Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-12-22
TuE LATE
CANT CLAYr0Es BRI6ADE, I
DAkTaE, GA, Dseemksr, 1859.

CAN'T CLATTgN8 EnIGApE, Z
DALTs5, GA December, lss3.
ABITeRs APPEAL: After the disasters 70 Oul
arms ST L0okout mountain and MISSIONARY
ridge, 7 was eontsnt to wait and aope for hetlsl
ioryuns assthsr day, ssking of the press enly
ths charity sf lis silence. Since then 30 maah
has been said and written in excuse for other
commands, tkGt I feel il due the Ts0ps I com
naad thss tzeir performance Should be pub
iishsd. Ihavs reluctantly yielded to ths soliei-
tstien Of oshsIs, 70 state the faots Ia connection
with the operations eff ClaytoR's Alssams
brigade, which I then had the bsaor to esH-
naRd, as senior colonel. On Gath November, I
was detached sa8perarily Esm Sen. Stewards
division, sad at , o'clock, P. n, ordered By Gen.
BrsskinTidgs 10 60 On Le0ksat RoaaEain aad
TsHsve, wiih ny soEKsES, The brigzdes Of
GEES. PssEEs asd Walthall, tat bad bean SUE
saiaing q prolonged contest with the enemy
during tie day. I got into position at 6 o'clock,
P. H, ny hns sItsRding from Lsokout psiRt TO
the read leading to he Hall way bouss," ihe
above nSRsd bFigSdes retiring behind me, ez-
espt the Ash Alabama, which vas left undsr ny
command in linz, nay line net covering tao entire
hsHt without.
Ny instructions from GsR. Brsskinridge in
person, were to press back the enemy, and zsiA-
.siz the position a. 81 hazards snGl all tke
TssFs, trains ard artillery eczld DO ~withdrawn.
The inssEzstieas were essysd to the Letter. I
engaged he enemy at six ?. H., Asd kss q sharp
~esntsss, FrsleEgsd till Eear midnight AID drove
aim hack il AiseezteT aiesg the 'kalf wy heaBe
road" At two o'clock A NJ, I received zosics
tbst al the trains AID artillery had passed
down ia NJ rear and were safe, and that my
command mat be Withdrawn, covering ny
font with videtis Issistly Withdrew; marching
Gown the mountain by tho Asak; on tha fat near
Chattanooga creek I passed the brigade eff Gen.
.&osro, which was on my right, and hsd with.
drawn inst before me, my Videtts enc hundred
and tEeny ia number under Majer TberEsou,
Of the 2sA Alabahs, left TIE moaatzin inst be-
fora daylight s1a after tks bridge on ghatla-
zoogA cFssk had been fred, seine Of them hay
ing TO wade the creek to Feioin their ssmEands
Il is dus alike to the oAceFB and men Of Clay.
toms krisAds to stats hat every enc did bis
duty In this affair. For the disaster 10 our srras
IA the afternoon Of the sssh, I shah not s tsupt
70 e~eoount, az I wEs not with TIE nsia line
Ny brigade vas the extreme left of The army,
detached fsa my diVisiOn and TIE main line
more than 3 mile. / Ess ssnt ct Tires e'clock
P. n. 10 support I've regiments at he gap Ct
EessviDs. Thoso regiments had been cat.
fAnked ard driven baek AZ ono O'clock Twss
compelled ts GO ints position under = heavy Gre,
AID did not saceesd, In consequence, in extsnd-
Ing my line as was deSir bic. I, however, he'd
TIE position and checked the advance en- the
ridge uhtl ordered back, which was act anti
after ihe main line en- the right Of s.swart's
division had hraksR Gzd tho assny had carried
tae bTidgs IN my rear, turaed with bis extended
lines ny exsroFas LEFT, and vas fast closing in ny
rear, while thFoS heavy lines were pressing nv
oas ia Tie f9ozt In this dilemma, with q gall
isg FIRE on three sides, WITH the wings Of the
enemy nearly meeting "a my ress, and heavy
sAoaiag ca my right from &e valley, l was
compelled te abandon the position IN hasss and
withsat mach oraer, and add asfac to me msuy
eolamns already TctIeating in diseEdeE. ny
Icss, especially In prisoners, was hssTy. All
ms Command, that could be Withdrawn, was
rallied and fensi8sd in order west Of the Chick
azaues, With Tho division Of 9sa, Stewart
al he EaiDs ana artillery bad crossed.
What he remainder Of the army did OF had 70
10, I oaHnss say, KSen three prisoners ssksa,