of the enemy without resistance, they firing but three shots. The regiment was halted on the ground occupied by the skirmish lines of the enemy's pickets. Skirmishers were thrown out from the regiment, when it was moved to the rear and occupied the ground of our own picket skirmishers.

The regiment remained on or near the line without anything transpiring until the morning of the 25th instant, when it was ordered out on the Rossville road to support a section of artillery sent to shell the camp of the enemy at the base of Mission Ridge.

Encountering nothing there, the regiment returned and rejoined the brigade after having been absent one hour. It thereupon moved with the brigade toward the left of our line and took position in front of Fort Wood and on left of Wood's division, Fourth Army Corps. Soon the order was given to move on the enemy's position directly in our front. Having been formed in double column at half distance, the regiment was deployed and moved in line with the rest of the brigade. After clearing the timber in the enemy's front, we moved at a run across the open ground to the base of Mission Ridge, up which we advanced steadily, though in broken order, under a severe fire of musketry and artillery. When we arrived at the breastworks of the enemy on the top of the ridge, the men were too much exhausted to dash at once across. After resting a short time, I, with officers of other regiments, crossed the works, and with our men drove the enemy from his position, and feel proud to know that the colors of the Thirty-first Ohio and my own were the first inside the works. Finding the ridge on our right by this time clear of the enemy, I directed my attention to the left, where there was a battery of two guns that was annoying us much. I collected a force composed of men of several regiments of the brigade and started for the guns, which were soon ours with but slight resistance. A second point and a two-gun battery was taken in the same manner, the colors of my regiment being the first on the position. A third point was stormed; here we met with decided resistance, but carried the position and captured another two-gun battery. The part of the regiment under my command remained at this point fighting until darkness closed and the enemy retired.

In moving across the open ground to the base of the ridge, a number of my men became so much exhausted as to be unable to keep with the regiment, and upon gaining the summit of the ridge the colors were not in sight, whereupon they kept directly on over the hill and captured a section of artillery at the eastern base of the ridge. When the fighting ceased I collected the two parts of the regiment and formed t..em on the third point taken by us.

I inclose a list* of killed, wounded, and missing. Among the killed the regiment has to mourn the loss of two brave and efficient officers, Captain Curtis and Lieutenant Peck. I cannot do their heroism justice.

Officers and men behaved themselves bravely. Color Sergt. James B. Bell deserves special mention, being wounded in five places before he gave up and left the field. Private Harvey M. Thomson, Company H, also deserves mention for gallantry, carrying the standard of another regiment when the bearer had been wounded.

Corpl. George Greene and Private H. R. Howard I must mention for the capture of a battle-flag.

* Embodied in revised statement, p. 85.

On the morning of the 26th, the regiment moved with the brigade on a reconnaissance toward Chickamauga Bridge, from there to Ringgold, Ga., where we arrived on the forenoon of the 27th instant; remained there until the forenoon of the 29th, from whence we moved to this place.

Very respectfully, yours, &c.,

OGDEN STREET,

Lieut. Col., Comdg. Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

Capt. W. B. CURTIS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

No. 160.

Report of Capt. Benjamin H. Showers, Seventeenth Ohio Infantry.

HDQRS. SEVENTEENTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY,

Chattanooga, Tenn., November 30, 1863.

SIR: On the 25th day of November, 1863, about 4 p. m., Major Butterfield, of my regiment, fell badly wounded at the foot of Missionary Ridge. I, being the ranking officer present, immediately assumed command, formed the regiment in double column at half distance, and charged up the ridge. I continued the charge to within about 75 yards of the rebel breastworks in my immediate front. The rebel lines gave way, keeping under cover so that I could not deliver a fire that would be effective. I crossed the breastworks in battle line in good order and moved about 200 yards farther to the front, and then made a left half wheel, halted, and engaged the enemy about 150 yards to my front, trying to get away with two guns. My regiment killed the horses hauling the guns. The enemy made a stubborn resistance for about fifteen minutes, trying to save his guns, when he fled in confusion, leaving several of his dead and wounded with two pieces behind. About dusk, finding that I had become separated from my brigade, and being in advance of the general line some 200 yards, I moved back to crest of the ridge, ascertained where the brigade was, and joined it, and reported to brigade commander for orders, when I received orders to move down to the front on the level, make fires and get supper, which being done, returned by order to the west side of the ridge on the level, and bivouacked for the night. Received orders to move at 7 a. m. on the 26th, and then moved to the front about 4 miles, when I received an order to send one company on a scout. I sent Company C, Captain Inskeep, who was gone about two hours, when he returned, having taken 16 prisoners. I then moved with my regiment with the brigade to Ringgold, in Georgia, and returned to this camp on the evening of the 29th instant, without anything of note occurring, my command being very tired and worn down.

My officers and men obeyed all orders promptly and behaved bravely.

Respectfully submitted.

B. H. SHOWERS,

Captain, Comdg. Seventeenth Regiment Ohio Vol. Infantry. Captain CURTIS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

No. 161.

Report of Lieut. Col. Frederick W. Lister, Thirty-first Ohio In

fantry.

HEADQUARTERS THIRTY-FIRST OHIO VOLUNTEERS,

Chattanooga, Tenn., December 1, 1863. CAPTAIN: In compliance with orders from headquarters First Brigade, I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by my regiment during the week ending November 29:

At 3 p. m. of the 23d ultimo, I received orders to follow the brigade in its advance on the picket line to the right of Fort Negley. I was assigned to a position on the left of the front line, in which I remained until the brigade marched to the attack of Missionary Ridge on the 25th ultimo.

At daybreak on the 25th, information was brought to me that the enemy's pickets were no longer visible. I rode out to some distance within their lines, and discovering no signs of the enemy, I returned and reported the fact to the generals commanding the Third Division and the First Brigade.

I then took some men of my regiment and advanced farther toward the enemy's camps. After proceeding about a mile I found about a regiment of the enemy in breastworks, and some of the camps occupied by troops. I reported to the general commanding Fourteenth Corps, and by his permission I took one company of the Thirty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Lieutenant Wilkin commanding, and one company Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Captain Brown commanding, and deploying them as skirmishers, I advanced to within about 500 yards of the camps, which were being set on fire by the retreating enemy. I then discovered two regiments retiring slowly from the woods on my left, and afterward occupying the breastworks upon the hill-side in rear of their camps. Upon my return to our lines I found the brigade had marched with the remainder of the division to a position on the east of Fort Wood, where I rejoined them about 2 p. m. The brigade was formed in two lines, the Thirty-first on the left of the second line in double column.

The advance was ordered about 3.30 p. m., and the brigade_at double-quick crossed the open ground to the foot of the ridge under a furious and well-directed fire of artillery and musketry. The nature of the ground being nearly precipitous and intersected by deep and narrow ravines, utterly precluded an attack in military formation. The strongest and bravest men reached the enemy's breastworks first, driving the rebels from them in utter confusion. The colors of the Thirty-first, with those of the Eleventh Ohio, had the proud distinction of crossing the breastworks in their immediate front in advance of any others of the division.

Upon reaching the top of the ridge, I found the enemy in full retreat down the slopes on the east side, and at the same time received a severe fire from the enemy on the ridges running at right angles to the main one, which position enabled them to enfilade us. Lieutenant-Colonel Street, Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry; Captain Whedon, Eighty-second [Indiana]; Lieutenants Wilkin, Scott, and Adjutant Hayden, Thirty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with other officers with whose names I am unacquainted, but from every regiment of the brigade, here most gallantly aided me in rallying the men, and after nearly two hours' severe fighting we succeeded in

driving the enemy from five points and comprising a distance of a mile from the spot at which the ascent was made. During the advance I passed seven guns and one limber, with horses attached, but would not allow any of the men then fighting with me to remain with them, as they were already in our possession, and the brigade which had been reformed could remove them at their leisure. The individual honor of capturing those guns cannot be assumed by any regiment; they were captured by the dash and gallantry of a few men and officers from each regiment in the brigade.

I have the honor to recommend to the notice of the general commanding the brigade the gallant conduct of Private James Walker, Company K, who carried the colors after two of the bearers had fallen. He also captured one of the enemy's colors, which he had the honor to deliver to the general commanding First Brigade. Private S. Wright, Company K, assisted him in carrying the rebel colors, and displayed bravery.

Conspicuous for bravery during the advance on the top of the ridge were Captain Cahill, Company B; Lieutenants Scott, Company E; Wilkin, Company G; Miller, Company F. Adjutant Hayden fought by my side throughout the day, and was struck by a spent ball at the conclusion of the fight. The energy and soldierly bearing of these officers had a great effect in keeping the men to their work.

I have to regret the loss of Lieutenant Rochester, commanding Company D, who was instantly killed on the hill-side; Lieutenant Wilkin, shot in the shoulder while among the foremost in the advance. Captain Barber gallantly rallied and reformed the men as they arrived on the top of the ridge. Lieutenants Aplin, Pollock, Carlile, and McArthur proved themselves good officers and brave

men.

The list of killed and wounded has already been forwarded to your office.*

I am, captain, respectfully, your obedient servant, F. W. LISTER, Lieutenant-Colonel, Comdg. Thirty-first Ohio Vol. Infty. Capt. W. B. CURTIS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

No. 162.

Report of Lieut. Col. Hiram F. Devol, Thirty-sixth Ohio Infantry. HDQRS. THIRTY-SIXTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY,

Chattanooga, Tenn., November 30, 1863. SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by the Thirty-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry in the battles before Chattanooga:

Agreeably to orders, the regiment reported at brigade headquarters about 10 a. m., November 23, and was moved out with the remainder of the brigade, and took position near the Rossville road. The circumstances requiring it, our position was changed by the general that afternoon and the next day (24th). About 10 a. m. of the 25th, we moved in double column 1 miles to the left. My

*Embodied in revised statement, p. 85.

regiment was there assigned to the center of the first line, the Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry on my right and the Ninety-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry on my left. Two companies (B and H) were thrown forward as skirmishers; remained there until 3 o'clock; moved forward a short distance, halted, deployed, and immediately again moved in line of battle through a skirt of woods.

As soon as we reached the open ground, the enemy opened on us with artillery from the top of Missionary Ridge. We were then ordered to double-quick, which we did, passing the second line of the enemy's breastworks, which was occupied by General Beatty's brigade; reached the base of the ridge, where also were some troops under cover. We rushed up the ridge as fast as possible, under a terrible enfilading fire from right and left and front. Near the top, and about 6 rods from the enemy's breastworks, we passed over, I think, the Ninth Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, reaching the breastworks where the enemy lay. A terrible—almost hand-to-hand-fight ensued. Stubbornly did the enemy contest the works. There we took a number of prisoners, which I passed to the rear without a guard.

Those of them who did escape made a second stand on the crest, from 4 to 6 rods beyond, but they were at once killed, captured, or routed. On our left was a heavy force of the enemy's infantry and two pieces of artillery. The infantry kept up a constant fire; the artillery fired two rounds, when we made a charge on it and captured two pieces, but not until they had succeeded in getting them some distance down the eastern slope to their rear. The pieces were unlimbered and immediately hauled back to the top of the ridge by the men and placed in position. The taking of the artillery was done mainly under the superintendence of Sergeant Adney, of Company B, and Sergeant Halliday, of Company H. Some men from the Eleventh and Ninety-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry assisted in hauling the guns back. The men thought it best by this time to find their regiment, and left the guns, which fell into the hands of the Second and Third Brigades of our division, who, by this time, had come up. I since have learned that they claimed the taking of them, but the above are the facts in the case and can be substantiated. At dusk we went into position on a spur of the ridge farther to the right near the woods, and remained there one hour, when we were ordered to fall in, and march back to the foot of the western side of the ridge, where we took position facing northeastward, and remained till about 9 a. m. of the 26th, when we again crossed the ridge and went on a reconnaissance about 2 miles to the front; saw no enemy, and returned by the main road to the top of the ridge. From there we marched some 7 miles, and bivouacked on the Rossville and Ringgold road. Marched the morning of the 27th, at 3 o'clock, for Ringgold via Graysville, arriving at the former place at 3 p. m. Remained there till the morning of the 29th, when we returned to camp via Rossville. Arrived about dark.

Capt. J. C. Selby, Company K, was wounded in the right arm (which has since been amputated) near a log cabin to the left of where we went up the ridge. First Lieut. Ö. J. Wood, Company B (then in command of the company), seriously wounded, the ball passing from left to right side and through the right lung; Second Lieut. J. M. Hanlin, slightly wounded in leg.

Annexed I send a list* of the casualties of enlisted men. It would

*Embodied in revised statement, p. 85.