Sir: Owing to the death of Col. George Webster, commanding the Thirty-fourth Brigade of the Tenth Division of the Army of the Ohio, on the 8th instant, at Chaplin Heights, it becomes my duty to report to you the position and conduct of the brigade in that engagement.

The brigade arrived upon the battle-field about 1 p.m. and were by Colonel Webster immediately assigned position. The Nineteenth Indiana Battery, commanded by Captain Harris, occupied the crest of a hill. The country to the right and front of the battery being open, the enemy could not approach without being observed and receiving the fire of their guns. The Ninety-eighth Ohio, being under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Poorman, was ordered to move into position to the right of the Nineteenth Indiana Battery to assist in sustaining it, but owing to the nature of the ground it was found impossible for them to form in line of battle. The order was then modified, and the left wing was formed in the rear of the right wing, to be used as the peculiar circumstances of the attack might require. The Eightieth Indiana, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Brooks, occupied a position immediately to the rear and left of the Nineteenth Indiana Battery and to the left of the Ninety-eighth Ohio. The Fiftieth Ohio was first formed in the rear and to the left of the Nineteenth Indiana Battery, but remained in that position a very short time, and was, by order of Colonel Webster, reformed about 300 yards farther to the left, advancing to the crest of the hill in the woods near a small log cabin, with the exception, however, of two companies, which remained during the engagement lying to the left of the Ninety-eighth Ohio. These companies were under command of Captain Cook, and the officers and men deserve credit for the bravery and gallantry they exhibited upon the field.

The Fiftieth Ohio, for some reason, was not undr the immediate supervision of its colonel, but was under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Strickland, assisted by Major Defrees, and continued to be under their command during the day. The both deserve credit.

The One hundred and twenty-first Ohio was, by order of Colonel Webster, first formed in the rear of the Nineteenth Indiana Battery, to the left of the Ninety-eighth Ohio, but was subsequently ordered to support Parsons' battery; but owing to some considerable delay in arriving at the point designated they failed to be of any material assistance in defending the battery. Indeed, before the regiment had been formed in line upon the hill the battery had been taken and the enemy were approaching in very considerable force. The One hundred and twenty-first abandoned their position in bad order, but were subsequently partially reformed some distance to the rear and fought in a creditable manner. I deem it due to Colonel Reid to here state that he acted bravely and used his utmost exertions to rally his men, as also did the officers of his command; and I would further state that I believe it to be no fault of Colonel Reid's that his regiment did not reach the point assigned them in sufficient time, but it was owing to a misconception of the position on the part of the guide.

About 3 p.m. the left wing of the Ninety-eighth Ohio was ordered to the left to support Parsons' battery; but upon arriving at the point designated were ordered back to their original position.

The cannonading and fire of musketry had been for some time and contined to be until the close of the engagement exceedingly severe and destructive. A rebel battery, posted on a hill half a mile distant to the right of Harris' battery, occupying a position nearly enfilading the Ninety-eighth Ohio and Eightieth Indiana Regiments, caused considerable loss in both of these regiments.

In justice to Captain Harris I would state that a well-directed shot from his battery (the shell exploding directly over the rebel battery) silenced it effectively; at least no more shots were fired from that position. The Fiftieth Ohio, with a few exceptions, perhaps 50 men, behaved gallantly, and drove the enemy back as they attempted to gain the summit of the hill and the woods to the left of the Nineteenth Battery, and those men who ran were rallied by their field officers and fought well afterward. The Eightieth Indiana, while occupying the position on the hill to the left of the Nineteenth Battery, and pouring in a steady deadly fire upon the enemy, was marched over by the Second Ohio, which had fallen back upon their line. By order of Colonel Webster the Eightieth changed from front to right flank, the left resting where the right had rested on the battery. They were subsequjently ordered to take a new position some 200 yards to the rear of the position they first occupied. This regiment changed position several times under heavy fire, and both officers and men acted gallantly and well throughout. Lieutenant-Colonel Brooks took command of the Second Ohio, which remained with the Eightieth Indianam, and acted with him until nearly the close of the engagement.

After the return of the left wing of the Ninetyh-eighth Ohio from the position it had been assigned to take in support of Parsons' battery they formed in line to meet the enemy, who had already gained a position to the right of the Nineteenth Battery in a corn field. They were opened upon by the Ninety-eighth Ohio, assisted for a time by the Eightieth Indiana, and in a very few moments that field was covered with the rebel dead. The Ninetyh-eighth changed position several times under a most murderous fire. For the coolness and steadiness with which these evolutions werre performed the service is much indebted to Lieutenant-Colonedl Poorman, commanding the Ninety-eighth, who acted as a brave and gallant officer and deserves especial notice. In the mean time two of the guns of the Nineteenth Battery had been taken off the field by the artillerists; four were left. These four guns were fired a number of times by members of the Ninety-eighth after they had been abandoned.

At this time I was ordered to take the Eightieth Indiana to the rear and left upon a hill some 400 yards distant and form them in line, which was done. I then returned (the battle was virtually over) and found that our gallant commander, who had acted so gallantly, had been mortally wounded; and in his loss the country is bereft of the valuable services of as brave and gallant a soldier as ever stood upon a battle-field. Too much cannot be said of him. He was everywhere in the line of battle of his brigade, encouraging by his example his men to deeds of heorism. The affections of his brigade were centered upon Colonal Webster, their heroic leader.

The officers and men of the Ninety-eighth and Fiftieth Ohio and Eightieth Indiana behaved gallantly and well, as did the officers of the One hundred and twenty-first Ohio, and as I believe their men will, if an opportunity is again presented. It was not cowardice but want of discipline and the unfortunate position to which they were assigned that caused disorder in their ranks. The officers and men of the Nineteenth Battery did their duty well, and were of invaluable service.

Lieut. J. T. Collins, Company E, Ninety-eight Regiment, aide to Colonel Webster, acted with great bravery. The brigade is in good condition and ready to perform any service which its commander may assign it.

The casualties of the brigade were as follows:

98th Ohio 35 (Killed) 102 (Wounded) 32 (Missing) 229 (Total)

50th Ohio 22 (Killed) 32 (Wounded) 79 (Missing) 133 (Total)

80th Indiana 25 (Killed) 116 (Wounded) 16 (Missing) 157 (Total)

121st Ohio 3 (Killed) 23 (Wounded) 16 (Missing) 42 (Total)

19th Indiana Battery 2 (Killed) 13 (Wounded) 3 (Missing) 18 (Total)

Total Brigade 87 (Killed) 346 (Wounded) 146 (Missing) 579 (Total)

A considerable number of the wounded have since died, and many marked missing were wounded and taken prisoners, but the number I cannot now ascertain.