No. 143.

Report of Lieut. Col. Alexander W. Raffen, Nineteenth Illinois

Infantry.

HEADQUARTERS NINETEENTH ILLINOIS INFANTRY,

Chattanooga, Tenn., December 3, 1863. SIR: In obedience to orders, I would respectfully report that my regiment went on picket duty on the morning of Sunday, November 22, and remained on that duty until about 2.30 p. m. on Wednesday, November 25, when we were relieved from picket duty and took up our position, by your order, on the left of the brigade, in the right front of Fort Wood. By your direction, I then deployed one company as skirmishers to connect with the right of the line of skirmishers of General Sheridan's division, which was on our left. We then advanced in line of battle toward Missionary Ridge, emerging from the wood into the open plain next to the ridge at about 3.30 p. m. Advancing across the open plain under a very heavy fire of both artillery and infantry, we took possession of the enemy's riflepits at the foot of the hill. After resting a moment or two, we advanced up the hill, dislodging the enemy after a most desperate resistance, and took position on the crest at about 4.30 p. m., our regimental colors being the first on the top of the ridge in this part of the line. The enemy fled in disorder, and we captured one piece of artillery in a ravine at the foot of the ridge, on the eastern side, which was afterward taken possession of by a regiment of Sheridan's division. While ascending the ridge the colonel of the Seventh Florida Regiment of Infantry surrendered to me, and I sent him to the rear under guard. Quite a large number of prisoners passed through our lines, and we sent them to the rear without guards. The regiment went into bivouac on the top of the ridge at about 5.30 p. m.

I would make special mention of Maj. James V. Guthrie, who was conspicuous in cheering the men in the charge up the hill; Capt. David F. Bremner, of Company E, who planted our colors with his own hands in the rebel works on the crest of the hill; Capt. James G. Campbell, of Company F, who was wounded, near the top of the hill, while in advance of the line cheering the men forward; Capt. Presley N. Guthrie, of Company K, who was also conspicuous in cheering and urging the men forward, during the whole action, and Adjt. Lester G. Bangs, who was severely wounded while in advance of the line as we emerged from the wood at the foot of the hill.

I would also mention, for most gallant conduct, Sergt. George Steel, of Company E, color bearer, and Private Patrick McDonald, of Company K, and John Brosnahan, of Company E, who took the colors in turn after the color sergeant had been wounded. In fact, every man engaged behaved with great coolness and gallantry.

The whole force present in the engagement was 13 officers and 182 non-commissioned officers and privates, of whom were killed, 2 privates; wounded, 2 officers and 22 enlisted men; missing, none. Total killed and wounded, 26. The number who bivouacked on the top of the hill was 10 officers and 157 enlisted men. Respectfully, your obedient servant,

M. F. MOORE,

ALEX. W. RAFFEN, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Regiment.

Col., Comdg. Left Wing, 2d Brig., 1st Div., 14th A. C.

No. 144.

Report of Capt. Patrick H. Keegan, Eleventh Michigan Infantry.

HDQRS. ELEVENTH MICHIGAN INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS,

Rossville, Ga., December 4, 1863.

COLONEL: I have the honor to report the part taken by this regiment during the late battle in front of Chattanooga.

On the morning of the 25th of November, the regiment was relieved from picket duty and placed in position in front of the enemy near the Rossville road. About 3 p. m. of the same day it went into action, being placed on the left of the second line of battle of the brigade. When near the open field in front of Missionary Ridge, Maj. B. G. Bennet, then commanding the regiment, requested me to take the command, which I did. Major Bennet then acted as second in command up to the time he was killed.

After moving a short distance into the open field above spoken of, the enemy opened upon us a deadly fire of artillery, the range of their fire being so perfect I thought it to be best to move rapidly forward and thereby get from their artillery fire. The regiment did not halt until it had arrived at the first line of the enemy's rifle-pits at the foot of the ridge.

Arriving at this point I found the first line of the brigade hotly engaged with the enemy, they holding the pits. I then moved the regiment forward (double-quick) without any particular regard to order, and contesting the hill till the enemy retreated. Arriving at the top of the hill, I again formed the regiment.

The force of the regiment at the time of going into action was as follows, viz, 11 commissioned officers, 244 non-commissioned officers and privates. The casualties were as follows: Killed, 1 commissioned officer (Major Bennet) and 5 enlisted men; wounded, 3 commissioned officers (Captains Bissell and Keegan and Lieutenant Rossiter) and 25 enlisted men; aggregate killed, 6; aggregate wounded, 28; aggregate killed and wounded, 34; missing, none.

On the morning of the 26th of November, I moved with the brigade to near Graysville, Ga., and there assisted in the capture of the artillery and prisoners taken by the Second Brigade, First Division, Fourteenth Army Corps.

On the 27th of November, the regiment returned to Chattanooga in charge of the prisoners and artillery captured the evening before. On the return, 18 more prisoners were taken and brought to Chattanooga.

There were no losses in the regiment after the 25th of November. I have the honor, colonel, to remain, most respectfully, your obedient servant,

P. H. KEEGAN,

Captain, Comdg. Eleventh Michigan Infantry Volunteers. Colonel MOORE, Commanding Second Demi-Brigade.

No. 145.

Report of Maj. James J. Hanna, Sixty-ninth Ohio Infantry. HDQRS. SIXTY-NINTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY,

Chattanooga, December 2, 1863.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by the Sixty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry in the operations

in front of Chattanooga November 25, and the subsequent march in pursuit of the enemy:

On the morning of November 25, the Sixty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, being then on outpost duty, was withdrawn and ordered to report to Station No. 5. There the brigade was formed and eventually took up position to the right of Sheridan's division, the Sixtyninth forming part of the left center of the first line of battle, as formed in the woods to the west of Missionary Ridge. Here Company I was thrown out as skirmishers, and the command being given, the regiment charged through the woods and across the open field which separates them from the ridge, gaining the first line of rifle-pits without casualties. After a few moments' rest in the pit, the command "charge" was again given, the regiment rose, the colors a few paces in advance, charged up the hill and gained the height, and the colors of the Sixty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, being the first of the division, planted on the ridge, notwithstanding a few seconds' delay caused by the death of Color Sergeant Wetzel, Company F, who fell 25 yards from the summit mortally wounded. The regiment sustained a loss of 7 killed and 36 wounded, 4 of the latter mortally.

The following morning, four days' short rations and 100 rounds of ammunition having been issued to the command, the Sixty-ninth Ohio Volunteers took up the line of march in pursuit of the enemy, their position being immediately in the rear of the regular battalions of the brigade. About 9 p. m., being then about 2 miles from Graysville, marching by the right flank, the command was given to form rapidly and quietly into line with a view to attacking a portion of the enemy's train, which was reported a short distance ahead; this was done, and the regiment moved on in line of battle as well as the accidents of the country permitted.

Suddenly, on debouching from the woods, the Sixty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry came upon a rebel camp immediately in front. The command to halt and dress was quietly given, and a well-directed volley poured into the camp. This was rapidly followed by a charge, and the regiment succeeded in capturing several prisoners (part of General Stewart's division, the rest escaping under cover of the night), 1 stand of colors, 3 pieces of artillery, and 1 caisson (part of Ferguson's battery), which was mired and abandoned by the rebels in their flight. These facts being reported to Colonel Stoughton, commanding brigade, he immediately detailed two companies each from the Sixty-ninth Ohio and Eleventh Michigan Volunteers to bring out the pieces, the working party being supported and covered by the right wing of the Sixty-ninth.

The regiment bivouacked that night near Graysville, and marched the following day to Ringgold, Ga., where, forming line of battle, they lay in reserve during the fight between Osterhaus' division and the enemy; lay at Ringgold that night and following day.

At 8 p. m., November 28, the Sixty-ninth was ordered on grand guard duty on White Oak Ridge, and were drawn in about 11 a. m. of the 29th. Their division having already marched, the Sixty-ninth returned to camp in rear of Baird's division, making Chattanooga at 6 p. m., November 23.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JAMES J. HANNA,

Major, Commanding Sixty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

Col. M. F. MOORE, Second Brigade.

The number of men engaged in action on the 25th instant, and in subsequent pursuit of the enemy, was as follows: Commissioned officers, 20; enlisted men, 267. Casualties, 11 killed and mortally wounded, 32 wounded, and 1 missing in action.*

No. 146.

Report of Capt. Robert E. A. Crofton, Sixteenth U. S. Infantry, commanding Sixteenth and Nineteenth U. S. Infantry.

:

HEADQUARTERS SIXTEENTH U. S. INFANTRY,

Chattanooga, Tenn., December 3, 1863, MAJOR I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by my command in the engagements near this place during the week ending November 29, 1863:

On Sunday, the 22d ultimo, my command, consisting of detachment Sixteenth Infantry and First Battalion, Nineteenth Infantry, was ordered with the remainder of the brigade on grand guard duty to picket the front of the Fourteenth Army Corps, we remaining on this duty till Wednesday, the 25th, when we were ordered into line of battle, the left resting on the Rossville road. From this position we moved to the left, and having covered our front with a line of skirmishers were ordered to storm Missionary Ridge. This was accomplished with but slight loss, the officers and men behaving with their usual gallantry. Having gained the summit of the ridge we went into bivouac, where we remained till next morning at about 10 a. m., and marched in pursuit of the enemy. Arriving near the road leading to Graysville, and about 2 miles from that place, we were ordered into line of battle. Learning there was a force of the enemy moving along this road, we advanced to the road, and having discovered the enemy immediately in our front, my command opened fire upon them, when the enemy, panic stricken, threw down their arms and ran within our lines.

I then sent forward an officer and 20 men as skirmishers, who discovered the rebels had left three brass pieces of Ferguson's battery in our hands. One of these my men brought into our lines, the other two were brought in by the Eleventh Michigan Volunteers, of our brigade. In this attack I did not lose a man, as the enemy only fired a few random shots toward us. Here we took several prisoners, their number I had not time to ascertain, as they were sent immediately to the rear. We now marched to Graysville, Ga., where we bivouacked. Next morning we moved to Ringgold, where we found Major-General Hooker engaged with the enemy on Taylor's Ridge. In this action we took no part, our services not being required. Here we remained till Sunday morning, the 29th, when we returned to our camp at Chattanooga.

The officers engaged were Capt. W. J. Slidell, Sixteenth Infantry; Capt. C. F. Trowbridge, Sixteenth Infantry; First Lieut. H. Å. Theaker, First Lieut. Felix H. Torbett, Sixteenth Infantry; Second Lieut. John K. Schiffler, Sixteenth Infantry; Second Lieut. P. J. Coenzler, Sixteenth Infantry; Second Lieut. C. W. Hotsenpiller, Sixteenth Infantry; Capt. H. S. Welton, Nineteenth Infantry;

* But see revised statement, p. 84.

Capt. James Mooney, Nineteenth Infantry; First Lieut. S. S. Culbertson, Nineteenth Infantry; First Lieut. Alfred Curtis, Nineteenth Infantry; Second Lieut. A. B. Carpenter, Nineteenth Infantry; Second Lieut. R. Ayres, Nineteenth Infantry.

I have pleasure in making favorable mention of my acting adjutant, C. W. Hotsenpiller, Sixteenth Infantry, who rendered me efficient service.

Casualties: 1 officer and 2 men killed; 10 men wounded, and 1 man missing.*

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. E. Á. CROFTON. Captain, Sixteenth U. S. Infantry, Commanding.

Maj. JOHN R. EDIE,

15th U. S. Inf., Comdg. Reg. Troops, 1st Div., 14th A. C.

No. 147.

Report of Capt. George W. Smith, Eighteenth U. S. Infantry.

HDQRS. DETACHMENT EIGHTEENTH U. S. INFANTRY,

Chattanooga, Tenn., December 1, 1863.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by the troops under my command in the recent operations in the vicinity of this city, as well as in the pursuit of the rebel army southward:

My command consisted of the following companies, composing the First Battalion, Eighteenth U. S. Infantry, viz, B, D, E, F, G, and H, First, and Companies G and H, of the Third Battalion, serving with the First, together with the Second Battalion, under the immediate command of Capt. Henry Haymond.

The detachment, consisting of the two battalions above mentioned, was ordered on picket duty on Sunday, the 22d ultimo, and remained on that duty during Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and until about 12 m. on Wednesday, the 25th, at which time I was ordered to join the Second Brigade, First Division, Fourteenth Army Corps, on the right of the Rossville road, near the picket line. The battalions were assigned a position in the second line and on the right of the brigade, covering the Fifteenth U. S. Infantry. The whole soon moved forward, crossing the Rossville road, and steadily advanced over difficult ground toward the Missionary Ridge. About half a mile from the base of the ascent we emerged from a dense wood upon an open plain, which was crossed under a heavy fire of the enemy's batteries advantageously posted upon the heights, and exposed to a fire of musketry from the line of earth-works held by him immediately at the base of the hills.

The works were speedily cleared by the skirmishers from the first line, and the First Battalion, of the Fifteenth U. S. Infantry, having swept to the right, my command closed up the space thus left. The line halted a few moments for breath, among the huts of a camp from which the enemy had been driven, when, finding the fire of shell and spherical case-shot becoming concentrated upon us, I almost immediately gave the order to resume the advance. The command was obeyed with the zeal and alacrity which these gallant troops have

*Nominal list omitted.