had crossed the covered bridge he deployed the right wing of his battalion, and, supported by the left wing, drove the rebel skirmishers, both horse and foot, through the town into the gap, advancing under cover of the railroad embankment. The road coming from Chattanooga runs between the foot of Taylor's Ridge and town, and enters the gap at a rather short curve.

While Colonel Cramer's line of skirmishers drove the rebels back on their main line, and advanced beyond the railroad, General Woods received orders to deploy the Thirteenth Illinois and the Third, Twelfth, and Thirty-first Missouri Regiments on the line just vacated by Colonel Cramer's advancing battalion.

The Seventy-sixth Ohio, also of General Woods' brigade, was detailed to ascend Taylor's Ridge on the left, with a view of getting on the enemy's flank. This movement was, however, soon observed by the rebel commander, who appears to have been stationed on the ridge, and I saw a strong column moving in a direction to check the progress of the Seventy-sixth Ohio Infantry. Three regiments, the Fourth, Ninth, and Twenty-fifth Iowa Infantry, of Second Brigade, were accordingly dispatched to support the Seventy-sixth Ohio Infantry. Colonel Williamson personally took command of this party, and they climbed steadily up the steep slope in two lines.

I retained the Thirty-first Iowa in reserve, detailing, however, two companies from it to deploy as sharpshooters on the slope at the left of Colonel Cramer's skirmishers, and covering the ascending battalions.

During all these movements the enemy kept up a most galling fire of artillery and musketry along the whole line, to which our infantry replied most vigorously and without yielding any of the ground they gained inch by inch. The enemy's artillery was placed at very short range in the gap, and partly masked by undergrowth and young pine trees. He fired mostly shell and canister.

Strengthening Colonel Cramer by skirmishers from the Twelfth Missouri Infantry, I sent orders to that officer to push the left of his line well forward, and at the same time ordered the Thirteenth Illinois Infantry (which held the extreme right) to advance rapidly over an open field to a few houses in front. By these movements I concentrated a converging fire on the enemy's artillery, which I hoped to secure, by driving off the cannoneers and supports.

The Thirteenth Illinois Infantry executed the order in magnificent style; they charged through a hail-storm of balls, and gained the position assigned to them and held it, although the rebels poured a most murderous fire into these brave men from the gorge in front and the hill on the right.

Seeing their artillery, and with it the key of their position, threatened, the enemy rallied a strong force and dashed from the gorge and down the hill with great energy. He succeeded in driving in my skirmishers, who fell back on my second line (deployed behind the railroad embankment). This assault of the enemy was promptly checked by the Third, Twelfth, and Thirty-first Missouri Infantry regiments, whose well-directed volleys drove the enemy immediately back again, leaving their dead and wounded on the ground, which was at once re-occupied by a line of skirmishers. The Thirteenth Illinois remained undaunted, keeping up a vehement fire.

While the rebels were making this charge in the center, Colonel Williamson, who had meanwhile almost reached the crest of the ridge, sustained a similar assault by superior forces. I refer to his account of the occurrences connected therewith.

After yielding to the enemy a short time, the regiments under command of Colonel Williamson rallied promptly and soon possessed themselves of a position on the ridge in advance of the one they had occupied before.

These struggles, in the course of which so many deeds of bravery and patriotism were exhibited, had lasted from 9 a. m. to about 1 p. m., our infantry fighting single handed against the combined arms of the enemy.

At last, about 1 p. m., Captain Landgraeber reported with his battery of 12-pounder howitzers. Thanks to the bridge builders, he could not cross Chickamauga Creek until about 9 a. m. I ordered his right section into action on an open piece of ground in rear of General Woods' (right) brigade, whence the gorge and the enemy's artillery could be played upon. A section of 2.90 Parrott, belonging to another corps, co-operated with Landgraeber. The firing from these pieces was excellent; they enfiladed the whole gorge and the line of retreat of the rebels.

The enemy's guns were soon silenced, and an advance along our whole line found the enemy retreating at all points. Colonel Williamson discovered them in an attempt to burn two bridges across Chickamauga Creek, and drove them away in time to save the bridges. Your orders were not to pursue any farther..

We captured during these engagements: First Brigade, as per memorandum, 1,999 officers and men; Second Brigade (estimated), at least 800 officers and men.

The losses of my division were previously reported in a nominal list. They amount in all these days to:

Commissioned officers: Killed, 7; wounded, 39; missing, 4. Enlisted men: Killed, 50; wounded, 296; missing, 40. Total casualties, 50 commissioned officers and 386 enlisted men.

I beg leave to call your attention to the very heavy percentage of losses among the officers, and I cannot pass over this fact without expressing the highest praise for their energy, valor, and, in fact, every virtue which honors a good soldier. To name those who behaved most gallantly is the next thing to an impossibility, as I feel under so many obligations to every one, officers and men. They all were ready to do their duty, and they did it nobly and well under most trying circumstances. I did not find any stragglers belonging to my command on any of the four days of glory and victory. I take great pleasure, however, in recapitulating from the reports of my brigade commanders the names which they mention. The heroic Colonel Wangelin, of the Twelfth Missouri, who lost his right arm; Lieutenant-Colonel Partridge, of the Thirteenth Illinois, who lost his left hand; the lamented Major Bushnell, of the Thirteenth Illinois, who sacrificed his life; Colonel Cramer, of the Seventeenth Missouri; Colonel Meumann, of the Third Missouri; also that most excellent officer and chivalrous gentleman, Major Warner, of the Seventy-sixth Ohio Infantry, and Major Nichols, of the Fourth Iowa Infantry. Also the several gentlemen composing the brigade staffs are highly commended.

I have some names to add from my personal observation. First and above all, Brig. Gen. C. R. Woods, commanding First Brigade, who, from his skill and soldierly appearance, was highly instrumental in achieving my success; Col. J. A. Williamson, commanding Second Brigade; Capt. W. T. House, of the staff guard, whose zeal and courage was of the greatest assistance to me; Capt. W. A. Gordon,

my assistant adjutant-general; Lieut. A. Ellsworth, aide-de-camp, who was wounded while bearing dispatches; Lieut. Casimir Andel, acting aide-de-camp. They all did their whole duty.

For the poor sufferers and the dead we have a deep feeling of sympathy and gratitude, which the nation doubtless shares.

I inclose the reports of my brigade commanders, General C. R. Woods and Col. J. A. Williamson.

And have the honor to be, general, your obedient servant,

P. JOS. OSTERHAUS,

Brig. Gen. of Vols., Comdg. First Div., 15th Army Corps.

[Indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE,

Bridgeport, December 19, 1863.

The within report is addressed to General Hooker, under whose command the First Division of the Fifteenth Army Corps fell in consequence of breaking a bridge across the Tennessee, which prevented the division from joining its own corps in time. The report is submitted as part of the operations of the Army of the Tennessee. W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, Commanding.

HDQRS. FIRST DIVISION, FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Near Bridgeport, Ala., December 14, 1863. GENERAL: I omitted to state in my report that Lieut. S. T. Josselyn and a party of skirmishers of the gallant Thirteenth Illinois Infantry captured the battle-flag of the Eighteenth Alabama on Missionary Ridge, November 25. I forward the flag to you with this supplementary report.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

P. JOS. OSTERHAUS, Brig. Gen. of Vols., Comdg. First Div., 15th Army Corps. Maj. Gen. D. BUTTERFIELD,

Chief of Staff, Major-General Hooker's Army.

No. 192.

Report of Brig. Gen. Charles R. Woods, U. S. Army, commanding First Brigade.

HDQRS. FIRST BRIG., FIRST DIV., 15TH ARMY CORPS,

Ringgold, Ga., November 28, 1863.

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that, on the morning of the 24th instant, this brigade, consisting of the Twelfth Missouri Volunteers, Col. Hugo Wangelin commanding; Thirteenth Illinois Volunteers, Lieut. Col. Frederick W. Partridge commanding; Third Missouri Volunteers, Lieut. Col. Theodore Meumann commanding; Seventy-sixth Ohio Volunteers, Maj. Willard Warner commanding; Twenty-seventh Missouri Volunteers, Col. Thomas Curly commanding; Thirty-second Missouri Volunteers, Lieut. Col. H. C. Warmoth commanding; Twenty-ninth Missouri Volunteers, Col. James Peckham commanding (until about 3 p. m., when, being wounded, he was succeeded by Maj. P. H. Murphy); Seventeenth Missouri

Volunteers, Lieut. Col. John F. Cramer commanding; Thirty-first Missouri Volunteers, Lieut. Col. Samuel P. Simpson commanding, was ordered to cross Lookout Creek, and, in connection with the other brigade of this division and troops of the Twelfth and Fourteenth Army Corps, to assault Lookout Mountain. It was necessary for this purpose to throw a bridge across the creek. This was done by the pioneers of the First Division, Fifteenth Army Corps, who were protected while at the work by the Third Missouri Volunteers. The bridge was soon finished, and the troops moved across the creek by the right flank up the hill, covered by the Third Missouri Volunteers as skirmishers. As soon as the brigade was across the creek it faced by the left flank and moved along the slope of the mountain in line of battle, the left resting on the Chattanooga road. Owing to the broken and rough nature of the ground near the Chattanooga road, I took two regiments, the Twelfth Missouri and Seventysixth Ohio, and moved by the left flank up the road to a point near where the railroad debouches into the Chattanooga Valley, where I formed them in line of battle. I afterward placed other regiments on the same line, which I was directed by Major-General Hooker to hold.

On the right of my line the fighting was stubborn. The Twentyseventh Missouri was ordered forward to relieve some regiment of General Whitaker's brigade reported to be out of ammunition, and took possession of rifle-pits from which the enemy had been driven. The Third Missouri, the Twenty-ninth Missouri, and the Thirtysecond Missouri were placed on the same line. The latter two regiments were in the extreme front, and took possession of some riflepits from which they drove the enemy, taking a few prisoners. This disposition placed the brigade in two lines en échelon, the right thrown forward, and this was the situation during the night.

I cannot speak too highly of the conduct of the officers and men under my command during the engagement. They moved forward to the attack with an energy that overcame all opposition, and they held every inch of ground gained with a tenacity which foiled the enemy in every attempt to dislodge them.

On the morning of the 25th, this brigade led the advance of MajorGeneral Hooker's column, taking the road to Rossville. When near that place we found the gap through Missionary Ridge strongly occupied by the enemy with infantry and artillery.

The Twenty-seventh Missouri formed the advance guard. The skirmishers attacked with vigor and occupied the attention of the enemy, while the remainder of the brigade moved off to the right, under fire of the enemy's artillery, and advanced up, and without further opposition gained the summit of the ridge, along which it moved to the gap, but upon arriving there found that the enemy had fallen back, and that it had been followed by the Twenty-seventh Missouri through the gap.

The brigade then moved forward, taking a road about 1,000 yards in rear of Missionary Ridge and running nearly parallel to it. Having gone about a mile to some fields, we discovered the enemy in force on Missionary Ridge moving toward the gap through which we had passed. They soon met the head of General Cruft's division, which engaged them sharply, and was driving them back. They endeavored to escape in the direction in which my brigade was stationed. I was ordered by General P. J. Osterhaus to move up the hill on their flank, which was done in the most gallant style, com

pletely surprising the enemy, killing and wounding a number and capturing the remainder.

During this charge the Thirteenth Illinois captured the battle-flag of the Eighteenth Alabama Regiment,* and the battalion of my brigade, composed of the Thirty-second and Twenty-ninth Missouri Volunteers, captured one piece of artillery, with horses and cannoneers. The number of small-arms captured will probably be over 1,000. During this day every officer and man did his duty.

On the 26th, my brigade had the rear of Major-General Hooker's column. One regiment, the Thirty-second Missouri, was left on Missionary Ridge to collect and turn over to the ordnance officer the small-arms captured. The Twenty-seventh Missouri was left at the crossing of the Chickamauga to protect the bridge. Nothing of note occurred during this day's march.

On the 27th, this brigade had the advance of Major-General Hooker's column and moved on Ringgold, Ga. We found the enemy strongly posted in a gap on the mountain and occupying the slopes and summits on either side in our front. As soon as the proper dispositions could be made, I sent forward the Seventeenth and Thirty-first Missouri as skirmishers. They moved forward across the open fields to the timber at the foot of the slope of the mountains, but were soon severely pressed by the enemy's skirmishers. I sent immediately forward the Twenty-ninth Missouri to support them, but the whole line of skirmishers and support was driven back upon the main line in confusion, and were not again entirely rallied until after the enemy retired. Shortly after forming the line, I pressed forward the Thirteenth Illinois on the extreme right to some houses within 100 yards of the enemy's artillery. Before this the Seventy-sixth Ohio was sent up the slope of the mountain well on the left. The Twelfth and Third Missouri occupied the center. The fighting on the extreme right was severe, the Thirteenth Illinois firing 100 rounds of cartridges per man, besides taking all the ammunition from their killed and wounded in order to hold their position. The Twelfth Missouri, although exposed to a severe fire, held its position with undaunted courage. The Seventy-sixth Ohio, after gaining the crest of the hill, held it against superior numbers, who poured in a withering fire from the front and both flanks. The regiment held the crest until 8 color bearers were either killed or wounded, when it fell back, fighting and in good order, to a sheltered position under the crest of the hill, where it remained, holding the enemy in check, until the fighting was over.

I inclose the report of Col. J. A. Williamson, commanding the Second Brigade, of First Division, Fifteenth Army Corps, in reference to the action of the Seventy-sixth Ohio, he being near with a part of his command; also the report of Maj. Willard Warner, commanding the Seventy-sixth Ohio Volunteers, concerning the part taken in this action by that regiment.

I am glad to be able to speak most approvingly of the conduct of the officers generally of my command during the operations of the 24th, 25th, and 27th of November. They evinced the greatest alacrity in carrying out all orders, frequently in circumstances of great exposure and danger.

The mention of the names of some is proper, and I designate the

*This flag is marked as having been captured by Lieut. S. T. Josselyn, Thirteenth Illinois Infantry.