onel Wiles 1 lieutenant-colonel, 2 majors, 25 line officers, and 282 enlisted men. One-third of the command being required to guard prisoners until daylight, the balance moved to camp. Issued during the night four days' rations and moved at daylight, November 26, to join the brigade on Mission Ridge. Moved about 10 a. m., with brigade, this regiment in advance, on Graysville road, arriving at West Chickamauga River about 1 p. m., having captured en route 1 commissioned officer and 27 enlisted men. Command was here delayed for two hours in constructing bridge, my regiment picketing the front and flanks. When again moved forward, was relieved of the advance by Forty-second Indiana and formed second regiment of the column. About 9 p. m. formed line of battle for advance on Ringgold road; this regiment forming center of first line advanced on the charge, capturing a number of prisoners. Line again formed to move on Graysville, this regiment on right of brigade, with skirmishers advanced, covering the right and flank, who succeeded in overhauling a few of the enemy that escaped to the hills. Bivouacked at 1 a. m., picketing the right. No casualties to-day. November 27, moved shortly after daylight up the river road from Graysville, bearing to the right and intersecting Ringgold road about 4 miles from that place. Heavy skirmishing all morning in our front by Major-General Hooker's troops in vicinity of Ringgold. Moved to their support, brigade forming line on his left, advancing in two lines, this regiment forming left of second line; crossed East Chickamauga River on bridge and advanced to near railroad, where first line had taken position under fire from the enemy posted on Taylor's Ridge. By your orders this regiment was advanced from the second to the left of the first line, taking position along railroad, and sending companies (C and K) as skirmishers to foot of ridge. Half an hour later, our forces having gained the ridge to our right, a call by you for a few volunteers to ascend the ridge to our left was responded to by Sergt. William Tucker, Company F, and others of my command, whose names I send you on accompanying sheet (3), who at once started on their mission, accomplishing all desired. ouacked on this ground for the night. No casualties to-day. Biv November 28, remained in bivouac at foot of Taylor's Ridge near Ringgold. November 29, at 11 a. m., received orders to march, moving north on Chattanooga road, arriving and going into old camp at 6 p. m. Accompanying (on sheet 4) I send statement of casualties.** I cannot close without expressing my thanks to Maj. W. L. Carter (who fell wounded while advancing to the assault of Mission Ridge) for his untiring exertions, zeal, and gallantry. Also, the same to those officers and men who nobly braved and withstood every danger, trial, and fatigue of this memorable campaign. Very respectfully, your most obedient, D. F. GRIFFIN, Lieutenant-Colonel, Comdg. 38th Regt. Indiana Vols. R. J. WAGGENER, Capt., and A. A. G., 1st Brig., 1st Div., 14th A. C. * Embodied in revised statement, p. 84. [Inclosure.] HDQRS. THIRTY-EIGHTH INDIANA VOLUNTEERS, Chattanooga, Tenn., November 30, 1863. CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report the following names of noncommissioned officers and privates who ascended Taylor's Ridge, near Ringgold, Ga., on your call for volunteers from my command for that duty, November 27, 1863: Sergt. William Tucker, Company F; Sergt. Oliver N. Coffey, Company G; Sergt. Samuel F. Smith, Company H; Corpl. Thomas R. Mitchell, Company F; Corpl. Darwin M. Wardall, Company G; Private James Williams, Company H. Very respectfully, your most obedient, D. F. GRIFFIN, Lieutenant-Colonel, Comdg. Thirty-eighth Indiana Vols. R. J. WAGGENER, Capt., and A. A. G., 1st Brig., 1st Div., 14th A. C. No. 136. Report of Lieut. Col. William T. B. McIntire, Forty-second Indiana Infantry. HEADQUARTERS FORTY-SECOND INDIANA VOLUNTEERS, Chattanooga, Tenn., November 30, 1863. SIR: I have the honor to make the following report of the operations of my command from the morning of the 24th to the 29th instant : After lying in line of battle during the day of the 24th until 3 p. m., we crossed Chattanooga Creek at its junction with the Tennessee River, ascended Lookout Mountain, arriving at the white house about 7 o'clock. At 7.30 o'clock I was ordered to take a position in rear of the Second Ohio, which was moving to the front, unless I found that I could be more serviceable elsewhere. The Second Ohio had not gained its position, however, until the enemy opened a brisk fire along its whole front, and extending beyond its left flank. I immediately moved my regiment by the left flank and formed among the rocks on the left, and again the enemy opened upon us, covering my front. The natural inference was that they were more numerous than we at first thought, and were attempting to make a flank movement. I placed my left company, deployed as skirmishers, on a line perpendicular to the main line, and sent a message to inform General Carlin of my position, and the Eighty-eighth Indiana was sent to take a position on my left, and thus a connection was formed with another regiment on the creek. At about 12.30 o'clock the firing ceased, and before daybreak it was found that the enemy had withdrawn. On the 25th, the brigade moved to the north side of the creek and took position in the woods near the foot of Missionary Ridge and on the first line of the enemy's rifle-pits. At about 4 o'clock we moved forward and reached the second rifle-pit without loss, and with little resistance. Here quite a number of prisoners were captured, whom we found lying in the ditch. After halting a few moments to rest, I moved forward under a heavy fire from the third rifle-pit and crest of the hill. The enemy, however, soon fell back from their breastworks and my regiment and the Eighty-eighth Indiana, mingled together, arrived at the pit about the same time. A number of prisoners were taken at this point also. Halting but a moment, some regiments on my right gave way, and the enemy advanced slightly. My command kept up a vigorous fire and moved on steadily to the top. Here we bivouacked for the night, and at 10 a. m. on the 26th moved forward. to At Chickamauga Creek I was ordered to take the advance, deploying two companies as skirmishers. I moved on the Ringgold road to within a short distance of Graysville, and after striking the main road leading from -, I changed front, and moved the whole regiment, deployed as skirmishers, to the village, meeting but slight resistance, capturing a number of prisoners, and arriving in time to extinguish the fire and prevent the destruction of the bridge across the stream. Late at night, under the direction of General Johnson, I sent 3 men out on the Ringgold road to reconnoiter, one of whom (James Bolin) was captured by a party of mounted men, and was afterward found dead on the road, and I fear he was murdered after he fell into the enemy's hands. On the 27th, moved to Ringgold. Came up during the fight. My line of skirmishers were slightly engaged, but met with little resistance in going to the top of the mountain. Remained here during the 28th and until noon of the 29th, when we returned to camp. I inclose herewith list of killed and wounded, showing a loss of 8 enlisted men killed, and 35 wounded. Many of the wounds are slight, and will not long render the men unable for duty. I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Capt. R. J. WAGGENER, Assistant Adjutant-General. No. 137. Report of Col. Cyrus E. Briant, Eighty-eighth Indiana Infantry. HDQRS. EIGHTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT INDIANA Vols., Chattanooga, Tenn., November 30, 1863. SIR: I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken by the Eighty-eighth Regiment, under my command, in the late engagement in front of this place: Pursuant to orders, we moved across Chattanooga Creek, and ascended Lookout Mountain as far as the white house, on the northeast side of the mountain, where we were formed in line of battle with the other regiments of the brigade, the Eighty-eighth holding its position there until near 9 p. m. of the 24th instant, when we were ordered out to support the Second Ohio and Forty-second Indiana Regiments, then hotly engaged in our front. In advancing the regi ment up and forming on the left of the Forty-second Indiana, we received a volley from the enemy before we could form our line, but the regiment came up to the work in an orderly manner, and we soon drove the enemy from their strong position, and then formed in line on the extreme left of the Forty-second Indiana, thus making a connection with the Thirty-seventh [Thirty-first ?] Missouri, of General Sherman's corps, forming a complete line of battle from the river to the ledge of rocks near the top of the mountain. In this movement the regiment lost in wounded 1 second lieutenant and 4 privates, all of whom were severely wounded. The regiment held their position in line at this point until about 9 a. m. on the 25th instant, when, with the balance of the brigade, we moved forward to the road leading to the summit of the mountain, and from there we were ordered to move with the brigade to the foot of Mission Ridge, where we formed in line of battle, the One hundred and fourth Illinois on our left and the Forty-second Indiana on our right. We lay in line of battle until about 4 p. m. of the 25th instant, when the regiment moved forward in the grand charge that was made on the enemy's strong works on the ridge, coming in to the work most gallantly, every man and officer of the regiment doing his duty in a most honorable way, the regiment taking 24 prisoners and 1 flag, supposed to be the Thirty-sixth Alabama Regiment, which had been very badly torn up. The regiment lay on the top of the ridge that night with the balance of the brigade in line of battle until the morning of the 26th instant. In this charge the regiment lost in killed 1 captain and 1 first lieutenant and 7 privates, 4 of whom are severely wounded. Pursuant to orders, we moved with the brigade from the hill forward about 9 a. m. of the 26th instant on the road to Graysville, where the regiment was formed on the left of the brigade. At the charge made on the battery taken near the town the regiment took 8 prisoners. At that point the regiment moved forward in line of battle up to the town of Graysville, where it was ordered to send out one company to reconnoiter and feel for the enemy. The company advanced through town, and, after a thorough reconnaissance in front, reported no enemy in front of any force, and bringing with them 22 prisoners, taken in town and the outposts along the river near the town. The regiment then went into camp about 1 a. m. on the morning of the 27th instant. Pursuant to orders, the regiment moved forward with the balance of the brigade on the road leading to Ringgold, forming in line of battle about 1 mile outside of town, with the One hundred and fourth Illinois on our right and the Thirty-third Ohio on our left, with the skirmishers thrown well in front. The regiment moved forward in line of battle with the rest of the brigade to the railroad to the left of town, near the steam grist-mill. The skirmishers were hotly engaged here by the enemy, but drove them steadily back to the summit of Oak Ridge, where the enemy held their position until about 2 p. m. of the 27th, when our line moved forward on to their works, and carried the works, driving the enemy before them, routing their entire line, and taking quite a number of small-arms here as well as at all other points. The men and officers of the regiment worked in the very best manner possible, the only trouble being to hold the men in restraint. I send herewith a list* of killed and wounded of the Eighty-eighth Regiment Indiana Volunteers. All of which I most respectfully forward. Comdg. First Brig., First Div., 14th Army Corps. No. 138. Report of Col. Anson G. McCook, Second Ohio Infantry. HEADQUARTERS SECOND OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY, Chattanooga, Tenn., November 30, 1863. CAPTAIN: In compliance with orders, I have the honor to report the movements of the regiment from the 23d to the 29th instant, inclusive. On the night of the 23d, I was, by your orders, placed in the outer line of intrenchments, remaining there all night, moving out and forming line immediately in front of the star fort on the morning of the 24th, where I remained until about 3 p. m., when, by your order, I moved in connection with the balance of the brigade across the mouth of Chattanooga Creek and up the slope of Lookout Mountain to the assistance of Major-General Hooker's troops. Shortly after the line had been formed near the white house, and at about 8 p. m., you directed me to move with my regiment to the assistance of the Thirty-first Iowa, at that time severely engaged and threatened with a flank movement on the left. I immediately did so, taking up a position on the left and slightly in advance of that regiment. The night-time and the difficult nature of the ground made it impossible to move in the order I should have wished to, and before an opportunity offered of throwing forward skirmishers, and hardly had my line been formed, when I was heavily attacked by a concealed enemy at not to exceed 75 yards. I opened my fire, and, after a very spirited engagement of twenty or thirty minutes, silenced their fire, not, however, without having suffered some loss. During the temporary cessation of firing, I directed the men to throw up works of stone and logs, which was speedily done, and answered, in the subsequent attacks, a good purpose. By this time the Fortysecond Indiana, Lieutenant-Colonel McIntire, had been directed by you to form on my left, and, in connection with the Eighty-eighth Indiana, Lieutenant-Colonel Briant, materially assisted in repulsing every effort of the enemy. We were attacked vigorously two or three times, and until the enemy evacuated, at between 12 and 2, were constantly annoyed by their sharpshooters. The mountain side is almost perpendicular, covered with huge bowlders, fallen trees, and obstacles of almost every nature, and is capable of a very strong defense, of which fact the enemy availed himself, having thrown up a very strong and effective line of works, from which he was finally compelled to fall back. My loss (as per abstract attached) in this night attack was 2 com *Embodied in revised statement, p. 84. |