n captured. When the brigade got into position,
Battery I, replied with spirit to the fire of the enemy, which, by this
time, had got the right range on us. Our position now became fairly
hideous; the woods roared and the very heavens quaked, while shot and
shell filled the air with frightful sounds. The grass and woods between
our brigade and the enemy had caught fire, which conspired to make our
position more disagreeable than ever, though it doubtless saved us a
hard fight, for the rebels would not advance through it.

The other two brigades of our division, still on our right, led by
General Steedman in person, rushed upon the enemy in a furious charge,
which was passing through a low gap to the rear and flank of Brannan's
position. The shock was terrible; and for a time, as the opposing
forces met in a hand-to-hand fight, success swayed from side to side;
in a few minutes more the enemy was repulsed, and dared not make the
attempt again. A thousand of these brave men fell, killed or wounded,
in that brief half hour's struggle; but they held the gap.

When night came, the battle ceased, everything becoming still and
hushed. The enemy now fell back, leaving the field of battle in
possession of General Thomas; but finding the ammunition, food and
water necessary for his men were exhausted, the General withdrew with
his troops about midnight to Rossville, where they arrived in good
order. McCook's brigade was the last that left the field, and the
Eighty-sixth, the last regiment. It was after one o'clock at night when
it passed the Rossville Gap and went into camp. There laid down to
sleep that night a tired set of men, the fatigues of the day having
almost overcome them. Many a brave comrade fell on the bloody field of
Chickamauga; and another such would have ruined our army.

On the next day, the 31st, our brigade took a position on the right of
Rossville Gap. A strong force was left here to keep back the enemy till
the army could fall back on Chattanooga. The rebels pushed buoyantly
forward and opened on us a heavy cannonade. Our forces held the gap
until night, when they abandoned it, and retreated on Chattanooga. Our
brigade arrived in Chattanooga very late at night, and after much
changing about, took up position and laid down to rest.

Here ends the battle and the retreat, a stirring epoch in our history.
During this battle, the regiment had the honor of conducting itself in
a praiseworthy manner. There is but