* This company subsequently became Company I, 5th Mississippi Infantry
** This is the last surviving bi-monthly Company muster roll, held at Lovejoy, Ga. Hence, we are unable to ascertain his subsequent service
M269: Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Mississippi
..........
Chickamagua after battle report:
Report of Maj. John B. Herring, Fifth Mississippi Infantry.
HDQRS. FIFTH MISSISSIPPI REGT.,
Mission Ridge, October 4, 1863.
CAPT.: I have the honor very respectfully to submit the
following report of the action of this regiment in the battle of
Chickamauga on 19th and 20th ultimo:
Having formed line of battle at the place assigned us, a little in
advance of the road, we advanced to attack the enemy about 12
m. There were no skirmishers in front of the line, and I
supposed from this fact that we constituted a second line. We
advanced not more than 100 yards when we were attacked by the
enemy directly in front, who were also advancing. We returned
the fire vigorously, and after a few minutes the enemy's line
gave way and we drove them back about 1 mile. During this
whole charge we were exposed to a continuous retreating fire.
The enemy at last made a stand, from which we failed to move
them, owing to the want of ammunition on the part of some and
the bad condition of guns on the part of others. The regiment,
however, maintained its position gallantly, though exposed to a
galling fire from the enemy, until Lieut.-Col. Sykes, observing
that the line had retired on the left, gave the command to fall
back. We fell back about 100 yards, faced about, and renewed
the fight. In a short time we fell back about 100 yards farther
simultaneously with the Eighth Mississippi, which up to this time
had not moved from its most advanced position, and having
formed a new line we held the enemy in check, though hard
pressed. Here fell Lieut.-Col. Sykes, a gallant officer, faithfully
discharging his duties. I assumed command of the regiment and
ordered an equal distribution of what ammunition remained on
hand. Here I received a message from Col. Wilkinson that if I
should be forced to fall back to notify him of the fact. I replied
that my action would be influenced by his. We held this position
and stopped the advance of the enemy I suppose half an hour.
The Eighth Mississippi then falling back, I ordered a retreat as
previously agreed upon. We had gone but a short distance before
we fell in with Gen. Jackson, who ordered a halt, and directed
us to move back by the left flank and form line of battle near the
road a little in rear of the position from which we moved to
bring on the attack. The enemy advanced and attacked us in this
position, but was soon repulsed.
A little before dark I advanced my command in the second line.
Near a small house, about 400 yards distant from the road, I
came upon the front line on the west margin of the open
inclosure around the house, lying down and firing. I closed on it
and caused my men to deliver a few rounds with their pieces
elevated. The front line finally fell back and caused the second
line to break. I rallied my men in the woods east of the inclosure
and advanced till I found myself alone. I then ordered them back
to lie down in a hollow while I went to the front to define my
relative position to the rest of the brigade. I saw the Eighth
Mississippi on my right advancing from the position where I had
placed my regiment, and gave the command forward, and soon
came upon the prolongation of its line, the rest of the brigade
closing upon my left. I formed with the brigade on the front line
150 yards west of the house, there being at this time no troops
directly to our front in the first line. I fell back to the road about
midnight by order of Gen. Jackson.
My loss during the day was 4 killed and 46 wounded (among the
latter the adjutant mortally) and one missing. The regiment
entered the fight with 225 muskets.
On Sunday (20th), the line of battle was advanced about 4 p. m.
I was ordered to conform to the movement of the right, but
coming first within range of the enemy's fire I commenced
firing. I kept up a continuous fire for near one hour, exposed all
the time to a front and cross-fire from the enemy. I advanced
simultaneously with the whole brigade and occupied a new
position, mine about 100 yards in advance of my first position,
and almost the identical position from which the enemy first
opened on my command at the opening of the fight. I held this
position until my ammunition was completely exhausted, when
I was relieved about dark by the arrival of re-enforcements.
I carried into the fight at this place 144 muskets. I lost 25 men
wounded. I captured 30 prisoners, and sent to the rear 200
Springfield and Enfield rifles which the enemy had abandoned on
the field.
I will take this occasion to testify to the gallantry and good
conduct of the officers and men under my command in the face
of the enemy. I never saw men fight better and behave more
gallantly, particularly on Sunday, 20th ultimo.
I have the honor to be, captain, your obedient servant,
JNo. B. HERRING,
Maj., Comdg.
Capt. S. A. MORENO, Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
Source: Official Records
PAGE 91-51 [CHAP. XIII. KY., SW. VA., TENN., MISS., N. ALA., AND N. GA.
[Series I. Vol. 30. Part II, Reports. Serial No. 51.]