On the night of the 25th, we bivouacked on Missionary Ridge. On the morning of the 26th, the regiment was supplied with four days' rations and cartridges sufficient to supply the men with 100 rounds each. In the afternoon of the same day the regiment, with the balance of the brigade, marched to McAfee's Church, a distance of 8 miles, where we bivouacked that night.

Started on the morning of the 27th and marched to Ringgold, where we arrived about 10 a. m. Having been assigned our position in the line, we remained there until Sunday, the 29th instant, upon which day with the balance of the command, about 10 a. m., we took up the march for Chattanooga, and reached our old camp about 6 p. m.

Our loss is 6 enlisted men killed, 3 commissioned officers wounded, 19 enlisted men wounded, and 2 enlisted men missing; total, 30. I remain, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOS. L. BUDD, Major, Commanding Thirty-fifth Ohio Volunteers.

Capt. JOHN R. BEATTY,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

No. 172.

Report of Lieut. Col. William R. Tolles, One hundred and fifth Ohio

Infantry.

HEADQUARTERS 105TH OHIO VOLUNTEERS,

Chattanooga, Tenn., November 30, 1863.

SIR: In compliance with instructions contained in circular just received, I have the honor to report that this regiment left camp on the afternoon of the 23d instant with the brigade, taking position on the left of the front line of the same, near the picket line, southeast of Fort Negley.

Here it remained until the morning of the 25th instant, when it marched with the brigade and division to the extreme left, taking position in the center of the second line of the brigade, fronting Missionary Ridge. While moving forward at a double-quick to the line of the breastworks at the foot of the ridge, the regiment sustained its heaviest loss from the fire of batteries posted on the summit of the ridge. After gaining the ascent, the regiment was formed in proper shape. Changing direction to the left, it moved forward and formed the advance line of the division. At this point the regiment was met by the enemy in force, delivering a deadly fire both on our front and flank, which was promptly returned, for the space of about thirty minutes. At the same time the regiment advanced to the brow of the hill, covering one piece of artillery, which the enemy were endeavoring to get off. In this they were foiled, and the One hundred and fifth brought off the gun and 2 horses, when the engagement ceased. Moving back on the ridge 30 or 40 rods, the regiment camped for the night.

On the afternoon of the 26th instant, it marched with the brigade to within about 6 miles of Graysville.

On the 27th instant, it moved to within 1 or 2 miles of Ringgold,

where it lay until the morning of the 29th, when it returned to camp at Chattanooga.

Below is given the loss sustained on the afternoon of the 25th instant.*

Report of Col. William H. Hays, Tenth Kentucky Infantry, commanding Third Brigade.

HDQRS. THIRD BRIG., THIRD DIV., 14TH ARMY CORPS,

Chattanooga, Tenn., December 3, 1863.

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by the Third Brigade, Third Division, Fourteenth Army Corps, in the late engagement:

Owing to the death of Col. E. H. Phelps, who commanded this brigade until the evening of the 25th of November, and was killed while gallantly leading the brigade on the last charge to take Missionary Ridge, my report will necessarily be but a brief outline of the movements of the brigade up to that time.

November 23, at 3 p. m., the brigade was ordered out to act as a reserve to the First and Second Brigades of this division, who were posted about three-quarters of a mile in front of Fort Negley, and near the enemy's picket line. This brigade was posted near the center, 200 yards in rear of the First and Second Brigades, where it remained until 3 a. m., November 24, when we were moved to the left of the La Fayette road and advanced near the enemy's lines, where, after posting a strong picket, we were ordered to is trench our position, which was done very effectually during the night, and by 9 o'clock the next day our position was very secure behind a strong line of breastworks.

We remained in this position until 10 a. m., November 25, when we were ordered to move to the left. After moving in that direction about 4 miles up the river, we were faced about and marched back 1 mile. We then halted, and after a few minutes were moved to the front across a small stream and the railroad, and took up a position on the left of the division, one-quarter of a mile from the enemy's works, at the foot of Missionary Ridge. Here a strong skirmish line was thrown to the front and left flank, the Second Brigade being on our right.

The regiments of this brigade were posted as follows: Tenth Kentucky, Fourth Kentucky, Seventy-fourth Indiana, and Thirty-eighth Ohio in the front line; Tenth Indiana and Fourteenth Ohio in the rear line as a reserve, two companies of the Thirty-eighth Ohio on the left as skirmishers to protect our left flank, as there were no

*Embodied in revised statement, p. 85.

troops connected with this brigade on the left. We lay in this position for about one-half of an hour, when we were ordered to advance, which we did for about 100 yards at quick time, when we were ordered to double-quick to gain the rebels' works from which our skirmishers had driven the enemy. During the time we were passing the open space between the woods and the enemy's works, and while we were lying on the ground at their works, we were exposed to a heavy flanking fire of artillery from the top of Missionary Ridge.

We, however, maintained our position for ten or fifteen minutes, when we were ordered to charge the ridge, which we did at doublequick, but the hill being very steep and rough, a great many of the men gave out before they reached the top, but they all succeeded in getting up in good time. On reaching the top we found the enemy in line 25 or 30 yards to our left, who delivered a murderous fire on our men as they ascended the crest of the hill, but our rear having got up by this time, we were enabled to hold our position and drive the enemy back in confusion. We then strengthened our position by removing the logs from their works and placing them on the opposite side of the ridge; bivouacked during the night. In the meantime, we received orders to draw four days' rations and be ready to move at a moment's notice.

In the morning we buried our own and the enemy's dead that were left on the field. We did not move until 3 p. m. the next day, when we moved to the right, following the First and Second Brigades, and after marching until after dark, we bivouacked 2 miles east of Rossville.

The next morning, at 4 o'clock, we marched to Chickamauga Creek (about 14 miles), where we halted for two hours until a bridge could be completed to cross that stream, when we again started and marched to Ringgold, where we arrived at 12 m., and bivouacked for the night.

November 28, received orders to go 3 miles south of Ringgold and destroy the railroad, which we succeeded in doing, destroying four bridges, tearing up track and burning the ties for about 1 mile, and returned to Ringgold, where we bivouacked for the night.

November 29, ordered to return to Chattanooga, where we arrived at dark.

I herewith submit a summary of casualties.

The Eighteenth Kentucky Infantry Volunteers, being on detached service, were not in the engagement.

During the engagement a great many prisoners were taken by the brigade, but they were immediately turned over to the provost guard of the brigade and division, and no memorandum kept of the number.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
W. H. HAYS,

Capt. A. C. MCCLURG,

Colonel, Commanding Brigade.

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

Report of Lieut. Col. Marsh B. Taylor, Tenth Indiana Infantry.

CHATTANOOGA, TENN.,
December 1, 1863.

SIR: I have the honor of making herewith my official report of the late battle:

On the morning of the 23d of November, 1863, I received orders to hold my command in readiness to move at a moment's notice, with two days' rations and 100 rounds cartridges to the man. About 4 p. m. I joined the brigade in front of Fort Negley, closed en masse, my position being in the reserve, with the Fourteenth Ohio, the Tenth Kentucky, Fourth Kentucky, Thirty-eighth Ohio, and Seventyfourth Indiana being the advance. We remained in this position until the morning of the 24th, when the brigade was ordered to the left and front. After forming our line of battle, pickets were posted and remained until relieved on the morning of the 25th. Immediately the four left companies were ordered out as skirmishers, but were soon withdrawn. We were then ordered to the left next to the river, and marching and countermarching we were formed in line of battle about 2 p. m., my regiment being in reserve of the brigade with the Fourteenth Ohio. After remaining in this position about two hours, we were ordered forward to storm the ridge, and in so doing were exposed to a raking fire from commanding positions on the top of the ridge. We succeeded in taking the ridge. My command lost 11 wounded. We remained in this position until next morning, November 26, when we were ordered to Ringgold, Ga.

The officers and men of the regiment behaved with great gallantry.

Hoping this report will meet with your approbation, I am, very respectfully, MARSH B. TAYLOR, Lieutenant-Colonel, Comdg. Tenth Indiana Vol. Infantry. Capt. A. J. Davis,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

*But see revised statement, p. 85.

No. 175.

Report of Lieut. Col. Myron Baker, Seventy-fourth Indiana Infan

try.

HDQRS. SEVENTY-FOURTH REGT. INDIANA VOL. INFTY.,

Camp, Fort Negley, near Chattanooga, December 1, 1863. SIR: In accordance with orders emanating from brigade headquarters, I have the honor to submit the following statement of the part borne by the Seventy-fourth Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, under my command, in the late brilliant military operations in front of Chattanooga, Tenn.:

On the evening of Sunday, the 22d of November, I received orders, through you, from Colonel Phelps, Thirty-eighth Ohio, then commanding the brigade, to have the regiment ready to march out the next day, supplied with two days' rations and 100 rounds of ammunition to the man; and on the afternoon of Monday, the 23d, the regiment left camp and lay in reserve the balance of that day a short distance in front of Fort Negley, but about 1 a. m. of Tuesday, the 24th, we were marched farther to the left and advanced to the front line, taking position on the immediate right of Sheridan's division, of the Fourth Corps. During the day we occupied this part of the line, constructing a temporary breastwork of logs and earth.

On Wednesday, the 25th of November, having received orders to go to the left, apparently for the purpose of re-enforcing that part of the line, we marched in that direction a considerable distance, when we were faced about and countermarched toward the right until we arrived near the Chattanooga and Atlanta railroad. In the afternoon of this day we were moved forward to the front line and formed just on the right of the railroad (the division now being to the left of the Fourth Corps), facing Missionary Ridge. The Thirty-eighth Ohio Regiment was the left of the brigade, and this the left brigade of the division. The Seventy-fourth Indiana was placed in the first line next on the right from the Thirty-eighth Ohio, with the Fourth Kentucky on its immediate right, and the Fourteenth Ohio in the second line behind it. I immediately deployed Companies B and G, under command of Capt. C. B. Mann, as skirmishers to cover my front.

Pending these operations considerable time had expired, and it was probably 3 p. m. when the order was communicated to me that we were to advance over the open ground in front and assault the enemy's first line of defenses, which it was presumed he would endeavor to hold.

The command being given, the troops advanced rapidly to the front, preceded by the skirmishers, before whom the rebels, really found at this point in small force, retreated precipitately, and this first position was now ours without a struggle. This line of defense was at the top of a small ridge or hill near the foot of Missionary Ridge, and the works were constructed of logs. Having won this point, the regiment was halted and ordered to lie down for the purpose of resting, the men being considerably fatigued on account of the rapidity of the advance, which had been made for over a quarter of a mile in double-quick time.

It will not, I trust, be inappropriate to state here that during this advance, most of the way across cleared ground and in full view of the enemy, the rebel batteries on Missionary Ridge played upon our