No. 268. Report of Brig. Gen. John H. Kelly, C. S. Army, commanding Fourth Cavalry Division. HEADQUARTERS FOURTH CAVALRY DIVISION, Six Miles East of Dalton, Widow Jackson's House, November 28, 1863. MAJOR: Attacked the enemy, some six regiments strong, yesterday morning at Cleveland, with three regiments and a squadron. Drove him from the town and pursued him 4 miles, but was forced to relinquish the pursuit for want of ammunition. Loss slight. Captured 8 prisoners. Very respectfully, Maj. E. S. BURFORD, J. H. KELLY, Brigadier-General, Commanding. Assistant Adjutant-General, Wheeler's Cavalry Corps. APPENDIX. NOVEMBER 23-27, 1863.-The Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign. Report of Lieut. Col. George H. Hildt, Thirtieth Ohio Infantry, commanding detachment Thirtieth Ohio and Fourth West Virginia Infantry. HDQRS. THIRTIETH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEERS, In the Field, November 28, 1863. SIR: By order of General J. A. J. Lightburn, we left camp on the evening of the 23d of November, and marched to the Tennessee River near the Caldwell house, and at about 3 a. m. we crossed the river on pontoon boats, swimming our horses alongside holding their heads to the boats out of water, and, as it was icy cold, and they were forced to remain in it for near thirty minutes, they were so chilled and stiffened that they could scarcely ascend the bank to get out. After landing took position on a beautifully rounded elevation near the river, just south of the mouth of Chickamauga River, and intrenched it. At 2 p. m. started in line of battle for the hills known as Mission Ridge, under cover of a dense mist and fog of the river bottom, and met with no enemy on summit of first hill. Were then ordered to the main hill immediately in front of one we occupied and found the enemy advancing from the opposite side. As it was dark, misty, and foggy, and it not being desirous to bring on a battle so late in the day, we were ordered to hold and intrench the hill we occupied during the night, and worked to that end most of the night, making a fine work by daylight next morning, and one in which we felt perfectly safe, the Thirty-seventh Ohio being on our left flank and rear protecting it. At about 9 a. m., November 25, General Sherman visited us in position and gave verbal order to General Lightburn to send an officer and 200 men to occupy Tunnel Hill, and I was ordered with six companies of the Thirtieth Ohio and two of the Fourth [West] Virginia, the latter under command of Capt. J. L. Mallernee, to execute the order. The six companies of the Thirtieth Ohio were at once formed in line of battle just outside of our works, with the Fourth [West] Virginia companies in reserve. The Thirtieth was started immediately on double-quick, with orders to deploy as skirmishers forward, and to take the first work, the reserve to follow. Scarcely had we moved, when the enemy opened fire with their battery on reserve. As they were still closed and marching by company front they were immediately ordered to deploy also forward, but to be held well in hand, for use on either flank or center, as might be required. In this order the first work was taken after a sharp fight lasting perhaps ten minutes; we captured a prisoner from a Texas regiment, and running over the captured work we continued on to crest of east end of Tunnel Hill, closing in around it on three sides. We here found the enemy well posted and protected by good works, and as they commanded us entirely on both flanks, they were closed in upon the center where their fire was less deadly to us, although they shot down at us at an angle of about 40 degrees all day until the grand charge of the army was made in the evening. We continued to keep up a galling fire upon them from our position, about 50 yards from their works, and kept ourselves busy keeping down their skirmish fire. Owing to the rapidity of our movement and to deployment of line and reserve, as soon as formed outside of our work, and after becoming at home against the spur of east end of Tunnel Hill, our casualties were few. Two dashes were made upon their work in full force at intervals during the day, only to find their force in our front still heavier each charge. We were relieved by First Brigade of our division at dusk after battle, and bivouacked for the night on the intrenched hill we had left in the morning. On the morning of the 26th were ordered to march for Chickamauga Station with three days' rations at 12 m. Our regimental loss on the 25th was 7 killed and 32 wounded; of the Fourth [West] Virginia companies 7 wounded-in all 7 killed and 39 wounded. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEO. H. HILDT, Lieut. Col. Thirtieth Ohio Volunteers, Comdg. Detachment. Lieut. J. C. HILL, Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Second Div., 15th Army Corps. ALTERNATE DESIGNATIONS OF ORGANIZATIONS MENTIONED IN THIS VOLUME.* Adams' (Samuel) Infantry. See Alabama Troops, 33d Regiment and 18th Battalion. Ahl's (Thomas J.) Infantry. See Pennsylvania Troops, 28th Regiment. Aiken's (D. Wyatt) Infantry. See South Carolina Troops, 7th Regiment. Aiken's (John A.) Infantry. See Tennessee Troops, Confederate, 63d Regiment. Aleshire's (Charles C.) Artillery. See Ohio Troops, 18th Battery. Anderson's (John H.) Infantry. See Tennessee Troops, Confederate, 8th Regiment. Askew's (Frank) Infantry. See Ohio Troops, 15th Regiment. Austin's (J. E.) Sharpshooters. See Louisiana Troops, 14th Battalion. Avery's (Isaac W.) Cavalry. See Georgia Troops, 4th Regiment. Ayres' (Oliver H. P.) Artillery. See Ohio Troops, 6th Battery. Bacon's (George M.) Infantry. See Ohio Troops, 24th Regiment. Badger's (E.) Infantry. See Florida Troops, 4th Regiment. Bainbridge's (Edmund C.) Artillery. See Union Troops, Regulars, 5th Regiment, Battery K. Baker's (Myron) Infantry. See Indiana Troops, 74th Regiment. Baldwin's (Norman A.) Artillery. See Ohio Troops, 1st Regiment, Battery B. Ball's (Edward) Infantry. See Georgia Troops, 51st Regiment. Banbury's (Jabez) Infantry. See Iowa Troops, 5th Regiment. Barber's (Gershom M.) Sharpshooters. See Ohio Troops, 5th Company. Barbour Artillery. See Alabama Troops. Barclay's (E. S.) Infantry. See Phillips Legion, post. Barker's (John D.) Cavalry. See Ohio Troops, 1st Regiment. Barnes' (Milton) Infantry. See Ohio Troops, 97th Regiment. Barnes' (Sidney M.) Infantry. See Kentucky Troops, Union, 8th Regiment. Barret's (Overton W.) Artillery. See Missouri Troops, Confederate. Bates' (Edward P.) Infantry. See Ohio Troops, 125th Regiment. Baumbach's (Carl von) Infantry. See Wisconsin Troops, 24th Regiment. Beach's (Albert F.) Artillery. See Tennessee Troops, Union, 1st Battalion, Battery A. *References, unless otherwise indicated, are to index following. |