The right and right centre of my division gained the summit first, they being partially sheltered by a depression in the face of the ridge, the Confederates in their immediate front fleeing down the southern face.  When I crossed the rifle-pits on the top the Confederates were still holding fast at Bragg’s headquarters, and a battery located there opened fire along the crest; making things most uncomfortably hot.  Seeing the danger to which I was exposed, for I was mounted, Colonel Joseph Conrad, of the Fifteenth Missouri, ran up and begged me to dismount.  I accepted his excellent advice, and it probably saved my life; but poor Conrad was punished for his solicitude by being seriously wounded in the thigh at the moment he was thus contributing to my safety.

Wildly cheering, the men advanced along the ridge toward Bragg’s headquarters, and soon drove the Confederates from this last position, capturing a number of prisoners, among them Breckenridge’s and Bates’s adjutant-generals, and the battery that had made such stout resistance on the crest-two guns which were named “Lady Breckenridge” and “Lady Buckner” General Bragg himself having barely time to escape before his headquarters were taken.

My whole division had now reached the summit, and Wagner and Harker —­the latter slightly wounded—­joined me as I was standing in the battery just secured.  The enemy was rapidly retiring, and though many of his troops, with disorganized wagon-trains and several pieces of artillery, could be distinctly seen in much confusion about half a mile distant in the valley below, yet he was covering them with a pretty well organized line that continued to give us a desultory fire.  Seeing this, I at once directed Wagner and Harker to take up the pursuit along Moore’s road, which led to Chickamauga Station —­Bragg’s depot of supply—­and as they progressed, I pushed Sherman’s brigade along the road behind them.  Wagner and Harker soon overtook the rearguard, and a slight skirmish caused it to break, permitting nine guns and a large number of wagons which were endeavoring to get away in the stampede to fall into our hands.

About a mile and a half beyond Missionary Ridge, Moore’s road passed over a second ridge or high range of hills, and here the enemy had determined to make a stand for that purpose, posting eight pieces of artillery with such supporting force as he could rally.  He was immediately attacked by Harker and Wagner, but the position was strong, the ridge being rugged and difficult of ascent, and after the first onset our men recoiled.  A staff-officer from Colonel Wood’s demi-brigade informing me at this juncture that that command was too weak to carry the position in its front, I ordered the Fifteenth Indiana and the Twenty-Sixth Ohio to advance to Wood’s aid, and then hastening to the front I found his men clinging to the face of the ridge, contending stubbornly with the rear-guard of the enemy.  Directing Harker to put Opdyke’s demi-brigade in on the right, I informed Wagner that it was necessary to flank the enemy by carrying the high bluff on our left where the ridge terminated, that I had designated the Twenty-Sixth Ohio and Fifteenth Indiana for the work, and that I wished him to join them.