I cannot feel justified in closing this report without bearing testimony to the uncomplaining manner in which my brave men have performed the hard labor and endured the severe deprivations of the campaign just closed, especially during the last week of November, following immediately upon the long, fatiguing march of over 200 miles. They were up at midnight of the 23rd fortifying, and maneuvering for battle all day of the 24th. Our picket guard, in the face of the enemy, on the night of the 24th, fighting desperately, and under most unfavorable circumstances on the 25th; pursuing the enemy on the 26th and 27th (without rations or blankets, shivering around their camp fires during the nights and marching through rain and mud during the days), and returning to camp (22 miles) on the 28th. All this in the dead of winter, and without a murmur.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. BANBURY,

Colonel Fifth Iowa Infantry.

N. B. BAKER,

Adjutant-General of Iowa.

Numbers 217.

Abstract from returns of the Army of Tennessee for October 31 and December 10, 1863.

OCTOBER 31.

Present for duty.

Command. Officers. Men. Effective

total

present.

General 16

------

-------

headquarters.

Longstreet's

corps:

Staff. 16

-------

--------

McLaws' division. 442 4,653 4,531

Hood's division. 627 6,362 6,181

Walker's division. 299 3,131 3,017

Artillery. 47 955 945

Total Longstreet's 1,431 15,101 14,674

corps.

Cheatham's corps:

Staff. 15

-------

---------

Cheatham's 688 5,648 5,467

division.

Hindman's 518 5,953 5,785

division.

Buckner's 268 2,945 2,905

division.

Artillery. 44 1,062 1,024

Total Cheatham's 1,533 15,608 15,181

corps.

Breckinridge's

corps:

Staff. 12

-------

-------

Cleburne's 489 5,353 5,213

division.

Stewart's 378 4,146 3,996

division.

Breckinridge's 317 3,211 3,114

division.

Stevenson's (a) (a) 3,102

division.

Artillery. 42 926 884

Total 1,238 13,636 16,309

Breckinridge's

corps.

Cavalry b.

-------

-------

--------

Reserve artillery. 21 364 332

Grand total. 4,239 44,709 46,496

CONTINUATION:

Aggregate Aggregate Pieces of

Command. present. present and artillery.

absent.

General 16 17

--------

headquarters.

Longstreet's

corps:

Staff. 16 18

-------

McLaws' 6,684 11,736

--------

division.

Hood's 8,712 15,141

--------

division.

Walker's 4,401 8,716

--------

division.

Artillery. 1,193 1,718 48

Total 21,006 37,329 48

Longstreet's

corps.

Cheatham's

corps:

Staff. 15 21

--------

Cheatham's 7,969 12,660

--------

division.

Hindman's 7,805 12,252

--------

division.

Buckner's 4,662 8,741

--------

division.

Artillery. 1,248 1,532 51

Total 21,699 35,206 51

Cheatham's

corps.

Breckinridge's

corps:

Staff. 12 15

--------

Cleburne's 7,268 11,389

--------

division.

Stewart's 5,728 9,115

--------

division.

Breckinridge's 4,440 8,086

--------

division.

Stevenson's 3,883

--------

--------

division.

Artillery. 1,097 1,301 45

Total 22,428 29,906 45

Breckinridge's

corps.

Cavalry b.

--------

--------

-------

Reserve 451 529 16

artillery.

Grand total. 65,600 102,987 160

aNo report.

bThe cavalry of this army have been constantly on the move since the battle of Chickamauga, rendering it impossible to obtain field returns.