Page images
PDF
EPUB

ularly commend the conduct of Colonel Kammerling, Ninth Ohio; Colonel Robinson, Seventy-fifth Indiana; Colonel Gleason, Eightyseventh Indiana; Lieutenant-Colonel Tolles, One hundred and fifth Ohio; Lieutenant-Colonel Doan, One hundred and first Indiana; Lieutenant-Colonel Bishop, Second Minnesota, and LieutenantColonel Boynton, Thirty-fifth Ohio. These officers discharged their duties coolly and ably.

Lieutenant-Colonel Boynton was severely wounded early in the engagement, when the command of his regiment devolved upon Major Budd, who is entitled to much praise for the energy and skill he exhibited in leading his men up the ridge.

Especial credit is due Lieutenant-Colonel Bishop for the management of his regiment when skirmishing in front of the brigade, and the gallant manner in which his command carried the rifle-pits at the foot of the ridge. There are many line officers and enlisted men who deserve commendation for their gallantry. For their names I respectfully refer you to the reports of regimental commanders.

The members of my staff present with me on the field were Capt. J. R. Beatty, acting assistant adjutant-general; Capt. C. A. Cilley, brigade inspector; Capt. W. R. Tuttle, brigade engineer; First Lieut. S. Fortner, provost-marshal; First Lieut. S. D. Parsons, acting assistant quartermaster, and First Lieut. C. B. Williams, aide-decamp. They rendered me great service, and are entitled to praise for their gallant conduct.

I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
FERDINAND VAN DERVEER,
Colonel, Commanding Brigade.

Capt. A. C. MCCLURG, Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen.

[Inclosure.]

Report of the effective force of the Second Brigade, Third Division, Fourteenth Army Corps, engaged in the assault on Missionary Ridge on the 25th ultimo.

[blocks in formation]

Report of Col. Milton S. Robinson, Seventy-fifth Indiana Infantry.

HEADQUARTERS SEVENTY-FIFTH INDIANA INFANTRY,
Chattanooga, Tenn., November 30, 1863.

SIR: I herewith submit my report of the part taken by the Seventyfifth Indiana Regiment, which I have the honor to command, in the action before Chattanooga, commencing on the 23d instant :

About 2 p. m. on the 23d instant, in obedience to orders received 34 R R-VOL XXXI. PT II

from the colonel commanding the brigade, I moved my regiment to the left and front of Fort Negley, and there took position in the center of the front line of the brigade on about the same ground previously occupied by our advance picket line. Remained in this position, bivouacking on the ground, and doing picket duty until the morning of the 25th, when I moved my regiment, under orders from the colonel commanding the brigade, farther to the left, and at 1 p. m. took position on the right and in the rear line of the brigade, some distance to the left and front of Fort Wood, facing the enemy's works at the foot of Mission Ridge; remained in this position until about 3 p. m.; moved forward with the brigade at a pretty rapid march, until the front line had gained, occupied, and halted in the enemy's works before mentioned. Seeing the front line safely resting in these works, and occupying a position with my command in an open field much exposed to the enemy's fire from artillery on Mission Ridge, I ordered my men to lie down, and remained in this position under a harmless but annoying fire of artillery (the shells falling inaccurately) until the grand and brilliant advance was made by the front line on the enemy's works, playing with so much defiance and apparent confidence and composure upon us from the heights of Mission Ridge. Simultaneous with the advance of the front line, I moved my regiment forward in line of battle, until I discovered my line was under and subject to an enfilading fire from the battery on my left; then I moved double-quick by the right flank, file left, to the works, running at right angles with those just vacated by the front line; here I halted, closed my men up, and immediately moved up a ravine in the ridge by the flank, which effectually shielded my men from the artillery fire, and gained the heights in good season to take part in the action fiercely going on between the front line and the enemy, some distance to the left of the battery captured by them. As soon as arriving at the point where the enemy were resisting our farther movements, I formed my regiment into line with the right resting well down the east side of the ridge, fronting north, and immediately became hotly engaged, the enemy disputing a farther advance down this portion of the ridge, and at the same time seemingly intending to stay our advance until he might succeed in getting off a piece of artillery, for which both sides were grappling. Under this impression, I ordered my regiment forward, which order was promptly obeyed, having previously fixed bayonets, intended charging down the ridge. After advancing near the artillery it was abandoned, and the force contesting my advance made a hasty retreat. I claim for my regiment the honor of having captured this piece of artillery while resting with my line near to it and after the fighting had ceased. Some officer claiming to have authority took it off.

I must here take occasion to say that from the time the charge commenced to be made and until the field was ours, not one solitary man of my regiment straggled from his command, but that every advance and movement was made by them in fine order, nor did one casualty happen to it until I had gained the position and engaged the enemy at the point last named, at which point my entire loss occurred, being 19 in all, as follows: Capt. Francis M. Bryant, of Company C, a brave, gallant, able, and efficient officer, was mortally wounded. Four enlisted men were killed, and 14 wounded. A full list is hereunto attached.

*

*Embodied in revised statement, p. 85.

After the conclusion of Wednesday's action, my regiment was detailed and went on picket for the entire brigade, and was relieved on the 26th, with orders to march, which I subsequently learned to be to pursue the retreating enemy. Arrived at Ringgold, Ga., at noon on the 27th; remained there until 11 a. m. on the 29th; ordered to return to camp; arrived in camp on same evening at 6 o'clock, without participating in any further action.

During the seven days of arduous duty performed, as well as while engaged in action, my regiment-officers and men-bore themselves. with that gallantry, forbearance, and energy becoming veteran soldiers. Their justly earned laurels upon more sanguinary fields did not depreciate in the action before Chattanooga. They met the enemy, as upon former occasions, determined to defeat him at all hazards.

I am, your obedient servant,

MILTON S. ROBINSON, Colonel, Commanding Seventy-fifth Indiana Volunteers. Capt. JOHN R. BEATTY,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

No. 167.

Report of Col. Newell Gleason, Eighty-seventh Indiana Infantry.

HDQRS. EIGHTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT INDIANA VOLS.,
Chattanooga, Tenn., December 1, 1863.

CAPTAIN: In compliance with orders from brigade headquarters, I have the honor to report the part performed by the Eighty-seventh Regiment Indiana Volunteers in the battle of Chattanooga, commencing on the 23d day of November and ending on the night of the 25th also, the pursuit after the enemy to Ringgold, Ga.

a;

My regiment, being supplied with 100 rounds of cartridges to the man, was held ready to march at a moment's notice during the 23d day of November. Marching orders were received about 4 p. m. I moved my command without delay, and formed in line of battle with the brigade in front of the works, on about the center of the line before Chattanooga. The brigade being formed, marched to the front in line of battle, pressing the enemy's pickets slightly back. Having halted, the men were allowed to stack arms and rest. The brigade remained here until about 11 o'clock on the morning of the 25th. During said time Lookout Mountain was taken in a magnificent charge, and a good deal of hard fighting done on the left of our line. About the time above mentioned, the brigade moved slowly by the left flank in such a manner as to bring it to the left and in front of Fort Wood. Resting a short time, the advance was made by the flank and in line of battle toward the enemy's lines, until coming within about three-quarters of a mile of the front line of works occupied by the enemy, when the brigade was halted and formed in the following order, viz: Eighty-seventh Indiana on the right, Thirty-fifth Ohio in the center, and One hundred and first Indiana on the left of the front line; Seventy-fifth Indiana on the right, Ninth Ohio in the center, and One hundred and fifth Ohio on the left, forming the second line, the Second Minnesota being in front,

deployed as skirmishers. The brigade was ordered to stack arms and lie down, resting until about 3.30 p. m., when, an advance being ordered, the line moved forward to within about one-third of a mile of the enemy's breastworks. On the approach of the skirmishers the rebels left their lower works and scattered up the slope of the ridge, fighting as they retired. The lines being dressed up, a charge was ordered, and never did troops show more determination or greater valor. They ran, under a heavy fire of shot and shell, to the enemy's lower line of works, and took shelter and rested about half an hour. The enemy's fire upon this position was terrific. The charge from these breastworks up the hill to the crest of the ridge was first begun by the brigade upon our right, the character of the ground requiring it. While we were yet in the works, a staff officer came galloping up in rear of my regiment, ordering the charge. Many men jumped over the works and were going forward. I asked the officer who he was; said he belonged to General Wood's staff. I told him Colonel Van Derveer commanded this brigade, and could be found farther to the left. I then ordered the men behind the works and await orders from their own officers. Soon orders came from our brigade commander to charge. The command was repeated along the line, and, with renewed energy, the men rushed forward under a terrible fire, ascended the ridge, entered the enemy's works-being a distance of nearly half a mile-captured the artillery in the fort immediately in front, it being the second point taken on that part of the ridge. The colors of the Eighty-seventh Indiana, Thirty-fifth Ohio, Second Minnesota, and One hundred and first Indiana were planted on the ridge at so nearly the same time that it would be difficult to designate the one first there. Captain Ellis and Lieutenant Vandever, of my regiment, and several line officers of the other regiments above named, together with the men who first gained the summit with their colors, formed and led the charge along the ridge to the left, gained the next point, and dashed farther on to the left, nearly along the whole front of the Third Brigade.

In making the charge along the ridge the fighting was desperate, and those engaged particularly distinguished themselves. Among these were Captain Ellis, Lieutenant Vandever, and about 20 noncommissioned officers and privates of my regiment. In this daring charge I lost 2 men killed, one of whom was Corporal Deacon, Company K, a dashing, gallant soldier, and a very worthy young man. My color bearer, Corpl. Henry Platt, is worthy of specia notice; he carried the colors into the thickest of the fight, the staff being shot twice with musket-balls. The color guards acted bravely. All, officers and men, behaved nobly, and proudly sustained the character of the regiment.

My loss was 2 killed and 13 wounded. Among the wounded were Lieutenants Leiter, Company F, and Russell, Company C, both brave officers. The latter was mortally wounded, and died November 29, 1863. In the death of First Lieut Burr Russell, the regiment and the country have lost a gallant and efficient officer.

I cannot fail to acknowledge the assistance of Adjt. J. E. Selleck, having no field officer present; also my regimental surgeon, Charles E. Triplett, as I am informed he labored faithfully at the hospital in his attentions to the wounded.

About 3 p. m. on the 26th instant, the brigade moved along the ridge toward Ringgold, and bivouacked that night near Chickamauga Creek.

On the morning of the 27th instant, the march was continued, our forces reaching Ringgold about 12 m. There was hard fighting in the gap and on the ridge in our front; our brigade was formed in line of battle ready for action, but was not engaged. Remaining in bivouac (the men suffering much for want of clothing) until about 11 a. m. on the 29th instant, we were ordered to march, and a rived at Chattanooga about dark, all feeling that though hardships had been endured a great work had been accomplished.

I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
N. GLEASON,

Colonel Eighty-seventh Indiana Volunteers.

[Capt. JOHN R. BEATTY,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.]

No. 168.

Report of Lieut. Col. Thomas Doan, One hundred and first Indiana

Infantry.

HEADQUARTERS 101ST INDIANA VOLUNTEERS,

Chattanooga, Tenn., November 30, 1863.

SIR: On the 23d instant, the One hundred and first Indiana moved to the front of Fort Negley, and lay in line of battle until the morning of the 25th without becoming engaged. On the 25th, participated in the charge on Mission Ridge, the regiment being on the left of the front line of the Second Brigade, Third Division, Fourteenth Army Corps, the Thirty-fifth Ohio on the right, and the Second Minnesota was deployed as skirmishers in front. The One hundred and first Indiana reached the crest simultaneously with the Second Minnesota, Thirty-fifth Ohio, and Eighty-seventh Indiana, and participated with them in the capture of several pieces of artillery. They were closely engaged with the enemy in the assault on the last point held by the enemy on the ridge to the left of the point first assailed by this brigade, and by the opportune arrival of the rear line, composed of the Ninth Ohio, One hundred and fifth Ohio, and Seventy-fifth Indiana. The enemy were driven at nightfall from their last position on Mission Ridge.

The casualties in the One hundred and first are: Killed, 2; wounded, 32. About 3 of the latter are supposed to be mortal. All of which is respectfully submitted.

THOS. DOAN,

Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Regiment.

[Capt. JOHN R. BEATTY,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.]

No. 169.

Report of Lieut. Col. Judson W. Bishop, Second Minnesota

Infantry.

HDQRS. SECOND REGIMENT MINNESOTA VOLUNTEERS,

Chattanooga, Tenn., November 30, 1863. CAPTAIN: In response to circular instructions of this date from brigade headquarters, I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by the Second Regiment of Minnesota Vol

« PreviousContinue »