tions to examine the ridge beyond the river for artillery. They returned without discovering any, bringing with them 10 prisoners. At daylight (27th) the pickets were called in, and at 7 a. m. took up the line of march, moving up the river to the railroad bridge and then to the right, striking the Ringgold road about 2 miles from Graysville. At about 9 a. m. formed line of battle in the woods on the left of the road about 11⁄2 miles from Ringgold. Moved in line to the Chattanooga road, then by the right flank across the bridge over the Chickamauga, reformed line of battle and moved up to within a short distance of the railroad. From this position we were moved to the left of the brigade and formed line of battle, protecting the left flank. At 10 a. m. the regiment was ordered down the railroad and took position on the left of Forty-second Indiana and right of Davis' division, throwing out one company, under Lieutenant Mitchell, as skirmishers. We remained here until about 11.30 a. m., Sunday, 29th, when we moved with the brigade for Chattanooga, coming in via Rossville. Arrived in camp about 6 p. m., the regiment much wearied with the long and fatiguing pursuit, but in excellent spirits and health. My loss in killed and wounded was very light, 1 killed and 16 wounded; 10 severely, 6 slightly. Captain McLaughlin, Company B, was struck on the shoulder on Wednesday while nobly performing his duty. For names see accompanying report.* To mention the names of any one of my officers would be an injustice to the others. All did their duty well and gallantly. The behavior of my men was all that I could ask. Every man, with the exception already mentioned, showed determined courage and steady perseverance, exhibiting the most daring attributes of American soldiers. I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Major, Comdg. Ninety-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Capt. R. J. WAGGENER, Assistant Adjutant-General. No. 141. Report of Col. William L. Stoughton, Eleventh_ Michigan Infantry, commanding Second Brigade. HDQRS. 2D BRIGADE, 1ST DIVISION, 14TH ARMY CORPS, Chattanooga, December 5, 1863. SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of the forces under my command in the action of the 25th ultimo, and the subsequent pursuit of the enemy: During the forenoon of that day, the brigade was withdrawn from the picket line and formed in front of the Rossville road. The right wing, composed of the First and Second Battalions of the Fifteenth and Eighteenth, the Sixteenth and Nineteenth Infantry, was placed under the immediate command of Major Edie, and the left, composed of the Sixty-ninth Ohio, Nineteenth Illinois, and Eleventh Michigan Volunteers, under the command of Colonel Moore. About 1 p. m., by your orders, I moved the brigade to the left and closed on the right of General Sheridan's division, the First Brigade of this division closing on our right and completing the line of attack. * Omitted. Our position at this time was partially concealed by the woods. An open field extended thence nearly half a mile to Mission Ridge a strong position occupied by the enemy, and fortified by a line of rifle-pits about half way up the side and a breastwork on the crest, with cannon planted at intervals. Between 3 and 4 p. m. orders were received to attack the enemy's works, and the whole line at once advanced. On emerging from the woods the troops were exposed to a heavy fire from the enemy's artillery. The skirmishers covering our front at the same time engaged those of the enemy, driving them in, and the whole line moved rapidly and in admirable order across the field. On reaching the base of the hill the fire of the enemy, both of infantry and artillery, became still more destructive, and I gave orders to charge the first line of rifle-pits. These were speedily carried, and most of the enemy occupying them were either disabled or captured and sent to the rear. After resting a few minutes for the men to recover their breath and to close up the ranks, the order was passed along the line to charge the enemy's breastworks. At the command the whole line sprung forward in gallant style and moved rapidly up the steep and difficult ascent. When near the crest they dashed forward with a shout of victory, routing the enemy and driving him from his stronghold, and capturing a large number of prisoners and one piece of artillery. The command bivouacked on the hill during the night, and the next morning formed part of the column which followed in pursuit of the retreating foe. Soon after dark we crossed a small creek 1 mile south of Graysville, and by your direction I formed the brigade in lines of battle and moved through a piece of woods to attack the enemy on a road leading from that place to Ringgold. On approaching the road we surprised and captured his pickets, and learning his position moved promptly forward and made a vigorous attack, capturing over 60 prisoners, 1 flag, 3 pieces of artillery, 2 caissons with horses and equipments complete. One gun dismounted and thrown over the river bank and two caissons abandoned by the enemy in his flight were found the next morning and secured. The captured artillery was known as Ferguson's battery. We remained at Graysville during the night, and early the next morning one regiment was sent to Chattanooga with the captured artillery and the remainder of the brigade resumed the march to Ringgold. On arriving at this place a line of battle was immediately formed in front of a range of hills occupied by the enemy. The position was, however, carried by the troops who were engaged when we came up. The command remained here until the 29th ultimo, when, pursuant to orders, we returned to camp at this place. It would be doing injustice to the troops of this command if I were to close this report without mentioning the noble and gallant manner in which they performed the duties required of them. Although somewhat exhausted by three days' incessant picket duty prior to the battle of Mission Ridge, they neither hesitated nor faltered, but entered into the engagement with the ardor and enthusiasm of fresh troops, nor were they last upon the ridge. Colonel Moore, Sixty-ninth Ohio, and Major Edie, Fifteenth Infantry, are entitled to great credit for their gallantry and efficiency, and the skill and ability with which they handled their respective commands. I desire also to make honorable mention of Captains Keteltas and McManus, commanding First and Second Battalions, Fifteenth Infantry; Captain Crofton, commanding Sixteenth and Nineteenth Infantry; Captains Smith and Haymond, commanding First and Second Battalions, Eighteenth Infantry; Lieutenant-Colonel Raffen and Major Guthrie, Nineteenth Illinois; Major Hanna, Sixty-ninth Ohio, and Major Bennet (killed at Mission Ridge) and Captain Keegan, Eleventh Michigan Volunteers, as a tribute due to their own bravery and to that of their officers and men. To Capt. James W. Forsyth, acting assistant adjutant-general, Captain Mulligan and Lieutenants Litchfield and Lyster, of the brigade staff, I return my thanks for the promptness and energy with which they discharged their duties, and their gallantry and valuable aid upon the field. The brigade captured in all 5 pieces of artillery, 1 stand of colors, and 639 prisoners, including 1 colonel. The brigade went into action with 86 commissioned officers and 1,455 enlisted men, making an aggregate of 1,541. Of these, 25 were killed and 136 wounded. I submit herewith a tabular statement and classification of the casualties and the several sub-reports. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, WILLIAM L. STOUGHTON, Colonel Eleventh Michigan Infantry, Comdg. Brigade. Brig. Gen. R. W. JOHNSON, Comdg. First Division. [Inclosure.] Statement of Casualties in the Second Brigade, First Division, Fourteenth Army Corps, in the engagement of November 25, 1863, at Mission Ridge. Report of Col. Marshall F. Moore, Sixty-ninth Ohio Infantry, commanding Demi-Brigade. HDQRS. SIXTY-NINTH REGT. OHIO VOL. INFTY., Chattanooga, Tenn., December 5, 1863. SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by my command in the recent operations in front of Chatta nooga: On Sunday morning, November 22, I was ordered to relieve with * But see revised statement, p. 84, 31 R R-VOL XXXI, PT II the brigade I was then commanding (the Second, of the First Division, Fourteenth Army Corps) General Carlin's brigade (the First, of the same division), then on duty as grand guard for the Fourteenth Army Corps. This I did at 7 a. m. From this duty the brigade was not relieved until it was formed for the charge on Mission Ridge, in the afternoon of the 25th. During the three nights and four days that the brigade was thus employed, although the weather was inclement and the men poorly clad, and our line subjected to the fire of both our own and the enemy's artillery, both the officers and men of my command performed the important duty of guarding our front without complaint, and with a fidelity that cannot be too highly commended. During the night of the 24th, after our troops had got possession of the slope of Lookout Mountain, the enemy's pickets in our front were quietly withdrawn. This fact I reported at daylight, on the morning of the 25th, to Brigadier-General Johnson, and also to Major-General Palmer, at the same time sending out scouts to ascertain to what distance the enemy had withdrawn. These scouts soon reported no force in the valley between us and the ridge. This was also reported by me to my superiors. At 9 o'clock this a. m. I was directed to withdraw our pickets and form the brigade in double line of battle on the right of the Rossville road at the first line of rebel rifle-pits. This order I proceeded to execute, but before the formation was completed I was ordered again to throw out the brigade as grand guard, covering the front, extending from the mouth of Chattanooga Creek to the Bald Fort on the left. This disposition had not been completed when I was again directed to form the brigade in line of battle, the center resting upon the Rossville road. Colonel Stoughton, of the Eleventh Michigan Volunteers, who had not been on duty with the brigade since its reorganization, now assumed command. I was left in command, by Colonel Stoughton, of the left wing of the brigade, composed of the Nineteenth Illinois, Sixty-ninth Ohio, and the Eleventh Michigan Volunteer Infantry. Of these, the two former named regiments were in the first and the latter in the second line, the Nineteenth Illinois forming the extreme left of the division. Between 2 and 3 p. m. we were directed to move by the left flank toward the position occupied by General Sheridan, whose division was formed in line of battle in a strip of timber bordering on the marshy plain at the base of the ridge. After advancing until our left was nearly opposite General Sheridan's right, we threw out a strong line of skirmishers, and moved forward until our main line connected with his. The whole line was now ordered to advance, and immediately upon our emerging from the timber into the open plain, the enemy opened upon us, from his batteries posted upon the summit of Mission Ridge, a most deadly fire. The command was now given to charge, and our line moved off at double-quick, with loud cheers, the sound of which was mingled with the roar of artillery and exploding shells. Our skirmishers had now become engaged with the enemy, who were occupying a line of rifle-pits at the base of the ridge. Upon these our main line charged and speedily drove them out. Here a large number of prisoners were taken. At these rifle-pits our men halted for a few moments to take breath. At the command forward they moved on up the hill promptly, in the face of a heavy fire of musketry and a galling fire of grape, canister, and shell from the batteries to our left, which still kept up an oblique 483 fire across the slope of the hill. Just above the rifle-pits I was struck down by a piece of shell, but soon recovering, I found our line slowly advancing in the face of a very destructive fire from the rifle-pits on the crest of the ridge. Under this fire our line, though checked, did not waver. Led by gallant officers, our men continued to advance, and when within a few rods of the summit, raised another shout and rushed forward, driving the enemy from his last stronghold in splendid style. The Nineteenth Illinois and Sixty-ninth Ohio, which were in the first line, did not stop upon the summit, but charged down to the foot of the hill, where, having no support, they halted and reformed. One piece of artillery and a large number of prisoners fell into our hands after reaching the crest; among the latter was the colonel of the Seventh Florida Regiment, who surrendered to Lieutenant-Colonel Raffen, of the Nineteenth Illinois Volunteers. Without wishing to disparage any other troops where all behaved so nobly, it is due to the regiments of my command to say that they were, if not the first, at least among the very fir: t, to gain the summit. Our colors were among the first planted on the crest, though the color bearers of both the Sixty-ninth Ohio and Nineteenth Illinois fell mortally wounded before they had enjoyed what they so richly deserved-the satisfaction of seeing the standards they had so honorably borne waving over Mission Ridge. The colors of the Sixty-ninth Ohio were taken up and borne forward, after the fall of the color sergeant, by Lieut. Frederick E. Wilson, of Company H, and those of the Nineteenth Illinois by Capt. David F. Bremner, of Company E, of their respective regiments. Taking into considération the fact that when they went into this action both officers and men were worn out by want of rest, and fatigue and exposure, their conduct in this memorable charge is beyond all praise. In consequence of the injury I had received, I left the field that night, and though I joined the brigade the next day, I did not take active command of these regiments in their further operations. It is exceedingly difficult, where the conduct of all, or nearly all, of the officers was so gallant, to particularize any without doing injustice to others. Lieutenant-Colonel Raffen, commanding the Nineteenth Illinois; Maj. J. J. Hanna, commanding the Sixty-ninth Ohio, and Capt. P. H. Keegan, commanding the Eleventh Michigan, led their regiments in the charge, and all of them, together with Major Guthrie, of the Nineteenth Illinois, were conspicuous for their gallantry. The same could be said with equal justice of most of the line officers of each of these regiments. To Capt. James W. Forsyth, Captain Mulligan, Lieutenants Litchfield and Lyster, of the brigade staff, I am indebted for prompt and valuable assistance and support while I was in command of the brigade. The whole strength of the three regiments present in the engagement was 44 commissioned officers, 693 enlisted men. Of these, 19 were killed and 85 wounded. Total number brought out of the engagement, 633. For more particular classification of casualties, see accompanying tabular statement.* Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Colonel 69th Ohio Vol. Infantry, Comdg. Demi-Brigade. Capt. JAMES W. FORSYTH, Assistant Adjutant-General. *Not found; but see revised statement, p. 84. |