ttle, speaking
of the final movement of the Second Brigade of my division to
connect with Getty's division, correctly says: "We were ordered
to move obliquely to the _left and rear_ and connect with the right
of the Second Division." Instead of having to _advance_ to form
line with Getty it was necessary to move obliquely to the _rear_.
By about 10 A.M., the divisions of the Sixth Corps were united,
the organized troops of our army were in line, and the enemy's
flank movements were over. Thenceforth he had to meet us in front.
Our trains were protected, and there was no thought of further
retiring. The Sixth Corps had not lost any of its camp equipage,
not a wagon, nor, permanently, a piece of artillery. Its organization
was perfect, and there were no stragglers from its ranks. A strong
line of skirmishers had been thrown forward and the men resupplied
with ammunition.

An incident here occurred which came near causing my dismissal from
the army. Colonel J. W. Snyder, of the 9th New York Heavy Artillery,
on being ordered to hold his command ready for an early advance,
notified me his men were practically out of ammunition, and that
the ordnance officer reported there were no cartridges to be had
of suitable size. This was the only regiment in the command armed
with smooth-bore .69 calibre muskets. They required buck and ball.
The other troops were armed with rifles, .58 calibre. I ordered
the Colonel to instruct his men to throw away their muskets as fast
as rifles could be found on the field to take their places. This
his men eagerly did, and Colonel Snyder soon reported his regiment
ready for action, with rifles in their hands and forty rounds of
cartridges. This regiment, a very large and splendid one (three
battalions, four companies each), was thus kept in line to participate
in the impending conflict. After the incident had been almost
forgotten a letter came through the army channels from the Chief
of Ordnance at Washington, advising me that the captains of companies
of the 9th New York had reported, severally, that their men had
thrown away their muskets "October 19, 1864, by order of Colonel
Keifer, division commander," and asking me for an explanation of
the reprehensible order. I plead guilty and stated the circumstances
giving rise to the unusual order, but soon received a further
communication from the same officer informing me that my name had
been sent to the President, through the Secreta