directly opposite, and on the left of the road. Both guns were brought into action from the positions they at this time occupied. On reaching the ground edith the right section was ordered to move to the rear with it, select a position near Suggs' house and go into battery, in order to command the road, which was done. At dark the command fell back to this point, and the battery was ordered to Bellbuckle.

On the morning of the 25th, the battery was again ordered to the front, and halted at the position occupied on the previous evening. After remaining in this position till 3 p. m. was ordered to shell the woods in front, which was continued from time to time during the afternoon. At about 6 o'clock was ordered to move with a section to the front and right of my position, across a wheat-field to a hill occupied by the Second Arkansas, but on nearing the point designated was ordered back, in being impossible to get the battery into position in consequence of the character of the ground. At dark the command returned to camp, the artillery accomapnying it.

No one injured the battery. Number of rounds fired, 136.

Respectfully submitted.

CHAS. SWETT,
Captain, Warren Light Artillery, Liddells Brigade, &c.

Captain G. A. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General.

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Numbers 91. Report of Major General P. R. Cleburne, C. S. Army, commanding division, Hardee's corps.

HDQRS. CLEBURNE'S DIVISION, ARMY OF TENNESSEE, Tyner's Station, Tenn., August 3, 1863.

COLONEL: On June 24 last, I was stationed at Wartrace, Tenn., with two brigades of my division. Polk's brigade was at Tullahoma, 15 miles south of Wartrace, and Liddell's brigade was at Bellbuckle, a village 5 miles north of Wartrace. . . . .

On the morning of the 25th, in pursuance of orders, I advanced Wood's brigade to Bellbuckle. I found Liddell still guarding the approaches via Liberty Gap and New Fosterville. He was holding two wooded hills a mile south of Liberty Gap. On the evening of the 25th, Liddell, supposing the enemy retiring, advanced on the gap; but after some heavy fighting, in which he inflicted a considerable loss on the enemy and suffered little himself, he fell back to his former position. I was now satisfied the enemy was still in force at Liberty Gap; that he had at least a division of infantry, besides cavalry and artillery, so I ordered up three regiments of [Henry C.] Semple's battery to Liddell's support. One regiment of Woods' and one of Liddell's brigade, with the other section of Semple's battery, were guarding the approaches via New Fosterville.

On the morning of the 26th, this section of artillery and the two regiments rejoined their brigades in front of Liberty Gap,and were replaced by a regiment of Curchill's brigade, of my division, which arrived at Bellbuckle on the morning of the 26th. The remaining two regiments of Churchill's brigade I moved up as a reserve to the force in front of Liberty Gap. The enemy kept up a constant firing all day, the 26th, and advanced twice with double lines of skirmishers. They were driven back, and at night both parties held their former positions. I had no ammunition to spare, and did not reply to the continual fire of the enemy except with five Whitworth rifles, which appeared to do good service. Mounted men were struck at distances ranging from 700 to 1,300 yards. During the day the enemy, advancing in overwhelming force through Hoover's Gap, forced back Steward's division almost to Fairfield, thus threatening to cut me off from Wartrace. . . . .

I respectfully submit this general report of these engagements, for the details of which I refer you to the report of General Liddell and his regimental commanders, forwarded herewith.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

P. R. CLEBURNE

OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 1, vol 23, Part 1 (Tullahoma Campaign)
pp. 586/7