John S. Jackman had enlisted in 1861 in the Confederate 5th Kentucky Infantry (later redesignated the 9th Kentucky) and saw action at Shiloh and Stones River. His regiment formed part of the 1st Kentucky Brigade, commanded at Chickamauga by Brigadier General Ben Hardin Helm, the husband of Mary Todd Lincoln’s half-sister Emilie. On the morning of September 20 the brigade was posted to the Confederate right flank where, as part of the division commanded by Major General John C. Breckinridge, it repeatedly assaulted Union troops fighting from behind log breastworks at the northern end of Kelly Field. At midday James Longstreet (who was on detachment with two divisions from Lee’s army) launched an attack that discovered a quarter-mile gap in the Union center and split Rosecrans’s army in two. While Rosecrans and the Union right wing fled toward Chattanooga, Major General George H. Thomas withdrew his troops on the left onto a ridge and held the position for several hours before withdrawing at nightfall. Dismayed by his heavy losses in men and artillery horses, Bragg did not occupy the heights overlooking Chattanooga until September 23 and chose to besiege the town rather than assault it.
Sept. 18th.—About noon came to the road leading off to where the wagon train is encamped, we left the wagon, and started for the regiment. Part of the time our road led over steep hills, and had a very tiresome walk. In the evening, a party of us left the main road to make a “near cut.” There were 4 of us—Capt. N., 1st Seg’t, J. F. of his company, Dr. S., our Ass’t Surg., and myself. We could hear the cannon booming occasionally. At night we stopped at a cabin on the roadside, and got a good supper. Then adjourned to a neighboring pine-thicket, where we passed the night, nearly freezing, as blankets were scarce.
Sept. 19th.—On the road early. Stopped at a well to wash and breakfast. A lady seeing us, sent out some butter and milk. Five miles brought us to the regiment near Glass’ Mills. The brigade had just crossed Chicamauga River at Glass’ Ford to support Cobbs’ and Slocums’ batteries, & the wickedest artillery duel ensued, I ever saw. Slocum and Cobb had to “limber to the rear” and move their batteries back across the river. There were several of our regiment wounded—three afterward, died of their wounds. About the middle of the afternoon moved a mile or two further to the right and halted in line of battle sending out skirmish line. While here we could hear the battle raging further to the right. But before sundown, our division again commenced moving to the right. At sundown, and a little after dark, the musketry rattled incessantly. I don’t believe I ever heard heavier volleys of small arms. The word came back that Cleburn was driving the enemy on the right. Having to move 5 or 6 miles, we continued our march until sometime after dark and the night being black, we had a deal of trouble. We at last crossed the Chicamauga at Alexander’s Bridge, and not far from the bridge we stopped in an old field for the night. We built a large fire, yet not having any blankets with me, I did not sleep any. The night was very cold and my large overcoat came in good place.
Sept. 20th.—Before daylight, the division moved to take position in line of battle. After we had stopped for the night, the field band had been sent to the rear with the horses of the field and staff, and were not back in time; so the Col., etc., had to “foot it.” The Col. left me at the fire to tell the musicians where to bring the horses. Daylight came and a heavy frost was on the ground. I waited until long after sunup, yet the drummers did not come; so I shouldered a long bundle of blankets intended to be put on the horses, and started for the regiment. I had to pass over the ground where Cleburn had fought the evening before. The dead of both sides were lying thick over the ground. I saw where six Federal soldiers had been killed from behind one small tree, and where eight horses were lying dead, harnessed to a Napoleon gun. Men and horses were lying so thick over the field, one could hardly walk for them. I even saw a large black dog lying mangled by a grape. In the rear of the brigade, I found our ambulance, and put the blankets in it, then went on to the regiment. The boys were lying in line of battle, and cracking jokes as usual. Many of them I noticed to be in the finest spirits were in a few minutes afterwards numbered with the slain. All the time the skirmishers about two hundred yards on advance, were very noisy. About 10 o’clock A.M. Maj. Wilson rode up to Gen’l Helm, who was sitting against a tree in “rear” of our regiment, talking to Col. C., and gave him the verbal order from Breckinridge to advance in fifteen minutes, and adjust his movements to the brigade on the right. The General got up and mounted his horse, laughing and talking as though he was going on parade. I had intended to go along with the infirmary corps, but as the drummers had not come up with the horses, Col. C., ordered me to go back and see if I could find them. I had not gone far, before I came to several of our boys that had been wounded on the skirmish line and as the shells were tearing up the ground about them, which makes a helpless man feel very uncomfortable, I helped put them in an ambulance and sent them to a hospital. I went a little farther, in hopes of finding the drummers, but they were nowhere to be found. I then started back for the regiment. The rattle of musketry was kept up pretty lively. As I passed along over the field, could see all the little gullies were packed full of straggling soldiers, (but I saw none of our Brigade among them) avoiding the shells. When I got to the regiment it was just falling back under a heavy fire, having charged three times unsuccessfully. The regiment was greatly reduced—by half at least—Col. C. had been wounded. Out of our company, my old friend J. H. had fallen with others and many had been wounded. Gen’l Helm had received a mortal wound and had to be borne to the hospital on a litter. Lt. Col. W., in command of the regiment, had me to ride the general’s horse back to the hospital. Our brigade hospital was more than a mile from the field, across the Chicamauga. The wounded, I found, scattered over a half acre of ground—all out of our brigade too. Here I found one of the refugee drummers on Col. H’s horse, which I immediately rode to the regiment, piloting Maj. Hope and others to the brigade. The sun was then getting low and Col. W. immediately despatched me on his horse to the wagon train, or cook wagons, to hurry up the rations, the boys, not having had much to eat for two or three days. I had not been long gone, when our troops advanced again on the extreme right, and this time our brigade went over the enemy’s works. The loss though, was nothing, compared to that of the morning fighting. When I got to the cook train, our wagon had gone to the regiment with rations, which I had accidentally passed in the darkness. I then rode back to the hospital, and stayed until morning.
Sept. 21st.—As soon as it was light enough to see how to ride, I started for the regiment. I found them lying around loose, in line of battle, waiting orders. A skirmish line was soon after sent forward to find the enemy, but he had withdrawn during the night. The Army of Tennessee, for once had beaten the enemy in an open field fight. Gen’l Bragg rode along the lines, and everywhere was loudly cheered. We tried to get tools to bury our boys, but could not. Late in the evening, was sent with orders to the hospital, and remained there all night. After I had left, the brigade started towards Chattanooga. A detail was left to bury the dead.