the enemy from the ridge and the gap, and at 12.30 p. m. musketry firing on our front ceased entirely. Some men of the One hundred and forty-ninth New York Volunteers immediately rushed out and picked up two rebel colors, one a Confederate States of America national color (Stars and Bars), the other a battery guidon. Soon after firing ceased, I received orders to send out a small party of skirmishers to follow up the enemy. In compliance with this order I detailed Captain Stegman, with 30 men from the One hundred and second New York Volunteers and 10 from the Sixtieth New York Volunteers, and sent them up the gap. They followed close on the enemy, and, on arriving at the railroad bridge over the Catoosa Creek, found it in flames. Captain Stegman ordered his party to extinguish the flames, and while the men were doing so, they were fired on by a small body of the enemy from the opposite side of the creek. They replied promptly, and from the report of a contraband that came into our lines shortly afterward, killed and wounded some officers of high rank. I marched the balance of the brigade back from the battle-field about half a mile, and then formed them in two lines, allowing the men to stack arms and rest. Soon after, in compliance with orders from General Geary, I detailed Lieutenant Sage, of the One hundred and thirty-seventh New York Volunteers, with two companies of that regiment, to go to Chattanooga as a guard over some rebel prisoners. Captain Seymour, One hundred and forty-ninth New York Volunteers, was detailed as provost-marshal for the town of Ringgold. About 5 p. m. Captain Stegman and his command were relieved by the One hundred and eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, when they came back and joined their regiments. The loss of the brigade during the two hours and forty minutes it was engaged, is as follows: Officers killed, none; officers wounded, 3; enlisted men killed, 8; enlisted men wounded, 47. Total, 58. While the brigade was marching across the field to Catoosa Creek, Capt. Charles T. Greene, assistant adjutant-general of this brigade, was struck by an unexploded shell, which passed through his horse and carried away his right leg below the knee. The concussion was such that it threw him up about 5 feet, and on falling he was severely injured. His coolness in the late actions, and his undaunted bravery, combined with his prompt obedience to all orders, make his loss severely felt in this brigade. In one short month we have lost the services of both father and son, General Greene having been wounded severely while cheering his troops at the battle of Wauhatchie, October 29, 1863, and now his son, Capt. C. T. Greene, is severely wounded. We are thus deprived of the services of two officers (at least for a time) that were much respected by the officers and men of this brigade. There is a deep feeling of regret expressed by all at what has thus occurred to General George S. Greene and Capt. C. T. Greene. The brigade bivouacked on the night of the 27th November on the field near Ringgold, to which they had been moved after the action. During the forenoon of the 28th, I sent out fatigue parties to bury our dead. Soon after was ordered by the general commanding division to put the regiments into some of the deserted houses, and did At 4 p. m. was ordered to place the whole brigade on picket, and, in compliance with orders, I moved my command up through SO. the gap to Catoosa Creek and stationed it as follows: The One hundred and second New York Volunteers on the extreme left, about 1 mile from the railroad, and on a ridge known as Taylor's Ridge. I placed a strong picket on the extreme left, and had some timber felled across the road, completely obstructing it. The Sixtieth New York Volunteers joined the One hundred and second New York Volunteers on their right. The One hundred and thirty-seventh New York Volunteers was between the gap and the Sixtieth New York Volunteers. The One hundred and forty-ninth New York Volunteers was on the south side of the creek and on a very high hill. In accordance with instructions, the troops built large fires and scattered themselves well over the ridge, giving the appearance of a much larger force than we had. We were relieved at 2 p. m., November 29, by the First Brigade, Colonel Ahl commanding, and marched back to the buildings occupied previous to our going on picket. At 2.30 a. m., December 1, 1863, we marched from Ringgold and arrived in camp on Raccoon Mountain about 4 p. m. same day. During the actions of Lookout Mountain and Ringgold, this brigade captured two brass pieces of artillery with their limbers, five rebel flags, and a number of intrenching and carpenters' tools, and a large number of prisoners, who, as soon as they surrendered, were passed to the line of troops that followed us, no account being taken of their numbers. I cannot express my admiration at the conduct of the officers and men of this brigade during this campaign. It has been all and more than any commanding officer could desire. All our privations, among them scarcity of food, absence of blankets and coats during these cold nights, excessive marching and fighting for days in succession, were endured evidently with cheerfulness. I take this opportunity to express my thanks to the staff officers of this brigade, to Capt. Charles T. Greene, assistant adjutant-general, who was severely wounded, for his personal bravery and his prompt obedience to all orders; to Capt. Michael Nolan, acting assistant inspector-general, and Lieut. Albert R. Greene, aide-de-camp, for the manner in which they acted during the late engagements. They were very obedient, and evinced a willingness to obey orders at all times and under all circumstances truly commendable. There are many incidents and facts which I may have overlooked during the excitement of the action, but it all having taken place under the immediate supervision of the general commanding division, he can readily recall any fact that may not have been mentioned. Accompanying this please find the report of the regimental commanders, also list* of the killed and wounded during the various engagements. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, [Capt. THOMAS H. ELLIOTT, “Assistant Adjutant-General, Second Division.] * Embodied in revised statement, p. 83. No. 124. Reports of Col. Abel Godard, Sixtieth New York Infantry. HDQRS. SIXTIETH REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS, Raccoon Mountain, December 4, 1863. CAPTAIN: I have the honor to transmit to you the following statement of the part this regiment took in the engagements of the 24th ultimo on Lookout Mountain, and the 27th ultimo at Ringgold, Ga. : At 6 a. m., November 24, I received instructions from Colonel Ireland, commanding Third Brigade, Second Division, Twelfth Army Corps, to join the brigade with my command at 6.45 a. m., prepared with one day's rations, without knapsacks and blankets, in ̄light marching order. At the last-named hour I marched my command with the brigade to the foot of Lookout Mountain, where we were halted and informed by General Geary, commanding division, that Major-General Hooker had been ordered to take Lookout Mountain, and that the duty assigned his command was to sweep the side of the mountain from its main prominence to its foot near Lookout Creek, and drive the rebels from it as far as the projection toward Chattanooga. Crossing Lookout Creek, we ascended the mountain quietly under cover of a dense spruce undergrowth, and formed in line of battle at about 10 a. m., my regiment joining the Second Brigade, under Colonel Cobham, on my right, and the One hundred and thirtyseventh New York Volunteers on my left, the skirmishers of the Second Brigade extending in front of my line. About the said hour, 10 a. m., we moved forward in quick time until in sight of the enemy's works, when my men became so eager to advance that we went forward on the run with fixed bayonets, leaving the skirmishers and Second Brigade far in the rear. The enemy kept up a straggling fire for but a short time, when hundreds gave themselves up and were sent to the rear. My regiment here captured an artillery flag marked "Murfreesborough, December, 1862." On, on my command swept in conjunction with the One hundred and second, One hundred and thirtyseventh, and One hundred and forty-ninth New York Volunteers, carrying the second and third line of works, leaving in our rear two brass field pieces, from which we had driven the rebels. Still forward I pressed until I found myself and command far beyond the point of the mountain which we were to attain, when I discovered myself with my regiment and the One hundred and thirty-seventh New York Volunteers isolated from and in advance of the rest of the command, and gave the commands "halt," "cease firing," which were reluctantly obeyed, the enemy's sharpshooters still keeping up a continuous fire. We came to this halt about ten minutes to 2 p. m., thus occupying and passing over about 3 miles of Lookout Mountain, the roughest, most rocky route for the advance of a line of battle with the constant obstruction of every kind of obstacles, including a surprised enemy, in the short space of four hours. were relieved from this position by a portion of the First Brigade of our division and the Ninety-sixth Illinois Volunteers, and retired a short distance to the rear to remain until the following morning, when we had the proud satisfaction of seeing the glorious old flag wave from the highest peak and of knowing that we had taken from the enemy the stronghold of Lookout Mountain. Every one doing their duty was filled with enthusiasm over the result. The commander of our brigade (Colonel Ireland), and indeed all his staff offi We cers, deserve especial regard for their assuring presence in the thickest of the fight. I felt at the close of the engagement like complimenting every officer and soldier in my command for their determined advance. My regiment lost 38 men killed and wounded, including 4 officers. I took into the fight 175 enlisted men and 11 offi cers. On the afternoon of the 25th ultimo, my regiment with the rest of the Second Division was marched to the rebel camp near Missionary Ridge, from which the enemy had been driven during the day. During the 26th we advanced toward Ringgold, where we arrived about noon of the 27th, and found General Osterhaus' division engaging the enemy on the ridges of the mountain near that place. After remaining near the railroad depot a short time, our brigade was ordered to relieve some western troops then on the right of our line and under an artillery and infantry fire of the enemy. We were led under this fire by Captain Nolan, aide-de-camp, over a quarter of a mile to our position, my regiment following the One hundred and forty-ninth New York Volunteers, and being immediately followed by the One hundred and thirty-seventh New York Volunteers, and remained in this position until the enemy retired, leaving the mountain in our possession. All this movement after leaving the depot consumed about two hours, in which time my regiment lost 3 men killed and 15 wounded. The officers and men displayed the greatest coolness and bravery in this engagement, and too much commendation cannot be awarded them. No enemy was seen after this engagement, and our division returned to our camps at this place fatigued and shoeless, but well satisfied with their week's achievements. זד Tery respectfully, MICHAEL NOLAN, ABEL GODARD, Colonel, Commanding. Capt., and A. A. G., 3d Brig., 2d Div., 12th Army Corps. HDQRS. SIXTIETH REGIMENT NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS, Raccoon Mountain, Tenn., December 10, 1863. CAPTAIN: In conformity with instructions from General J. W. Geary, commanding Second Division, Twelfth Army Corps, referring to orders from Major-General Thomas, I have the honor to report that the rebel battle-flag taken from the enemy by my regiment on the 24th ultimo was captured under the following circumstances, to wit: On the morning of November 24, after said division, of which my regiment is a part, arrived near Lookout Creek, we were informed that the duty of our division was to cross said creek, and forming in line of battle, the right resting near the foot of the main prominence of Lookout, the left on Lookout Creek, we were to sweep that side of the mountain of the enemy as far as the point of the mountain projecting toward Chattanooga. General Geary expressed himself confident that the brave men under him could do this. The line being formed, the Second Brigade on the right, my regiment and the remainder of the Third Brigade on the left, we moved forward swiftly, but in order, over every kind of obstruction for about 2 miles, when our skirmishers engaged the enemy, and leaving the Second Brigade in my rear on the right, we advanced over the first line of the enemy's works with a shout such as only Yankees can give, driving the enemy from their position in confusion. While falling back their color bearer, with his rebel flag, making himself too conspicuous, was followed eagerly by my men who, shooting down the traitor, seized his disgraced color, and with a yell of delight bore it proudly on. On, on swept our line until the west side of Lookout Mountain was cleared of the foe. Still onward we pressed, continually crowding the enemy until we found ourselves far past the main point of the mountain, where, finding my ammunition low, I halted my men and commanded cease firing. Colonel Ireland was then informed of our condition, after which we were soon relieved by the First Brigade of our division. 66 In this engagement the regiment lost 38 men and officers killed and wounded, as will be seen from a more complete report of the part taken by the Sixtieth, already forwarded to Colonel Ireland, commanding brigade. The rebel flag herein reported, with the proper inscription of capture, was sent to brigade headquarters the first of last week, from which place it has probably been forwarded to its due destination.* Very respectfully, ABEL GODARD, Colonel Sixtieth New York Volunteers Commanding. Capt. THOMAS H. ELLIOTT, Assistant Adjutant-General. No. 125. Report of Col. James C. Lane, One hundred and second New York Infantry. HDQRS. 102D REGIMENT NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS, Wauhatchie, Tenn., December 4, 1863. COLONEL: I have the honor to report that this regiment left its camping ground on November 24, at 6.15 a. m., and proceeded with the rest of the brigade to the foot of Lookout Mountain, where we found the Second Brigade resting on their arms. We arrived there about 8 a. m., and after half an hour's rest, the whole command ascended the mountain by a small path near the white house, some mile and a half south of the dividing ridge, between the north and west sides of the mountain. On taking our position on the side of the mountain, the One hundred and second New York Volunteers was ordered to the front to cover the brigade with a line of skirmishers. This was immediately done, and I kept one-half of the regiment in reserve. The skirmishers immediately advanced, and after proceeding for nearly three-fourths of a mile, we were halted by Captain Nolan, aide-de-camp, as he said the brigade had not yet begun its advance, and ordered us to stay until we had some indication of the advance of the brigade. After waiting some fifteen minutes, we saw the regimental flags of two regiments, the color bearers being in advance of their respective regiments. I immediately *It is deposited in the War Department. |