BATTLE OF DALTON REPORT BY BVT. BRIG. GEN. JOHN C. SMITH 96TH ILL. A historic Civil War commander's battle report 2pp. large folio signed by Lt. Col. John Corson Smith 96th Illinois giving an account of his regiment's participation in Union Gen. George Thomas' advance on Gen. Joseph Johnson's positions at Dalton Ga. in late February 1864. In part: ""Headquarters 96th Regt. Ill. Vol. Infty. Camp in the Field near Tunnel Hill Ga. February 26th 1864. Lieut. J. C. Peck AAG 2nd Brig. 1st Divis. 4th A. C…I have the honor to report the operations of this regiment since leaving…Blue Springs Tenn. the morning of the 22nd…marching with the brigade…we arrived at Red Clay…and moved…on the Tunnel Hill and Dalton Road…Feb. 24th regiment moved in advance of the brigade as far as Tunnel Hill…[the 25th…formed line of battle on the left of the brigade…our right resting on the 84th Ind. moved on the enemy driving them about one mile when I was ordered by Col. Champion Comdg. Brigade to move to the front line joining on the left of the 8th Ky. which order I immediately complied with throwing out skirmishers to cover my left who soon engaged the enemy. Having carried the hill in front of the meeting house. We immediately threw up breastworks behind which we remained until 11 o'clock P. M. when we withdrew…returning to camp near Lee's [and Gordon's Mills]…my men and officers behaved with great gallantry under the galling fire…no stragglers or cowards could be found with this regiment…Co. K Sergeant Henry J. Harriman. Killed…Co. G Private Josiah Moulton. Wounded in the face…[with more casualties listed]…"". Near fine. This movement by the Union army captured the high ground just outside of Chattanooga and set the stage for the Union army's advance several months later during the opening of Grant's spring offensive with Sherman's drive on Atlanta.