These two brigades were in the nature of supports, and did not constitute a part of the real attack.
The movement, seen from Chattanooga (five miles off ) with spy-glasses, gave rise to the report, which even General Meiga has repeated, that we were repulsed on the left.

It was not so.

The real attacking columns of General Corse, Colonel Loomis, and General Smith, were not repulsed.

They engaged in a close struggle all day persistently, stubbornly, and well.

When the two reserve brigades of General John E.Smith fell back as described, the enemy made a show of pursuit, but were in their turn caught in flank by the well-directed fire of our brigade on the wooded crest, and hastily sought cover behind the hill.