Yale University Library 39002002964683 YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Gift of the New Haven Public Library I'b^.A /Cy'vi Jo, }a.,'I.J EX-GOV. JOHN T. RICH. HISTORY OF THE MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS AND CHICKAMAUGACHATTANOOGAMISSIONARY RIDGE 1863 SECOND EDITION AUTHORIZED BY RESOLUTION OF THE LEGISLATURE MARCH 30, 1899 LANSING, MICH. ROBERT SMITH PRINTING CO. 1899 J-i^l^io ,£'^1^ Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1897, by CHARLES E. BELKNAP, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. °\111 fl^ Co 11 45 i THIS HISTORY, COMPILED FROM OFFICIAL REPORTS, RECORDS OF THE UNION AND CONFEDERATE ARMIES AND OTHER AUTHENTIC SOURCES, IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED Go tbe people of tbe State of flDicbigan BY CHARLES E. BELKNAP, CAPTAIN TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT MICHIGAN INFANTRY, CHAIRMAN CHICKAMAUGA AND CHATTANOOGA NATIONAL PARK COMMISSION FOR THE STATE OF MICHIGAN. JOHN T. RICH, Governor of Michigan ; Battlefield Commission. Captain C. E. Belknap. Captain James M. Whallon. Sergt. E. A. Crane. Sergt. Lucius L. Church. Sylvester F. Dwight. Governor's Staff. Brig. Gen. W. S. Green, Adj. Gen. Lieut. Col. Prank M. Williams, Brig. Gen. Joseph Walsh, Insp. G. A. I. G. Brig. Gen. James H. Kidd, Q. M. Gen. Lieut. Col. Stephen H. Avery, Col. Wm. A. Gavett, A. D. O Asst. Q. M. G. Col. Prank H. Latta, A. D. C. Maj. James T. Vincent, Judge Ad- Col. Lou Burt, A. D. C. vocate. Lieut. Col. W. W. Cook, A. A. G. Maj. Arthur P. Loomis, Mil. Sec'y- Capt. Chas. A. Vernon, 19th U. S. I. State Officers. Hon. Washington Gardner, Secretary of State. Hon. Stanley W. Turner, Auditor General. Hon. Wm. A. French, Commissioner of Land Office. Hon. John MgGrath, Chief Justice. Hon. R. M. Montgomery, Justice. Hon. Edward Cahill, Justice. Committee from, tlie Senate. Hon. Charles L. Brundage. Hon. Oscar A. Janes. Committee from the House of Representatives. Hon. Joseph D. Morse. Hon. Seymour Foster. Hon. Philip D. Miller. Hon. Chas. Holden. Hon. W. D. Gordon, Speaker. PREFACE. The design of this volume is to present the parts taken by Michigan organ izations in the military campaigns and battles of Chickamauga, Chattanooga and Missionary Ridge. As a guide the official reports, made by commanding officers of both armies, are used. Only from such reports, made immediately after the campaigns, can the student glean the plans and results; they are unerring guides to the truth, and surer than any other source of information. The subject is too great to trace individuals except in rare cases. To recount the deeds of valor performed by our soldiers, to hand down to coming generations the story of their achievements, is a grateful task to the author, whose effort has been a conscientious and painstaking one, making historical accuracy his constant aim. History has not done justice to the battles and campaigns of Chickamauga and Chattanooga. Many misconceptions exist in the popular mind. It may be years before they are cleared away, but eventually these campaigns will stand in the history of the Great Rebellion as unequaled in strategy and unsurpassed for the stubbornness and deadliness which marked the valor of Federal and Confederate alike. State Officials Participating 2 Preliminary Report 9 The Act Making Appropriations 21 Regulations, National Park 22 Details of the Work of the Commission 24 Origin of Names 31 The Army of the Cumberland.... 33 The Occupation of Middle Tennessee 34 The Crossing of the River _ 39 The Concentration of the Army 43 The Battle of September 19th 48 The Battle of September 20th 49 The Fight on the Left 58 The Strength of the Armies 60 The Movements of the Confederate Army. 61 The Cavalry Service 72 The Second Michigan Cavalry 76 The Fourth Michigan Cavalry. 86 The Ninth Infantry... 99 The Tenth Infantry 104 - The Eleventh Infantry. 108 The Thirteenth Infantry 126 The Twenty-first Infantry 134 The Twenty-second Infantry 148 The First Engineers and Mechanics 156- The Artillery Service 162 Chattanooga 174 Grant's.Plan of Battle. 181 Battle of Chattanooga and Orchard Knob... 183 Lookout Mountain 187 The Storming of Missionary Ridge 191 The Engineer Brigade 198 The Re-opening of the Tennessee 202 The Medical Department 206 The Michigan Dead 211 Dedicatory Services 215 Regimental Re-unions 239 Roster, Army of the Cumberland, September, 1863... 288 Organization, Union Forces under General U. S. Grant, November 23, 1863... 324 The List of Michigan Dead.. 365 Financial Report 375 ILLUSTRATIONS. Frontispiece— Governor John T. Rich. Facing page The Michigan Commission 9 General Brannan's Headquarters _ 15 Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain _ _. 31 Elk River Bridge _ _ 37 Railroad Bridge, Tennessee River _._ 39 Pontoon Bridge, Tennessee River 40 The Bloody Pond 49 Colonel L. S. Scranton __ 76 General Robert H. G. Minty 86 Bronze Battle-scene, Fourth Cavalry 95 General John G. Parkhurst 100 Winter Quarters, Chattanooga _ _ 107 Captain C. W. Newberry 117 Major B. G. Bennett _. _ 122 General William B. McCreery.-. 134 Lieut. Colonel Morris B. Wells. 143 Colonel Henry S. Dean. 153 Colonel P. V. Fox.- 156 Steamboat built by soldiers __ _ __ _ 161 Lieut. George W. VanPelt _. 169 Chattanooga and Cameron Hill, 1863. _ 174 Brown's Ferry, from north side of river _ 179 Hooker's Battlefield, Lookout Mountain 187 Tunnel Hill, Missionary Ridge 191 North End of Missionary Ridge . _ 193 Center of Baird's Assault--. _ _._ 195 Military Bridge, Chattanooga — _. 198 Military Bridge, as completed, 1865. 200 The Approach to Brown's Ferry _ 202 Brown's Ferry from South Bank. - _ 204 Crawfish Spring 207 General Granger's Headquarters— 215 Monument to General Officers 220 Hon. Washington Gardner. _ 222 ColonelHenry M. Duffleld 230 Monument, Ninth Infantry 240 Monument, Tenth Infantry 241 Monument, Eleventh Infantry — 242 Monument, Thirteenth Infantry.. 251 Monument, Twenty-first Infantry... 252 Monument, Twenty-second Infantry 253 Monument, First Engineers -- — 260 The Gorge, Brown's Ferry — 263 Monument, Battery A - - 266 Monument, Battery D. 269 Monument, Second Cavalry 270 Surgeon George E. Ranney — - 272 Monument, Fourth Cavalry _ 275 Major Richard B. Robbins - - 281 Marker, Detachment Twenty-first Infantry 286 Position Marker 287 Shell Monument, Army Headquarters < 288 Monuments, Widow Glenn's House 367 Ste THE BATTLEFIELD COMMISSION. PRELIMINARY REPORT. His Excellency, Hon. John T. Rich, Governor of Michigan: Sir— The Chickamauga, Chattanooga and Missionary Ridge Military Park Commission on February 5, 1895, made the following partial report of the progress of its labors in the performance of its duties in accordance with the provisions of Act No. 55, of the Public Acts of 1893: An act to provide for a commission to locate and mark the positions and places occupied by the Michigan regiments and batteries who fought upon the battlefields of Chickamauga, Chattanooga and Mission Ridge, and to make an appropriation to defray the expenses of the same. Section 1. The People of the State of Michigan enact, That the Governor of this State be and he is hereby empowered to appoint a commission of five persons, all of whom participated in the said battles of Chickamauga or Chat tanooga, who shall serve without pay, and whose duty it shall be to co-operate with the national commission in ascertaining, fixing and marking the positions occupied by each regiment, battery and independent organization from this State engaged in such battles during such engagements, and to further this purpose the commissioners are authorized and empowered to avail themselves of the knowledge and assistance of representatives of such regiments, bat teries and other organizations as were engaged in such actions and battles who shall also serve without pay, except for necessary and actual expenses while engaged in their work. See. 2. For the purpose of meeting and defraying the traveling and other necessary expenses of this commission a sum not exceeding two thousand dollars is hereby appropriated out of any moneys in the State treasury not otherwise appropriated, to be paid upon the warrant of the Auditor General, upon the requisition of said commission: Provided, Said commission shall furnish to the Auditor General a detailed statement of their expenses for trav eling, clerk hire, assisting in locating, placing and procuring the marks and tablets necessary for performing and completing their duties as such commis sioners, and for payment of expenses of representatives of the regiments, bat teries and other organizations as hereinbefore provided upon filing of itemized statement of such actual and necessary expenses. The commission shall also make out and file with the Governor upon the fulfillment of their duties, an abstract of all expenditures and all acts done or recommendations made by them, with the information gathered from their observation and pertinent in its relation thereto, as the commission may think proper. Sec. 3. The Auditor General of the State shall add to and incorporate in the State tax for the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety-three the sum of two thousand dollars to be apportioned, levied, assessed and collected, which sum, when collected, shall be placed to the credit of the general fund, to reimburse said fund for the amount appropriated by section two of this act. This act is ordered to take immediate effect. Approved May 4, 1893. 10 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. STATE OF MICHIGAN, Office of the Secretary— ss. I, Washington Gardner, Secretary of State of the State of Michigan, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of Act No. 55 of the Public Acts of 1893. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the great seal of the State of Michigan, at Lansing, this sixteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-four. [l. s.] Washington Gardner, Secretary of State. His Excellency, Hon. John T. Rich, Governor of Michigan: Dear Sir— The undersigned, having been appointed by you commissioners to locate and mark the positions and places occupied by the Michigan regi ments and batteries, who were engaged upon the battlefields of Chickamauga, Chattanooga and Missionary Ridge, most respectfully report progress, but owing to the character of the duties to be accomplished, a full and complete report cannot be made at this time. We respectfully request your attention to the following supplementary report of the duties performed by the commission, and a brief synopsis of the plans and designs of the Government of the United States for making the fields of Chickamauga and Chattanooga a National Military Park: (Public Act No. 234, U. S. Statutes.) An Act to establish a National Military Park at the Battlefield of Chickamauga. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That for the purpose of preserving and suitably marking, for historical and professional military study, the fields of some of the most remarkable maneuvers and most brilliant fighting in the war of the rebellion, and upon the ceding of jurisdiction to the United States by the states of Tennessee and Georgia, respectively, and the report of the Attorney General of the United States that the title of the lands thus ceded is perfect, the following described highways in those states are hereby declared to be approaches to the parts of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, as established by the second section of this act to wit: First, The Missionary Ridge Crest road from Sherman Heights at the north end of Missionary Ridge, in Tennessee, where the said road enters upon the ground occupied by the army of the Tennessee under Major General William T. Sherman in the military operations of November 24 and 25, 1863; thence along said road through the positions occupied by the army of General Braxton Bragg on November 25, 1863, and which was assaulted by the army of the Cumberland under Major General George H. Thomas on that date, to where the said road crosses the southern boundary of the state of Tennessee, near Rossville Gap, Georgia, upon the ground occupied by the troops of Major Gen eral Joseph Hooker, from the army of the Potomac, and thence in the state of Georgia to the junction of said road with the Chattanooga and Lafayette or state road at Rossville Gap; second, the Lafayette or state road from Ross ville, Georgia, to Lee and Gordon's Mills, Georgia; third, the road from Lee and HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. U Gordon's Mills, Georgia, to Crawfish Springs, Georgia; fourth, the road from Crawfish Springs, Georgia, to the crossing of the Chickamauga at Glass Mills, Georgia; fifth, the Dry Valley road from Rossville, Georgia, to the southern limits of McFarland's Gap in Missionary Ridge; sixth, the Dry Valley and Crawfish Springs road from McFarland's Gap to the intersection of the road from Crawfish Springs to Lee and Gordon's Mills; seventh, the road from Ringold, Georgia, to Reed's Bridge on the Chickamauga river; eighth, the roads from the crossing of Lookout creek across the northern slope of Lookout mountain and thence to the old Summertown road and to the valley on the east slope of the said mountain, and thence by the route of General Joseph Hooker's troops to Rossville, Georgia, and each and all of these herein described roads shall, after the passage of this act, remain open as free public highways, and all rights of way now existing through the grounds of said park and its approaches shall be continued. Sec. 2. That upon the ceding of jurisdiction by the legislature of the state of Georgia, and the report of the Attorney General of the United States, that a perfect title has been secured under the provisions of the act approved August 1, 1888, entitled "An act to authorize condemnation of land for sites of public buildings, and for other purposes," the lands and roads embraced in the area bounded as herein described, together with the roads described in section 1 of this act, are hereby declared to be a national park, to be known as the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Park; that is to say, the area inclosed by a line beginning on the Lafayette or state road, in Georgia, at a point where the bottom of the ravine next north of the house known on the field of Chickamauga as the Cloud House, and being about six hundred yards north of said house, due east of the Chickamauga river, and due west to the intersection of the Dry Valley road at McFarland's Gap; thence along the west side of Dry Valley and Crawfish Springs roads to the south side of the road from Crawfish Springs to Lee and Gordon's Mills ; thence along the south side of the last named road to Lee and Gordon's Mills; thence along the channel of the Chickamauga river to the line forming the northern boundary of the park, as hereinbefore described, containing 7,600 acres, more or less. Sec. 3. That the said Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Park, and the approaches thereto, shall be under the control of the Secretary of War, and it shall be his duty, immediately after the passage of this act, to notify the Attorney General of the purpose of the United States to acquire title to the roads and the lands described in the previous sections of this act under the provisions of the act of August 1, 1888; and the said secretary, upon receiving notice from the Attorney General of the United States that perfect titles have been secured to the said lands and roads, shall at once proceed to establish and substantially mark the boundaries of the said park. Sec. 4. That the Secretary of War is hereby authorized to enter into agree ments, upon such nominal terms as he may prescribe, with such present owners of the land as may desire to remain upon it, to occupy and cultivate their present holdings, upon condition that they will preserve the present buildings and roads, and the present outlines of field and forest, and that they will only cut trees or underbrush under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, and that they will assist in caring for and protecting all tablets, monuments or such other artificial works as may from time to time be erected by proper authority. Sec. 5. That the affairs of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National 12 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. Park shall, subject to the supervision and direction of the Secretary of War, be in charge of three commissioners, each of whom shall have actively partici pated in the battle of Chickamauga or one of the battles about Chattanooga, two to be appointed from civil life by the Secretary of War, and a third, who -shall be detailed by the Secretary of War from among those officers of the army best acquainted with the details of the battles of Chickamauga and Chattanooga, who shall act as secretary of the commission. The said commis sioners and secretary shall have an office in the War department building, and while on actual duty shall be paid such compensation, out of the appropria tion provided in this act, as the Secretary of War shall deem reasonable and just. Sec. 6. That it shall be the duty of the commissioners named in the preced ing section, under the direction of the Secretary of War, to superintend the opening of such roads as may be necessary to the purposes of the park, and the repair of the roads of the same, and to ascertain and definitely mark the lines of battle of all troops engaged in the battles of Chickamauga and Chat tanooga so far as the same shall fall within the lines of the park as defined in the previous sections of this act, and, for the purpose of assisting them in their duties and in ascertaining these lines, the Secretary of War shall have authority to employ, at such compensation as he may deem reasonable and just, to be paid out of the appropriation made by this act, some person recog nized as well informed in regard to the details of the battles of Chickamauga and Chattanooga, and who shall have actively participated in one of those battles, and it shall be the duty of the Secretary of War, from and after the passage of this act, through the commissioners, and their assistants in nistori- ¦cal work, and under the act approved August 1, 1888, regulating the condemna tion of land for public uses, to proceed with the preliminary work of establish ing the park and its approaches as the same are defined in this act, and the ex penses thus incurred shall be paid out of the appropriation provided by this Act. ' Sec. 7. That it shall be the duty of the commissioners, acting under the direc tion of the Secretary of War, to ascertain and substantially mark the locations of the regular troops, both infantry and artillery, within the boundaries of the park, and to erect monuments upon those positions as Congress may provide the necessary appropriations; and the Secretary of War in the same way may ascertain and mark all lines of battle within the boundaries of the park and erect plain and substantial historical tablets at such points in the vicinity of the park and its approaches as he may deem fitting and necessary to clearly designate positions and movements, which, although without the limits of the ipark, were directly connected with the battles of Chickamauga and Chattanooga. Sec. 8. That it shall be lawful for the authorities of any state having troops engaged either at Chattanooga or Chickamauga, and for the officers and directors of the Chickamauga Memorial Association, a corporation chartered under the laws of Georgia, to enter upon the lands and approaches of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Park for the purpose of ascertaining the marking the lines of battle of troops engaged therein: Provided, That before any such lines are permanently designated, the position of the lines and the proposed methods of marking them by monuments, tablets or other wise, shall be submitted to the Secretary of War, and shall first receive the written approval of the Secretary, which approval shall be based upon formal HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 13 written proofs, which must be made to him in each case by the commissioners of the park. Sec. 9. That the Secretary of War, subject to the approval of the President of the United States, shall have the power to make, and shall make, all needed regulations for the care of the park and for the establishment and marking of the lines of battle and other historical features of the park. Sec. 10. That if any person shall wilfully destroy, mutilate, deface, injure or remove any monument, column, statue, memorial structure or work of art that shall be erected or placed upon the grounds of the park by lawful authority, or shall wilfully destroy or remove any fence, railing, inclosure or other work for the protection or ornament of said park, or any portion thereof, or shall wilfully destroy, cut, hack, bark, break down or otherwise injure any tree, bush or shrubbery, that may be growing on said park, or shall cut down or fell, or remove any timber, battle relic, tree or trees growing or being upon such park, except by permission of the Secretary of War, or shall wilfully remove or destroy any breastworks, earthworks, walls or other defenses or shelter, or any part thereof constructed by the armies formerly engaged in the battles on the lands or approaches to the park, any person so offending and found guilty thereof, before any justice of the peace of the county in wliich the offense may be committed, shall for each and every such offense forfeit and pay a fine, in the discretion of the justice, according to the aggravation of the offense, of not less than five nor more than fifty dollars, one-half to the use of the park and the other half to the informer, to be enforced and recovered before such justice in like manner as debts of like nature are now by law recoverable in the several counties where the offense may be committed. Sec. 11. That to enable the Secretary of War to begin to carry out the purposes of this act, including the condemnation and purchase of the neces sary lands and marking the boundaries of the park, opening or repairing neces sary roads, maps and surveys, and the pay and expenses of the commissioners and their assistants, the sum of $125,000, or such portion thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated, out of any moneys in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, and disbursements under this act shall require the approval of the Secretary of War, and he shall make annual report of the same to Congress. Approved August 19, 1890. In accordance with the provisions of this act, commissioners were ap pointed by the President of the United States under the title of "Chicka mauga and Chattanooga National Military Park Commission." The commission, consisting of Gen. J. S. Fullerton, Gen. A. P. Stewart, and Col. S. C. Kellogg, U. S. A., commissioner and secretary, with Gen. H. V. Boynton, assistant in historical work, engaged under the direction of the Secretary of War in establishing the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, have progressed so far with their work as to be co-operating with commissions appointed by the states which had troops in the battles of Chickamauga and Chattanooga, including Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, in locating the positions of regiments and batteries on those fields. Gen. Stewart is the representative of the Confederate army. As the result of careful study by the national commission, the fighting lines of all divisions on each side have been ascertained with sufficient 3 14 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. accuracy to justify the erection of historical tablets for divisions, and these have been prepared for the battlefield of Chickamauga, and are in course of preparation for Chattanooga. Many of the brigade positions on each side have been definitely determined, and all of them are approximately ascertained. The state of Ohio has had a commission of eight gentlemen who served in the battles at work during two sessions locating the regiments and bat teries from that state, and their work in the Chickamauga field is nearly completed. Ohio had fifty-six organizations in the battle of Chickamauga and seventy-one at Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. This State has appropriated $95,000 for monuments on the Chickamauga field and $5,000 for the expenses of her commissioners. Designs have been selected for fifty- three tablets to mark the positions of her troops at Chickamauga. The monuments are now all in position and the labors of the commission upon the Chickamauga field about complete. The state of Minnesota has appropriated $15,000 for her three organiza tions. The sites have been selected and the monuments, five in number, placed in position. The state of New York has made a large appropriation; locations are estab lished and monuments will be erected 'early in the coming year on the fields of Lookout Mountain, Wauhatchie, Missionary Ridge and Ringgold. The state proposes to make these monuments the most imposing ever erected on a battlefield of this country. During the past two years the legislatures of nearly all the states having organizations in these campaigns and battles have provided for commissions to assist the national commission in the work of locating positions, and at this time all the state commissions have been chosen, except West Virginia, Maryland and Connecticut, and many of the states have made liberal ap propriations for monuments. A brief statement will show the condition of the project. Under the act of Congress of August 19, 1890, establishing the park and subsequent amend ments, the government has purchased, or proceedings are pending, for the purchase of 7,600 acres of the Chickamauga field, embracing most of the heavy fighting ground and covering ten square miles. The state of Georgia has ceded jurisdiction to the United States over the Chickamauga field and the roads approaching it. The state of Tennessee has ceded to the United States the roads over Lookout Mountain through the battlefield, the road thence to Rossville, and from Rossville along the crest of Missionary Ridge to Gen. Sherman's position at the north end of Missionary Ridge. Historical tablets along these latter roads will set forth all the details of the three days' fighting about Chattanooga. The government has concluded negotiations for the purchase of the field works of Gen. Sherman's army beyond the north end of Missionary Ridge, which are in an excellent state of preservation, Orchard Knob and the site of General Bragg's headquarters on Missionary Ridge. Five observation towers of iron and steel, seventy feet high, have been erected. Two of these are on Missionary Ridge, and three on the Chickamauga field. The monument of the Wilder Brigade, now being erected near the Widow Glenn house on the Chickamauga field, is to be 110 feet high and will also serve as a tower. The new growth of timber and the underbrush have been cut out over 5BE3i-^r GENERAL BRANNAN'S HEADQUARTERS, SNODGRASS HILL. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 15 a large area of the Chickamauga field, so that the work of finding the posi tions of the battle has been much simplified. The old roads of the battlefield have been reopened, new roads closed and the work of restoring the fields to their condition at the time of the battle is rapidly progressing. Over fifty miles of the main roads of the field have been rebuilt in a substantial manner and a heavy force is engaged in prosecuting this portion of the work. The Society of the Army of the Tennessee and the Society of the Army of the Potomac at recent meetings appointed large committees of distinguished soldiers to co-operate with the national commission in locating and marking the positions of General Sherman's army and that of General Hooker on Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. Designs have been approved for monuments to mark the positions of the regular regiments and batteries, nine in number, on the Chickamauga field and all have been erected. Under the authority given by Congress, the national commission have pre pared and erected historical tablets for army headquarters— corps, divisions and brigades— on both sides. These tablets set forth the composition and commanders of each of these organizations, the brigade tablets carrying their designs as far as the commanders of regiments and batteries. The part taken by each organization throughout the battles will be concisely set forth on these tablets. The act of Congress leaves it to the states to erect monuments to regi ments and batteries and to larger organizations of the army, such as corps, divisions and brigades, to erect their own monuments. The sites, designs and inscriptions for all monuments must, under the law, receive the approval of the Secretary of War before they can be erected. The national commission will permanently mark and keep a record, through its own engineers, of locations agreed upon with state commis sions, until such time as the states may make appropriations for the erec tion of monuments. The expense of each state, therefore, will be very small for determining the locations of its troops and having these perma nently marked by the national commission until such time as the state may choose to erect monuments. Under recent authority of Congress, the material for foundations for state monuments, with the exception of cement, will be furnished from the park without expense to the states. The park when completed will be the most comprehensive and extended military object lesson in the world. The central drive, now being carried northward from the southern limits of the Chickamauga field to Sherman Heights at the north end of Missionary Ridge, has already been completed twenty miles in length, and all of it passes through or overlooks heavy fighting ground. On the Federal side, two corps from the army of the Potomac, the army of the Tennessee, and the army of the Cumberland, were engaged, and on the other the Confederate army of General Bragg with reinforcements from East Tennessee and Mississippi, and Longstreet's corps from the army of Northern Virginia. The details of six battles will be set forth upon the historical tablets to be erected by the national commission within the park and its approaches, viz., Wauhatehie, Brown's Ferry, Orchard Knob, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge and the three days fighting at Chickamauga. 16 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. The grounds will be a park only in the sense of being restored to their condition at the time of the battle. No work will be done for purely decora tive purposes. The old lines of works, and the old houses which were land marks in the battles, and which were destroyed, are to be restored. The organizations from the several states in these battles were as follows: Chickamauga. ROSECRANS. States. Infantry. Cavalry. Artillery. Engineers and mechanics. Total. 26 28 1 13 5 1 42 3 3 85 37 33 1 42 17 2 1 10 1 1 10 2 Ohio 3 22 11 55 6 2 45 43 1 9 9 3 Total 140 18 35 1 184 BRAGG. States. Infantry. Cavalry. Artillery. Total. 23 12 1 5 12 54 17 5 1 4 8 3 36 18 5 1 7 2 342 6 5 2 1 24 9 8 21 2 4 36 10 2 1 5 1 8 11 8 12 2 56 13 3 138 33 41 212 In addition to the above full organizations, Indiana and Illinois had each three regiments of mounted infantry, and Ohio had one company of sharp shooters. Besides the above full organizations, Alabama had 7 battalions of infantry ; Georgia, 4; Louisiana, 1; Mississippi, 3; South Carolina, 2 and Tennessee, 5, and West Virginia had four full companies in one of the Virginia infantry regiments included above, and numerous representatives in other companies of each of the regiments from Virginia. Alabama had two companies of cavalry; Georgia, 1; Louisiana, 2; Mississippi, 1, and Tennessee, 2. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. Chattanooga. GRANT. 17 States. Infantry. Cavalry. Artillery. Engineers and mechanics. Total. 45 31 10 1 11 1 62 14 1 14 61 10 10 3 1 55 34 11 1 1 12 1 1 11 3 1 9 13 13 1 252 1 34 16 Ohio 3 69 12 1 7 7 1 10 11 1 Total 222 5 36 1 264 BRAGG. States. Infantry. Cavalry. Artillery. Total. 31 75 36 54 5 1 83 1 9 1 2 1 24 44 11 6 53 1 50 9 Maryland 1 15 2 13 36 62 1 19 North Carolina 1 11 2 3 27 1 5 15 Texas _ 54 9 4 is Total 163 33 46 242 In addition to the above, Illinois and Indiana had each one regiment of mounted infantry, and Ohio had one battalion of sharpshooters. The above represents General Bragg's army before the detachment of forces to East Tennessee. Besides the complete organizations named, Ala bama had five battalions of infantry, Georgia, 6; Kentucky, 1; Louisana, 2; Mississippi, 2; South Carolina, 2, and Tennessee, 3; Kentucky had three bat talions of cavalry, Tennessee 2 and Virginia 1. The Maryland battery en tered in the table was organized shortly before the battle of Chattanooga, and became a Georgia battery, giving the latter state ten batteries. Congress has authorized the construction of two models in relief, one of the fields about Chattanooga, including Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, 18 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. Orchard Knob, Wauhatehie and Brown's Ferry, and another of the Chicka mauga field: and the suryeys necessary to begin these models are completed. The 19th and 20th days of September, 1895, have been by act of Congress Jiamed as the dates for the dedication of the park and an appropriation of $20,000 made to meet the expenses of the same, which will be under the direction of the Secretary of War. The President and his cabinet, the offi cials of the army and navy, the senators and members of Congress, the Gov ernors of all the states and survivors of the war are expected to be present. It will be seen by this report that of the thirty-six states which composed the Union at the breaking out of the war all but four of those lying east of the Rocky moimiRiris had soldiers in battles about Chattanooga. These four were Delaware, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. Besides the stales' troops engaged each side had a large contingent of regulars. The park when completed will be the most comprehensive and extended military object lesson in the world. In accordance with the act providing for the Michigan Commission repre sentatives from all of Michigan's organizations, persons actually engaged in tLe campaigns and battles, proceeded to the battlefields October 16, 1893, where several days were spent in association with the National Commission, and the positions occupied by the different regiments and batteries located, but owing to the incomplete work of the National Commission, the locations to be designated by monuments could not be completed. In May, 1894, the National Commission, having decided upon the purchase of other additions to the park, requested the presence of one of the members of this commission, who had knowledge of the localities desired, which af fected tlii? positions occupied by the Tenth infantry at the battle of Mission ary Ridge, and the Second battery at the battle of Chickamauga. As far as possible, the work of the commission has been most carefulllv done, but much still remains to be accomplished the coming year to properly represent the State's interest in this important matter. MICHIGAN'S INTEREST IN" THE NATIONAL MILITARY PARK. The prominent and most distinguished position which Michigan held throughout all the campaigns of the army of the Cumberland is known to every citizen of the State and forms a brilliant chapter in her imperishable war history. It will be, therefore, a matter of interest to all her citizens, both those who served in the field and those who supported them at home, to Tsnow that the National Commission engaged for the War department in pstnblishing a National Military Park at Chickamauga and Chattanooga has called upon the State Legislature to co-operate with them in ascertaining and iwmanently marking the fighting positions of her indomitable troops on those famous fields, and by the erection of suitable monuments in keeping with the subject. Michigan had ten organizations engaged at Chickamauga— five regiments of infantry, two of cavalry, two batteries of artillery and one regiment of engineers. While eleven were engaged in the battles of Chattanooga several of her regiments were performing engineer duty there of the highest char acter, without which it would have been impossible to either supply the army or fia-ht the battle. The Ninth Infantry, under the command of Colonel John G. Parkhurst was HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. I9 attached to General Rosecrans' headquarters, and both in the campaigns and in the battles performed a great variety of important service. The location selected for the monuments of this regiment is in the extreme southwest corner of the park, three-fourths of a mile from the Videto House on an eminence about 200 feet above the road leading through McFarland's Gap and overlooking the Dry Valley road, and the scenes of the disaster to the right wing of the army on Sunday, the 20th of September, and near the position of the regiment where it checked the routed troops that Sunday afternoon. The position of this monument is one of great beauty and prominence. The Eleventh, under Colonel William L. Stoughton, fought in the center on Saturday afternoon and took a prominent part in restoring the lines in the rear of the Brotherton House, and, after Colonel Stanley was wounded, Colonel Stoughton came into command of the brigade. The Eleventh Michigan fought with conspicuous courage and effect throughout all Sunday afternoon at the most exposed point of the Horseshoe, and received abundant and well merited praise in the reports of the battle. Here Lieutenant Colonel Mudge, of the Eleventh, was severely wounded, and Captain Newberry was killed. The monument to be erected for this regiment will be on Snodgrass Hill. The Eleventh, also under Major Benjamin G. Bennett, participated in the assault of the army of the Cumberland upon Missionary Ridge, in Moore's, later Stoughton's, brigade of Johnson's division, which held the right of the storming column; and a monument or marker of some kind should be erected to commemorate its deeds upon this field, but no position has been selected. The Thirteenth Michigan, Colonel Joshua H. Culver, was heavily engaged on the afternoon of the 19th in the center of the Union line near the Vine yard House and fought desperately and successfully from 3 o'clock in the afternoon until sundown, the loss, both in men and officers, being very severe. Among those disabled was Colonel Culver, when the command of the regiment devolved upon Major W. G. Eaton, whose conduct is highly commended in the report of the battle. The position selected for its monu ment is in the open field, east of the Vineyard House, south of the Lafayette road, the scene of its desperate fighting on Saturday the 19th, and where so many of its members were killed and wounded. The Twenty-first Michigan, Colonel Wm. B. McCreery, fought with the famous Lytle Brigade, and did everything that officers and men could do in the vortex of the field where Lytle's Brigade was overwhelmed in its gal lant and desperate attempt to resist the advance of Hindman's division after the Union line had been taken to the left of them, allowing their position to be turned on both flanks at the same time that it was assaulted in the front. Here Colonel McCreery was very severely wounded, Lieutenant Col onel Wells killed and Captain Smith mortally wounded. The position selected for its monument is in the thick woods, where Lieu tenant Colonel Wells and General Lytle and so many others of the regiment gave up their lives, the scene of the most desperate fighting of Sheridan's division. • The Twenty-second Michigan, Colonel Heber LeFavour, was temporarily attached to Whitaker's brigade of Steedman's division, and bore most hon orable part. It arrived on the field with this portion of Gordon Granger's reserve corps, and with that line went immediately into action, charged 20 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. with it into the face of tliat part of the Confederate column which had turned the Union right, and contributed its full share to the assault by which the enemy was driven back, the line restored and the day saved. The regiment was commanded in succession by Colonel LeFavour, Lieutenant- Colonel William Sanborn and Captain Alonzo Keeler. Its monument will be erected on Snodgrass Hill, the location of its action that day. Battery A, first light artillery, commanded first by Lieutenant G. W. Van Pelt, and after his death by Lieutenant Almerick W. Wilbur, was attached to Scribner's brigade of Baird's division, and fought with great courage and devotion. Battery D, first light artillery, Captain Josiah W. Church served with great distinction in Connell's brigade of Bran- nan's division, being engaged at the front on the left at the opening of the battle on Saturday, contributing in large degree to the final and sucessful repulse of the heavy assault made by the enemy on the extreme left that day. The monument to Battery A will be placed where Lieutenant Van Pelt was killed and the battery suffered such a great loss in both men and material. The monument to Battery D will be placed near the Poe House on the edge of the cleared field, bordering the Lafayette road. The Second Michigan Cavalry, Colonel Leonidas S. Scranton, served with Colonel Campbell's brigade on the extreme right at Chickamauga, and performed effipient service both before, during, and after the battle, while the Fourth Michigan Cavalry, under Major Horace Gray, really opened the battle of Chickamauga on the afternoon of the 18th of September while stubbornly resisting the advance of Bushrod Johnson's column from Ring gold to the field upon the extreme left. The regiment was in the noted Minty brigade of General Crook's division, commanded by the colonel of the Fourth Michigan, Robert H. G. Minty, and for them it was a battle of five days. The monument of tbe Second Cavalry is on the Glass Mill road, the ex treme right of tbe battlefield proper, in a grove of oaks and pines, where it fought on the 19th, and near the scene of Captain Hawley's death. The monument of the Fourth Cavalry is on the extreme left, near Reed's Bridge, where the regiment did such gallant work on the opening days of the battle. Thus Michigan Cavalry monuments will occupy the extreme positions of the field. The First Michigan Engineers (detachment), under command of Lieuten ant Colonel P. V. Fox, during the battle of Chickamauga, were engaged in engineer duty in both campaigns. The location of the monuments to the regiment has not been selected, but will be early in the coming year, either at Brown's Ferry, Missionary Ridge or in the city of Chattanooga. The Tenth Michigan, Lieutenant Colonel C. J. Diekerson, was in the brigade of General James D. Morgan of Davis' division, assisting in securing the crossing of Sherman's army and holding the flank of it during the assault of Missionary Ridge. Its monument will be located on Sherman Heights, the extreme north end of Missionary Ridge, the exact location not selected. In the battle of Chattanooga, the Ninth Michigan was assigned, with two other regiments, under General John G. Parkhurst, to the charge of the post at Chattanooga. It was there commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Wm. Wilkinson. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 21 The First Michigan Engineers, under Lieutenant Colonel P. V. Fox; the Thirteenth Infantry, Major Willard G. Eaton; the Twenty-first, Captain Loomis K. Bishop, and the Twenty-second, Major Henry S. Dean, were all assigned to the engineer division, commanded by Brigadier General Wm. F. Smith. The important services performed by Captain Fox were of tbe highest order and invaluable to the army. Indeed no bridge or boat build ing services rendered during the war in any of the armies were more im portant than that performed by the Michigan troops at Chattanooga under his direction, and the same is true of the work performed by the Thirteenth, Twenty-first and Twenty-second in this department of service. It will thus be seen that Michigan has a record in connection with the battles that took place within the limits of the National Military Park which calls powerfully upon her citizens to preserve upon the monuments and his torical tablets which will illustrate the history of this notable service on the very ground where it occurred. It will thus be seen that Michigan occupies an honorable position in the history of these engagements, and the casualty list we still further empha size this fact. The Eleventh Infantry lost 66; the Thirteenth 107; the Twenty-first 106; and the Twenty-second 389. The loss of Battery A, First Artillery, was 25; and that of Battery D, 11. The loss of the Second Michi gan Cavalry was 11 and the Fourth Michigan 19. These losses are for the battle of Chickamauga alone, and aggregate seven hundred and thirty-three men. Add to these the casualties of Chattanooga, Missionary Ridge, Brown's Ferry and those who yielded up their lives to privation and disease, and Michigan's loss will fall but little short of fifteen hundred men in these memorable campaigns. In conclusion, your commissioners respectfully request early attention to the matter of proper appropriations for the erection upon the fields of suitable monuments, in accordance with the plans of the national government, that the State may be properly represented at the national dedication, September 19 and 20, 1895, when it is proposed to have dedication services by all the states having organizations in the campaigns, both Federal and Confederate. (Signed) C. E. Belknap. L. L. Church. E. A. Crane. .Tab. M. Whallox. On motion of Mr. Barnard, The report was referred to the committee on military affairs. On the 26th day of February, 1895, the following act was approved: An Act to make an appropriation for marking by monuments the places occupied by the Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Thirteenth, Twenty-first, and Twenty-second regiments of Infantry; the Second and Fourth Regiments of Cavalry, Batteries A and D. First Michigan Artillery, and the Firsi Regiment Michigan Engineers and Mechanics, ' who participated in the campaigns and battles of Chickamauga and Chattanooga, within the National Military Park of Chickamauga and Chattanooga, and providing for the erection of the same. 4 22 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. Section 1. The People of the State of Michigan enact, That the sum of twenty thousand dollars be and the same is hereby appropriated from any moneys in the State Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the purpose of erecting monuments to mark the places occupied on the battlefields of Chicka mauga, Chattanooga and Missionary Ridge by the Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Thirteenth, Twenty-first, Twenty-second Regiments of Michigan Infantry; the Second and Fourth and Michigan Cavalry, the First Michigan Engineers and Mechanics, and Batteries A and D, First Michigan Artillery. Said sum to be expended under the supervision of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga Military Park Commission, created by act number fifty-five, public acts of eighteen hundred ninety-three, who shall receive no pay for their services, except for necessary and actual expense and clerk hire, while engaged in their duties. Sec. 2. The said commission shall at once, after the passage of this act, proceed to carry the same into effect. They shall determine the design and number of monuments to be erected as contemplated in this act with all convenient speed. The actual expenses of said commission shall be paid out of the fund hereby appropriated, and they shall report to the Governor of the State of Michigan immediately upon the fulfillment of their duties in detail, making an abstract of expenditures with vouchers thereto, with all acts done or made by them, together with information as gathered from their observations and pertinent in its relation thereto, shall be embraced in their report as the commission shall think proper. Sec. 3. The Auditor General of the State shall add to and incorporate in the State tax for the year one thousand eight hundred ninety-five the sum of twenty thousand dollars, to be apportioned, levied, assessed and collected, which sum when collected shall be placed to the credit of the general fund to reimburse said fund, for the amount appropriated by section one of this act. This act is ordered to take immediate effect. Approved February 26, 1895. REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE ERECTION OF MONUMENTS, TAB LETS AND MARKERS IN THE CHICKAMAUGA AND CHATTANOOGA NATIONAL PARK. War Department, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Park Commission, Washington, D. O, December 14, 1895. In accordance with the act of Congress approved August 19, 1890, estab lishing the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Park, the following revised regulations are published for the information and guidance of all interesed in the erection of monuments, tablets, or other methods of indi cating lines of battle or positions within the limits of the Park: 1. Statements of the proposed dimensions, designs, inscriptions upon, and material for all monuments, tablets, or other markers, must be submitted, in duplicate, to the Commissioners of the Park, and in case of monuments, plans, and elevations showing exact measurements, and a close estimate HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 23 of weight, must also be submitted. The Park Commissioners will report upon all these to the Secretary of War, and upon his approval, such monu ments, tablets, or markers may be erected, but not till such has been obtained. 2. Monuments, markers, and other permanent memorials must be con structed of bronze, granite, or such other durable stone, as after investigation by the Park Commissioners, may be by them recommended to and be ap proved by the Secretary of War. The number of markers shall be limited to such as, in the judgment of the Secretary of War, may be necessary to designate important positions. 3. Inscriptions must be purely historical, and must relate only to the Chick amauga and Chattanooga campaigns. They must also be based upon, and conform to, the official reports of these campaigns, and must be submitted to the Secretary of War, through the Park Commissioners, for his approval, before being inscribed upon monuments, tablets, or other markers. 4. Regimental monuments shall be placed on brigade lines on ground where the regiments did notable fighting: Provided, however, That in case a regi ment concerned became separated from its own brigade and most distin guished itself while alone or attached to another, its monument may be so placed as to show this fact. General memorial monuments erected by States must be located on ground upon which some of the troops of the State erecting the monument were engaged. Where troops fouglit outside of the limits of the Park, their monuments may be placed at such points within the Park as the Commissioners of the Park may designate. 5. The location proposed for each monument, marker, or other perma nent memorial must be submitted to the Secretary of War, through the Park Commissioners, for his approval, and none shall be erected until such approval shall have been obtained. 6. The foundations of all State monuments will be constructed, without cost to the States, under the direction of the Park Engineer. 7. The hauling of loads over the Park roads and approaches in excess of 5,000 pounds, the weight of wagon included, must be done in wagons specially adapted to the purpose; the load to be equally distributed and carried on four wheels. Monument trucks having tires of less than 4% inches in width shall not be allowed to haul on the Park roads. 5,000 to 15,000 pounds 4%-inch tires. 15,000 to 25,000 " ....5 25,000 to 35,000 " 6 For loads exceeding 35,000 pounds, %-inch additional width of tire for each additional 5,000 pounds of load. No hauling of heavy monuments shall be allowed in wet weather. It shall be the duty of the engineer of the Park to forbid and prevent the erection of any monument or marker which shall have been hauled in viola tion of this regulation, and to report the facts to the Park Commission. 8. No work upon monuments or other markers or tablets within the Park or on its approaches shall be allowed on Sunday. 9. Brigades, Divisions, and Corps may be designated in the inscriptions by their numbers, where that method was used, or by the names of their 24 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY EIWE. respective commanders, or both. The numerical designation alone would be meaningless to most visitors. For the Commission: J. S. FULLERTON, Chairman. Approved December 13, 1895: Daniel S. Lamont, Secretary of War. War Department, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Park Commission, Washington, D. O, June 26, 1896. The attention of all concerned is hereby directed to the following provision of law, approved February 26, 1896, governing the erection of monuments or memorials upon the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Park: No monuments or memorials shall be erected upon any lands of the Park, or remain upon any lands which may be purchased for the Park, except upon ground actually occupied in the course of the battle by troops of the State which the proposed monuments are intended to commemorate, except upon those sections of the Park set apart for memorials to troops which were en gaged in the campaigns, but operated outside of the legal limits of the Park; and the regulations of the Commissioners of the Park, as 'approved by the Secretary of War, promulgated December fourteenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-five, are hereby affirmed. Accompanying this circular is a copy of the regulations thus enacted into law. .1. S. FULLERTON, Chairman of Commission. In compliance with this Act, your commission at once proceeded to carry the same into effect by issuing the following circular: CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE MILI TARY PARK COMMISSION OF MICHIGAN. Grand Rapids, Mich., February 23, 1895. Circular inviting designs and proposals for monuments: The Commissioners above named invited designs and proposals for the erec tion of the monuments hereinafter named, to be submitted to them not later than March 23, 1895. Contracts to be awarded on March 25 or as near there after as can be done, at the office of Captain C. E. Belknap. Chairman, in the city of Grand Rapids, Mich. The monuments required are to be delivered and erected on the battlefield of Chickamauga, Georgia, within the National Military Park, on foundations prepared by the National Park Commission. No other materials than Granite and Bronze will be considered. Details of dimensions must accompany each design. 1. To the Second Michigan Cavalry, one monument. First Brigade, First Division Cavalry Corps. Fifteen hundred dollars available. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. &> 2. To the Fourth Michigan Cavalry, one monument. First Brigade, Second Division Cavalry Corps. Fifteen hundred dollars available. 3. To the Ninth Michigan Infantry, one monument. Provost Guard, Gen eral Headquarters, Army of the Cumberland. Fifteen hundred dollars available. 4. To the Tenth Michigan Infantry, one monument. First Brigade, Second Division, Reserve Corps. Fifteen hundred dollars available. 5. To the Eleventh Michigan Infantry, one monument. Second Brigade, Second Division, Fourteenth Corps. Fifteen hundred dollars available. 6. To the Thirteenth Michigan Infantry, one monument. First Brigade, First Division, Twenty-first Corps. Fifteen hundred dollars available. 7. To the Twenty-first Michigan Infantry, one monument. First Brigade, Third Division, Twentieth Corps. Fifteen hundred dollars available. 8. To the Twenty-second Michigan Infantry, one monument. First Brigade, First Division Reserve Corps. Fifteen hundred dollars available. 9. To the First Michigan Engineers, one monument. Army of the Cumber land. Fifteen hundred dollars available. 10. To Battery A, First Michigan Artillery. First Brigade, First Division. Fourteenth Corps. One thousand dollars available. 11. To Battery D, First Michigan Artillery. First Brigade, Third Division, Fourteenth Corps. One thousand dollars available. Granite. Every stone used must be of best quality of American granite, free from flaws and imperfections. The quarries from which it is taken must in all cases be stated by bidders, and specimens submitted with the proposals. Number of Stones. Each monument shall be composed of the least practicable number of stooes. Workmanship and Inscriptions. All inscriptions will be plain, bold and sharp, deep cut. They will briefly detail the part taken in the battle by the command and history of the organ ization containing from 50 to 100 words. The Commissioners will prescribe the form of the inscription. The inscriptions will be square sunk or V sunk, as the commission may direct. Generally the name of the regiment, brigade, division, corps, etc., will be square sunk, and the rest of the inscription V sunk. Inspection of the Worlc. Contractors must give ample notice to the Chairman of the Commission of the time when monuments will be erected, so that the Commissioners or an inspector, designated by them, may be present and witness the work. The spots where the monuments will stand, will be designated by the Com mission. The work will be done according to the rules and regulations of the National Battlefield Commission. Time for Completion of Work. All monuments must be completed and erected, and ready for dedication, by September 10, 1895. The date cannot be extended, as an-angements will be made for dedicatory exercises September 19, 1895. 26 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. Bond for Completion of Work. Persons to whom contracts are awarded will be required to execute a bond to the Commission, with sureties satisfactory to the Commissioners for double the amount of the contract price, conditioned, for the faithful and punctual performance of the work. Form of Proposal, etc. A separate proposal for each monument should be made, and the price must not exceed the amount available as above stated. Proposals will not include foundation, grading or sodding. All drawings, designs, bids and samples of granite, together with all com munications intended for the Commission, should be addressed to Captain C. E. Belknap, Chairman, Grand Rapids, Mich. In response to this circular, a copy of which was sent to all the principal monument makers of the country, designs were received and representatives were present from the followings firms: Bureau Bros., Philadelphia, Pa. Michigan Granite Co., Adrian, Mich. Harrison & Son, Adrian, Mich. Joseph Carrabelli, Cleveland, Ohio. Blake & Co., Chicago, 111. Geo. H. Mitchell, Chicago, 111. Henry Bonard Bronze Co., New York, N. Y. Maurice J. Powers, New Y'ork, N. Y. Jones Bros., Boston, Mass. Grand Rapids Monument Co., Grand Rapids, Mich. J. F. Manning, Washington, D. C. E. F. Carr, Quincy, Mass. E. J. Edwards, Dowagiac, Mich. Stephen Hesse, Wichita, Kas. Smith Granite Co., Westerly, R. I. Nearly six hundred designs were submitted, and your Commission, assisted by representatives of the various organizations interested who had been invited to aid in the selection, spent four days in a careful examination of the designs and materials. Many of the designs were mortuary, suitable only for cemetery location. Others more truly battlefield monuments were beyond the financial means appropriated. The Smith Granite Co., of Westerly, R. I., were awarded the contracts for the Second and Fourth Regiments of Cavalry, Batteries A and D, the Ninth, Eleventh and Thirteenth Regiments of Infantry. Maurice J. Powers, of New York, those of the Tenth, Twenty-first and Twenty-second Infantry and the Engineers and Mechanics. In addition to the monuments, thirteen granite markers, as per design, accompanying this report to mark important positions, were contracted for with the Smith Granite Co., all of which were properly inscribed and in position at the time of the dedication. Other markers needed to complete the work of the Commission could not be prepared in the limited time, but will be placed as rapidly as locations can be prepared. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 27 CONTRACTS AS FOLLOWS WERE AT ONCE ENTERED INTO. NO (Form of Contract.) To be Executed in Duplicate, for the Erection of a Monument within the Chickamauga, Chattanooga and Missionary Ridge National Milatary Park. For This agreement, made this day of . 1895, at Grand Rapids, Michigan, between of .' of the first part, and Charles E. Belknap, E. A. Crane, Sylvester F. Dwight, Lucius L. Church and James M. Whallon, as Commissioners of the State of Michigan, in accordance with and by virtue of the provisions of an Act of the Legislature of the State of Michigan, entitled "An Act to make an appro priation for marking by monuments the places occupied by the Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Thirteenth, Twenty-first and Twenty-second Regiments of Infan try; the Second and Fourth Regiments of Cavalry, Batteries A and D, First Michigan Artillery, and the First Regiment Michigan Engineers and Mechan ics, who participated in the campaigns and battles of Chickamauga and Chattanooga, and providing for the erection of the same," being Act No , approved 1895, of the second part. Witnesseth: That the party of the first part, in consideration of the cove nants and agreements herein contained, and under the penalty expressed in a bond of even date herewith, and of one dollar paid, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, do hereby agree to construct a monument to the of Michigan Volunteers, and to erect the same within the Chickamauga, Chattanooga and Missionary Ridge National Military Park, in the State of Georgia, upon the site thereon which shall be designated by the party of the second part, according to the designs and in strict compliance with the plans and specifications hereto annexed and bearing even number here-' with. The party of the first part hereby further agrees to construct, erect and complete said monument in all respects, as herein provided, and to the entire satisfaction of the party of the second part, in every particular, ready for delivery, and to tender the same to the party of the second part on or before the 10th day of September, 1895. The party of the second part hereby agrees that upon the construction, erection and completion of said monument, by the party of the first part, in accordance with the requirements of this contract to their entire satis faction in every particular, and upon the delivery to them of said monument, free and clear from all claims and liens, and upon the acceptance thereof by them for the State of Michigan, they will certify the facts, and duly audit and approve the vouchers thereof when properly presented to them by the party of the first part for that purpose in the sum dollars, in order that the payment of that sum may be made by the Treasurer of the State of Michigan, as provided by said act of the 28 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. Legislature, and thereupon said monument shall belong to and be the prop erty of the State of Michigan. But in case said monuments, or any part of said monument, shall not be approved by the party of the second part, they may give notice of the fact to the party of the first part, and require the party of the first part to replace the monument or the part thereof not accepted by the party of the second part, within a reasonable time to be fixed by the party of the second part, and in case the party of the first part shall not comply with such requirements, the party of the second part shall have the right to cancel this agreement, and thereiipon the party of the first part shall remove said monu ment immediately, and in case such monument shall not be removed when required, as aforesaid, the party of the second part may remove the same at the expense of the party of the first part. And the party of the first part hereto further covenants and agrees that in the event of any defect in said monument thereof, either in material, con struction or workmanship, shall appear or be discovered at any time within the period of three years next after the date of the acceptance of said monu ment by the party of the second part hereto, the said party of the first part will within such reasonable time, as the party of the second part shall require, replace said monument or such portion thereof as may be defective and com plete the same, so as to make such monument conform in all respects with the requirements of this contract. And in case said party of the first part shall refuse or neglect to replace such defective monument or defective pbrtions thereof, and to complete the same in all respects as is above provided, then the party of the second part may remove such defective monument, or such defective portions thereof, and to replace and complete the same at the expense of the party of the first part. It is further hereby expressly covenanted and agreed by and between the parties hereto that no acceptance of said monument shall in any way affect any claim or right which the said party of second part would have had: Pro vided, The same had not been accepted on account of any defect in the material, construction or workmanship of said monument, which shall appear or be discovered prior to the expiration of the three years next after the date of such acceptance. . In witness whereof the parties hereto have subscribed their names in person, or by their proper and duly authorized officers, and affixed their seal, the day and year first above written. [seal] [seal] [seal] [seal] [seal] [seal] STATE OF MICHIGAN, County of Kent, ss. On the day of 1895, before the undersigned, a Notary Public, in and for the County of Kent, personally came known to me to be the same persons described in the foregoing instrument, and thereupon they severally duly acknowledged that they executed the same. Notary Public. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 29 NO. 1. Know all men by these presents, that we of as principal, and as sureties, are held and duly bound unto Charles E. Belknap, E. A. Crane, Syl vester F. Dwight, Lucius L. Church and James M. Whallon, as Commis sioners appointed under Act No , Session Laws of 1895, and their suc cessors in office, in the sum of three thousand dollars ($3,000), good and lawful money of the United States of America, to be paid to the said Commissioners, or their certain attorney, successors or assigns, for which payment, well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves and our several and respective heirs, executors and administrators, jointly, and severally, firmly by the presents. Sealed with our seal, dated this 30th day of July, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-five. Whereas, The above bounden Smith Granite Company, by an instrument in writing, duly signed and sealed bearing even number and date with these presents and hereto annexed, has contracted with said Commissioners to con struct, erect and complete a monument to the Ninth Regiment of Infantry of Michigan Volunteers within the National Military Park at Chickamauga and Chattanooga, in the State of Georgia, in the manner on the conditions, for the consideration, and in all respects in accordance with the provisions and stip ulation in said contract mentioned, contained and referred to. Now, therefore, the condition of the above obligation, is such that if the said Smith Granite Company shall well and truly construct and erect the monument therefore mentioned in the aforesaid contract, and complete the same in accordance with the terms and provisions therein stipulated, and in each and every respect comply with the conditions therein contained, then this obligation to be void, otherwise to remain in full force and virtue. The Smith Granite Co. [l. s.] By Orlando R. Smith, Treas. [l. s.] George S. Greenman. [l. s.] Robert A. Sherman. [l. s.] Signed and sealed in the presence of William S. Martin. STATE OF RHODE ISLAND, County of Washington, ss. On this 30th day of July, 1895, before me, a Notary Public in and for said county, personally came the Smith Granite Co., by Orlando R. Smith, Treas urer, and to me personally known and known to be the persons described in, and who executed the foregoing obligation, and severally acknowledged that they executed the same. E. B. PURDLETON, Notary Public. STATE OF RHODE ISLAND, County of Washington, ss. I, Geo. S. Greenman. of Westerly, in the State of Rhode Island, being duly sworn, do depose and say that I am a freeholder, residing in Westerly, in the State of Rhode Island, and that I am worth the sum of two thousand dollars, 5 30 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. over "and above all my debts and liabilities, including my liabilities as bail, surety or otherwise, and over and above all my property, which is exempt by law from execution. Geo. S. Greenman. [l. s.] Subscribed and sworn to this 30th day of July, 1895, before me. E. B. PURDLETON, Notary Public. STATE OF RHODE ISLAND, County of Washington, ss. I, Robert A. Sherman, of Westerly, in the State of Rhode Island, being duly sworn, do depose and say that I am a freeholder, residing in Westerly, in the State of Rhode Island, and that I am worth the sum of two thousand dollars, over and above all my debts and liabilities, including my liabilities as bail, surety or otherwise, and over and above all my property, which is exempt by law from execution. Robert A. Sherman, [l. s.] Subscribed and sworn to this 30th day of July, 1895, before me. E. B. PURDLETON, Notary Public. CHATTANOOGA, 1863,-LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN IN THE DISTANCE. ORIGIN OF NAMES. Many years ago a tribe of Indians, natives of the Alabama country, were driven northward and constantly routed by their adversaries, until they came to the Chickamauga Valley, where they won a victory and found peace and security for their families. Pleased with the climate, the scenery and abundance of game and fish, they called it Chick-am-auga, which means "Good country," a Chickasaw word. Missionary Ridge was called by the Indians Missionaries' Ridge, from the fact that the missionaries passing from their station at the present site of "Mission Mills" to Chattanooga, the landing place of their supplies on the Tennessee River, crossed it, and one of the missionaries also lived on the Ridge. The name Lookout is not an Indian word, but was given to the mountain by the early settlers. The Indians used the point of the mountain, where, on clear days, they could see the river for many miles each way, to plan their attacks upon the boatmen. For many years it was known as Indian Look out, then in after years was changed to Lookout Mountain. The Cherokee name for Lookout Mountain did not mean an outlook, but look at, an Indian fancy that this mountain looked at all the mountains and valleys. Chattanooga is an Indian name, meaning "Hawk's Nest." The first settlement of the place by the whites was called Ross' Landing; changed to Chattanooga in 1836. From Ramsey's annals of the Tennessee it is believed to be a Chocktaw word, "Chocktaw Nooga," meaning Fishing Village. A somewhat similar name was applied by the Cherokees to the cliffs rising abruptly from the river above the town derived from "Clanoowah," or Eagle, these warlike birds making this their favorite nesting place, and hence a name which expressed this fact and suggested that Chattanooga means eagle's nest. The country about was known in early days as the Cherokee Mountains, from the Indian tribe of that name. The river was known as the Cherokee River, then as Currokee, a corruption of the word Cherokee, meaning in the Indian language, "Men possessed of divine fire." There are evidences that this country was inhabited by an industrious and intelligent people for many years prior to the discovery of this continent. Fine stone implements of agriculture and war are often found. The Chero kees were fine, well-built men and women of a bright red color. They had good homes in the valleys and made slaves of the captives gained in wars with other tribes. The country remained under the control of the Indians until 1839, when John Ross, a quarter blood Indian, with others of the Indians signed a treaty with the United States government by which Lookout and other lands east of the Mississippi became government property. 32 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. Taylor's Ridge, near Ringgold, made classic by another mountain battle, was so named because Richard Taylor, a second chief of the Indian Tribe, and also a missionary, crossed it in going and coming between their depot of supplies and missions. Will's Valley was named from William Webber, a settler who lived in it, and whose common name was Will. Brown's Ferry bears the- English name of a prominent Cherokee Indian. Wallen's Ridge, on the north side of the Tennessee River, is a spur of the Cumberland Mountains. It is eighty miles long from the head of Emory's Gap to Signal Point, and has an average width of twelve miles. It rises twenty-two hundred feet above the sea and more than one thousand feet above the valley on either side. Its name is deriv.ed from Captain John Wal- Ien, who is supposed to be the first white man to cross the mountain, while in command of a posse >f settlers in pursuit of Indians who had captured a white girl in West Virginia. The word WTalden is supposed to be a corruption of the word Wallen. Signal Point is on the extreme southeastern point of Wallen's Ridge. It is 2,200 feet above the sea and gains its name from the signal station estab lished and maintained there during the campaigns about Chattanooga. Though no battles were fought on Wallen's Ridge, it was an important posi tion. Many of the sick and wounded of the armies were taken to hospitals there and many wonderful recoveries took place, the many springs becoming celebrated for their healing qualities. THE ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND. The Army of the Ohio, commanded by Major General Don Carlos Buell, became, October 24, 1862, the Army of the Cumberland, and was placed under command of Major General William S. Rosecrans. It was also termed at the same time the Fourteenth Army Corps. Later it was divided into three corps, designated as the Fourteenth, Twentieth and Twenty-first, and as such began the campaign of Tullahoma in June, 1863. The Reserve Corps, commanded by Major General Gordon Granger, employed in guarding the long lines of communication, joined in the army in time to participate in the battles of Chickamauga. In October, 1863, the Twentieth and Twenty-first Corps were consolidated and designated as the Fourth Corps, and Major General George H. Thomas assigned to, the command of the army, to which was also added the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps. In January, 1864, these two corps were consolidated and designated as the Twentieth Corps. The State of Michigan was represented in this army actively participating in the campaigns of Chickamauga and Chattanooga by the following organi zations: The Ninth Infantry, Colonel John G. Parkhurst commanding; Provost Guard, Fourteenth Army Corps, Thomas. The Tenth Infantry, Lieutenant Colonel Christopher J. Dickerson command ing, Morgan's Brigade, Davis' Division, Palmer's Corps. The Eleventh Infantry, Colonel William L. Stoughton commanding, Stan ley's Brigade, Negley's Division, Thomas' Corps. The Thirteenth Infantry, Colonel Joshua B. Culver commanding, Buell's Brigade, Wood's Division, Crittenden's Corps. The Twenty-first Infantry, Colonel William B. McCreery commanding, Lytle's Brigade, Sheridan's Division, McOook's Corps. The Twenty-second Infantry, Colonel Heber Le Favour commanding, Whittaker's Brigade, Steedman's Division, Granger's Corps. The Second Cavalry, Major Leonidas S. Scranton commanding, Campbell's Brigade, McCook's Division, Mitchell's Cavalry Corps. The Fourth Cavalry, Major Horace Gray commanding, Minty's Brigade, Crook's Division, Cavalry Corps. The First Engineers and Mechanics, Colonel William P. Innes commanding. Battery A, Lieutenant George W. Van Pelt commanding, Scribner's Bri gade, Badrd's Division, Thomas' Corps. Battery D, Captain Josiah W. Church commanding, Connell's Brigade, Brannan's Division, Thomas' Corps. Colonel Robert H. G. Minty, Fourth Cavalry, and Colonel Archibald Camp bell, Second Cavalry, were in command of brigades during the entire cam paign and battles. 34 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. Colonel William B. McCreery, Twenty-first Infantry, commanding regiment at Chickamauga, later commanding Engineer Brigade at Chattanooga and Post of Lookout Mountain. Colonel William L. Stoughton, Eleventh Infantry, became commander of Stanley's Brigade, September 20, 1863, retained this command from that date through the Chickamauga and Chattanooga campaigns. Colonel John G. Parkhurst, Ninth Infantry, was Provost Marshal," Four teenth Army Corps, during the campaigns of Chickamauga, and later Provost Marshal General Army of the Cumberland. Colonel William P. Innes, First Engineers, commanding regiment on duty along the lines of communication from Nashville to Chattanooga, also Mili tary Superintendent of Railway Lines. Captain Pen-in V. Fox, commanding detachments of First Engineers at Chattanooga and vicinity. THE OCCUPATION OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE AND PASSAGE OVER THE CUMBERLAND MOUNTAINS. The rebel army, after its expulsion from Middle Tennessee, crossed the Cumberland Mountains by way of the Tantallon and University roads, then moved down Battle Creek, and crossed the Tennessee River on bridges, it is said, near the mouth of Battle Creek and at Kelly's Ferry, and on the railroad bridge at Bridgeport. They destroyed a part of the latter after hav ing passed over it and retired to Chattanooga and Tyner's Station, leaving guards along the river. On their arrival at Chattanooga they commenced immediately to throw up some defensive field works at that place, and also at each of the crossings of the Tennessee as far up as Blythe's Ferry. Our troops, having pursued the rebels as far as supplies and the state of the roads rendered it practicable, took position from McMinnville to Win chester, with advances at Pelham and Stevenson. The latter soon after moved to Bridgeport in time to save from total destruction a saw mill there, but not to prevent the destruction of the railroad bridge. After the expulsion of Bragg's force from Middle Tennessee, the next objective point of this army was Chattanooga. It commands the southern entrance into East Tennessee, the most valuable, if not the chief, sources of supplies of coal for the manufactories and machine shops of the Southern States, and is one of the great gateways through the mountains to the cam paign countries of Georgia and Alabama. For the better understanding of the campaign, a brief outline of the topog raphy of the country from the barrens of the northwestern base of the Cumberland range to Chattanooga and its vicinity is submitted. The Cumberland range is a lofty mass of rocks, separating the waters which flow into the Cumberland from those which flow into the Tennessee, and extending from beyond the Kentucky line, in a southwesterly direction, nearly to Athens, Ala. Its northwestern slopes are steep and rocky, and scalloped into coves in which are the heads of numerous streams that water Middle Tennessee. Its top is undulating, or rough, covered with timber, soil comparatively barren and in dry seasons scantily supplied with water. Its southeastern slope above Chattanooga, for many miles is precipitous, rough HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 35 and difficult all the way up to Kingston. The valley between the loot of this slope and the river seldom exceeds four or five miles in width, and, with the exception of a narrow border along the banks, is undulating, or hilly. The Sequatchie Valley is along the river of that name, and is a canon, or deep cut, splitting the Cumberland range parallel to its length. It is only three or four miles in breadth and fifty miles in length. The sides of this valley are even more precipitous than the great eastern and western slopes of the Cumberland, which have just been described. To reach Chattanooga from McMinnville, or north of the Tennessee, it is necessary to turn the head of this valley by Pikeville and pass down the Valley of the Tennessee, or to cross it by Dunlap or Therman. That part of the Cumberland range between Sequatchie and the Tennessee, called Wallen's Ridge, abuts on the Tennessee in high, rocky bluffs, leaving no practicable space sufficient for a good wagon road along the river. The Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad crosses that branch of the Cumberland range west of the Sequatchie, through a low gap, by a tunnel, two miles west of Cowan, down the gorge of Big Crow Creek to Stevenson, at the foot of the mountain on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, three miles from the Tennessee and ten miles from Bridgeport. Between Stevenson and Chattanooga, on the south of the Tennessee, are two ranges of mountains, the Tennessee River separating them from the Cumberland, its channel a great chasm cut through the mountain masses, which in those places abut directly on the river. These two ranges are separated by a narrow valley, through which runs Lookout Creek. The Sand Mountain is next the Tennessee and its northern extremity is called Raccoon Mountain. Its sides are precipitous and its top barren oak ridges, nearly destitute of water. There are but few of these very difficult wagon roads by which to ascend and descend the slopes of this mountain. The western slope of Sand Mountain reaches nearly to the Tennessee River. Between this latter range and Lookout Mountain is Lookout Valley, with the creek of that name flowing into the Tennessee a short distance below Chattanooga. This valley is also known as Will's Valley, and at the time of the war was traversed by a railroad branching from the Nashville road at Wauhatchle, terminating at Trenton. Beyond this valley was Lookout range, 2,400 feet above the sea, with almost perpendicular sides, heavily wooded and with little water, abutting abruptly on the river a little more than two miles from the town of Chattanooga, with only three wagon roads over it, one at the end of the mountain, close down to the river, one at Johnson's Crook, twenty-six miles south, and the other at Winton's Gap, forty-two miles south of Chattanooga. To the east of Lookout Mountain is Chattanooga Valley, with the town at the head of it, and the creek of that name flowing through it, with Dry Creek as a branch emptying its waters into the Tennessee, just south of the town. Beyond this to the east is Missionary Ridge, and just beyond and parallel to it is Chickamauga Valley, with the river of that name running through it, emptying into the Tennessee a few miles above the town formed by East, Middle, and West Chickamauga Creeks uniting with the Pea Vine Creek, between the two latter as a tributary. Chattanooga and West Chickamauga Creeks have a common source in McLemore's Cove, which is formed by Pigeon Mountain on the east, jutting to the north as a spur of Lookout Mountain, with the latter on the west, Mis sionary Ridge running out as it enters this cove. The wagon road from 36 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. Chattanooga to Rome, known as the Lefayette road, crosses Missionary Ridge into Chickamauga Valley through a gap at Rossville, and proceeds thence nearly due south, crossing Chickamauga Creek at Lee and Gordon's Mills, thence to the east of Pigeon Mountain, passing through Lafayette, twenty- two miles south of Chattanooga, thence on to Summerville and Rome. Beyond these ranges is Taylor's Ridge and a number of lesser ranges between it and the railroad leading to Atlanta, passing through Dalton. Missionary Ridge passes about three miles east of Chattanooga, ending near the Tennessee at the mouth of the Chickamauga. Taylor's Ridge sep arates the East Tennessee and Georgia Railroad from the Chattanooga and Atlanta Railroad. The junction of these roads is at Dalton, in a valley east of Taylor's Ridge and west of the rough mountain region, in which are the sources of the Coosa River. This valley, only about nine or ten miles wide, is the natural southern gateway into East Tennessee, while the other valleys just mentioned termin ate northwesterly on the Tennessee to the west of it, and extend in a south westerly direction toward the line of the Coosa, the general direction of which, from the crossing of the Atlanta road to Rome and thence to Gadsden, is southwest. From the position of our army at McMinnville, Tullahoma, Decherd, and Winchester, to reach Chattanooga, crossing the Tennessee above it, it was necessary either to pass north of the Sequatchie Valley, by Pikeville or Kingston, or to cross the main Cumberland or Sequatchie Valley, by Dunlap or Therman and Wallen's Ridge, by the routes passing through these places, a distance from sixty-five to seventy miles, over a country destitute of forage, poorly supplied with water, by narrow and difficult wagon roads. The main Cumberland range could also have been passed on an inferior road, by Pelham and Tracy City to Therman. The most southerly route on which to move troops and transportation to the Tennessee, above Chattanooga, was by Cowan, University, Battle Creek and Jasper; or, by Tantallon, Anderson, Stevenson, Bridgeport, and the mouth of Battle Creek, to the same point, and thence by Therman, or Dunlap and Poe's Tavern, across Wallen's Ridge. The University road, though difficult, was the better of these two; that by Cowan, Tantallon and Steven son being very rough between Cowan and Anderson and much longer. There were also three roads across the mountains to the Tennessee River below Stevenson, the best, but much the longest, by Fayetteville and Athens, a distance of seventy miles. The next, a very rough wagon road from Winchester, by Salem, to Larkins- ville, and an exceedingly rough road by the way of Mount Top, one branch leading thence to Bellefonte and the other to Stevenson. On these latter routes little or no forage was to be found except at the extremities of the lines, and they were also scarce of water. The one by Athens has both forage and water in abundance. It is evident from this description of the topography that to reach Chatta nooga, or penetrate the country south of it on the railroad, by crossing the Tennessee below Chattanooga, was a difficult task. It was necessary to cross the Cumberland Mountains with subsistence, ammunition, at least a limited supply of forage, and a bridge train; to cross Sand or Raccoon Moun tains into Lookout Valley, then Lookout Mountain, and finally the lesser ranges, Missionary Ridge, if we went directly to Chattanooga; or Missionary Ridge, Pigeon Mountain, and Taylor's Ridge, if we struck the railroad at ELK RIVER BRIDGE, L. & N. R. R. Built by First Michigan Engineers, from standing timber, in eight days. From a war time photograph. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 37 Dalton or south of it. The Valley of the Tennessee River, though several miles in breadth between the bases o€ the mountains, below Bridgeport, is not a broad, alluvial farming country, but full of barren oak ridges, sparsely settled, and but a small part of it under cultivation. OPERATIONS OE THE ARMY UNTIL IT REACHED THE TENNESSEE RIVER. The first step was to repair the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad to bring forward to Tullahoma, McMinnville, Decherd, and Winchester needful forage and subsistence, which it was impossible to transport from Murfrees- boro to those points over the horrible roads which we encountered on our advance to Tullahoma. The next was to extend the repairs of the main stem to Stevenson and Bridgeport, and the Tracy City branch, so that we could place supplies in depot at those points, from which to draw after we had crossed the mountains. Through the zeal and energy of Colonel Innes and his regiment of Michi gan Engineers, the main road was open to the Elk River bridge, and the main stem to Bridgeport by the 25th, and the branch to Tracy City by August 13. As soon as the main stem was finished to Stevenson, Sheridan's Division was advanced, two brigades to Bridgeport and one to Stevenson, and com missary and quartermaster stores pushed forward to the latter place with all practicable speed. These supplies began to be accumulated at this point in sufficient quantities by August 8, and corps commanders were that day directed to supply their troops, as soon as possible, with rations and forage sufficient for a general movement. The Tracy City branch, built for bringing coal down the mountains, has such high grades and sharp curves as to require a peculiar engine. The only one we had answering the purpose having been broken on its way from Nashville, was not repaired until about August 12. It was deemed best therefore to delay the movement of the troops until that road was completely available for transporting stores to Tracy City. At the close of the Tullahoma campaign Bragg occupied Chattanooga and the mountain passes above and below it. Rosecrans' army lay along the western base of the Cumberland Mountains, its right above Winchester and its left at McMinnville. Here he began at once the most vigorous preparations for the campaign for the possession of Chattanooga. Because the necessities of the case compelled secrecy as one of the main elements of success, there was soon at Washington manifestation of impatience over what was criticised as the inaction of the Union com mander, but those who were on the ground know well the unceasing activity with which the work progressed- of accumulating sufficient supplies of food, material and ammunition, preparing the means for crossing the Tennessee and obtaining the necessary kno.wledge of the mountain passes, roads and trails by which the army must move. All supplies reached the army over a poorly equipped line of worn-out railroad, one hundred and thirteen miles in length, and, as can be readily understood, when the daily wants of a great army, preparing for extended movement and battle are considered, the mat ter of accumulating a surplus of supplies was not the task of a day or a week. RAILROAD BRIDGE, NORTH BRANCH OF THE TENNESSEE RIVER, AT BRIDGEPORT, ALA. And the trestle and pontoon bridge upon which the army crossed. Built by the First Michigan Engineers. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 39 The movement over the Cumberland Mountains began on the morning of August 16, as follows: General Crittenden's corps in three columns, General Wood, from Hills borough, by Pelham, to Therman, In Sequatchie Valley. General Palmer, from Manchester, by the most practicable route to Dunlap. General Van Cleve, with two brigades from McMinnville— the third being left in garrison there— by the most practicable route to Pikeville, the head of the Sequatchie Valley. Colonel Minty's cavalry to move on the left by Sparta, to drive back Dib- rell's cavalry toward Kingston, where the enemy's mounted troops, under Forrest, were concentrated, and then covering the left flank of Van Cleve's column, to proceed to Pikeville, The Fourteenth Army Corps, Major General George H. Thomas command ing, moved as follows: General Reynolds, from University, by way of Battle Creek, to take post concealed near its mouth. General Brannan to follow him. General Negley to go by Tantallon and halt on Crow Creek, between Ander son and Stevenson. General Baird to follow him and camp near Anderson. The Twentieth Corps, Major A. McD. McCook commanding, moved as follows: General Johnson, by Salem and Larkin's Fork, to Bellefonte. General Davis, by Mount Top and Crow Creek, to near Stevenson. The three brigades of cavalry by Fayettevi-He and Athens, to cover the line of the Tennessee from Whitesburg up. On his arrival in the Sequatchie Valley, General Crittenden was to send a brigade of infantry to reconnoiter the Tennessee near Harrison's Landing, and take post at Poe's cross roads. Minty was to reconnoiter from Wash ington down, and take post at Smith's cross roads, and Wilder's Brigade of mounted infantry was to reconnoiter from Harrison's Landing to Chatta nooga and be supported by a brigade of infantry, which General Crittenden was to send from Therman to the foot of the eastern slope of Wallen's Ridge, in front of Chattanooga. These movements were completed by the evening of August 20. Hazen's Brigade made the reconnoissance on Harrison's Landing, and restarted the enemy throwing up works there, and took post at Poe's cross roads' on the 21st. Wagner, with his brigade, supported Wilder in his reconnoissance on Chattanooga, which they surprised and shelled from across the river, creating no little agitation. Thus the army passed the first great barrier between it and the objective . point, and arrived opposite the enemy on the banks of the Tennessee. THE CROSSING OF THE RIVER. The crossing of the river required that the best points should be chosen, and means provided for the crossing. The river was reconnoitered, and pontoons and trains ordered forward as rapidly as possible, hidden from view in rear of Stevenson and prepared for use. By the time they were ready the 40 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. places of crossing had been selected and dispositions made to begin the operation. It was very desirable to conceal to the last moment the points of crossing, but as the mountains on the south side of the Tenuessee rise in precipitous rocky bluffs to the height of 800 or 1,000 feet, completely overlooking the whole valley and its coves, this was next to impossible. Not having pontoons for two bridges across the river, General Sheridan began trestlework for parts of one at Bridgeport, while General Reynblds' Division, seizing Shellmound, captured some boats, and from these and material picked up prepared the means of crossing at that point, and General Brannan prepared rafts for crossing his troops at the mouth of Battle Creek. The laying of the pontoon bridge at Caperton's Ferry was very handsomely done by the troops of General Davis, under the directions of General McCook, who crossed his advance in pontoons at daylight, driving the enemy's cavalry from the opposite side. The bridge was ready for crossing by 11 a. m. the same day, but in plain view from the rebel signal stations opposite Bridge port. The bridge at Bridgeport was finished on August 29, but an accident oc curred which delayed its final completion till September 2. THE MOVEMENT ACROSS THE RIVER was commenced on the 29th and completed on September 4, leaving the regular brigade in charge of the railroad and depot at Stevenson until relieved by Major General Granger, who was directed, as soon as practicable, to relieve it and take charge of the rear. General Thomas' Corps was to cross as follows: One division at Caperton's and one at Bridgeport, Reynolds at Shellmound in boats, and one division at Battle Creek on rafts. All were to use the bridge at Bridgeport for such portions of their trains as they might find necessary, and to concentrate near Trenton, and send an advance to seize Frick's or Cooper's and Steven's Gaps, on the Lookout Mountain, the only practicable routes leading down the mountains into the valley called McLemore's Cove, which lies at its eastern base and stretches northeasterly toward Chattanooga. General McCook's Corps was to cross two divisions at Caperton's Ferry, move to Valley Head, and seize Winston's Gap, while Sheridan was to cross at Bridgeport as soon as the bridge was laid and join the rest of his corps near Winston's, by way of Trenton. General Crittenden's Corps was ordered down the Sequatchie, leaving the two advanced brigades, under Hazen and Wagner, with Minty's Cavalry and Wilder's Mounted Infantry to watch and annoy the enemy. It was to cross the river, following Thomas' Corps' at all th*ee crossings, and to take post on the Murphy's Hollow road, and push an advance brigade to recon noiter the enemy at the foot of Lookout, and take post at Wauhatchie, com municating from his main body with Thomas' on the right up the Trenton Valley and threatening Chattanooga by the pass over the point of Lookout. The cavalry crossed at Caperton's and a ford near Island Creek were to unite in Lookout Valley, take post at Rawlingsville, and reconnoiter boldly toward Rome and Alpine. These movements were completed by McCook's and Crittenden's Corps on September 6 and by Thomas' corps on September 8. PONTOON BRIDGE CROSSING SOUTH BRANCH TENNESSEE RIVER AT BRIDGEPORT, ALA. Built by First Michigan Engineers. A war time photograph. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 41 The crossing of the Tennessee was a great feat. The bridges were not sufficient for the army. Reynolds gathered small boats from along the river and improvised his own means of crossing. Brannan's men had cut out canoes from immense poplars and launched them in Battle Creek out of sight. They also built rafts, one of them large enough to carry artillery. These with an abandoned rebel pontoon boat, constituted Brannan's flotilla. When the signal was given the whole swept out from behind the bushes, which •concealed the mouth of Battle Creek, and made for the opposite shore. The rebel pickets withdrew and the crossing was secured. Then all his men who could swim, piling their guns, clothing and accoutrements on fence rails made into rafts, pushed these before them, and thus gained the opposite bank. Later Wilder swam his brigade across the river and joined Crittenden south of Chattanooga. The Union commander had delayed his movement until the corn was ripe, in order that it might not be necessary to carry grain for his animals, which would have largely increased his trains, so wise, thought ful and careful was he in every detail of preparation. Bragg's failure to resist in the vicinity of these crossings was due in part to the fact, that, even after he knew the heads of the columns were across the river, he still inclined to look at their movements as a feint, and to regard the real point of danger to lie above the city. Rosecrans, even after crossing, sought successfully to strengthen such impressions in Bragg's mind. He directed Wagner, Wilder and Minty's Brigades to report to Hazen, and with this force, some 7,000 strong, the latter was ordered to ma,ke a con spicuous show of crossing the river above Chattanooga. By extended fires, by marching and counter-marching, by moving his artillery continually across openings in sight from the opposite bank, by buglers at widely separated points and other similar devices, he easily created the belief that an army was encamped on the right bank intending to cross. With the exception of this force all of the Union Army was on the south side of the river by September 4. The first barrier south of the Tennessee being crossed, the enemy was found firmly holding the point of Lookout - Mountain with infantry and artillery, while our force on the north side of the river reported the movement of the rebel forces from East Tennessee and their concentration at Chattanooga. To dislodge him from that place it was necessary to carry Lookout Mountain, or so to move as to compel him to quit his position by endangering his line of communication. The latter plan was chosen. The cavalry was ordered to advance on our extreme right to Summerville, 'in Broomtown Valley, and General McCook was ordered to support the move ment by a division of infantry thrown forward to the vicinity of Alpine, Which was executed on the 8th and 9th of September. General Thomas was ordered to cross his corps by Prick's or Coopef's and Steven's Gaps and occupy the head of McLemore's Cove. General Crittenden was ordered to reconnoiter the front of Lookout Moun tain, sending a brigade up an almost impracticable path called the Nickajack trace to Summertown, a hamlet on the summit of the mountain overlooking Chattanooga, and holding the main body of his corps either to support these reeonnoissances to prevent a sortie of the enemy over the nose of Lookout, or to enter Chattanooga in case the enemy should evacuate it or make but feeble resistance. Simultaneously with this movement, the cavalry was 42 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. ordered to push by way of Alpine and Broomtown Valley and strike the enemy's railroad communication between Resaca bridge and Dalton. These movements were promptly begun on the 8th and 9th of September. The reconnoissance of General Crittenden on the 9th developed the fact that the enemy had evacuated Chattanooga the day and night previous, and his advance took peaceable possession at 1 p. m. His whole corps, with its trains, passed around the point of Lookout Moun tain on the 10th and encamped for the night at Rossville, five miles south of Chattanooga. During these operations, General Thomas pushed his corps over the moun tains at the designated points, each division consuming two days in the passage. But the occupation of Chattanooga in a military sense was not accomplished by sending Crittenden's two divisions beyond it, and one brigade into it. Bragg had only withdrawn to save his communications and supplies and to await the reinforcements he knew to be hastening to him. The battle for Chattanooga was yet to be fought. Bragg had retired with deliberation. He established his headquarters at Lafayette, behind Pigeon Mountain, but his rear-guard never passed beyond Lee & Gordon's Mills. The news that the Union Army were at Chattanooga created a tremendous impression in the North. It was accepted as a capture of that long coveted stronghold. It is true it was occupied, but in a military sense, since the Union Army bad not been brought into it, or concentrated between it and the enemy. Hence arose that misconception which is widespread still, that the Army of the Cumberland had occupied Chattanooga, and thence marching out to attack Bragg, had been defeated by the latter at Chickamauga, and driven back in disorder to Chattanooga, but instead, Chickamauga was the battle for Chattanooga, fought by Rosecrans, while on the way to take military pos session of it, and while he was concentrating his army between Bragg and that city, the objective of the campaign. The battle was not for the Chickamauga woods, but for the passes behind them, which controlled the way to Chattanooga. It was the movement for concentrating the corps of Thomas and McCook upon that of Crittenden, that led to the battle of Chickamauga. The weight of evidence, gathered from all sources, was that Bragg was moving on Rome, and that his movement began on the 6th of September. General Crittenden was therefore directed to hold Chattanooga, with one brigade, calling all the forces on the north side of the Tennessee across, and to follow the enemy's retreat vigorously, anticipating that the main body had retired by Ringgold and Dalton. Additional information, obtained during the afternoon and evening of the 10th of September, rendered it certain that his main body had retired by the Lafayette road, but uncertain whether he had gone far. General Crittenden was ordered, at 1 a. m. on the llth, to proceed to the front and report, directing his command to advance only as far as Ringgold, and order a reconnoissance to Gordon's Mills, and communicate with General Thomas who had by that time reached the eastern foot of Lookout Mountain. General Crittenden occupied Ringgold during the llth, pushing -Wilder's Mounted Infantry as far as Tunnel Hill, skirmishing heavily with the enemy's cavalry. Hazen joined him near Ringgold on the llth, and the whole corps moved rapidly and successfully across to Gordon's Mills on the 12th. Wilder fol- HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 43 lowing, and covering the movement, had a severe fight with the enemy at Leet's tanyard. During the same day the Fourth U. S. Cavalry was ordered to move up the Dry Valley road, to discover if the enemy was in the proximity of that road, on Crittenden's right, and open communication with Thomas' Command, which, passing over the mountain, was debouching from Stevens' and Cooper's Gaps, and moving on Lafayette through Dug Gap of the Pigeon Mountain. On the 10th, Negley's Division advanced to within a mile of Dug Gap, which he found heavily obstructed, and Baird's Division came up to his support on the morning of the llth. Negley became satisfied that the enemy was advancing upon him in heavy force, and perceiving that if he accepted battle 'u that position he would probably be cut off, he fell back after a short skirmish, in which General Baird's Division participated, skilfully covering and securing their trains to a strong position in front of Stevens' Gap. On the 12th, Reynolds and Brannan, under orders to move promptly, closed up lo the support of these two advanced divisions. During the same day General McCook had reached the vicinity of Alpine, and with infantry and cavalry had reconnoitered the Broomtown Valley to Summerville, and ascertained that the enemy had not retreated on Rome, but was concentrated at Lafayette. Thus it was ascertained that the enemy was concentrating all his forces, both infantry and cavalry behind the Pigeon Mountain, in the vicinity of Lafayette, while the corps of this army were at Gordon's Mills, Bailey's cross roads, at the foot of Stevens' Gap, ahd at Alpine, a distance of 40 miles, from flank to flank, by the nearest practical roads, and 57 miles by the route subsequently taken by the Twentieth Army Corps. It had already been ascertained that the main body of Johnson's army had joined Bragg, and an accumulation of evidence showed that the troops from Virginia had reached Atlanta on the 1st of the month, and that reinforcements were expected soon to arrive from that quarter. It was therefore a matter of life and death to effect the CONCENTRATION OF THE ARMY. General McCook had already been directed to support General Thomas, but was now ordered to send two brigades to hold Dougherty's Gap, and to join General Thomas with the remainder of his command with the utmost celerity, directing his march over the road on the top of the mountain. He had, with great prudence, already moved his trains back to the rear of Little River, on the mountain; but, unfortunately, being ignorant of the mountain road. moved down the mountain at Winston's Gap, down Lookout Valley- to Cooper's Gap up the mountain and down again, closing up with General Thomas on the 17th, and having posted Davis at Brooks,' in front of Dug Gap, Johnson at Pond Spring, in front of Catlett's Gap, and Sheridan at the foot of Steven's Gap. As soon as General McCook's corps arrived, General Thomas moved down the Chickamauga toward Gordon's Mills. Meanwhile, to bring General Crittenden within reach of General Thomas and beyond the danger of separation, he was withdrawn from Gordon's Mills, on the 14th, and ordered to take post on the southern spur of Missionary Ridge, his right commnni- 44 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. eating with General Thomas, where he remained until General McCook had effected a junction with General Thomas. Minty, with his cavalry, reconnoitered the enemy on the 15th and reported him in force at Dalton, Ringgold and Leet's, and Rock Springs Church. The head of General McCook's column being reported near the same day, General Crittenden was ordered to return to his old position at Gordon's Mills, his line resting along the Chickamauga via Crawfish Springs. Thus, on the evening of the 17th, the troops were substantially within supporting distance. Orders were given at once to move the whole line northeastwardly down the Chickamauga, with a view to covering the Lafay ette road toward Chattanooga, and facing the most practicable route to the enemy's front. The position of our troops and the narrowness of the roads retarded their movements. During the day, while they were in progress, the cavalry under Colonel Minty, Fourth Michigan, was attacked on the left in the vicinity of Reed's bridge, and Wilder's mounted infantry were attacked by infantry and driven into the Lafayette road. It became apparent that the enemy was massing heavily on our left, cross ing Reed's and Alexander's bridges in force, while he had threatened Gordon's Mills. Orders were therefore promptly given to General Thomas to relieve General Crittenden's Corps, posting one division near Crawfish Springs, and to move with the remainder of his corps by Widow Glenn's house to the Rossville and Lafayette roads, his left extending obliquely across it near Kelley's house. General Crittenden was ordered to proceed with Van Cleve's and Palmer's Divisions, to drive the enemy from Rossville road and form on the left of General Wood, then at Gordon's Mills. General McCook's Corps was to close up on General Thomas, occupy the position at Crawfish Springs, and protect General Crittenden's right while holding his corps mainly in reserve. The main cavalry force was ordered to close in on General McCook's right, watch the crossing of the Chickamauga, and act under his orders. The movement for the concentration of the corps more compactly toward Crawfish Springs was begun on the morning of the 18th, under orders to conduct it very secretly, and was executed so slowly that McCook's Corps only reached Pond Spring at dark, and bivouacked, resting on their arms during the night. Crittenden's Corps reached its position on the Rossville road near midnight. Evidence accumulated during the day of the 18th that the enemy was moving on the left. Minty's Cavalry and Wilder's Mounted Brigade encoun tered the enemy's cavalry at Reed's and Alexander's bridges, and toward evening were driven into the Rossville road. At the same time the enemy had been demonstrating for three miles up the Chickamauga. Heavy clouds of dust had been observed three or four miles beyond the Chickamauga, sweeping to the northeast. In view of all these facts, the necessity became apparent that General Thomas must use all possible dispatch in moving his corps to the position assigned it. He was, therefore, directed to proceed with all dispatch, and General McCook to close up to Crawfish Springs as soon as Thomas' column was out of the way. Thomas pushed forward uninterruptedly during the HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 45 night, and at daylight the head of his column had reached Kelley's house, on the Lafayette road, where Baird's Division was posted. Brannan followed, and was posted on Baird's left, covering the roads leading to Reed's and Alexander's bridges. At. this point Colonel McCook, of General Granger's command, who had made a reconnoissance to the Chickamauga the evening before and had burned Reed's bridge, met General Thomas and reported that an isolated brigade of the enemy was this side of the Chickamauga, and, the bridge being destroyed, a rapid movement in that direction might result in the capture of the force thus isolated. General Thomas ordered Brannan with two brigades to reconnoiter in that •direction and attack any small force he should meet. The advance brigade, support by the rest of the division, soon encountered a strong body of the enemy, attacked it vigorously, and drove it back more than half a mile, where a strong column of the enemy was found, with the evident intention of turning our left and gaining possession of the Lafayette road between us and Chattanooga. This vigorous movement disconcerted the plans of the enemy on our left and opened the battle of the 19th of September. The days of concentration had been a period of the most intense anxiety, of unceasing watchfulness, of unbending determination, of brilliant minor affairs, of unflinching courage, and withal of cool calculation and precise execution for every part of the army. While on the morning of the 18th the three corps of the Union Army and its reserve were in position where each could support the other if attacked, its supreme effort for position was yet to come. Bragg's order for battle contemplated crossing the Chickamauga some miles below Lee and Gordon's Mills, and driving the Union left, under Crittenden, back on the center and right, under Thomas and McCook; and thus, by thrusting its columns between Rosecrans and Chattanooga, recover that place, and force the Union Army back into the mountains, from which position it is doubtful if it could have extricated itself. Bragg's order of the 18th could not be executed. His army was concen trated between Lee and Gordon's Mills and Lafayette. He moved with five infantry and two cavalry corps. Narrow roads, small bridges, difficult fords and dense forests delayed operations, so that at nightfall of the 18th his troops were not in position to attack. In fact, he was scarcely ready to deliver battle under his plan on the morning of the 19th, when General Thomas' unexpected attack, far on the rebel right, -deranged Bragg's plans, and forced him to battle several miles from the point where he was about to open it on Crittenden, who, he supposed, constituted the Union left. It was nothing less than the inversion of the Union Army, under cover of a night, that had thus disconcerted Bragg, and enabled Rosecrans to array himself for battle between Bragg and Chattanooga and across the roads and in front of the passes that led to that city. It was the night march of two corps which constituted the supreme movement of the concentration, and which at the same time defeated Bragg's purpose to fight with the back of his own army to Chattanooga, with a view to its recovery. While Bragg's .army had been under constant motion during the day, for the most part, .they had a full night's rest. On the other hand, the Union columns were 7 46 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE, alive with motion both day and night. To the men of the Union Army the night was long and weary. Heavy trains of supplies and ammunition occupied the road. The troops were compelled to move through the fields and woods, both for celerity of marching and as guards to the trains. Heavy flanking forces streamed along parallel to the road and well out towards the river. There were constant interruptions to continuous movement, causing frequent halts to the infantry. The night was cold, and, as the commands stopped, the men warmed them selves by starting fires in the fences. The result was that towards midnight the trains were everywhere driving between two continuous lines of fires, and the men on either side or in the road had constant facilities for warming themselves. It was a tedious and most fatiguing night, but at daylight the important task was done, so at sunrise the Union right, instead of resting far up the Chickamauga from Crittenden's position, as Bragg expected to find it, had become the left of Rosecrans army, and was between Bragg and Chattanooga. The weary Union troops had scarcely time, and some of them no time at all, to cook their coffee after the night march, before the storm broke and the army was summoned to battle which Thomas had opened. THE RATTLE OF THE NINETEENTH OF SEPTEMRER. At daylight the Confederate Army, wholly concealed by the forests, were in motion toward Crittenden, who was still supposed to bold the Union left, when suddenly to Bragg's ears came the sound of heavy and unexpected battle far down the Chickamauga, and well towards Rossville. At this time two-thirds of Bragg's army had crossed the Chickamauga and directed its columns towards Crittenden. These portentious sounds of battle, far to his right, astonished and perplexed him. After vainly waiting for them to cease, under the first impression that the affair was a movement of his forces in reconnoissance, and that same Union cavalry had been encountered, he found it so serious as to derange his whole plan of battle and force him to meet an enemy who had turned his right. To do this he was obliged to move a portion of his troops that had not crossed the river down stream to Reed's bridge. By the circuitous roads which they were obliged to travel, it required a march of six miles to reach the left of Thomas. This destruction of the rebel plan was due to Thomas opening the battle with the divisions of Brannan and Baird in the vicinity of Reed's bridge. At 6:30 o'clock Brannan's Division left the Kelley farm, moving north,. turned in from the Lafayette road at McDaniel's, towards Reed's. A quarter of a mile from McDaniel's he deployed his divisions, Croxton on the right,. Vanderveer on the lift, and Connell's Brigade, with whom was Battery D, First Michigan Artillery, Captain Church, occupying the center. In like manner, Baird's Division advanced, with a front line of two brigades, with Scribner's Brigade on his right, to which was attached Battery A, First Michigan Artillery, Lieutenant Van Pelt. Thus, while neither army was. aware that the other was in heavy force in the woods which surrounded them, and while Bragg's force was forming to paove up the Chickamauga and so away from Thomas' line of March, both Brannan and Baird came in force on Bragg's right and opened the battle of Chickamauga. Croxton struck first with a vigorous attack on the rebel General Forrest's command HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 47 of two divisions, guarding the Confederate right, driving them back some distance. When Forrest sent for help, Wilson's Brigade, of Walker's Divi sion, hurried from Alexander's bridge and rushed into the fight. Meantime, reinforcements were turning from all portions of Bragg's line toward the sound of furious battle. Shortly the advance toward Crittenden ceased, so vigorous had Thomas' battle become. At 11 o'clock, Bragg had become convinced that Rosecrans had forced battle upon him on the extreme rebel right. With such vigor did Thomas' two divisions fight that Walker was ordered at that hour to go to Forrest with all his force, and Cheatham, of Polk's Corps, who had the strongest division of the army, consisting of five brigades, then stationed as the reserve of Bragg's left. Hardly had Cheatham started before Stewart, of Buckner's Corps, which was near Tellford's Ford, ready to move towards Crittenden, was also dispatched in haste to the Confederate right, and at 1 o'clock, Cleburne, of Hill's Corps, posted near the extreme left of the Confederate line, was ordered to the scene of action before Brannan and Baird. These movements show that Bragg's plan of battle had been wholly overturned, and how fierce the fighting of these two divisions must have been to decide Bragg to send four infantry divisions to the assistance of Forrest's Corps of two divisions. Meantime, Walker had moved Govan's Brigade obliquely on the right flank of Scribner and forced him back; simultaneously, Walthall's Brigade struck King in flank and drove him in disorder over Vanderveer's Brigade. Guenther's regular battery and the famous Loomis Battery A, First Michigan, two of the most efficient in the service, were captured. (See narrative of Battery A.) Thus, while Baird's lines were shaken by the overwhelming concentration against them, and Brannan was facing and fighting superior numbers, mat ters were hot for Thomas. Croxton's men, with fresh ammunition, were holding their place. Connell's Brigade was immovable and poured its fire into the very faces of the enemy, and Vanderveer, on the left, was busily maneuvering to meet flank attacks and fighting desperately with unvarying success. Forrest's men had passed beyond Vanderveer's left and formed for assault on his front and flank, but the vigilant skirmishers and prisoners captured made known the movement. The left was thrown back in time, and the line presented an obtuse angle, opening towards the enemy. Into this Forrest hurled his columns, four deep. On came these men in gray in magnificent lines, which showed clearly through the open forest, bending their faces before the sleet of the storm and firing hotly as they came. As they came within range of the oblique fire from Vanderveer's right they halted within forty yards of his left, and for a few moments poured in a destructive fire. A wheel of Smith's regular battery and a section of Church's Michigan Bat tery, which had come on the ground at this moment, brought them where they, poured an enfilading fire of canister down those long lines standing- there and fighting almost under the mouths of the guns. It had seemed almost an impossibility to hold the position before those well served batteries arrived. An instant later it seemed as if the lines of gray had sunk into the earth. When the smoke lifted from the third round, the front was clear of everything but the heaps of dead and wounded, and the work of the day at that point of the Union left was done. The fight still raged bitterly along the lines to the right. 48 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. General Crittenden, with great good sense, had already dispatched Pal mer's, reporting the fact to Rosecrans and receiving his approval. The enemy returned our attack and was driving back Baird's right in disorder, when Johnson struck the attacking column in flank and drove it back more thar. half a mile till his own right was overlapped, and in imminent danger of being turned, when Palmer, coming in on Johnson's right, threw his divi sion against the enemy and drove back his advance columns. Palmer's right was soon overlapped, when Van Cleve's Division came to his support, but was driven back, when Reynolds' Division came in and was in turn overpowered. Davis' Division came into the fight then, most opportunely, and drove the enemy, who soon, however, developed a superior force against his line and pressed him so heavily that he was giving ground, when Wood's Division came and turned the tide of battle the other way. About 3 p. ni., General McCook was ordered to send Sheridan's Division to support our line near Wood and Davis, directing Lytle's Brigade to hold Gordon's Mills, our extreme right. Sheridan also arrived opportunely to save Wood from disaster, and the rebel tide was thoroughly stayed in that quarter. Meanwhile, the roar of musketry in our center grew louder, and evidently approached headquarters at Widow Glenn's house, until musket balls came near and shells burst over it. Our center was being driven. Orders were sent to General Negley to move his division from Crawfish Springs and above, where he had been holding the line of Chickamauga, to ' Widow Glenn's, to be held in reserve to give succor wherever it might be required. At 4:30 p. m., he reported with his diyision, and as the indications that our center was being driven became clearer, he was dispatched in that direction, and soon found the enemy had dislodged Van Cleve from the line, and was forming there even while Thomas was driving their right. Orders were promptly given Negley to attack him, which he soon did, and drove him steadily until night closed the combat. About 5 o'clock, the field on both sides was still, but Cleburne and Walker were moving again far on the rebel right to again attack the Union left. The Confederate march was over the field of the morning, where the dead of Walker's Corps were thickly strewn. It was a depressing advance, still those veterans formed and moved on without a sign of shrinking, and, about 6 o'clock, the hour of silence was broken by a terrific attack in the gathering dusk upon Johnson's Division, near the ground occupied by Baird in the morning. The assault fell upon Baird further to the left. Cleburne, with a front of nearly a mile, suddenly burst upon Thomas's left. The assault was tremendous. Night was falling, and the aim of each side was directed by the flashes of the guns. At this time the Confederate General, Preston Smith, was killed, and the Union Brigade Commander, Baldwin, mortally wounded. Darkness put an end to the movement and the fighting, and each army sought rest. For the commanders of all grades, it was a busy night; while the Union line was continuous, there was much realignment to be done to better the position of the coming day. The Union troops obtained only snatches of rest on ground white with frost. No fires were lighted lest the direction of the lines might be revealed. The fact that there had been no time for breakfast, and none at all for dinner, gave excellent relish to the supper of hard tack and raw bacon. Rosecrans' purpose of establishing his line between the enemey and Chatta nooga had been accomplished. Bragg's plan of thrusting his army between THE BLOODY POND, BATTLEFIELD OF CHICKAMAUGA. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 49 the Union advance and the city had been defeated. At the close of the first day, victory rested with the Union army, who had found themselves largely outnumbered, and they had thrown every available man into the fight. The spirit of the Union army had risen to a high pitch under the splendid and most effective fighting which it had done, and it looked forward to the morrow with a confidence born of the consciousness of fighting and staying powers. But hard as the work of the day had been, and stubborn and bitter as was the fighting in each army, the coming Sunday was to witness a battle eclipsing this and surpassing all the war for its pluck and deadliness. While the weary commanders were preparing for this day, and tired sentinels kept faithful watch, the wounded suffered and the armies slept. THE RATTLE OF THE TWENTIETH. During the evening of the 19th, the corps commanders were assembled at headquarters at Widow Glenn's house, the reports of the positions and con dition of their commands heard and orders .given for the disposition of the troops for the following day. Thomas' corps, with the troops which had reinforced him, was to maintain substantially his present line, with Brannan in reserve. McCook, maintaining his picket line till it was driven in, was to close on Thomas, his right refused, and covering the position at Widow Glenn's, and Crittenden to have two divisions in reserve near the junction of McCook's and Thomas' lines, to be able to succor either. Plans having been explained, written orders given to each and read in the presence of all, the wearied corps commanders returned about midnight to their commands. The morning dawned cool and beautiful, though heavy fog, or the smoke of the previous day's battle, hung over the fields, greatly impeding the prep arations of each commander. For an hour or two after daylight there were few indications of the terrific scenes which were to be crowded into that Sabbath day. Both sides had improved the night to rectify and strengthen their lines. Bragg had received important reinforcements, General Longstreet with his command having arrived during the night, and he placed him in command of the left wing of the Confederate army. He brought with him the two divisions of Hood's and McLaws' from the Army of Virginia. General Polk was assigned to the right wing of the army. ¦ Three brigades of Longstreet's command had taken part in the battle of the 19th; all the balance were fresh.. Gist's Brigade, of Walker's Corps, had also arrived from Mississippi, and then came also part of Pemberton's paroled troops from Vicksburg; with these heavy reinforcements, Bragg was enabled to make many changes ini his lines, and he planned to begin his attack at daylight on the left of the Union lines. Rosecrans, on the other hand, had no reinforcements with which to relieve. or help his lines, and most of his army had marched nights and fought days,. without rest and with scanty food, and every available man had been. engaged. It was grim business for this contracted line of Union heroes to face the eleven divisions of infantry and two of cavalry, one of the latter fighting as 50 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. infantry, which Bragg had before them. Their only advantage was in their shorter lines, and the fact that it was necessary for Bragg to attack, while, for the most part they could remain on the defensive. They were, besides, in excellent spirits and confident of their powers. Under cover of the fog in the shelter of the woods on that quiet Sabbath morning the two armies had brought their lines face to face at 9 o'clock; there was scarcely at any point the length of a tiger's spring between them. Bragg had 212 regiments organized into 42 brigades. There were in all 173 infantry regiments and 11 cavalry, which were dismounted and fought as infantry, 28 cavalry regiments who fought as such, and 50 batteries. Rosecrans had 158 regiments organized into 33 brigades. There were 141 regiments of infantry, 18 of cavalry and 36 batteries. This tremendous array was pushed close against a Union front of only two miles and a half. At 9 o'clock that Sabbath service of all the gods of war began. It broke full- toned with its infernal music over the Union left, and continued there till noon. Let us look for a moment at the Union line. John Beatty's brigade had been stretched as a thin line from Baird's left to the Lafayette road, and across it King's Regulars former the left of Baird; Scribner, his center, and Starkweather his right. They had no reserves. Johnston's Division was on the right of Baird; Dodge's and Baldwin's Brigades on the front line, and Willich in reserve, next was Palmer's Division, with Cruft and Hazen on the line, and Grose in reserve. Reynolds on Palmer's right, reached the Lafay ette road again with Turchin in the line and King in reserve. The Union line was protected by log barricades built by the troops during the early morning hours. The line thus ran around the Kelley farm, and was estab lished from 50 to 100 yards within the woods, which skirted the great open space in their rear. This field which lay along the state road for half a mile and was a quarter of a mile wide, became the scene of almost continuous and ever brilliant fighting. Besides the great battles along the main lines surrounding it. there were during the day five distinct brigade charges over it, one of Stanley's, one of Vanderveer's, one of Grose's, a fourth by Willich, and a fifth by Turchin. Bragg's orders were to attack successively by divisions from right to left. Breckenridge struck first, coming in single line, swinging around towards the state road to gain Baird's rear, Adams on his-right, Stoval in the center, .and Helm on the left. This latter brigade struck Scribner's breastworks. and was instantly shattered there. Helm rode bravely among his troops, urging them forward, and fell dead while thus engaged. Two of his colonels were killed and the other two wounded. Stoval pushed in with dauntless pluck against the regulars on the left of Scribner, but King's men hurled them back. The rebels assaulted bravely but uselessly. Adams had swept in on John Beatty's thin line, and broken it; still it fought with undaunted courage, .yielding doggedly and by the inch, and finally, Adams, retraded by the disas ter on his left, was at bay. At this juncture came Stanley's Brigade, from Negley's Division, near the center with deployed lines. It swept over the Kelley field from near the house, and plunged into the woods in the rear of Beatty. Well might those who were witnessing that threatening move toward the Union rear hold their breaths as Stanley disappeared and thus wait for his volleys and their effect. In, a moment they came, then his Tattling line fire, then the cheer of a charge, and the first attack of Brecken ridge had ended in sore defeat. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 51 But Cleburne had in turn advanced. He, like Breckenridge, came iu single line. Polk, of Cleburne's assaulted Starkweather's front, while Wood, of the same command, extended the attack as far as the right of Baldwin. The remnants of Helm, under Colonel Lewis, still assisted against Scribner, but soon Cleburne's Division was repelled at every point with terrible loss. The Confederate officers engaged describe the effect of the Union artillery throughout this attack as the most destructive in their experience. Thus Bragg's first attack had failed. The Union forces were exultant, and so strong were their skirmish demonstrations that Hill, who was under orders to organize a second and much stronger attack, paused to first prepare his own lines against assault. Walker's reserve corps was brought up and distributed along the shattered points of Breckenridge's and Cleburne's lines. The organization of rebel divisions being thus destroyed, the attack became largely one of brigades acting independently, each rushing at the Union lines. There were ten rebel brigades engaged in the movement from the Union left to Palmer's position, and beyond this point Stewart's Division co-oper ated by assaulting Reynolds' front and Brannan's line. Wood, of Cleburne's Division, who had previously stormed the angle of the Union works, on Johnston's right, and been repulsed, assisted by Deshler of the same division, thinking this angle the flank of the barricades again, struck obliquely and with fury, with the idea of turning them. Instead these daring Confederates went to pieces, on Baldwin's brigade, of Johnston's Division, and on Palmer's front. Walthall assaulted the corresponding angle of Scribner's position, and though he carried his men within pistol range of the crests, he was beaten back with heavy loss. Gist, acting with Helm's broken line, attacked furi ously, but was driven back. Colquit, still further to the right, came upon King's Regulars, was overwhelmed by a withering flank fire, and Colquit went down with hundreds of his men, and many of his best officers were killed. Ector's and Wilson's Brigades, of Walker's Division, advanced to help, but met the same fate, but Govan, with his brigade, met with better success; by hot fighting and weight of numbers, he bore back John Beatty's weak line, and tbe situation on the Union left became once more .serious. Everything but this along the line of the second attack by the rebel right failed. It began to look as if the rebel victory was dawning here, and the triumph of Bragg's plan for turning the Union left had come, for Breck enridge in this second advance had swung his lines much farther to his right, aud by a wide wheel had brought his right across the state road, and so between the Union left and Rossville. Thus formed with lines perpen dicular to the state road, he began to march directly towards the Kelley house, and the rear of Reynolds' Union lines, just beyond it. While the remnants of the left so badly broken, first under Helm and then his suc cessor, were entangled with Beatty and Stanley, his two other brigades, Adams on the right and Stoval on the left, burst out of the woods on the north side of the Kelley field, quickly rectifying their lines, and bore rapidly down on Reynolds. It was half a mile to his position over smooth and open ground. From the start the rebel skirmishers could throw their bullets into the rear of the Union lines. It was a movement threatening dire disaster, The moment it developed in the rear of Baird, the rebel forces in front reopened their fire and advanced on Reynolds and Brannan. Thus, taken in front and flank and full in the rear, and outnumbered at every point, it seemed as if there was no salvation for the Union left, but it came, and at 52 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. that point when Confederate victory seemed sure, full defeat fell suddenly upon them. Thomas, watching the progress of Breckenridge's flank attack, had sent to Rosecrans for Brannan. At that moment the battle had not extended to the latter, but just as Rosecrans' order to go to Thomas reached Brannan, signs of heavy and immediate assault on his front became apparent. He well used his discretion, and remained on the line until he could report the situation to Rosecrans, but in the meantime, in partial compliance with the order, he sent Fred Vanderveer's Brigade, which constituted his reserve, to the help of the left. This brigade deployed, marched rapidly into line towards the Kelley house, and came into the field less than two hundred yards in advance of Breckenridge's lines. Though presenting its flank to the enemy when he was first discovered, it changed front in the open ground under fire; charged the rebel line, broke it, following it back into the woods, and after an hour's desperate fighting, drove these two brigades, with their artillery, entirely clear of the Union left. It then returned to a point near the Kelley house. Govan, of Walker's Division next on the left of Breckenridge, had, how ever, gained a lodgement on the line which Beatty had so stubbornly held. Then came another Union charge over the Kelley field. Palmer, under Thomas' orders, sent Grose with his reserve brigade to clear Baird's imme diate left, moving from the edge of the woods back into the open field. Grose formed in double lines, moved at double-quick across the rear of Johnson and Baird, and rushed with cheers into the woods on the north side of the field. In a few moments his volleys were pouring into the face of Govan. The latter's troops fought desperately, but their supports upon each flank had been previously broken, and soon of bitter loss gave way. It was then noon, and so badly shattered was Bragg's right that it was nearly 5 o'clock before another attack could be organized on this ground, and thenceforth the Union left was safe, but the right of the Union lines had not fared so well. Simultaneously with the appearance of Breckenridge in the Kelley field, events were hastening to an appalling consummation in the Union center. Stewart, the right of Longstreet's wing, moved to the assault in Reynolds' front with three brigades; he rushed upon Turchin, who formed Reynolds' advance, and Hazen, of Palmer's Division, next on the left, while his left also involved Brannan's left. On his right he also had the co-operation of Wood's and Deshler's Brigades, of Cleburne's Division. Deshler was killed as the movement began, and Roger Q. Mills, of Texas, succeeded him. As this was the memorable attack which lead to the break in the Union center, it is worthy of close attention. The Confederate General Stewart, in his report, thus describes it: "For several hundred yards both lines pushed on under the most terrific fire it has been my fortune to witness. The enemy retired, and our men, though mowed down at every step, rushed on at double-quick, until at length the brigade on the right of Brown broke in confusion, expos ing him to an enfilading fire. He continued on, however, some fifty or seventy-five yards further, when his right regiments give way in disorder and retired to their original positions. His center and left, however, fol lowed by tbe gallant Clayton and indomitable Bate pressed on, passing the cornfield in front of the burnt house, and to a distance of two hundred or three hundred yards beyond the Chattanooga road, driving the enemy within his line of intrenchments, and passing a battery of four guns, which were afterwards taken possession of by a regiment from another division. Here HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 53 new batteries being opened by the enemy on our front and flank, heavily- supported by infantry, it became necessary to retire, the command reform ing on the ground occupied before the advance." All this was going on in front of Reynolds and Palmer, while Brecken ridge, as already described, was entering the open field from the north in plain sight from their rear, yet not a single Union soldier left the line. Standing steadfast, they first resisted, as Stewart describes, and then were incited to still .greater action by the brilliant fighting of Vanderveer in their rear, which so unexpectedly brought them the much needed relief. Here the story reaches the event of the break in the Union lines, which is, wildly misunderstood, and has been most unjustly used to throw discredit on General Rosecrans. Just as Longstreet's attack was developing upon Wood's front, the latter received an order from General Rosecrans to "close upon Reynolds as fast as possible and support him." As Brannan was between himself and Reynolds, Wood saw no other way of executing the order, which he deemed imperative, except to withdraw from line and pass to the rear of Brannan. This he did, although the attack was just bursting on his front. It has been persistently claimed to General Rosecrans' detri ment that in the excitement of the height of battle he had issued a blunder ing order. Nothing could be more unjust. The explanation is perfectly simple. General Thomas had sent for Brannan to meet Breckenridge's flank attack. Stewart's attack had struck Reynolds with force and was rapidly developing on Brannan's front. The latter hastily consulted with Reynolds as to the propriety of withdrawing, and both being clear that to. obey the order would open the line to the enemy. Brannan dispatched Van derveer, his reserve, to the left in partial compliance with its terms and then reported to Rosecrans that he had deemed it vitally important to main tain his line till the commanding officer could be advised of the situation. He instantly approved Brannan's action, but just before his message arrived, upon the supposition that he had obeyed the order and gone to Thomas, the noted order to Wood to close to the left on Reynolds had been dispatched. When it reached Wood the attack rallying along Brannan's front has reached his own. Had he exercised the same discretion which Brannan had so wisely displayed, all would have been well, and that nearly fatal break in the Union line would not have occurred. But instantly on reading it, Wood rapidly withdrew his division and started in the rear of Brannan toward Reynolds. Longstreet, who had waited most impatiently till 11 o'clock, before he could move a man to the attack, had solidified his lines before the Union center and left, and the moment Wood left this wide gap for him, Longstreet thrust into it the eight brigades of his central- column of attack. They were formed in three lines, and advancing rapidly, they opened on Brannan's right and rear, and Davis' left, and greatly widened the gap. Brannan threw back his right, losing something from Connell's brigade on that flank, but stubbornly resisting Longstreet's advance as he retired that wing of his division, and he soon re-established on Horse shoe Ridge, near the Snodgrass house, on a line nearly perpendicular to the one he had occupied when Longstreet pushed through the gap left by Wood. The latter had passed rapidly to the rear of Brannan, and though subjected to heavy attack after passing Brannan's left, he was able to establish his line on a lower ridge in the prolongation of Brannan's new position and reaching in the direction of Reynolds. The latter soon retired his right 54 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. slightly and the line was again continuous, except a break between Wood and Reynolds. Into this vacant space Hazen moved under orders from Thomas, and then the line on that part of the field was firmly established. All to the right of Brannan had gone. Negley, with one brigade of his division, which was caught in the gap, had drifted toward Brannan. Davis had moved rapidly into the breastworks which Negley had occupied, and there placed his weak force of two brigades across Longstreet's advance, but after his terrible fighting of the day before he had only 1,200 m:Cv , — -V; ' _K" 'V 3L« ' * '¦-•••* 4S=! »' ,-A>,^^ i'>^--;- vv DOS > f orders, their endurance of so fatiguing a march and their energy and zeal in the undertaking." The regiment was engaged in scouting in the Valley for the following few days, and on September 1 moved down the valley to Jasper. General T. J. Wood, division commander, says in his report: "Late in the afternoon of the 2d I received an order to send one of my Brigades to Shell mound to cross the Tennessee River. The First Brigade was immediately put in motion under this order and under the skillful management of Colonel Buell, was thrown across the River rapidly without accident during the night. The Thirteenth completed its crossing and went into camp on the south side of the River at 6 o'clock on the morning of the 3d, where it remained until HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 127 the 5th, when it took up its line of march towards Chattanooga. In the advance of the Division It reached the junction of the Nashville and Chat tanooga and Trenton Railroad, and took possession in line of battle on the afternoon of the 6th. There had been active skirmishing all this day with the enemy's rear guard. It remained in this position until the 9th, when, by order of General Wood, it led the advance on Chattanooga. It met a small force at the foot of Lookout Mountain, which were soon dislodged, and march ing rapidly on entered Chattanooga about 12 o'clock of the 9th, being the first regiment of the First Brigade to enter the city. The next day the Brigade marched south and camped that night on the north side of the Chickamauga River on the main road leading from Ross ville to Ringgold. During ihe night the Confederate cavalry made a dash into the camp, but were quickly dispersed with but the loss of two men to the regiment. On the morning of the llth the position was changed one mile to the front, under the supervision of General Wood. Late in the day the regiment marched for the Lafayette Road by the way of Reed's Bridge, a distance of eight miles, thence south on this road to Lee and Gordon's Mills, and it now being generally conceded that the enemy were in strong force in the imme diate front, preparations were made for a strong defense of the position. They remained in this position until the morning of the 18th, when the enemy were discovered approaching in strong force on the Lafayette Road, but there was nothing more than slight skirmishing during the day. THE THIRTEENTH REGIMENT IN THE RATTLE OF CHIQKAMAUGA. Extract from a letter written by Lieutenant Howell H. Trask: "Buell's Brigade of Wood's Division, to which the Thirteenth Regiment belonged, was the first infantry to enter Chattanooga. September 9, 1863, some of the Ninety-second Illinois mounted infantry crossed the River in boats and raised the flag before we got there. We camped there one night and the next day marched forward and camped on the Chickamauga River. While we were cooking our supper an alarm was given and we fell in and stood in line of battle for some time. The alarm was caused by some rebel cavalry making a raid upon some of our men who were digging sweet potatoes not far from camp. From there we marched a distance of about four miles to Lee" and Gordon's Mills, on the Chickamauga, where we found a quantity of unbolted flour and other truck hidden under a strawstack in a field. The flour we cooked as best we could, but the result was not as appetizing as one might hope for, yet it served our purpose. We remained here the greater part of the time for six or seven days, Company B camping in the saw-mill while the remainder of the regiment with battery camped on the hill in the rear. On the 18th of September the regiment deployed along the Chickamauga, above the Mills, and watched the river all day and night to keep the enemy from crossing. We could tell by the cloud of dust that they were moving on the other side of the river. They shelled us a little, making one of our men skedaddle from the outlook in the top of a neighboring tree, from which point of vantage he was keeping watch of the enemy's movements. One of the shells cut from a tree a large limb, which fell upon some of Company G, nearly burying them in its branches, but not seriously injuring anyone. 128 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. After dark we heard heavy firing on our left, which we afterwards learned was caused by Wilder's mounted infantry trying to hold the crossing below us. On the 19th, about 10 o'clock a. m., the battle commenced on our left and raged without ceasing until 12 m., when orders were given to return to our Brigade and Division. It was terribly hot and dusty, the woods along the way were on fire. Some of the men could not stand the rapid marching in the great heat and dust and fell behind, not overtaking the regiment until after they had been fighting some time. We marched on the double-quick for three miles, when we came to a clearing, where there was a log house on the knoll. We went into the field, by right file into line, supporting the Twenty-sixth Ohio, and were less than a minute in laying down. The Twenty-sixth broke and ran over us. We raised up and charged the enemy to the fence and remained there until they began to work around to our left and got in an enfilading fire along the line, when we took position in a ditch. We then fell back to the woods, then rallied, drove them back and drew off the field two pieces of artillery belonging to the Eighth Indiana Battery that the rebels had captured. We fought back and forth across the field until dark. At this time Company B had just enough men left to find room behind a log lying near. The night was very cold and the men who were without the protection of blankets suffered extremely. Sometime towards morning we were withdrawn from the field, having held it during the night. The enemy made tw,o attempts to dislodge us, but were unsuccessful. This was one of the hardest experiences of my army life. After having marched several miles on the double-quick across the fields of the battle ground, fighting all the afternoon and going supperless to bed on the cold ground without the kindly warmth of an army blanket to help shut out the cold, and with the groans and cries of the wounded ringing in our sympa thetic ears. We hope we may never be called upon to have such an experi ence again. About daylight we were drawn from the field, drew some rations of hard tack, of which we were greatly in need, and then moved some two miles to the left and took position behind some logs, brush and rails that someone had thrown up for a breastwork. About 11 a. m., and just as our skirmishers were coming in, we had orders to move on the left flank, double-quick. We had gone but a short distance, and were going through a corn field, near the woods, when we were suddenly- attacked from the woods. We lay down, and when the rebels came out again we gave them a volley and charged them with the bayonet, and ran them back into the woods, from where we soon drove them. Company 'A,' being on the skirmish line, was cut off from the regiment, and finding it impossible to get back, fought their way back bravely to Chat tanooga, not regaining their regiment until the following Monday night. We still fought in the middle of the field until the enemy swung around in our rear, through a gap having been left by the oversight of someone, who should have prevented it. The result was we barely escaped capture. We tried to rally on the hill on which Brannan's batteries were stationed; in trying to gain the hill we were a good target for the enemy, who were not slow in taking advantage of it, but they fired too low, and thus we were saved from annihilation. About half survived out of the two hundred and seventeen who went into this battle. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 129 We continued to fall back across Missionary Ridge and remained there that night. Monday, the 21st, we advanced and took position on the hills of Mis sionary Ridge and offered battle all day, but were not attacked. The 13th was on the skirmish line, and their cavalry would come up and feel of us occasionally, and they fired a few shots but they were evidently too badly used up to venture an attack. Toward morning we moved back to Chat tanooga and fortified to the right of Fort Wood. Company B, which had seventeen men when they went into the fight, found they now had just three. They had lost eleven wounded, of whom two were shot through the lungs, one lost an arm and one received thirteen shots drawing blood. Three were taken prisoners and three unharmed. We reached the line of Fort Wood about sunrise on Tuesday morning, the 22d of September, 1863, and found when we had stacked muskets, we had ninety-six men and twelve officers out of the two hundred and seventeen men and officers who went onto the field. Out of this number fourteen were killed, sixty-eight wounded, of whom eleven died. Twenty-five were missing, mak ing a total of one hundred and seven who were gone out of the two hundred who went onto the field. The officers killed were Captains Daniel B. Hosmer and Clark D. Fox. Lieutenant Charles D. Hull is reported as killed in this battle by some author ities, but is now residing in Battle Creek, as very positive proof that rebel bullets did not kill him. He was three times taken prisoner, but managed each time to escape. Company B was at this time in charge of a boy of eighteen, the second lieutenant, whose command it was, having been wounded in the fight upon the hill." Reports of Colonel Joshua B. Culver and Major Willard G. Eaton, Thir teenth Michigan Infantry. Headquarters Thirteenth Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry, Chattanooga, Tenn., September 26, 1863. i Sir— I have the honor herewith to report the actions of the Thirteenth Regi ment Michigan Infantry in the sanguinary battles of the 19th and 20th inst. On the morning of the 18th the regiment was ordered to the south of Messrs. Lee and Gordon's Mills, on the north bank of the Chickamauga, where it was deployed as sharpshooters, excepting one company as a reserve. About 4 o'clock the enemy opened a battery upon our line from the right with shell and grape shot, but did us no damage. This battery was soon silenced by Bradley's Sixth Ohio and Estep's Eighth Indiana Batteries. At about 2 p. m. on the 19th inst. I received orders to ploy my regiment and join the Brigade, which was ordered into action on the Chickamauga road, about one and one-half miles north of Lee and Gordon's Mills, where we formed in line of battle in an open field in front of a belt of timber on the right of the road, and on the left of the Fifty-eighth Indiana, and immediately in rear of the Twenty-sixth Ohio. We had barely taken our position when we received the enemy's fire, who were steadily advancing, pressing back the troops in our front, many of whom passed through our lines. Finding it impossible to use our fire in this posi tion without injuring our own troops, we charged across the field about a hun dred yards to the edge of the timber occupied by the enemy, which position we held about ten minutes, delivering a destructive fire into the enemy's 130 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. massed columns, but as our left flank had been turned, and being raked by an enfilading fire, we were compelled to retire. About this time I was dis abled by a shell, and the command devolved upon Major Eaton, whose report is subjoined: The regiment fell back to the position from which we made the first charge and then rallied and made a second charge and were again flanked and obliged to retire, which we did, and took a position a little to the right and in front of the position from which we made the first and second charges, where we remained during the night. On the morning of the 20th we were ordered with the Brigade to Mission ary Ridge, Where, after drawing rations, we were assigned a position in the rear of the One Hundredth Illinois, in which position we advanced about a mile, and at 10 a. m. were ordered to the extreme right of the Brigade and deployed behind a line of temporary breastworks, Company A being thrown out as skirmishers in advance. Our right being exposed by the withdrawal of the troops with which our line first joined, we threw out Company F to protect it. Holding this position until a few minutes before 11 a. m., we were then ordered to the left and to follow the Eighth Indiana Battery. While making this movement to the left we were attacked. Finding the Twenty- sixth Ohio on our right, joined them and succeeded in holding the enemy in check for a short time, and being obliged to retire, we fell back in good order about one hundred yards. Here being pressed by the enemy in superior num bers, and an open field of about one hundred yards in width in our rear, I determined to charge the enemy's advance and drive them back for the pur pose of gaining time to cross the field, which I believed we should be obliged to do. In this charge we were successful, and gained a position in the woods, but our right was immediately turned and we were again obliged to retire. I then determined to fall back to the woods on the brow of the hill to the rear of the open field where a battery was then stationed, but received orders to take position at a fence about midway in the field, where we held the enemy in check about twenty minutes and were compelled to retire. On arriving at the brow of the hill I found no support, the battery being abandoned, and our right continually turned, we moved to the left and suc ceeded in joining a portion of our Brigade at 6 p. m. near Rossville. Com panies A and F, our skirmishers and flankers, in retiring fell in with the troops on our right and did not join the balance of the regiment until the next day. I desire to call your attention to the gallant and soldierly bearing of Major W. G. Eaton, Adjutant A. B. Case, and the officers and men generally during the battle. Inclosed please find list of killed and wounded and missing. All of which is respectfully submitted. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. B. Culver, Colonel Commanding. Colonel George P. Buell, Commanding First Brigade. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 131 EXTEACT FROM THE REPORT OF COLONEL BUELL. "While my troops were being formed the enemy's balls were whistling about our ears and the battle raging most fiercely, seemed approaching nearer. The formation of my command was not yet complete when everything in my immediate front and left gave way and hundreds of our own men ran through our ranks crying: 'Fall back.' Immediately following the mass of panic- stricken men of our army, and parts of two batteries (all of which passed through and over my men) came the enemy in heavy force on my front and left flank. Knowing my front regiments could not long withstand such a shock I ordered a charge of bayonet with our rear regiment. The attempt was manfully made. They met hundreds of our own men on the fence in front of them. They met artillery and caissons besides the enemy's fire, so that it was impossible to keep any kind of a line, but notwithstanding such obstructions they gained some distance to the front. At this period my brave men, both front and rear lines, strove desperately to hold their ground. The Twenty-sixth Ohio and One Hundredth Illinois had already lost nearly one- half. Just here the slaughter was completed. The Fifty-eighth Indiana and Thirteenth Michigan men fell by scores. Colonel Culver, Thirteenth Mich- gan, was stunned by a shell and Captains Fox and Hosmer fell pierced with bullets. Overpowered on both front and flank, my men faltered and finally fell back about two hundred yards across the field in our rear. Here my men were rallied and again they charged forward, retook the ground and also three pieces of artillery that they lost in the first part of the action. Again the enemy came forward like an avalanche and forced my men back a short dis tance. Again my men rallied and retook the same position they had formerly held. The enemy came forward a third time and were effectually repulsed and the sun went down with my command holding the field, a short distance in advance of its original position. The men lay on their arms in this position until 3 o'clock in the morning of the 20th, when they moved to the left about one and one-half miles, where they were permitted to make coffee and draw rations." At about 9 o'clock of the 20th the Brigade was moved forward and put in position behind some temporary works of rails and logs— in two lines of bat tle with skirmishers about seventy-five yards to the front. The Thirteenth Michigan was immediately deployed on the right with a heavy line of skir mishers. At this time the enemy were making bold demonstrations in my front, so much so that -whenever one of the skirmishers moved or rose to his feet he was shot at. About half past 11 a. m. I received orders to move my Bri gade by the left flank for the purpose of supporting some portion of the line to our left. We had scarcely moved one Brigade when the shock came like an avalanche on my right flank. My own little Brigade seemed as if swept from the field. The enemy came around my right flank and shot down thirty-five horses of my battery, thus capturing the same. I returned with a portion of my command to the left, obliquely fighting at the crest of every hill for a distance of at least three- fourths of a mile. At one point we advanced again from one hill to the next in front and fought the left flank of a long line of battle (all of which was in full view) until we were almost surrounded and flanked on our right. During the after- 132 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. noon the command was on the right of General Brannan. About 4 o'clock the ammunition entirely failed, we had already taken all from the dead and wounded around us. The men fixed bayonets as a last resort to hold the hi'l. As night closed the scene the whole rebel army, then almost surrounding us, gave one long exultant cheer. Our few thousand men who, without am munition, had so long struggled and held the trying position, being by vo means disheartened, answered their cheers with bold and defiant shouts. I take pleasure in commending to their superiors Colonel Culver and Major Eaton, of the Thirteenth Michigan, for their endurance and bravery through out the whole conflict. On Saturday night of the 19th nearly every wounded man of my Brigar'e was removed from the scene of battle to the division field hospital and left there in charge of Surgeon Ewing, Thirteenth Michigan, and others. Fron the wounded men who have arrived from that hospital I am pleased to learn that these officers have conducted themselves in the execution of their duties with great credit and honor. Through no fault of their's these officers are now in the hands of the enemy awaiting exchange. Your acceptance of this short tribute to them as faithful and efficient offi cers will be but conferring upon them what is justly their due. I have the honor to remain, Respectfully, George P. Buell. Commanding Brigade. The following extracts from the report of Colonel William H. Young, Twenty-sixth Ohio, are interesting as showing the desperate character of the fighting on the 19th: "Again the enemy was closing up on my flank, not thirty yards from it, and rapidly gaining my rear. I still hoped, although I had not seen it, there was some support on my left, and depending for support for my right upon a rally that was being made around some old buildings two hundred and fifty yards distant on the prolongation of my right (the Viniard House and outbuild ings) I determined to hold the fence a few minutes longer, but it was of no avail. There was now almost a semi-circle of fire around us. It -was growing hotter every moment. We were beginning to receive the fire of our own troops rallied in the ditch below us and in the woods beyond. The five left companies had lost from one-half to three-quarters of their numbers, the lef ' center company had but five men left from twenty-four and one of its officers was killed. I now gave the command to fall back to the ditch. Many wounded had already sought this as a place of refuge from the storm of mus ketry, grape shot and shell now sweeping the field from the edge of the tim ber on each side. From this third position another defense was now opened, and for a few minutes vigorously and effectually maintained. But this line, like the other, was flanked and raked with a murderous fire. Many of the wounded were again struck even the second and third time. The troops collected around the old buildings, before mentioned, were suc cessfully holding the enemy's left and, under cover of their fire, a brave rem nant of my command with myself made good our retreat by the right and rear through a heavy storm of bullets. I immediately proceeded to reform my regiment, and after moving my colors into the open field succeeded in rallying the bulk of my surviving men. Supported by a few men of the Thirteenth Michigan, bravely rallied around their colors, and another frag- HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 133 mentary regiment of, I think, Davis' Division, and a few brave spirits rf various regiments under immediate command of General Wood, we charged across the field under cover of Bradley's and Estep's Batteries, but in the face of a galling fire. We were joined as we charged by many brave fellows who had stayed in the ditch and a few others who had remained by the fence." Members of all the regiments of the Brigade were now fighting as one regi ment. The line staggered for a moment under the concentrated fire opened from the woods, but they drove the enemy steadily until they reached the original line. They then changed front to the rear on the left company, taking cover behind a fence at the edge of the woods, which was held for a short time, when Colonel Young, seeing the uselessness of holding the position, fell back again to the ditch, drawing by hand one of Estep's guns, which had been abandoned earlier in the fight. It was now night and the movement of the day over with. In reporting the battle of Sunday, the 29th, Colonel Young says of the Thir teenth, in connection with his own regiment: "There was no support any where in sight. Every man in the command saw and felt the hopelessness of attempting to stand at this point, and as the batteries were already moving off, and finding it impossible to rally my command in any force, I fell back to the woods, assisting one of the batteries as we retired. The woods here were filled with fugitives from various commands, utterly disorganized, and in spite of the efforts of my own and officers of other commands, were making their way to the rear. With the assistance of Major Hammond and several line officers of the One Hundredth Illinois and Lieutenant Lillie. of the Thir teenth Michigan, bearing his regimental colors, were rallied on the crest of another hill, perhaps two hundred yards in the rear of the first. Whereupon, after consultation with my own officers and those already mentioned of the Thirteenth Michigan, finding themselves entirely unsupported and with no object to remain longer where nothing could be effected, and capture was almost certain, decided to retire." Speaking of the Thirteenth Michigan and the Brigade to which it belonged, General Wood, in his report of the battle, says: "It affords me much pleasure to record a Samaritan deed, rendered by Colonel Harrison, of the Thirty- ninth Indiana Mounted Infantry. The men were very thirsty, but the dis tance to water was so great that but few could hope to get permission to go for it. During the night Colonel Harrison brought to us some four hundred canteens of good water, which was distributed, and proved a cooling drop to the thirsty soldiers." This was the only water the members of the Thirteenth had been able to get since the night before. ¦'» The official reports of casualties in the engagements of the 19th and 20th of September gives the effective strength of the Thirteenth Michigan on the morning of the 19th as follows: Commissioned officers, 25; enlisted men-, 195; a total of 220. Killed, com missioned officers, 2; enlisted men, 11; wounded, commissioned officers, 6, enlisted men, 61; missing, commissioned officers, 2; enlisted men, 24 making a total, commissioned officers, 10; enlisted men, 96; total, 106, but a trifle less than one-half their number. It was learned later that some of those reported as missing were killed and others wounded, nearly every nan being thus accounted for. After taking position in Chattanooga the regiment entered upon duty in the trenches and upon the picket lines, and later in engineer service. For de'ail of this service see Engineer Brigade. 1* TWENTY-FIRST MICHIGAN INFANTRY. In the organization of the army, the Twenty-first Michigan Infantry, under command of Colonel William B. McCreery, formed a part of Lytle's Brigade, Sheridan's Division, McCook's Corps, the regiment numbering for duty three hundred men and officers. At the opening of the Tullahoma campaign, in June, 1893, General Will iam H. Lytle, a distinguished Ohio soldier, was placed in command of the brigade. The campaign was one of constant marching and fighting, the Fourth of July being celebrated by a combat with the enemy at Cumber land Mountain, near Dechard, in which the enemy was driven from the vicinity. The division continued on its route over the mountains, descending into Crow Creek Valley, following the line of the railroad through Anderson and Stevenson to Bridgeport, Alabama, -which for some weeks became the head quarters of the division. The corn of the valleys had become fit for roasting ears, the blackberries on the mountain sides were ripening in abundance, and with the fresh meat obtained from swine that roamed the woods, and that were known to the soldiers as "Alabama Sunfish," the rank and file fared well. On August 29th, the movement to cross the Tennessee River began, but owing to the many interruptions and delays, the regiment did not cross the river with its brigade until the morning of September 2. It remained in Hog ¦Jaw Valley at the base of Sand Mountain until the afternoon of the 4th, when it moved up the mountain and camped at Warren's Mill. The morning of the 5th, marched early, passing down the mountain, camping at Trenton, Georgia, that evening, and the next day marched five miles up the valley. On the morning of the 7th, marched six miles up the valley, camping at Benhams, eleven miles from Trenton, from which point the regiment made several scouting expeditions, in search of the enemy, on the 8th and 9th. On the morning of the 10th marched fifteen miles, via Winston's, to Little River Falls, on Lookout Mountain. Roving down the mountain the next morning, camping at Alpine in Broomtown Valley, where the brigade remained until the afternoon of the 13th, when having been detailed as part of the rear guard of the corps train, it moved to the foot of the mountain. On Monday, the 14th, before dayljght, the regiment was in motion, retrac ing its way up the mountain, and after a tedious day's work assisting the trains up the road, a most arduous and trying task, it camped, worn and dusty, at the falls of Little River, where it remained until the morning of the 16th; during the intervening time, which was the first since crossing the Tennessee River, an opportunity was afforded them of a bath and a chance to wash their clothing of the accumulated soil and the aggrega tion of fleas, wood-ticks and other vermin that inhabited their clothing, making life a constant scratch. The day at Little River Falls was a bright page in the campaigns of Chickamauga. At 5 o'clock on the morning of the GENERAL WM. B. McCREERY. Twenty-first Infantry. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 135 16th, the march was continued in the direction of Dougherty's Gap (about ten miles). On the 17th it marched along the ridge of the mountains, and down Steven's Gap into McLemore's Cove, camping near the Gap. On the morning of the 18th was relieved from its arduous work of guard ing trains, and joined its division, when one regiment of the brigade advanced to Lee's Mill, with General Sheridan, where it was intended to make a camp that night; but at sunset, the bugles sounded the "General," and a tedious night's march followed through a dusty, parched valley, with out water for man or beast. Adding to the discomforts of the night, those in advance had fired the rail fences on either side of the road, compelling those who followed to pass between the blazing lines or tramp outside through fields and forest (halting at Pond Spring in the morning). At 11 o'clock, the 19th, after but a slight rest, the command moved again in the direction of Crawfish Springs, at which point the battle was already in pro gress. As the command gathered in toward Crawfish Springs, the regiment, long without water, was hurriedly advanced to the front, where the firing was then heavy, both from musketry and artillery. Gradually the entire army moved to the left, the division going into line of battle at Crawfish Springs to cover right and rear. Crawfish Springs is a body of clear, cold water about two rods wide and twelve inches deep, that rushes from under a rocky cliff in a never-ceasing sparkling stream, bordered on either side by high rocky banks as it winds its way along the woods. As the regiment came in sight of this water they broke like a flock of sheep, many of the men nearly speechless, their parched tongues and lips covered with dust. Panting and almost exhausted, they rushed down the rocky banks, threw themselves flat on the ground, dashing their faces into the water. Upon the opposite side, in the woods, the continuous crash of mus ketry gave ample evidence of the presence- of the enemy, and the banks of the stream were lined with wounded men, the blue and the gray mingling their blood in the pure water. The men filled their canteens, then moved again to the left, skirmishing constantly with the enemy, arriving at Lee and Gordon's Mill and the ford at Chickamauga long after dark. The enemy, having possession of the ford, made a stubborn resistance. The night was dark, and the flashing of the muskets in the dense woods, the shouts of officers and men, the cries of the wounded, made the time and scene one to tax the strongest nerves and most courageous hearts. Arriving at Lee and Gordon's Mill, the brigade was placed in position to hold the ford, the Eighty-eighth Illinois and Twenty-flrst Michigan, with two sections of the Eleventh Indiana Battery, being posted at the ford, the bal ance of the brigade being farther to the left, on the Chattanooga road, near the Chickamauga River. The movement of the division continued to the left, the regiment being the extreme right of the infantry. At about 3 o'clock on the morning of the 20th they moved to the Widow Glenn's house, which the day before had been the headquarters of the army, the regiment being again placed on the extreme right. The men exhausted by days and nights of continual marching, dropped upon the ground in their places, grasping their guns, and in a mo ment were sleeping. At daylight a dense fog obscured everything, and in consequence both armies remained passive. The lines on the right were again drawn closer to the Glenn house to a better position. Every man, from colonel down, busied himself constructing defensive works. Rails, logs, stones, and everything movable, were thrown into line as protection. 136 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. The Glenn house, a small log structure, with porch on the north side and a large stone chimney at one end, was situated upon a slight knoll, the ground descending upon every side. To the southeast was a large cultivated field, quite thickly studded with dead trees— girdlings ; on all other sides were for ests of large oak trees. The group of small buildings, corn.cribs and stables, were demolished and the material placed in the defenses, the chinking between the logs of the house knocked out and a detail placed within to fire between the logs. Company B, under command of Lieutenant Barr, armed with Colt's revolv ing rifles, were sent out to the front as skirmishers. About 8 o'clock the fog and smoke began to lift. General Sheridan placed Lieutenant C. E. Belknap, with six men of Company H, some distance to the right of Company B, behind a rail fence running at right angles to that behind which Company B was sta tioned, making this detail the extreme right of the infantry forces of the army. About 9 o'clock the engagement opened far to the left, but for some time all remained quiet in front of General Sheridan's division. Gradually the noise of battle increased until it became one continuous roar, so deafen ing that there was no distinction between artillery and musketry. Dense clouds of smoke marked the lines as it ascended above the tree tops, the very ground trembling beneath the shock as the battle, increasing in fury and vol ume, gradually approached from the left. It being soon discovered that an interval existed between Sheridan's Division and the lines to the left, the deficient brigades were hurried, one at a time, to close the gap. The move ment of the division, so rapid and unexpected, gave no time to relieve the skirmish line, then heavily engaged, and thus the entire force of skirmishers of the division were separated from their respective commands, the Twenty- first moving away from its fortified position without Company B, and the detachment of Company H. Disaster had overtaken the right wing of the army at this time. The order of battle in the enemy's line had reached Long- street's command, whose troops formed in heavy columns to advance, out numbering our men two to one, driving everything before them in confusion. Into this tornado of war the brigade rushed, the Twenty-first going into line on the double-quick on the right in dense woods. The ground in front of the new line was covered with a mass of disorganized men in an almost hand- to-hand conflict. Advancing through these disorganized forces, the regiment were face to face with the enemy in desperate combat. For a time the enemy were repulsed, then the rebel troops, swarming in on the right and left, forced the regiment to withdraw to escape total destruction. The killed and wounded outnumbered the unhurt. On the left of the regiment were two guns of a battery whose men and horses were all disabled, and in an effort to save them the men rallied about them, the conflict becoming hand to hand, stones, bayonets and clubbed muskets aiding the deadly bullet in its victims. The colors of the regiment, borne in brave hands, went down repeatedly, its gallant bearers lying' dead or wounded among the trees and rocks. Here the gallant brigade commander, General Lytle, was killed, the brave and beloved commander. Col. McCreery, desperately wounded, and Lieutenant Colonel Morris B. Wells killed, and Captain Edgar Smith mortally wounded, but to mention names of those who grandly honored their state and country would be but a repetition of all the names on the rolls that day. It was here the enemy, by their overwhelming numbers, gained a partial victory, but at fearful cost of life. General Sheridan, in his report, says: HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 137 "On the morning of the 20th I rearranged my lines and found myself in a strong position on the extreme right, but disconnected from the troops on my left. About 9 o'clock the engagement again opened by a heavy assault upon the left, while everything was quiet in my front. To resist the assault that was being made on the left, the interior divisions were again moved. About 11 o'clock the brigade of Colonel Laiboldt, composed of the Second and Fifteenth Missouri, Forty-fourth and Seventy-third Illinois, was directed to move to the left and occupy a portion of the front, which had been covered by General Negley. Before getting into this position, however, the ground was occupied by Carlin's brigade, of Davis' division, and Laiboldt was directed to take position on a very strong ridge in his rear, with directions to deploy on the ridge and hold it, so as to prevent Davis' flank from being turned. Word was sent to General McCook of the disposition which had been made, which he approved. Immediately afterward I received orders to support General Thomas with two brigades. I had just abandoned my position and was moving at a dou ble-quick, when the enemy made a furious assault with overwhelming num hers on Davis and myself, even covering the front of the position I had just Abandoned. Davis was driven from his lines, and Laiboldt, whose brigade was in column of regiments, was ordered by Major General McCook to charge, deploying to the front. The impetuosity of the enemy's charge and the inability of Laiboldt's command to fire on account of the ground in his front being covered with Davis' men, who, rushing through his ranks, broke his brigade, and it was also driven. (Sic.) In the meantime I had received the most urgent orders to throw in my other two brigades. This I did at a double-quick, forming the brigade of General Lytle, composed of the Thirty- «ixth and Eighty-eighth Illinois, Twenty-fourth Wisconsin, and the Twenty- first Michigan, and Colonel Bradley's brigade, now commanded by Colonel N. H. Walworth, to the front under a terrible fire of musketry from the -enemy. Many of the men were shot down before facing to the front. After a stubborn resistance, the enemy drove me back nearly to the Lafayette road, a distance of about 300 yards. At this point the men again rallied and drove the enemy back with terrible slaughter, regaining the line of the ridge on which Colonel Laiboldt had originally been posted. The Fifty-first Illinois captured the colors of the Twenty-fourth Alabama. A number of -prisoners were also captured at the same time. Here, unfortunately, the enemy had strong supports, while I had none to relieve my exhausted men, and my troops were again driven back to the Lafayette road after a gallant resistance. In this engagement I had the misfortune to lose General Lytle, command ing my First Brigade, and many of the bravest and best officers of my com mand. After crossing the road my division was again formed on the ridge which overlooked the ground where this sanguinary contest had taken place, the enemy manifesting no disposition to continue the engagement further. I here learned positively what I had before partially seen, that the divisions still further to my left had been driven, and that I was completely cut off. I then determined to conduct myself with the troops to General Thomas, by moving on the arc of a circle until I struck the Dry Creek Valley road, by which I hoped to form a junction. In the meantime I was joined by a portion 138 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. of the division of General Davis, under command of General Carlin, and a number of stragglers from other divisions. On reaching the Dry Creek Valley road, I found that the enemy had moved parallel to me and had also arrived at the road, thus preventing my joining General Thomas by that route. I then determined to move quickly on Ross ville and form a junction with him on his left flank via the Lafayette road. This was successfully accomplished about 5:30 p. m. Before undertaking this movement I disencumbered myself of sixteen pieces of artillery, forty-six caissons, one entire battery, and a portion of another battery, belonging to other divisions, which I had found in wild confusion and collected where I first reformed my lines." To the rear a short distance were low hills. Here the regiment rallied around their colors, scarcely half of the number of an hour before, or, from the best authority obtainable, less than one hundred strong. The enemy still advancing both on right and left threatened to surround them, and again they moved to the rear, gathering up fragments of other commands until they took position near the south face of Missionary Ridge. The scene was one of utmost confusion, thousands of wounded men and hundreds of stragglers filled the woods and roads, sound men seeking their regiments, wounded men trying to go to the rear for treatment. Broken wagons and artillery cais sons filled the roads and forced the moving troops to the fields and woods. Slowly the regiment moved along until 10 o'clock at night, when they were permitted for the first time during the day to rest. Dropping on the ground under the trees on the hillside, most of the men were soon soundly sleeping. Others too hungry to sleep, gathered about little fires and made coffee. It is necessary here to go back to the part of the regiment at the Glenn house. They had become engaged on the skirmish line about the time the brigade moved away. Lieutenant Barr, commanding Company B, had received no special orders. Lieutenant Belknap, commanding detachment of Company H, upon extreme right, received orders from General Sheridan direct: "Hold this line as long as you can, then fall back to the house and stay there." The men were stationed behind a rail fence bordering a thick wood. Scarcely had they been placed when the enemy were seen advancing through the woods and firing commenced. For some time the line was main tained, but overwhelming numbers drove the entire line of skirmishers in from every point, rallying at the Glenn house, where for an hour they fought desperately. About four hundred men from various regiments of the divi sion gathered here, soon to become entirely surrounded. There were but two things to do, fight it out to death or surrender, to be starved in rebel pris ons. No man gave a thought to the latter, and for an hour the unequal fight went on. and many of the defenders lay on the ground dead or wounded. The conflict attracted the attention of General Wilder, whose brigade of mounted infantry were some distance to the right and rear, who came to the rescue, charging through the Confederate lines. In this movement one hundred and eighty-four prisoners were taken and sent to Chattanooga; also two of the enemy's brass field guns, which, the horses being killed, had to be left. By direction of General Wilder, those detachments moved a short distance to the rear on a high knoll, where for a time it supported Lilly's Battery, then firing rapidly grape and cannister into a disorganized mass of Confeder ates, in the ravines between the hills; but, a few rods below, in this the detachment joined, the men standing between the guns and the battery, fir- HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 139 ing directly in a mass of men who soon rapidly retreated, leaving the ground thickly strewn with their dead and wounded. General Wilder then directed the detachment to the Dry Valley road. Passing along the dense woods, over hills and through valleys, after several miles' travel, joined the regiment near Rossville Gap late in the night. Exhausted with the fatigues and trials of the day, the men sank upon the ground midst the rocks and brush, bruised, bleeding and famished, and were soon sleeping. The battle fought about the Widow Glenn's house on Sunday, the 20th, has been the subject of much debate in the study of the location, as it formed a most important part in the fates of the battle of that date, as the publication of the reports of both Confederate and Federal commanders are studied, and it was not until after the publication of the rebellion records that the importance of the isolated combat became clear. It is clearly shown by the reports of Confederate commanders that this action caused delays in the advance of their lines that gave time for the line of General Thomas to be formed and prepared for the Confederate advance upon his right flank. General J. T. Wilder, commander of the brigade of mounted infantry, says in his official report of the battle about the Glenn house: "On the morning of the 20th, I was directed by General Rosecrans, in person, to take up a position on the right of General McCook's line. I immediately did so in a very strong position on the crest of the east slope of Missionary Ridge, about one-quarter of a mile south of the Widow Glenn's house. We lay here until half-past eleven. * * * At this moment desperate fighting was heard down the line to the left. * * * As the troops on my left moved from their position, a column of rebels five lines deep assaulted them, breaking and dis persing the troops at my left and driving them by weight of numbers into the woods in their rear. * * * My command was at this time advancing by regiments in line of battle. The 98th Illinois immediately changed front to the left and charged double- quick at the rebels who had taken a battery stationed at Mrs. Glenn's house, and retook the battery. At this time a force of the enemy, who had been menacing my right, fell back with but little fighting, apparently under the impression that their right had been driven back." There has long been an uncertainty about the hour when the troops left the position at the Glenn house, and how long the position was held by the skir mishers who remained there until relieved by Colonel Wilder's Brigade. From the best evidence obtainable, it seems clear that the last regiment of Sheridan's Division left the position about 11 o'clock, and the skirmish com panies occupied the position very soon after. Mrs. Weathers, who owned the adjoining farm and lived very near the Glenn house, sought refuge in the hills a short distance in the rear of the position occupied by Colonel Wilder's Brigade. She reports as having seen the smoke -from the burning Glenn house between 12 and 1 o'clock. The house was set on fire in some manner unknown to the writer while the fighting was at its hottest. Many wounded men had sought shelter fram the combat in the house and outbuildings, which also caught fire, it is supposed from the house. In the desperate char acter of the fighting' and the great excitment of the hour, the wounded in the buildings were forgotten, and some of them were burned. Mrs. Weathers says she visited the location the next day and found the charred remains of two men in the shuck pen (corn crib), two others just out- 140 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. side of the buildings, and five other bodies in the ashes of the house, making nine in all. Whether these men were all dead at the time of the fire, or too severely wounded to escape unaided from the buildings, will remain an unknown problem. She also says the ground about the house was strewn with the dead of both armies, the Union and Rebel soldiers lying all about among the trees. Some of the dead were buried shortly after, but many of them in the thick woods and in the ravines among the rocks were never moved from the places where they died. General Patton Anderson, commanding a brigade of Hindman's Confeder ate Division, says in his report, referring to his position near the Glenn house: "I continued in pursuit a half mile or more, when I found my lines imper fect by reason of some being able to follow faster than others. Before a new alignment had been completed, a staff officer from General Hindman recalled me from further pursuit on account of a flank fire which had been opened by the enemy with artillery and small arms on my rear and left regiments." After reforming, the command was marched back by General Hindman's order in the direction from which it had advanced, a distance of about one- half or three-quarters of a mile. Colonel W. F. Tucker, Forty-first Mississippi Infantry, says of this en counter in his official report: "As stated, the right of my regiment being nearly in rear of Manigault's Brigade, no one supporting me on my left. * * * This caused my left to be largely overlapped by the enemy's right, and as soon as his line (Manigault's) broke, a battery on my left threw a murderous fire of grape and cannister up my line, while the infantry from the same point fired several volleys into us with deadly effect. Here I lost most of the men from my regiment re ported as killed or wounded. * * * The regiment went into action 502 strong and lost 24 killed, 164 wounded, and 9 missing." General Sheridan further says in his report: "The battle of the 20th was fought under the most disadvantageous cir cumstances, without time being given to form line of battle, without sup ports, and contending against four or five divisions. The division gave up Its ground after a sanguinary contest, with a loss of 96 of its gallant officers and 1,421 of its brave men." After the death of General Lytle, Colonel Silas Miller, Thirty-sixth Illinois, assumed command of the brigade, and the following extracts from his report are made: "At 11 a. m. of the 19th, the command moved towards Gordon's Mills, near which point the action was then in progress. This brigade was placed in posi tion to hold the ford at the Mills, the Eighty-eighth Illinois and Twenty-first Michigan, with two sections of the Eleventh Indiana Battery, being posted at the ford, the Thirty-sixth Illinois and Twenty-fourth Wisconsin, with the remaining section, being farther to the left near the barricade erected the previous night by the division of General Wood, on the Chattanooga road near Chickamauga creek. Sunday, the 20th, at 3:30 a. m., the command moved via Chattanooga road, and by sunrise had taken a strong position near Lee's Mills (Glenn house), at the house occupied by General Rosecrans during the night as his headquarters. The battle having been some time in progress toward the left at 11:30 a. m., this brigade was moved a short distance to the left, along the road, to occupy the ridge, supporting the brigade. The Eighty-eighth Illinois and Thirty-sixth Illinois moved first, the Eighty-eighth on the right forming in double-quick time along the ridge to the right of the road under a HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 141 heavy fire. They were almost immediately followed by the Twenty-first Michigan and Twenty-fourth Wisconsin, forming the second line; also by the battery, one section of which was posted with much difficulty near the base of the ridge in the rear of the left of the Thirty-sixth Illinois. This position was flanked by the enemy both on the right and left shortly after it was taken, and the fire poured in by the enemy from the flanks soon drove the first line from its place. The second line advancing held the front, while the first regiment reformed, having changed front obliquely to the rear, pro tecting the flanks of the remaining line as well as possible. While rallying the men to the formation of this line our noble and beloved commander fell (two or three times wounded previously). During this action he had per sistently refused to leave the field, but gallantly doing more than his duty to the men he loved and who worshipped him, he sacrificed himself without reluctance. No words or eulogies of men can add any lustre to his deeds of heroic daring, or render more honored and revered among men the name and memory of William H. Lytle. This position having become entirely untenable, the command was com pelled to fall back somewhat precipitately. The command was rallied in a disorganized condition, being united with portions of other brigades and divisions, on the ridge in rear of our position. A large force having been ral lied, it was moved to a mountain road toward the center, to a point on the Chattanooga and Lafayette road, three miles from Rossville, when it was reformed and took up position. By your order it soon removed, this brigade in advance, passing via Rossville on the Ringgold road three miles to Church, arriving about dusk. Here the column halted until about 9 o'clock, when, by your order, it returned to Rossville. Herewith is forwarded a list of the casualties in the brigade. While it is painful to reflect that such men must be sacrificed, it is a glorious consola tion to know that none fell but in the discharge of the highest duty which can devolve upon man as a citizen or a soldier. Colonel William B. McCreery, of the Twenty-first Michigan, fell mortally wounded while gallantly leading his regiment. Lieutenant-Colonel Wells, of the same regiment, was killed while bravely performing his duty. Major Chase, upon whom the command then devolved, performed his duties with signal efficiency and bravery. Captain Bishop and Adjutant Morse, of this regiment, particularly distinguished themselves. Lieutenant Charles W. Eaton, Aide-de-Camp, signalized him self by usefulness and recklessness of danger in the performance of duty. For further mention of meritorious conduct on the part of officers and men, I refer to the reports of regimental commanders. Colonel McCreery was not mortally wounded, but in the terrible almost hand to hand fighting in the dense woods was thought to have been killed. Each man was so desperately engaged in combat, that no assistance could be rendered the fallen. He went down on the very front line with scores of his men. Later he was removed with others of the wounded to the rear of the Confederate lines, but received very little attention for several days, then was sent to the Libby Prison at Richmond, Va. Lieutenant Colonel Morris B. Wells was killed among the very first of the regiment, before the line was fairly formed. He fell with his face to the foe, very near the colors of the regiment. His body was, with many others, given a rude burial by the Confederates, but was recovered and removed to the National Cemetery at Chattanooga several months later. No truer or better 19 142 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. type of the American Volunteer existed in all our armies. He was the idol of the regiment and mourned as a brother. The fate of Colonel William B. McCreery was unknown to his command for several weeks, but all supposed him killed, or mortally wounded, and there was great rejoicing throughout the brigade and division when it was known that he was not dead, but living, although a prisoner in the dreaded Libby. And when the news came that he had made his escape and was safe in God's Country, the men and officers were wild with delight, the camps ringing with cheers and song. Major Seymour Chase made the following report: "Headquarters Twenty-first Michigan Infantry, Chattanooga, Tenn., September 28, 1863. Captain— In compliance with orders I have the honor to report the part borne by this regiment in the action of the 20th instant at or near Crawfish Springs, Ga. Before daylight on the morning of the engagement, the regiment, under the command of Colonel William B. McCreery, took position on the extreme right of the brigade near the house occupied the evening before by General Rose crans as his headquarters. Here it remained, the men throwing up tempor ary breastworks, until about 20 minutes past 11 a. m., when it was ordered into action. Colonel McCreery, according to orders, moved by column of companies about 400 yards to the left and deployed it in line. Fixing bayo net on the double-quick, the regiment steadily advanced under fire to the crest of a small hill and took position on the extreme . right of the brigade. Here the men were ordered to lie down until our troops in front could pass through to the rear. As the enemy neared our position, the regiment rose and poured a wither ing volley into them, which checked their advance for a time. At one time quite a large number of the enemy, who had worked around our right flank, were driven back in full retreat by the constant fire and the unerring aim of Company A, armed with the Colt's revolving rifles; a fresh regiment, how ever, appearing in their places. After a terrible contest of about 20 minutes. the right wing of the regiment was forced back, and the whole compelled to retire to escape capture. At this time both Colonel McCreery and Lieutenant-Colonel Wells, while encouraging the men, were badly wounded and left on the field in the hands of the enemy. After falling back about half a mile the regiment was rallied and brought off the field in good order. I take pleasure in mentioning the gallant conduct of Company B (number ing 30 men), under Lieutenant A. E. Barr, and also seven men and Lieutenant C. E. Belknap, of Company H. They were thrown forward as skirmishers in the early morning in the cornfield, directly in front of the first position taken by the regiment. When the regiment was ordered into action these skir mishers were not called in. Cut off from the main body of the command and attacked by an overwhelming force of the enemy, they rallied and made a stand behind the buildings before mentioned. Here they held the enemy in check for nearly an hour, and successfully joined the regiment with a loss of but one man, and he killed instantly. On account of the command not devolving upon me until the retreat began, I cannot speak with accuracy of the orders received or whether they were implicitly followed. LIEUT. COL. MORRIS B. WELLS. Twenty-first Infantry. Killed Sept. 20, 1863. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 143 Permit me to testify to the coolness and gallantry of both officers and men of the command. Every one seemed to know his whole duty, and I believe the loss of the regiment and the small number missing, not known to be wounded, will show that each performed it. And particularly conspicuous for their Courage and daring were the two Colonels, McCreery and Wells, who left their bodies on the field to testify to their devotion and well doing. The casualties of the regiment were as follows: Known to be killed, 10 enlisted men; wounded and within our lines, 2 officers and 50 enlisted men; wounded and missing, 3 officers and 16 enlisted men; missing, 2 officers and 15 enlisted men; making a sum total of 7 officers and 99 enlisted men. On the 24th instant we had one man mortally wounded by the explosion of a shell from the rebel battery on Lookout Mountain. I am, Captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Seymour Chase, Major, Commanding Twenty-first Michigan Infantry. Captain James A. Grover, Asst. Adjt. Gen., First Brig.. Third Div., Twentieth Army Corps." Many slighly wounded remained with the regiment and were not included in the list. Many of the missing were afterwards found to have been killed and others wounded. A corrected list of all the killed and wounded was never made. Before daylight the next morning the regiment was in line for action. Although the previous day had been terrible in its results, the spirit of the men were not broken. By a quiet canvass of the companies taken while the enemy were but a few rods beyond the next ridge, it was ascer tained that 107. men had been killed and wounded the day before. Others were absent, killed, wounded, or captured, none could tell, and to this day the fate of some is a mystery only to be told in the books of the Recording Angels. Sheridan's division on the morning of the 20th had an effective strength of 4,000 men, and of these 1,517 were killed or disabled. The entire day of the 21st was spent in re-organization, the enemy being too badly hurt to renew the fight at once. This gave the men a slight rest. The trains of wounded men and other encumbrances of the army were sent to Chattanooga. The Twenty-first, just after dark, were deployed through the woods, a few feet intervals between the men, and then began the march to Chattanooga. All night the men stood in line* slowly moving short dis tances, and at 8 o'clock next morning were on the line of defense on the right in the suburbs of the town, not a defeated army so far as the men in the ranks were concerned. They never lost courage, and were as ready, so far as numbers went, to attack on the morning of the 21st as on the day before. The bayonets were fixed on guns freshly loaded and stacked conveniently by, then each man grasped pick or shovel, and where the engineers put stakes the lines of earthworks soon appeared. The Michigan men with axes felled the trees of the forest, others rolled the head logs in place, and the great genius of war transformed the peaceful fields and plains into a fortified camp. The position of the Twenty-first near the right, came directly under the enemy's guns upon Lookout Mountain. The skirmish line at the Creek near the Iron Works were exposed to a continual fire of shot and shell, ter ribly annoying. For days the air seemed full of shrieking missiles from the ridge south from the foot of the mountain and from its side and top. They came in all sizes and at all times of the day and night, and from all direc- 144 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. tions, yet, strange as it may seem, from all the thousands of shots fired, but one man of the army, Private Peck, Company F, Twenty-first Michigan, was killed, one wounded seriously and a few others slightly. Many men slightly wounded made no mention of their injuries. One man in particular remained on duty with his company who had received 19 bullet wounds, none of them more than scratches, yet all drawing blood. When there came a lull in the excitement, and there was little to do, he succumbed to nervous prostration and suffered seriously for weeks. Colonel Horace N. Fisher, Assistant Inspector General. Twentieth Army Corps, in his official report of the battle under date of October 6th, says: "In vain did Sheridan's two brigades struggle to restore our lines. Overwhelmed by a superior force, under every conceivable disadvantage, it was impossible to hold the position. Later in the day they participated in the fight near Rossville. The loss of the day has fearfully reduced the division in numbers, but in spirit it is as proudly confident in its leader and its own strong arm as the day we crossed the river, five weeks ago." Continuing, this report says: "September 21st was occupied in holding the position at Rossville. After midnight they moved into Chattanooga, taking position behind Chatta nooga Creek, a sluggish, miry stream with steep banks, passable in but three or four places, Sheridan's division holding the right of the line, resting on the Tennessee River, one regiment of each brigade being posted as skirmish ers on the bank of the creek. Scouts in the night time are pushed out in places close to the enemy's lines. Each brigade remains on outpost duty four days at a time, and then rests from its labors for eight days, in the inner lines (except for the work in trenches). Such is the present military status of the corps. Its wants are numerous and require prompt attention to avert the mani fold evils arising from the hardships, fatigue and exposure which has been its lot so fully to bear and so unmurmuringly to endure. The sanitary con-. dition is good, but many sick and broken down men have been sent back to the rear when opportunity has been given. Since the battle the medical de partment has been so much occupied with the wounded that it has been impossible to obtain statistics of sickness." There was no regular bombardment of Chattanooga until October 5th, although there was no hour from the early morning of the 22d of September but that stray shots were heard. On the morning of the 5th, heavy guns, located on the sides of Lookout Mountain, opened on the camps of Sheridan's division. Other guns, some of them heavy, located on Missionary Ridge, joined in the exercises, and the roar seemed continuous, the shells from the top of the mountain exploding hundreds of feet high above the lines. At 2 o'clock the explosions averaged four each minute. The firing ceased only at dark, several thousand shots being fired in the seven hours' practice. The negro boys about camp at first sought refuge in the trenches; later they sang songs and danced. The soldiers stood about on the parapets and glacis of the intrenchments, watching the shots and explosions and speculating upon their effect, perfectly indifferent to the danger that might come from some straggling shell. From this entire day's bombardment General McCook re ported that no man in the corps was injured. Occasionally in the following days men were injured, but the days of bombardment were almost as harm less as the popping of firecrackers on the Fourth of July. The men becoming accustomed to the roar of artillery and the shriek of shell, paid little heed to either. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 145 On the night of the 5th, a scout from the Twenty-first reconnoitered the enemy's lines for a mile, and reported to General McCook the movement of heavy wagons and artillery up the mountain road. During the time the Twenty-first regiment was doing outpost duty at the creek, every night the enemy's pickets advanced to the creek, often meeting our men in an exchange of tobacco for coffee and hardtack. Often members of the rebel picket force would cross over to our side on a fallen tree, declining to go back. In this way 12 men surrendered in one night. This log soon became known as "The Bridge of Sighs." This became such a highway in a few nights that the enemy posted three lines of pickets, one to watch the other; still the deser tion continued, and the climax was reached one dark night when the officer of the guard crawled up the bank of the creek whispering, "For God's sake, Yanks, let me in." To stop this wholesale 'desertion, the Confederates withdrew their picket lines half a mile, leaving the banks of the creek undisputed ground. The two parties continued friendly through the exchange of papers until the prac tice was prohibited by general orders from headquarters. The view of the Michigan soldiers from this point of the outpost line was magnificent beyond description. By daylight the grandeur of the mountains inspired the men to deeds of courage, by night the fires of an army of foes 50,000 strong, lighting up the mountain sides for 12 miles in length, left impressions never to be forgotten.. There was no question of the spirit of the men, but they must be fed and clothed. To the individual in the ranks, fuel to cook one's rations is an important item. The men of the Twenty-first, when the bodies of all the trees near by had been used, began on the stumps, and as the days went by the stumps of the great forest trees disappeared, and with picks and axes they dug the roots out of the ground, bits of wood became more precious than gold. Rations became scarce; beans, rice and sugar there were none. Half rations of hardtack, bacon and coffee composed the bill of fare. The ani mals of the staff officers, the horses of the artillery, the mules of the trains, died of starvation by the thousands. The men under constant strain upon picket and skirmish line, became weak and listless. The fine gray horse of the lamented Colonel Wells shared the hard bread of the men as long as they had a morsel, and then yielded to the famine. Very soon after the lines were established about the town, Regimental Quartermaster M. P. Follett was placed in charge of the trains of Sheridan's division, and with a guard of 50 men of the regiment, several expeditions were made over the mountains to the north and west for meat and corn, soon stripping the country for a distance of a hundred miles; and in this way the rations of the army were pieced out, and it was only by this food thus procured the lives of the men and animals of the army were sustained. These foraging expeditions were of a most hazardous and fatiguing nature, calling the men to constant vigilance and labor, long marches during the day, lifting wagons out of the mud and up the mountain sides, and with sleepless eyes guarding them by night against bands of guerillas and bush whackers that infested the country. Only men of great endurance could stand the strain of these days and nights of incessant toil. One of these for aging parties narrowly escaped capture by the enemy on the Wheeler-Roddy raid, having but just gained the summit of the mountain as the Confederates in strong force passed along the base, but a mile below. The officer in com- 146 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. mand formed his men across the road, sheltered by the dense forest, deter mined to fight as long as possible, while the quartermaster hurried the wagons with their precious loads of corn along the mountain top. But, for tunately, the Confederates had no time to spare for side issues. A short time after the battles of Chickamauga, many changes were made in the organization of troops. On October 1, many of the regiments being greatly reduced in numbers by the casualties of war, divisions and brigades were consolidated; the Twenty-first Michigan, commanded by Captain Loomis K. Bishop, Major Chase having resigned October 20, 1863, was as signed to the First Brigade, commanded by Colonel Francis T. Sherman; Second Division, General Philip H. Sheridan; Fourth Army Corps, General Gordon Granger. The brigade was made up of 10 regiments. The regiment remained as part of this brigade until the organization of the Engineer Brigade December 31. 1863, but were most of the time doing duty in detachments on the picket and skirmish lines, and guarding forage trains. The most important duty assigned the regiment was that of a detail of 100 picked men, 10 from each company, who were placed under command of Captain A. C. Prince, and ordered to report to Captain P. V. Fox, of the Michigan Engineers, on the morning of October 26. After the completion of the Brown's Ferry Bridge, for which this detail was made, tne men of the right companies returned to their command at Chattanooga, and all of the five left companies, then numbering 98 men and officers, were placed in charge of the bridge. The command marched to a position near the crossings of the river in the town, where they were assisted in loading wagons with bridge plank and car wheels, that were to be used as anchors. As soon as it became dark, they started in advance of the expedition across the neck of land leading to Brown's Ferry. The men followed their guide in silence, along a narrow trail, leading through the woods, over steep hills, the heavy rumbling of the wheels of the loaded wagons following over the rock-strewn road; the braying of the hungry mules, and the snorting of horses now on the road, now in the woods, stumbling over rocks and logs, falling into pits and holes. Slowly the night's march dragged along, until the advance came in sight of the river again, then filing out into the thick woods the line halted as if stopped by some invisible hand. The men dropped upon the cold, wet ground, and were soundly sleeping in a moment. Shortly before daylight, General Hazen's division, floating silently along with the current, came in sight of the watchers on the bank, and the wagons with their loads were hauled to the river, and while the fight for the posses sion of the south bank of the river went on, the wagons were unloaded under the direction of Captain Fox, of the Engineers. The boats that had brought Hazen's division down from Chattanooga were taken one by one and placed in the bridge, and although it was a new experience to the Twenty-first Michigan, they soon had the work in hand. By constant work, regardless of the enemy's fire, at 4 o'clock in the after noon the bridge was completed. The command of Captain P. V. Fox then returned to Chattanooga, leaving the detachment of the Twenty-first under command of Captain Prince. And this detachment remained in charge of the bridge until its destruction at the time of the battle of Lookout Mountain. The first three days of this time the men lived on corn, captured from the enemy, each man being allowed two ears each day. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 147 The right wing of the regiment remained at Chattanooga, with the brigade doing picket duty, some of the officers serving on staff duty. Lieutenant Allen B. Morse served as Acting Assistant Adjutant General on the brigade staff of Colonel F. T. Sherman, and in this service suffered the loss of one arm, at the battle of Missionary Ridge, November 25, and was especially mentioned by Colonel Sherman for the prompt and cool manner in which he executed the orders entrusted to him. Immediately after the battle of Missionary Ridge the regiment was assem bled at Chattanooga, and assigned a camp on the north side of the river oppo site the town. Lieutenant C. E. Belknap was sent with a detachment to near the mouth of Sequatchie River, where they did patrol duty until the middle of February, 1864, the line extending from Chattanooga to Bridge port. Ten other officers of the regiment were sent to the State to enlist re cruits to fill up the ranks. At the beginning of the campaign in August, all the regimental camp equi page and extra clothing were stored at Bridgeport. When the campaign had ended, and the winter with its snows and storms was upon them, nothing but the company books could be found. The store houses had been pillaged, the vandals and hangers-on, that unfortunately are found in the rear of every great army, had robbed the fighting soldiers of their blankets and overcoats. and they were compelled to wear their rags and worn-out clothing until the limited transportation of the Quartermaster's department could bring more from the far off base of supplies. (See Engineer Brigade for other service and reopening of Tennessee River.) TWENTY-SECOND INFANTRY. Colonel Heber LeFavour commanding, Whitaker's Brigade, Steedman's Division, Granger's Corps. The regiment was stationed at Nashville, Tenn., until September 5, when it was assigned to General James B. Steedman's command and proceeded to Bridgeport, Ala., with Colonel Heber LeFavour in command. It marched from Bridgeport, Ala., at 7 o'clock a. m., September 13 and reached Rossville, • Ga., at 11 a. m., September 14, a distance of nearly forty miles. As illustrat ing the discipline of the regiment, it may be stated that when it halted at Rossville every man that started at Bridgeport placed his gun in stack when the order to "stack arms" was given, a circumstance which moved General Granger to issue a special order complimenting the regiment and calling at tention to the fact. On September 17, at 3 a. m., the regiment, with other troops of General Steedman's command, marched in the direction of Ringgold. When within two miles of that place it encountered and drove in the enemy's pickets. Finding the enemy in f or ce, ¦ General Steedman retired six miles toward Rossville, where the regiment went into camp at Battle Spring. At 11 p. m., the enemy having followed the column, threw six shells into the camp of the Twenty-second Michigan, and then under the cover of tile dark ness speedily retreated. On the 18th, at 8 a. m., the regiment moved back to Rossville, arriving there at 1 p. m. On the. afternoon of September 19 the enemy attacked General Whitaker's Brigade near McAfee's Church. General Whitaker reporting the strength of the enemy, General Steedman ordered the Twenty-second Michigan and Eighty-ninth Ohio, a demi-brigade, under command of Colonel LeFavour, to re-enforce General Whitaker, Lieutenant , Colonel Sanborn commanding the regiment. With his command Colonel LeFavour reported to General Whitaker at 5 p. m. From this position, on Sunday morning, September 20, firing was heard in the direction of Crawfish Spring, and at 10 o'clock a. m. the heavy fire of musketry and artillery took such direction as to force the conclusion that the Union force "was being driven. General Whitaker was ordered to march with his brigade and the Twenty-second Michigan and Eighty-ninth Ohio, which were attached to his command for the day, to the aid of General Thomas. The Twenty-second Michigan, with this command, moved rapidly up the Lafayette Road, beneath* a hot sun and in clouds of dust, until they found the enemy mounted. Infan try was drawn up in line of battle to intercept its progress. The enemy had reached the rear of General Thomas' command and had possession of his field hospital. General Whitaker immediately formed line of battle, and ad vancing, the enemy retreated. General Whitaker moved his command by the flank in two lines, the Twenty-second Michigan being in the first, at double-quick time up the valley nearly a mile under a heavy fire of shell from a rebel battery on its flank. Between 12 and 1 o'clock this command arrived at the point occupied by General Thomas, who was being sorely pressed by the enemy in superior numbers. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 149 General Whitaker was ordered to drive the enemy from a ridge, on which he had concentrated his force in great numbers, supported by artillery, and was threatening the destruction of the right of the Union line by a flank movement. General Whitaker formed his command in two lines, the Twenty-second Michigan being on the left of the first line. Both lines ad vanced at double-quick against the enemy. The conflict which ensued was terrific. The enemy was driven off and over the ridge. Rallying, the enemy forced the Union line a short distance, when, in turn, he was again driven with great loss. The slaughter of both friend and foe was frightful. There was now a lull in the battle, but it was of short duration. Within thirty minutes after the ridge had been gained two divisions of Longstreet's veter ans furiously charged our troops. Again the enemy were driven back, and from that time until dark the battle raged between the two opposing forces. The entire line was enveloped in fire and smoke continually. The assaults of the enemy were fierce and determined, for they knew if they could gain pos session of that ridge the destruction of the Union Army was almost certain. The ammunition brought by the train was exhausted and all that could be procured was taken from the cartridge boxes of our own and the enemy's dead and wounded. Even this supply was exhausted before the battle was over, while the enemy was still in front, hurling fresh troops against the line. It was almost dark, the enemy had been driven back, but there was not a round of ammunition left. Anticipating another attack, General Granger ordered the men to "stand firm and use the cold steel." After an ominous silence of a few minutes, the enemy fiercely charged upon the line again. With fixed bayonets the Twenty-second Michigan met the charge and drove the enemy back in confusion. Twice more were these charges repeated, each time with the same result, Colonel LeFavour being still in command of the demi-brigade (Twenty-second Michigan and Eighty-ninth Ohio). Lieutenant Colonel William Sanborn, who commanded the regiment, was severely wounded while leading one of the charges, when the command devolved upon the senior captain, A. M. Keeler; Captain Snell was killed and Captain Smith mortally wounded. Color Sergeant Philo Dunkee, Company A, was struck in the breast by a grape shot and fell forward clasping the colors in his arms, placing the seal of his devotion to duty in his blood upon its folds. Corporal Richard A. Stansell, Company H, took the colors from the dying grasp of brave Dunkee and he too sealed his devotion to the flag with his life. Corporal Pearl Mitchell, Company A, raised the colors amid the leaden storm; a shell carried away his left arm. Corporal Jonathan Vincent, Company C, raised the colors and defiantly waved them in the face of the enemy. He too fell severely wounded, when Sergeant William F. Atkinson raised them and passed them to Sergeant Oscar Kendall, who carried them to the close of the battle, defending and refusing to surrender them, even when surrounded by the enemy in overwhelming numbers, until ordered so to do by Colonel LeFavour, who gave the order to save brave Kendall's life. As the shades of night gathered over the bloody field the Union forces were withdrawn. The Twenty-second Michigan and the Eighty-ninth Ohio, if the order to fall back was sent to them, never received it, and they were left on the ground they so bravely fought and sacrificed so much to secure. In overpowering numbers the veterans of Preston's Division of Buckner's Corps had assailed this portion of the Union lines, the Twenty-second Michi gan fighting the brigades of Kelly, Gracie and Trigg. In the dim moonlight 20 150 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. the men stood with fixed bayonets awaiting the next attack. Members of the regiment moved about gathering cartridges from the boxes of the dead and wounded. The Confederates, re-enforced by fresh regiments, advanced In the shad ows of the woods, through a depression of the hills, gaining the rear of the regiment, the troops to the right and left of the Brigade having been with drawn and were then advancing towards Rossville. Three regiments of the Brigade were thus completely cut off from support. It is claimed by the commanders of several Confederate regiments that, as they advanced to the attack a voice from the Union line called: "We sur render." The Confederate lines were then within forty yards, coming into view of the defenders of the hill, when the entire line sprang to their feet and poured a deadly volley into the advancing foe, causing part of their line to break in confusion. No one had authorized the surrender, and if there was such a call, it was not by any one in authority, as no thought of surren der has entered the minds of any of the brave defenders. But with this short contest went almost the last cartridge. The enemy coming up the slopes upon every side opposed only by the battle ground soldiers with empty muskets, standing at bay in the midst of their dead and wounded comrades, met their disaster. With exultant shouts the enemy had gained the posi tion so desperately contended for with such terrible loss. Hand to hand in the dark woods, a deadly combat ensued, friend and foe mingled shouts, curses and commands; individuals seeking escape found only death or cap ture upon every side; thousands of alert foes were guarding every point and there was no avenue of escape. The desperate enemy dashed upon the de fenders as if to exterminate them. The little band were finally disarmed and under guard of Trigg's Brigade moved off the field. Proceeding only a few rods, the column received a volley of musketry from some force in thj woods, which must have been Confederate, that killed and wounded many of both sides and created great confusion in the ranks of the captors, and many of the captives dashing into the woods made their escape, while a great many others, after a few minutes, were again recaptured. In this final victory over the regiment, the enemy had lost more in killed and wounded than the entire loss inflicted upon the Twenty-second, and the point gained was of no further use to the Union Army. The colors of the regiment, so gallantly carried by brave Sergeant Kendall, were surrendered to Privates W. F. Harris and Oscar F. Honaker, Company F, Fifty-fourth Virginia Regiment. During the night and early next morning those of the regiment who es caped were gathered at Rossville — only a remnant of the gallant command, about one hundred all told. In the engagement on the 20th the regiment was opposed by Preston's Divi sion of the Confederate forces, and it is interesting in this connection to quote from this General's report of the battle. General Preston says: "From the edge of Dyer's field the ground descends to a wooded ravine, and after two or three intervening depressions each succeeding height being more elevated, you reach the summit of the ridge, which is some two hun dred feet above the level of the plain. A strong battery was posted on the loftiest and most eastern of these heights towards the Snodgrass house and Chattanooga. On the northeast the undulations were gentle, and cleared fields and farms stretched away eastwards to open and wooded plains. Upon these plains the battle had raged fiercely all day, and the heights were the HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 151 •enemy's position and his last stronghold. I advanced with Grade's and Kelly's Brigades. The enemy had kept up a rapid artillery fire from the hill and across the field, but Gracie passing through Kershaw's ranks, which were halted in the first ravine beyond the field, dashed over the ridge and beyond into the hollows between it and the battery hill. The Brigade advanced with splendid courage, but was met by a destructive fire of the enemy from the cover of their field works on the hill. The Second Alabama stormed the hill and entered the intrenchments, where an obstinate and bloody battle ensued. Many brave officers and men fell here. The brigade carried in action two thousand and three officers and men, and lost in the space of an hour, six hundred and ninety-eight killed and wounded. The Second Alabama, out of two hundred and thirty-nine, lost one hundred and sixty-nine killed and wounded. The colors of this regiment were pierced by bullets eighty-three times, and were afterwards, by request, presented to Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy. Between 4 and 5 o'clock Kelly's and Grade's Brigades again advanced to assail the ridge to the left. There a desperate combat ensued, the hostile forces being not more than thirty yards apart. Kelly gained the hill after a desperate struggle, and the enemy vainly sought to dislodge him from it. In the meantime General Buckner had sent me Trigg's Brigade, which, advancing at double-quick, arrived at a critical moment, while the battle was raging fiercely. It was now moonlight and the fire, continuing for a short time, ceased — it was the last fire of the day and closed the battle. The Twenty-second Michigan, Eighty-ninth Ohio and part of the Twenty-first Ohio, were cap tured by Trigg's and Kelly's Brigades. * * * Colonel LeFavour being among the prisoners. * * * The next morning I ordered the burial of the dead. Many of our brave men had fallen in charging the slopes leading to the summit of the ridge. The musketry from the low breastworks of the enemy had set fire to the dry foliage, and scorched and blackened corpses gave fearful proof of the heroism and suffering of the men who stormed the hill. The ground occupied by the enemy was strewn with the slain. All the dead along my line, whether friend or enemy, were buried, and the wounded sent to hospitals." General W. C. Whitaker commanding Brigade, says of Colonel LeFavour. under date of October 12, 1863: "Sir — Having had the honor of commanding the Twenty-second Michigan, Colonel LeFavour, in my Brigade in the battle of Chickamauga, and being personally observant of their undaunted hero ism, I sent a copy of my report to advise you more especially, and a copy of the tabular statement accompanying that you may see their loss. Let me urge you, for the good of our service, as a reward to a chivalrous officer, to use your influence for the promotion of Colonel LeFavour." General Whitaker also says in his report of the battle: "Forming my com mand in two lines, Ninety-sixth Illinois on the right. Twenty-second Michi gan on the left, and One Hundredth and Fifteenth Illinois in the center of the first line. Both lines advanced then at a double-quick against the enemy, The conflict was terrific, the enemy was driven nearly half a mile; rallying, they drove my command a short distance, when they in turn were driven again, with great loss. Both lines had been thrown into the conflict on the second charge, and the whole line kept up a deadly and well-directed fire against the enemy, who1 fought with great determination and vigor. The Twenty-second Michigan, after fighting nearly three hours, having exhausted 152 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. their ammunition, boldly charged into the midst of overwhelming numbers with the bayonets, driving them until overcome by superior numbers." Colonel LeFavour says in his report: "The second charge of the rebels drove the Brigade to the bottom of the hill. It was reformed, marched up and again took the crest. The regiment was out of ammunition, and word was sent to General Whitaker to that effect. 'You must use your steel,' was the reply. The regiment rushed forward with fixed bayonets and empty muskets, under a most terrific fire of grape and musketry, received the coun tercharge of the enemy, repulsed and drove them at every point." Colonel LeFavour was paroled May 7, 1864, and afterwards breveted Brigadier General "for gallant and meritorious service," Generals Rosecrans, Thomas, Granger and others joining in words of praise for him and his gal lant men. Major General Granger in his report says: "Lieutenant Colonel Sanborn was conspicuous for gallantry and efficiency and deserving special mention." General Whitaker says: "He was badly wounded, he demeaned himself with credit." He was breveted Colonel for conspicuous gallantry and mer itorious service during the war. Captain Alonzo M. Keeler, who succeeded Colonel Sanborn in command, was among the captured and paroled, was breveted Lieutenant Colonel for his gallantry. The space of this history will not permit further mention of the gallant members of the regiment. Thirty-two men of the -regiment were killed, three officers and ninety-three men wounded, fourteen officers and two hundred and forty-seven men cap tured or missing, an aggregate of three hundred and eighty-nine. Many of those reported as captured or missing were afterwards accounted for as wounded. On September 22 General Whitaker's Brigade was ordered to the north side of the Tennessee River, opposite Lookout Mountain. The Twenty-sec ond Michigan marched with that Brigade and went into camp at Moccasin Point, directly under the Confederate guns at Lookout. At that place, on the 26th of September, Major H. S. Dean took command of the regiment, having at his own request been relieved from staff duty that he might do so. By the return of detail men and convalescents from the hospitals the regiment soon had two hundred men for duty. It participated in the movements of General Whitaker's Brigade for the capture of Lookout Mountain. Headquarters Eleventh and Twelfth Corps, Lookout Valley, October 29, 1863, 3 a. m. General Whitaker and Colonel Mitchell, Commanding Officers of Brigade. Major General Hooker directs me to say that in accordance with instruc tions received from Major General Thomas you will be ready to move to my support. He desires that your commands move up and report to him. Daniel Butterfield, Chief of Staff. COLONEL HENRY S. DEAN. Twenty -Second Infantry HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 153 October 29, 1863, 3 a. m. General Whitaker: The General commanding directs that you move to Brown's Ferry with your command, etc. Obey a call from General Hooker if one should come for aid. J. J. Reynolds, Major General. Whitaker's Brigade was moved to Brown's Ferry about 4 a. m., October 29th, 1863. Headquarters Eleventh and Twelfth Corps, Lookout Valley, October 29, 1863, 3 a. m. Major General Reynolds, Chief of Staff, Chattanooga. General Hooker directs me to say he had called up the Brigade of General Whitaker and Colonel Mitchell. Daniel Butterfield, Chief of Staff. In compliance with these orders the regiment, with its Brigade, left its position on the Point at 4 a. m. for the Brown's Ferry Bridge, by their route a distance of nearly four miles. Crossing the bridge, they passed through the gorge in the hills on the south bank and turned to the left in the direction of the mountain, until they reached General Hooker's line. The enemy occu pied a ridge in a very strong position. The Brigade advanced through a line of Hooker's troops that had exhausted their ammunition and drove the enemy from the hill, then lay down just back of the crest to shelter itself from the sharp artillery fire of the guns on the slope of the mountain on the opposite side of Lookout Creek. This was between 6 and 7 o'clock a. m. Shovels and picks were brought up and rifle pits constructed. To give an appearance of a longer line of works than they really had, brush was cut and piled along the crest to the right, which General Whitaker termed "a mean Yankee trick," for he had no men to put behind the brush in case of an attack. The casualties, if any, were not reported, and there is no record of the further advance of the regiment. One part of General Grant's plan of the battle was for General Sherman to cross the Tennessee River four miles above Chattanooga, and turn the enemy's right, which rested on the northern extremity of Missionary Ridge, this crossing to be made by means of pontoon bridges. The affair at Brown's Ferry, when the Michigan troops had distinguished themselves as boatmen and boat and bridge builders, the Twenty-second were selected for the En gineer service, and assigned the duty of moving the boats overland to the point of crossing. Major Henry S. Dean, commanding the regiment, was directed to make hiimself acquainted with the country and all the trails and roads over which the train could be moved out of Chattanooga. From the enemy's position on the mountains they overlooked the entire country, and the success of the enterprise depended entirely on the secrecy of the movement, and forced nearly every detail to be made under cover of the night. Major Dean, with officers of the Engineer Service, spent many days mak ing himself acquainted with the topography of the route, and every hill, ravine and gully that could furnish a place of concealment for a wagon was 154 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. located. The pontoon boats, large and clumsy, were loaded upon army wagons under the care of Captain P. V. Fox, of the Michigan Engineers. Heavy rains had rendered the roads almost impassable. In fact, the roads were nearly all fresh cut trails along the sides of steep ridges and in valleys between ridges where the moving forces and trains would be out of sight of the enemy. The mules were so reduced in strength from lack of food that when they got mired in the mud or fell on the hillside, the men of the regi ment had to pull them out of the way. At 9 o'clock on the night of Novem ber 20th, Captain Fox sent the pontoon bridge to the north side of the river and delivered it to Major Dean. It was raining, and the night was very dark. Details of men accompanied every wagon, -which in many places went down to the axletree in the mud, and the men lifted and pulled to help the animals along. All night the men did this duty, and at daylight wagons that could not be concealed in the ravines were covered with brush, and men and animals sought concealment in the woods, where they remained during the day. No fires were allowed, and the men sought sleep wrapped in their wet clothing. The following night and the night of the 22d this was re peated. At 2 o'clock on the morning of the 23d the wagons were all parked in the ravine leading down to the river where the crossing was to be made. The men, completely worn out with three nights of labor, as severe as ever imposed upon soldiers, lay down in the thick underbrush of the hillsides completely worn out; with torn and muddy clothing, empty haversacks and stomachs, they lay upon the hillsides resting for the grand, supreme effort to come that night. From the top of the hill which concealed them they could see Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain and Chattanooga Valley, with their lines of soldiers, blue and gray. At midnight on the 23d, 116 pontoon boats that had been unloaded from the wagons into North Chickamauga Creek by the Twenty-second, were loaded with troops and floated upon the Tennessee, and down to the place selected for a crossing. General Smith, commanding the Brigade of Engineers who were to build the bridge, stood close to the water, and a small skiff, in which sat a Michigan man, reported he could see the boats with their loads of sol diers approaching. In the bottom of his boat, covered by his coat, was a lantern. He rapidly paddled straight across the river and placed his light as a guide, to which the head boat directed its way, all others following. A quiet landing was made, and the advance gained the top of the bank, when the sharp challenge of the aroused sentry come: "Halt! Who goes there?" Quickly came the reply, "Grand Rounds." "Advance, Grand Rounds, and give the countersign." The officer advanced, thrusting his revolver into the face of the sentinel, in a whisper demanding his surrender. This was repeated 15 times along the picket line, and on the fourteenth the sentry dis charged his musket and ran away, the echoes of the gun echoing along the hills for miles. The enemy had regarded an attack from that quarter as so unlikely that only a thin picket line, which amounted to nothing as a resist ing force, and the secrecy with which the expedition had been conducted that the enemy had been taken completely by surprise. The laying of the pontoon bridge was immediately commenced by the Pioneer Brigade and the engineers under Captain Fox, a further account of which will be found in the narrative of the Engineers and Mechanics. Before noon the bridge was completed, and the divisions of General Sher man were crossing. The heavy rains of the preceding days had caused the HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 155 river to rise, and it was with the utmost difficulty the bridge could be main tained against the current and masses of driftwood. The Twenty-second had conveyed to the point boats enough to construct two bridges, but only one being needed the others were floated back to Chattanooga, where the follow ing day a second bridge was thrown across the river by Captain Fox, assisted by the Twenty-second Michigan, and completed about an hour before the final charge of General Thomas' troops up the sides of Missionary Ridge. Over this bridge marched the Confederates as prisoners, who had for months before been asking our pickets how they "liked Vicksburg," referring to the besieged and starving condition of the Union Army. After the Chattanooga campaign, the regiment was engaged in building storehouses and repairing bridges until the month of May, 1864, when it was ordered to report to Gen eral Thomas in the field, which it did on May 31st, and was assigned to the Reserve Brigade, Department of the Cumberland, commanded by Colonel LeFavour, which brigade reported direct to General Thomas. The regiment took part in the Atlanta campaign up to and including the battle of Jones- borough. On the 8th of September it went into camp at Atlanta, where it remained until the 31st of October, 1864, when it marched from that place for Chattanooga, Tenn., as escort to the books and papers of the department of the Cumberland. It arrived at Chattanooga on November 6th, and remained there as part of the garrison of that post until June 20th, 1865, when it proceeded to Nashville, Tenn., where it was mustered out of service June 26th, 1865, and the next morning left by rail for Detroit, Michigan, where it was paid off and disbanded July llth, 1865. FIRST REGIMENT ENGINEERS AND MECHANICS. Colonel William P. Innes commanding, Army of the Cumberland. This regiment was the only one of engineers serving in the Army of the Cumberland. On June 29th it moved south with the army, repairing the railroads lead ing to Bridgeport, Alabama, where a bridge of part trestles and some pontoon boats was made to cross the Tennessee River. It was upon this bridge that many of the troops and most of the trains passed on their way to Chatta nooga and Chickamauga. One battalion of the regiment under Captain P. V. Fox accompanied the advance of the army to Chattanooga, with the headquarters of the regiment at Elk River bridge; the balance of the regi ment continued work on the railroads, constructed commissary buildings and block houses at many points, getting out timber and railroad ties. It is with the detachment under the command of Captain P. V. Fox that this narrative more properly relates. September 16th Captain Fox was ordered from Bridgeport to Chattanooga, there to report to General Wagner, commanding Post, with Companies D and K. The companies being commanded by Lieutenants Herkner and Curtis respectively. Arriving there on the 17th, they were assigned a camp at the corner of Sixth and Walnut streets, adjoining the Boland residence, which had been General Bragg's headquarters; and they began at once the building of a trestle bridge across the Tennessee River west of Cameron Hill. On the 19th they gathered all the casks obtainable about the town and made them serviceable, filled them with water from the river and sent them in wagons to the battlefield of Chickamauga, through Rossville Gap to the army. September 23d General Rosecrans sent for Captain Fox to report at his headquarters; on his way there he met the General, who, riding up close to him, said in a low voice, "I want a pontoon bridge across the river east of Cameron Hill as soon as possible. You have carte blanche to take anything you can find for it." About all the timber in the town had been used for the trestle bridge for teams, and a foot bridge near Chestnut street, Captain Fox in his investigations found near the tannery at Chattanooga Creek, near the base of Lookout Mountain, a large lot of timber that had been gotten out by the Confederates for bridge purposes, much of which could be re- sawed into plank suitable for boats, balks, side rails and roadway plank, at less labor than from forest trees. This timber being too short to make boats of the regulation pattern, they must be made wider. He made a plan of a boat, that would be of the required buoyancy, having a triangular bow to resist the current, and perpendicular sides so it would settle evenly in the water when loaded, by having a support running from bow to stern on which the balk could be locked and fastened by ropes to keep them in place, adjusted half an inch above the sides, which would help sustain the weight COLONEL P. V. FOX. First Michigan Engineers. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 157 when loaded. The timber was long enough to give sufficient space between the boats. That evening Captain Fox reported at headquarters to General Rosecrans the finding of this timber, and detailed the plans of the proposed boats. General Morton, Chief Engineer, Army of the Cumberland, ridiculed the form of the boats and said it would not work. Captain Fox said he did not submit this form as a model for a boat, but such as could be made of mate rials in sight, and gave reasons why it would work. General Rosecrans said he was an old engineer, and thought it would be satisfactory. "Carry out your plans, Captain Fox." The next morning the timber was selected, loaded upon wagons and taken to the upper sawmill, which was being oper ated by General Morton's Pioneers, and there resawed as directed by Cap tain Fox, and then taken to the river bank near Chestnut street, where the two companies of engineers built the boats. There was very little oakum and pitch, which was very soon exhausted, and Captain Fox found several bales of cotton in the basement of a storehouse, which was used for calking with out pitch. Soon after the men began work on the boats^ General Wagner came upon the busy scene and said, "Captain Fox, General Morton says your boats are worthless." Captain Fox replied: "I know what Morton thinks of them, but we will have two boats completed by 2 o'clock p. m., and if General Rosecrans with any other officers will come here then, the boats can be subjected to all the tests necessary to settle the matter beyond controversy. If the boats will work. General Morton ought to retract what he has said. If they will not work I am willing to be spanked from that time until sundown." General Wagner replied with emphasis: "Go ahead, sir." I'd rather have one live Yankee than a whole regiment of regulars." At the appointed time General Rosecrans, with several other officers, came to the river, got into one of the boats, called for men to fill it, and asked Captain Fox if he had computed the buoyancy of the boat. The Captain replied, 7,800 pounds, safely. "The boats are all right, go on with your work." The General rode away entirely satisfied to leave the entire construction of boats and bridge with Captain Fox. The supply of spikes was very small and soon exhausted. There was a courier line from Bridgeport over the mountains, one courier leaving that place each two hours, riding rapidly a few miles to relay stations. To each one of these men ten pounds of spikes were given in a sack. In this way enough were received, with what could be found in the town, to complete sixty boats by October 5th, with all the balks, chess plank and side rails. General Morton was then ordered to lay the bridge 1,000 feet in length, and seemed purposely to make a failure of it, much to the annoyance of the Michigan men. Not doing the work in a satisfactory manner, Captain Fox was ordered to complete it, which required repairs of unserviceable pontoons used as part of the trestle bridge. The lumber of depot platforms was used for roadway plank; those not being sufficient, houses were torn down for the joists they contained, and in this way sufficient lumber was found to com plete the bridge on the morning of the 7th, and wagons began to pass over it. General Morton's command had up to this time operated two sawmills in the town. About the time Captain Fox had completed the bridge, General Rosecrans came to the place, and gave General Morton a reprimand for his palpable effort to have his predictions fulfilled, that the pontoons were worthless. General Rosecrans, then turning to Captain Fox. said, "Have you 21 158 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. any mechanical engineers in your command?" Captain Fox replied: "Yes, sir." "Can you run the sawmill?" "I can try, sir." "Then I want you to take charge of both sawmills; get out another bridge as soon as possible. Use your own ideas about the form of boats. You can have all the details you can use; the entire Pioneer Brigade, Morton's, if you want them." Captain Fox accompanied a detail of his command to the Upper Mill, and found repairs necessary before it could be operated; his men at once began refitting the mill. In the afternoon he took another detail to the lower mill, and found that before leaving the mill, Morton's men had seriously dis abled it. The best skill of the detail was required with the few appliances at hand to make the repairs, which took all that day and the next. While this was being done, Captain Fox was searching for suitable timber, and found a tract of large pine trees on the opposite side of the river that would make plank 27 feet long and 2 feet wide; and on this day his command was increased by the arrival from Bridgeport of Company C of his regiment, under command of Captain James D. Robinson. The Thirteenth Michigan Infantry was camped near this tract of pines, and they felled and partly squared the trees to lessen their weight. The ground was soft and it required twelve mules to haul the logs to the bank opposite and above the mill, where they were rolled into the river. Then two men of the engineers, in a yawl boat they had made, towed these logs singly across the river to the Lower Mill, where they were sawed into planks for the sides of the boats. ' The Twenty-fourth Wisconsin Infantry were camped on the north side of the river, above the town and near a tract of smaller pine, which they were ¦detailed to cut of proper lengths for bottoms of the boats, chess planks, balks and side rails, towing them across the river above the island to the Upper Mill, and as soon as sawed the lumber was taken to the place of making of the boats, and put in shape for use. While thus employed the Confederates were busy putting large trees and rafts of timber into the river above, to float down and break the bridge then in place. A guard was placed in boats above the island to watch for these, and such as they could handle were towed into the Upper Mill boom. What could be made into lumber for the boats was thus saved, and the refuse turned over to the hospital for fuel. Sections of the bridge were taken out to let rafts too large to be handled pass through, which were then replaced, this requiring constant watching day and night. October 3d General W. T. Smith was announced as Chief of Engineers of the Department in Special Field Orders, No. 263. The first few days he used in strengthening the fortifications. October 23d Captain Fox had more than 50 boats ready for another bridge, with all the equipage necessary for the same, Captain McCrath, with Company B of the regiment, having reported to Captain Fox for duty about this time. October 22d General Smith communicated to Captain Fox in confidence the plan to throw a pontoon bridge across the river at Brown's Ferry. The next day he accompanied General Smith to examine the place and arrange the details; none of officers or men of the command knew about it until the 25th. Captain Fox's command being too small to perform all the duties required of it, he was allowed to select 100 men from the Twenty-first Michigan In fantry, the five left companies of that regiment reporting 98 men and officers. These men were then in the front line of works, under constant fire of the HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 159 enemy's artillery, and they were released by General Sheridan only upon a promise of immediate return after the bridge was completed. They reported •for duty at 3:30 p. m. on the 26th. The equipage for the bridge had been placed on the river bank near the pontoon bridge ready to be loaded onto the wagons when the teams should arrive. Captain Fox had notified headquarters that the men were ready to do the loading, and he waited only the arrival of the wagons. The after noon was rapidly passing, yet they did not come, and Captain Fox mounted and proceeded to headquarters, and was there told that Quartermaster Gen eral McKay was to furnish them; at McKay's he was then told that Captain Wickersham, A. Q. M., had orders to furnish them. Captain Fox going there found 'all quiet, no preparations having been made. It was then getting dark. It looked as if there might be failure of the entire plan, the Quarter masters not appreciating the importance of the duty assigned them. Under some excitement Captain Fox told Captain Wickersham "not to let the grass grow under his feet, or any man he had," and to get the teams ordered for the Michigan Engineers at once. If he did not understand the necessity of prompt action, he would, realize it in due time. This admonition had the desired effect, and soon the teams were on their way to the landing, where the men of the engineers, assisted by the detachment of the Twenty-first, began loading the equipage. Captain Fox, with his command, after loading the equipage, marched across the neck to the ferry, and were ready to lay the pontoon bridge 900 feet long in a six mile current. The boats being taken from the ferrying party as fast as needed. The enemy soon placed a battery on a small knoll about a mile above and opened a rapid fire on the bridge workers, the shells flying through the air, crashing through the trees along the river bank and often striking in the water, throwing clouds of spray upon the workers, but strangely doing them no other harm; one shell striking inside one of the boats in midstream, making a hole through which rushed a torrent of water. Adrian Musty, a private af Company D, Michigan Engineers, quickly pulled off his hat and coat and with them stopped the hole, until the boat could be taken to the shore, where it was repaired. Captain Mendenhall's batteries soon silenced the rebel artillery, and the construction of the bridge went on unmolested except from wandering shots from Lookout Mountain. Under the skillful and vigorous superintendence of Captain Fox the bridge was completed at 4 o'clock, and troops and artillery were crossing to join General Hooker's force then coming up the valley from Bridgeport, and that night was fought the battle of Wauhatohie, completing the communications and opening up the short line of supplies. The Engineers then returned to Chattanooga, continued running the mills night and day, and making boats and assisting in keeping the bridges in order. The river steamer Paint Rock had been captured from the enemy in the early part of the campaign. She was repaired and barricaded with plank and cotton bales on the larboard side, and in charge of a picked crew of river men from one of the regiments, ran the gauntlet of the forces on the Mountain on the night of the 28th. A detachment of the Engineers under the command of Captain Fox removed a section of the Brown's Ferry bridge to let her pass through. The next day she went on down to Bridgeport loaded with supplies, returned to Brown's Ferry, and from there the supplies were loaded on wagons and sent to the hungry soldiers in the lines about the town. ONE OF SEVERAL STEAMBOATS BUILT BY SOLDIERS DURING THE SEIGE OE CHATTANOOGA. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 161 Headquarters Department of the Cumberland, Chattanooga, Tenn., Nov. 7th, 1863. General Orders No. 265. The recent movements resulting in the establishment of a short line of communication with Bridgeport, and the possession of the Tennessee River, were of so brilliant a character as to deserve special notice. The skill and cool gallantry of the officers and the men composing the expedition under Brigadier General William F. Smith, Chief Engineer, con sisting of the brigades of Generals Turchin and Hazen, the boat parties under Colonel Stanley, Eighteenth Ohio, and the pontooniers under Captain Fox, Michigan Engineers and Mechanics, in effecting a permanent lodgment on the south side of the river at Brown's Ferry, deserve the highest praise. By command of Major General George H. Thomas. C. Goddard, Assistant Adjutant General. The army relieved and the Confederate forces defeated on every line, Cap tain Fox, as a rest from his long and arduous service, was ordered with a detail of three officers and twenty-one men to Michigan to recruit the regi ment to a strength of twelve companies of 150 men each. He left Chat tanooga November 30th, and in a space of five weeks secured 913 men. While Captain Fox and his detachment were doing duty at Chattanooga, the balance of the regiment was actively engaged making pontoons for a bridge at Bridgeport, conducting depots at Stevenson, building and repairing bridges on the Chattanooga and Nashville, and the Nashville and Northwest ern Railroads. October 31st the headquarters were at Elk River Bridge. One battalion remained in Chattanooga, and during the winter and spring months were engaged in running sawmills, building storehouses for the various departments of the army and work on the defenses about the town, while the balance of the regiment were building blockhouses and defenses along the lines of communication leading to the north; continuing in this service until the last of September, when the headquarters of the regiment were established at Atlanta, Georgia. THE ARTILLERY SERVICE. BATTERY D. The regiment of Michigan Light Artillery was composed of twelve six gun batteries. It was commanded by Colonel C. O. Loomis, but the batteries were never brought together as a regiment. The batteries composing it served in all the principal armies, bearing conspicuous parts in most of the important battles in which the western armies were engaged. In the organization of the Army of the Cumberland at the battle of Chickamauga, September 19th and 20th, 1863, we find the battery attached to the First Brigade, Third Division, Fourteenth Army Corps, and com manded by Captain Josiah W. Church. There is found in the summary of the operations of the Third Division, commanded by General J. M. Brannan, the details of the routes and marches of the battery from August 16th to the date of the battles, September 19th and 20th. On August 16th the battery left its camp at Winchester, Tenn., advancing on the Pelham road, via Dechard, ascending the mountain on the 18th, crossing and descending the mountain the 19th, camping late in the night at the head of Sweeden's Cove; thence by short marches to the mouth of Battle Creek at the Tennessee River, crossing the river on the 30th. The trains of the divisions proceeded to Bridgeport, where they crossed on the pontoon- bridge. The troops crossed the river on rude rafts of lumber picked up along the river. The crossing was rendered most tedious and protracted. In many instances wagons were unloaded and in pieces ferried over, and in this way the artillery was crossed, the animals swimming. On the 14th of September, the trains crossing at Bridgeport having come up to the division, proceeded through Hog Jaw Valley to Racoon Mountain. The ascent of the mountain was exceedingly steep and dangerous for wagons and artillery, but by great care and exertion on the part of the infantry, who pulled the guns and wagons by ropes and chains, the summit was reached with but the loss of two wagons. The men and animals suffered exceed ingly for want of water on the summit of the mountain, the only supply being found in an abandoned coal mine, from which the water had to be carried through tortuous passages and up steep ladders. The division in its progress reached the base of Lookout Mountain on the llth. That night they made the ascent, and by marching all night over rugged roads, reached McLemore's Cove the next day at noon; thence to Davis' Cross Roads with out having encountered the enemy; thence to Gower's Ford on the Chicka mauga river on the 18th. Report of Captain Josiah W. Church: Headquarters Fourth Michigan Battery. Chattanooga, Tenn., September 26, 1863. Captain:— On the morning of the 19th instant I was ordered by Colonel Connell, commanding First Brigade, Third Division, Fourteenth Army Corps, HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 163 to take a position on the left of the Chattanooga road and about 50 yards in the rear of the line of battle formed by the First Brigade at this point. I remained about half an hour, when I was ordered to follow the Seventeenth Ohio Volunteer Regiment, which order I immediately obeyed. We moved into the woods about one mile, where we found the Third Brigade of the Third Division; they were in line of battle, Company I, Fourth Regular Artillery, being in position with them. Soon after the First Brigade joined the Third. Colonel Van Derveer, commanding the Third Brigade, retired his line some 50 yards and formed on the right of the First Brigade. Lieu tenant Smith, commanding Company I, Fourth Regular Artillery, placed his battery on my right; the Eighty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry, com manded by Colonel Hunter, being on my right as support. In this position we were engaged by the enemy for a short time, when they were driven back by the fire of artillery and infantry. I then changed my front a little to the left. Lieutenant Smith placed one section of his battery on my left, commanding an open field in his front. In this position the Fifteenth Regi ment Infantry, acted as support on my left. Here we were soon hotly engaged by the enemy, they advancing on our front and left. As they advanced I fired shell until they were within 200 yards, when, seeing the support on the left break, I ordered my men to double-shot their guns with cannister, and firing low and rapidly, with the help of the Fourth Regular Battery and the infantry support on my right, the enemy were soon driven from our entire front as far as could be seen by me. During this engage ment I had two men painfully but not seriously wounded. My officers and men without exception behaved like veterans, every man doing his duty faithfully. From this position I was ordered farther to the right, after which, in accordance with orders from General Brannan, I changed position five times, but fired no more during the day, and at eve I retired with the First Brigade about two and one-half miles to the right and rear in an open field near a hospital and spring, where I bivouacked for the night. Sunday. September 20th, 1863, about 12 o'clock at night, I received orders to move to the front about one-quarter of a mile, where I formed my battery in the front line on the right of the Seventeenth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and on the left of the Eleventh Michigan Regiment, belonging to Colonel Stanley's Brigade of General Negley's Division. In this position 1 remained until daylight. I then made several moves with the First Brigade, gaining ground to the left on the same line as before, each time getting into position for action, doing, however, but little firing until we arrived at our last position. In this last position I was supported by the Seventeenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry on a line with my pieces, and the Eighty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry on a line with my limbers on the right; on the left, by the Thirty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry on a line with my pieces and the Four teenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry on a line with the limbers. I had been in this position about an hour, when I received orders to limber up, the fighting at this time being very heavy on our left, and was gradually coming toward our front. I had just obeyed the order to limber up when we were attacked. I then gave the order, "Action rear," and engaged the enemy as they advanced. I had an enfilading fire on a portion of their advance, and by hard firing for about fifteen minutes I succeeded in checking the enemy and silencing their battery which had been playing on our lines. I then ceased 164 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. firing until the enemy again engaged our front when, as soon as I ascertained their position, I commenced firing. We held our front in good order some twenty minutes, when the enemy advanced obliquely on our right and in such overwhelming numbers that my support on the right was obliged to give way while endeavoring to change their front. The enemy were then so near I ordered the pieces to be double-shotted With cannister, and kept the enemy back for a short time. As soon as the Seventeenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry had passed to the rear, the Eighty- second Indiana Volunteer Infantry arose and advanced to the line of rail breastworks raised and just left by the Seventeenth Ohio Volunteer Infan try, but the fire was too heavy for a small body of men to contend with, and they were forcd back. I should have changed my front to the right if 1 could have fired, but my support was in that direction, rendering it impos sible to do so. I then (after the Eighty-second Indiana Regiment had fallen back), ordered my men to run the pieces off by hand. We succeeded in get ting off four pieces through some small bushes about 50 yards in rear of our fighting position. Here three pieces were limbered up with much difficulty, under the most galling fire, and got away. The horses had been shot belong ing to the other limbers, so that it was impossible to get them off the ground. My caissons had already been taken away by Sergeant S. E. Lawrence, who had been in charge of them during the 19th and 20th. I ordered the three pieces I had saved moved to the ridge in our rear, where the reserve artil lery was planted at this time. The Seventeenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry had rallied and went in again only to be slaughtered and driven back. Lieutenants Corbin and Wheat and myself remained with a few men, hoping to recover the pieces during the charge of the Seventeenth Regiment, but it was impossible. We then went to the rear on foot, my horse having been captured and Lieutenant Corbin having given his horse to Lieutenant Col onel Ward, of the Seventeenth Ohio Infantry (his having been shot) to rally his command. When I reached the hill occupied by the reserve artillery, the enemy were pouring a deadly enfilading fire on our right and pressing hard on our front. Here I fired a few rounds from the 12-pounder howitzer, com manded by Sergeant Hazzard. By this time nearly all my horses had been shot down and three cannoneers wounded, and we were obliged to leave two of the pieces on this ridge, getting away only one 12-pounder howitzer. I then moved what I had left of my battery to the rear on the Chattanooga road. My officers and men behaved, without a single exception, as veteran sol diers, obeying orders and attending to their duties. Lieutenants Corbin, Saw yer, and Fuller, did their duty nobly during the two days' fight, and Lieu tenant Wheat, although sick with a fever, could not be kept off the field on the 20th; although feeble in health, he was strong in heart and rendered me valuable service during my last engagement. Sergeant S. E. Lawrence deserves the utmost credit for his conduct while in charge of the line of caissons, and by obeying orders promptly and watching our movements, saved all the caissons and brought them off the field in good order. Sergeant S. W. Allen also deserves great praise for his coolness and courage; he remained with his gun, defending it with his revolver until he had discharged the last round and came near being run through with a rebel bayonet, when he made his escape. His piece was left on the ground for want of help to get it off. As my number of cannoneers were short the day previous, I was obliged to take a portion of his detachment to assist in getting off another piece. Sergeants Seymour, Hazzard, Haymaker and Durfey deserve credit HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 165 for their determination and courage. All my corporals discharged their duties faithfully and deserve all credit. My saddler, H. J. Bartlett, deserves much praise for his services in getting my battery wagon, forge, and head quarters wagons off the field in good condition, they being nearly surrounded by the enemy. During the two days' fight I had one sergeant and six men wounded, and four men missing. I received a slight wound on my left arm from a spent musket ball. It here becomes my duty as well as a great pleasure to tender my thanks as well as those of my officers and men, to Colonel J. M. Connell and staff for their efficiency and noble deeds on the battlefield during the two days' battle. I also tender the thanks of myself, officers and men to the Seventeenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, the Thirty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and Eighty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry and their gallant commanders for the handsome manner in which they fought in support of my battery during the fight. With respect, I remain, etc., J. W. Church, Captain Commanding Fourth Michigan Battery. Captain A. J. Davis, Assistant Adjutant General, First Brigade. The following extract from the report of General J. M. Brannan, com manding division, is hereby submitted: "Captain Church, commanding Fourth Michigan Battery; First Lieutenant F. G. Smith, commanding, and First Lieutenant Rodney, Battery I, Fourth U. S. Artillery, as also First Lieutenant Gary, commanding Company C, First Ohio Volunteer Artillery, are worthy of mention for their gallantry and the skill and judgment, with which they worked their guns." In the return of casualties of the army for September 19th and 20th, it is shown that one officer and five men were killed, seven men wounded, and twelve men missing, making a total loss of twenty-five. The report of Captain Horace Porter, Chief of Ordnance, gives the loss of Captain Church's Battery as follows: Two 10-pounder Parrotts, two 6- pounder James rifles, and two 12-pounder Howitzers. Further reports of losses of material and horses show among other things the loss of six gun carriages, five limbers, four caissons, six sets wheel harness, twelve sets of lead harness, and thirty-five horses killed. There seems to be an error in the report of the loss of six guns, as later reports show the loss of only five, which is borne out in the report of Captain Church. A correspondent with the battery at the time wrote as follows: "No bat tery was more skillfully handled nor did better execution on that bloody battlefield than Church's, and although five of his guns were captured after the horses were killed, he has the proud satisfaction of hearing it said by his superiors that no commander could have fought longer under like cir cumstances, nor retreated from the field with more honor. He maintained his position until the last, and made terrible havoc among the rebel masses. At every discharge of his pieces, and the messengers followed each other in quick succession, wide gaps were opened in the ranks of the maddened foe, and, strange to say, they as often closed such gaps as regularly as on dress parade. ' 22 166 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. When the rebel General Preston, who led the charge, got possession of the guns, he looked around and inquired of a wounded soldier lying on the ground whose battery it was. 'Captain Church's Michigan Battery.' 'Well,' said he, 'if you live to see Captain Church give him my compliments, and tell him he had the d est battery I ever fought. I have lost over 400 men in taking it, but thank God I have got it now and mean to keep it.' " Another correspondent wrote: "The enemy advancing, the battery fired shell until they were within 200 yards, then the guns were double-shotted with cannister, firing low and rapid; the enemy were soon driven from the front. The front was held for some time. The enemy again advancing in overwhelming numbers and the in fantry supports having fallen back and many of the horses shot, orders were given to move the pieces off by hand, and four were retired about fifty yards. Here three of them were limbered up under a most galling fire and got away, moving to a ridge in the rear, where the reserve artillery was posted." In the organization of the army, under command of General U. S. Grant, engaged in the battles of Chattanooga, Captain Josiah W. Church was assigned command of the Reserve Artillery of the First Brigade, Second Division, five batteries: The First Michigan, Battery D, First Tennesee, and the Third, Eighth and Tenth Wisconsin. Captain Church makes the following report of the services of Battery D. There are no casualties reported: Headquarters First Brigade. Second Division, Artillery Reserve, Chattanooga, Tenn., Nov. 28, 1863. Captain: — In compliance with orders from headquarters Chief of Artillery, Department of the Cumberland, requiring a report of the part taken by this brigade in the late battle, I have the honor to report as follows: By orders from General Brannan, I moved my battery (Company D, First Michigan Artillery), composed of four 20-pounder Parrott and one 10- pounder Parrott guns, to Fort Cheatham about 12 m., on the 23d inst. I opened fire on the enemy's camps in front and from one to two miles distant. I also delivered several shots at a small hill at the base of Lookout Moun tain, which had the appearance of having a battery stationed inside of the earthworks on its top. No fire was returned by the enemy during the day. I fired 25 rounds percussion and fuse shell, but had much difficulty in get ting the fuse shell to burst. Not more than two-thirds of them burst dur ing the day. I think the cause was dampness of the fuse. November 24th, at about 10 a. m., I opened fire on a small body of the enemy, about one and one-half miles distant, on the Rossville road. The first shell burst in their midst, driving them into the woods at a double-quick. I then fired at some detachments of men along the enemy's rifle pits, at about one and one-half miles in my front. This firing seemed to clear the entire line of rifle pits, so far as could be seen from Fort Cheatham. I next opened fire on a line of the enemy's infantry on the ridge of Lookout Mountain, which runs parallel with and about two-thirds of the way up the side of the mountain. I burst several percussion shells in their lines, causing them to separate and go in different directions. At the time I commenced firing on this line it was on the way to meet General Hooker's forces, who were com ing around the north end of Lookout Mountain. As the opposing forces became closely engaged. I ceased firing, for fear of doing damage to our own HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 161 men. I soon after received orders from General Baird to open fire on the Summerton road to keep the enemy's forces from advancing on that road. In obedience to his order I opened fire on the road along the base of the mountain, and, as I then thought, and have since been informed by our forces on this side of Chattanooga Creek, who were where they could see the effects of the shots, it was good; the fuse shell burst much better than be fore, caused, I think, by using spirits of turpentine on the fuses. During the day I fired 50 rounds. One of the pieces worked very badly, tearing the flanges off from the shell and throwing the shell end over end with bad effect. I did not use it but for a few rounds, as it endangered our infantry in our front. November 25, as soon as the fog had cleared away from the front suf ficiently to see the foot of Missionary Ridge, Major General Palmer directed me to fire at a wagon train that was moving along the road at the foot of the ridge. A few shots sufficed to stop the train. I then threw several shots at their camps, and then ceased firing until about 2 p. m., when I asked permission of Major General Palmer to open on a battery on Missionary Ridge to the left of General Bragg's headquarters. General Palmer gave me permission to do so, and the first shot, at 10° ele vation, went over the ridge without doing any damage. The next shot, at 7° elevation, burst in the rebel battery, and as I have since ascertained, killed three men and one horse and wounded two men. I fired several shots at the same point afterward, but did not succeed in bursting any more shell at that point— sometimes beyond and sometimes a little short on the side of the ridge. The piece with which I was firing stood on soft ground at the time, which made it almost impossible to calculate precisely the elevation to give the piece. Soon after bursting the shell in the rebel battery, I opened fire on a body of the enemy's troops who were advancing up the side of the ridge. For this purpose I placed the pieces inside the framework on the platform, and opened on them. The first shot drove them into their rifle pits, about one-third of the way up the ridge, and one more round of percussion shell, which burst in their rifle pits, drove them out of them and up the hill. I continued firing at these troops and at the batteries on the summit of the ridge until our men, who were charging up the hill, had advanced so far as to make it dangerous for me to fire at the ridge, so I ceased firing for the day. I fired about 60 rounds during the "day, and I am confident with good success. The conduct of my officers and men was good, doing their whole duty. The other two batteries of this brigade, namely, Battery A, First Middle Tennessee Volunteers, and the Third Wisconsin Battery, were not called into action, and therefore have no reports to forward. No report has been re ceived from the Tenth Wisconsin Battery, which is stationed at Harrison's Landing, Tenn. I am, Captain, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, J. W. Church, Captain Battery D, First Michigan Artillery, commanding First Brigade, Sec ond Division, Artillery Reserve, Department of Cumberland. Captain Louis J. Lambert. Assistant Adjutant General. In December the battery was ordered to Nashville, where it remained dur ing the winter. The following March, under command of Captain Corbin, •Captain Church having been promoted to Major of the regiment, it was or- ">~ *s ¦i ¦'¦¦'¦¦ ^V.:- * ¦ J. I » . I ¦ i f <:'W 1 I k 1 *** * 1 k' B 1 1- ~:"j ^ ~~ " "'¦" .-- . }&.*' B m~#yf% fP '"''TW WSfifr-:- -.-m . r ' "' ¦ "SfeJ LIEUTENANT GEORGE W. VAN PELT. Commanding- the Loomis Battery Killed Sept 19, 1S63. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 169 When the nature of this movement became more developed, and a position for the battery discovered, I, sent for instructions as to its disposition, and Vas ordered to let it follow on my rear. About this time my line became sharply engaged and the enemy receding we closely pressed them. The woods impeding the progress of the Battery, Lieutenant Colonel Griffin, with the Thirty-eighth Indiana, hurried forward and took position on the right of the Thirty-third Ohio, having left two companies with the battery. Success appeared to have followed the movements on our left, who were pressing forward with cheers. This state of things extended along my lines also. Passing over the enemy's killed and wounded, capturing prisoners, we arrived at a cornfield -in our front over which we had driven the enemy. Here their battery essayed to get into position, but their men and horses were shot down as often as attempted. The advance on my left having ceased, I halted in front of the field and placed my battery in position, bearing to my left, and the point where the enemy attempted to place a battery. About this time I was informed by my skirmishers that the enemy were passing to our right. I immediately sent a staff officer to notify General Palmer who, after proceeding a short distance in the supposed direction of General Palmer's line, found himself within twenty paces and confronting a strong skirmish line of the enemy. After adroitly making his escape, and being unable to find my intermediate com mander, he reported in person the presence of the enemy on the right to Major General Thomas, who immediately directed him to order any forces that could be found in the woods to meet the enemy in new position. Three separate commands were thus notified. I was immediately after notified that my right was being turned. Dr. Miller, my brigade surgeon, coming up reported tbe enemy in my rear, that he had been in their hands. As information like this came in, I despatched the same to the General com manding Division and threw a company of skirmishers to my right and rear. Scarcely had their deployment been completed when the enemy opened upon them a destructive fire. To form a front to the right by causing the Thirty-eighth Indiana to change their front to the rear, and to change the Tenth Wisconsin to the right of the Thirty-eighth Indiana, and limber the Battery to the rear, between the two regiments, employed but a few mo ments, this too under a heavy fire. The enemy charged down upon me, along my whole line, pouring in canister and shell. I had now despatched every staff officer and orderly with information of my position, asking for support, expressing my intention to hold my place with desperation until assistance arrived, for I felt that the safety of the force on my left depended on my holding this position. I had observed a line of our forces in my rear passing to the left. I sent to the officer for assistance but he had other orders. Thus contending with an overwhelming force on my front and flank, was fought one of the most stubborn and heroic fights that ever fell my lot to witness. The gallant Lieutenant Van Pelt was shot down at his guns, having fired 64 rounds into the midst of the enemy as they came charging down the hill, the two regiments on the right and left of the battery at the same time pour ing in a well directed fire. The enemy would hesitate but a moment, then press on. Their augmenting forces at length broke my lines, and forced me to fall back. The nature of my lines being in a right angle, the intricacies of the woods, overwhelming numbers, and the impetuosity of the charge ren dered it impossible to withdraw in order, and not until reaching a point near the road could order be restored. 170 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. The brigade went into action with 120 officers and 1,759 men, and met with a loss of 50 officers and 387 men killed, wounded and captured.' The troops of Scribner's Brigade had covered themselves with glory. Almost before its skirmishers were driven in, it was literally surrounded by thrice its numbers, who came on pouring, volley after volley of deadly bul lets into the very bosom of the gallant brigade. For a moment only it was thrown into confusion but not to surrender. The brigade was composed of the best material of their respective States. Gathering togather their broken ranks, under the deadly fire that at every moment mowed them down, and following their heroic commander charged the lines that surrounded them, and tore their way through. But, alas, the famous ' guns of the Loomis' Battery were left behind. Those black, stern-looking rifle cannon, each of whom was regarded with a feeling of reverential love, because upon a score of battlefields, they had poured destruction into the ranks of the enemy, and never once turned to the rear. Even the rebels themselves believed these guns invincible, and faced them only with misgivings of defeat. Loomis and his men had made these guns invincible. They were com manded now by a young man of the noblest qualities, who had learned the 'art of war' upon many a field. Entering the service in '61 as a private his every day was for his country. His promotion was by merit alone, and he was the worthy successor of Loomis himself. Van Pelt loved his pieces with the same devotion which he manifested for his wife. In the midst of the deadly conflict that about him raged, with such energy that the very trees of the forest were shaken, all about the ground lay the dead bodies of his horses, many of his gunners lay wounded and dying at their posts, and masses of the enemy rushed up swarming about the guns. Van Pelt almost alone with revolver and sabre faced the enemy. Traitors, 'dare not to touch these guns.' Single handed he fought, until the enemy, who seemed unable to appreciate true heroism, killed him where he stood. The history of the war furnishes not an incident more sublime than the death of Lieutenant George W. Van Pelt." The war correspondent of the New York Herald, writing of the battle, said: "Attached to Scribner's brigade was the famous Loomis Battery, that gallant gentleman no longer in command, but he had a worthy successor, and though the Battery no longer exist, but to be turned against us, Loomis may feel proud that his Battery and men expired in a blaze of glory. Lieutenant Van Pelt, in command of the Battery, in dying at his guns, has .given to the history of the war an incident that will form one of the brightest pages. Men grow to be attached to their guns, the natural result of that feature of discipline which inculcates that it is a great dishonor to lose a Battery. Van Pelt was proud of his guns. They had grown to be a terror to the enemy. They had figured in the war, as the originators of rebel fears, much in the same sense gunboats had. The rebels talked of Loomis Battery as excuses for defeat, and magnified every force whom they fought by speaking of 'Loomis' Battery' as a part of the enemy's force. The men, too, loved the guns, and they sealed the devotion on that day with their blood. The principal among them was Van Pelt. With his horses killed, his men dead, and his supports overwhelmed and driven back, the enemy rushed upon the battery. Van Pelt, as the last act of his young life, drew his sword and sprang to the front of his pieces, with that inexplicable frenzy which supplies with strength as with courage, he cried (so his men say) with a voice of thunder, 'Don't dare touch these guns.' On the inexorable wave HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 1T1 of glistening bayonets surged, over and past him, burying him under his lost guns." The battle of Chickamauga was the last in which the battery was engaged. Its casualties at Chickamauga, by official reports, were one officer and five men killed, seven men wounded, and twelve missing, making a total of twenty-five; nearly all of the missing were afterwards accounted for as killed or wounded. Fifty-five of its horses were killed and many others disabled. The body of Lieutenant Van Pelt was buried with those of some of his men, and some rebels in a shallow, water-washed gully near where he fell. Immediately after the battle of Missionary Ridge, and when the field again came into our possession, the survivors of the battery, after much search, disinterred the bodies and conveyed them to the cemetery in Chattanooga. In January, 1864, twenty-two of the members re-enlisted as veterans, and tne organization recruited to its full complement of men. It remained at Chattafnooga until the close of the war, returning to Michigan July 12, 1865, and was mustered out July 28. EXTRACTS FROM REPORTS. From the report of Captain George A. Kensel, Chief of Artillery, First Division, Fourteenth Corps: "The First Michigan Battery entereu the field complete, under command of First Lieutenant George W. Van Pelt. The battery took several positions before opening fire on the enemy. On forming in its fourth position, the Battery fired sixty-four rounds of canister and percussion shell. The enemy rushed upon the Battery in overwelming num bers, compelling the infantry supports to fall back. The men remained with the Battery, until the enemy's bayonets were at their breasts. Five guns fell into the enemy's hands, one was gotten safely off the field. One gun was subsequently recaptured. Lieutenant Van Pelt and five men were killed, six seriously wounded, and thirteen made prisoners. Lieutenant Wilbur speaks highly of the gallant bearing of Lientenant Van Pelt on the field of battle. Before being killed he cheered on his men to victory, and his death has left a blank in the Army of the Union." Captain Kensel also reports the loss of material to the Battery as two ten- pound caissons Parrott complete, three limbers ten-pound Parrotts, 380 rounds of ammunition, and 46 horses, besides a quantity of pistols, blankets and harness. Colonel James Barnett, Chief of Artillery, Army of the Cumberland, says in his report: "Lieutenant Van Pelt, commanding First Michigan Battery, well known and appreciated in this army, fell like a hero at his post." Colonel B. F. Scribner says in his report, that: "The service and the country lost heavily when Lieutenant Van Pelt, commanding First Michigan Battery, was killed." After the death of Lieutenant Van Pelt, Lieutenant Wilbur received orders to retire and save themselves if possible. The rebels then were in posses sion of most of the guns and most of the horses had been killed; but fortu nately the horses of one of the guns had been sheltered by the trees, and in a depression of the ground. The gunners of this piece ran it back by hand, limbered up and escaped. This was the only one of the six guns saved. This gun was under direct charge of Lieutenant Bachman, and much credit 172 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. was due to this gallant officer and his men, one of whom, Sergeant H. E. Burchard, was promoted to a lieutenancy for his bravery and skill. The rebels rushed upon the lieutenant in overwhelming numbers, and the con flict was hand to hand, but by desperate fighting the gun was saved. The loss of the other five guns, so long and in so many engagements, to their companions was a source of great sorrow, and they clung to the one saved, "like a mother to a saved child," when all but one had perished in the storms of the sea. OBut there came an hour of rejoicing that evening when another of the guns with three caissons and one disabled limber was recaptured. The next morning word came to Lieutenant Wilbur, that two more of the guns were recaptured; he went with a squad of his men and brought them in, . giving them four of the guns with caissons, but in such condition that but two of them were fit for use. General Rosecrans ordered them to Chattanooga for repairs. The next day, Lieutenant Wilbur again reported for duty with two guns, and was stationed on the railroad near Missionary Ridge. At the Battle of Missionary Ridge one more of the guns was recaptured, and at Atlanta the last one was taken, again making up the entire number. The two guns returned to Lieutenant Wilbur, the morning of the 20th, were those retaken by the Tenth Kentucky Infantry, Colonel Wm. H. Hays, of the Second Brigade, Third Division, Fourteenth Corps. Colonel Hays in his report of the battle says, after describing several sanguinary conflicts: "Finding the enemy stubborn, my men being shot down in large numbers, and seeing what I supposed to be a battery of artillery, in a position ahead of me, I ordered a bayonet charge, which was received by loud cheers by the men. The Tenth Indiana and Thirty-first Ohio both came gallantly to my assistance, and we completely routed the rebels, they flying in the greatest confusion. What I had taken for a battery of the enemy, proved to be the live guns of the Fourth Indiana Artillery, and two Parrotts of the First Michigan, which had been captured by the enemy. The guns were imme diately sent to our rear." The troops engaged in this conflict not only recaptured these seven guns, but also captured and removed from the field five guns of a rebel battery, in a struggle most desperate in its character, but the enemy again coming in on flank and flank in increased numbers, compelled the brigade to fall back, which they did, fighting from behind trees every foot of the ground, until they obtained a good position, when they repelled the enemy again, who coming up in solid ranks was met with a deadly fire of musketry, the woods being so dense that artillery could not be used. On the 24th of September, the report of the effective force of the battery shows two officers and 78 men for duty, with 53 horses and six guns, three guns serviceable and three guns out of repair, but their being made service able, no records of new guns being issued are found in any reports. During the siege and battles in and about Chattanooga, it occupied a posi tion on Cameron Hill in the city, its attention being devoted to the enemy on Lookout Mountain. In January, 1864, twenty-two of the members re-enlisted as veterans, and the organization recruited to its full complement of men. It remained at Chattanooga until the close of the war, returning to Michigan July 12, 1865, and was mustered out July 28. The history of the Loomis Battery without mention of Mrs. Van Pelt, wife of Lieutenant George W. Van Pelt, who joined her husband soon after the HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 173 Battery was ordered south, intending to share the privations and hardships of war with him, would not be complete. When not convenient to be with her husband in the field, she was in the hospitals of Nashville and Murfrees- boro laboring for the sick and wounded. From Nashville she joined the Lieutenant at Stevenson, Alabama, on the march to Chickamauga, going as far as Lookout Valley, September 14. Major General Thomas and staff had filed outside of the road where the lines of men were marching in clouds of dust. Van Pelt, with his wife riding at his side, leading his Battery, came up hurrying to the front where could be heard the sharp crack of the skirmishers' muskets. General Thomas, observing the woman, turned to Colonel Parkhurst, his Provost Marshal, and said: "Colonel, who is that woman?" "The wife of Lieutenant Van Pelt, sir." "What is she doing here?" "Oh, she is always with her husband, sir. She looks after the sick and wounded of the Battery; she is with it in every engagement." The General said after a moment: "Colonel, give my compli ments to Lieutenant Van Pelt and tell him his wife must go to the rear." The Colonel reluctantly obeyed the order, the Battery in the meantime having passed on some distance, and the Colonel, with his unpleasant message, was some time in gaining the front. Mrs. Van Pelt was adverse to going back and it was only through fear of making her husband trouble that she obeyed the order, and returned to Sand Mountain, intending to again join her hus band after the battle. She found a home with a good Union family, a pro fessor of the. Winchester College, who had moved to the mountain to be away from war troubles, but he could not have gone to a worse place, being in the path of both armies. It was nearly a month after the battle before she visited Bridgeport and learned the death of her husband. Unable to get to Chattanooga, she was given a pass by General O. O. Howard and secured transportation on a freight train, which was three days in reaching Nashville. 23 CHATTANOOGA. The view from Chattanooga as the soldiers took position in and about the place was grand and inspiring, varied by valleys, coves, ridges, knobs and mountains. To the east the line of Missionary Ridge, running almost due north and south, along whose crest and sides the tents of the enemy gleamed in the sunlight and whose camp fires sparkled like thousands of flaming stars at night. To the westward, Racoon Mountain and Wallen's Ridge, with abrupt sides towering against the skies, shut off the valleys from the west and north. Southward, Lookout Mountain, 1,600 feet above the valleys on either side, running southeasterly until it closes the valley in countless coves and pockets guarded by mountain sentries, the last or in soldiers' phrase, "the out-post" being Round Top, or Bald Knob just opposite Trenton, Georgia, eighteen miles away. The soldier pausing from his labors on that miniature mountain, Cameron Hill, with field-glass on clear days, could see down the Chattanooga Valley seventy miles to where the palisades of Lookout disappear, and the Mountain descends into the valleys of Alabama. The southern front of Wallen's Ridge, in the evening sunlight, savagely grand, yet charming the soul with thrills of inspiration. The bold outlines of Racoon with dense forests of pine and oak, and the rapid rushing Tennessee river, like a haunted dream, wandering through the valley, dashing through giant rifts, now sparkling in the sunlight, then dashing in foam and fury in shadows deep at mountain base until, phantom-like, it is lost beyond the sight, nearly a hundred miles away. Again glancing eastward along the crest of Missionary Ridge, to where McFarland's Gap cuts through it, far beyond in the dim distance you see the peaks of Kennesaw. Slowly moving your glass along the crest and beyond, you trace the Blue Mountain range of North Georgia, on up into North Carolina, until you get a clear view of the Big Smokey towering fully three thousand feet above the blue range, and the highest peak of which is not less than one hundred and twenty miles from where you stand. A single line of railway stretches along through valley, ravine and tunnel, rusty and unused, but man made the railway, an insignificant thread; while God made the river, the valleys, and the mountains, amidst which the sol diers wearing the blue and the gray were but actors in the tragedy of war. Two-fifths of the men of Bragg's army had been killed or wounded before the Union army advanced from the battlefield to Chattanooga. The non- combatants of the town, in great alarm, had taken flight across the river, or had sought refuge in their cellars from the danger of an impending battle. Every church, public building and available house had been taken for hospital purposes, for more than nine thousand of our wounded soldiers filled the town. The divisions were no sooner in the positions assigned them, when the guns were stacked, and ax, pick and spade were grasped. Day and night the work CHATTANOOGA, 1863,— CAMERON HILL IN THE DISTANCE. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 115 of fortification went on. Trees were felled, houses were torn down, trenches were dug, epaulements for batteries rose from the ground in a single night; the hills from their glorious wealth of trees became frowning forts and breast works impregnable. Looking from the signal stations on the mountains into the valleys below, "the boys in blue" looked like myriads of great ants bur rowing in the ground and making hills of dirt. The general commanding with his staff, rides along the lines and the soldiers cheer him with the spirit of victors. From Cameron Hill one could see off to the south, the Confederate Army as it swarmed through Rossville Gap and spreading along the crest of Mis sionary Ridge. Across the valley in great clouds of dust, batteries of artillery galloped in the direction of Lookout Mountain. And other clouds of dust marked the advance of unseen foes seeking positions of vantage. The Confederate Army was on its feet again and another battle became imminent. Late one day, General Bragg sent under that distinguished soldier General Grose, to General Rosecrans, a flag of truce requesting an exchange of prisoners. In conversation with Major Bond, aide-de-camp to General Rose crans, General Grose asked him what opinion prevailed among our men .s fo which army had the advantage in the operations that ended in the battle of Chickamauga and occupation of Chattanooga, saying that this was a mooted question in Bragg's camp. Major Bond replied that there had been no time in the past two years, that we would not have given for the posses sion of Chattanooga all that it had cost, and he added, "I believe we have got it." After a pause General Grose remarked, "Well, that is so." Bragg having drawn his lines about the town, close as seemed prudent, began working with the ax, pick and spade, not less energetically than the Union Army. For many days within the range of each other's artillery, the two armies dug as though each was preparing the grave of the other. It finally became apparent that Bragg would not fight again, but would try to starve Rosecrans out. On September 24th, the brigades holding Lookout Mountain were withdrawn, and the Confederates took possession, extending their pickets along the river nearly to Bridgeport, Ala., leaving to our armies but one road open to the rear, 60 miles of country trails leading over Wallen's Ridge and Sequatchie Valley. In places this road was the bed of winter torrents or slushes on the mountain sides. There had been but little rain since early in July. The earth was parched and blistered. The grass was withered and the leaves upon the trees dried and fallen to the ground. The moving of men and animals stirred up clouds of dust, which every breeze sent in blinding sheets through the camps. The soldiers longing for rain, cursed the suffocating clouds, and the Chaplains prayed for rain. The imprecations on one side or the prayers upon the other resulted in copious showers the first week in October, turning the dust to a sticky mud that was fully as objectionable. The hilly and barren country north of the river, the only country now open to the army, could not furnish supplies enough for the poverty stricken families the war had left. In the third week of the occupation, the armies ceased their work of intrenching. The mountains and hills were crowned with cannon and the valleys were ridged and dammed with earthworks. The guns of Missionary Ridge kept growling and barking at our forts, and gre.at shells like meteors from the sky, came tumbling down from Lookout. 176 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. The two lines were but a few rods apart, and the men looked into each other's eyes; often by common consent there was no picket firing. The pickets were there to watch, not to kill. Quietly they lay in their gopher holes, chaffing each other, sending back and forth boisterous jokes while shrieking shells, messengers of death, went unheeded and unnoticed over their heads. On quiet nights, standing on the picket lines, one could hear Dixie, adopted by the Confederate soldiers as their National music, while from our lines came the sweet, .grand tones of regimental bands in response, Hail Columbia and Star Spangled Banner, intermingled with John Brown's Body, and sweetly touching Annie Laurie, that angel of Crimea, every soldier's sweetheart. In that great game of war, hearts were trumps. In nearly the entire front, the Confederates built three lines of works, the Union lines running in a half circle from the river on the north, to it again on the south, and the Confederate Army from the river on the north to Look out Mountain and Valley on the south, leaving the road to the rear over Wal len's Ridge through Sequatchie Valley, thence to Bridgeport, a distance of sixty miles, as the only avenue by which supplies could be obtained. There was a short road on the north side of the river, leading to Bridgeport but !t was completely closed by the enemy's sharpshooters and batteries. To sup ply the army in good weather by this route was a great undertaking, even with the teams in good condition, but with the rainy season, that soon set in, the roads became almost impassable. The mules daily grew weaker from their incessant work, and the rations of the men grew daily less. On October 1st the Confederate, General Wheeler, crossed the river and moved upon the route of supplies, striking the supply teams at Anderson's Cross-roads, burning three hundred wagons and killing a large number of mules. Before they had completed their full destruction, General Edward M, McCook, with his cavalry division, moving up from Bridgeport, drove the Confederates in a saber charge from the trains. In this charge the Second Michigan Cavalry dashed upon the enemy with such Impetuosity that they were completely broken up for the day. The cavalry followed the enemy, striking them at every available opportunity for several days, until finally, with but a remnant of its force, it escaped back to the south side of the river. The only gain to the Confederates by this move was the destruction of supplies, wagons and animals, while they in turn were nearly annihilated. In this raid the Second and the Fourth Michigan Cavalry bore a most conspic uous part, that was fully detailed in the narrative of those regiments. The loss of wagons and supplies and the growing weakness of the animals, lessened daily the supply of food, brought to the army, and our men were in ¦danger of starvation. As the forage became scarce the artillery horses, for which there was no immediate need, had their supplies cut off, and they died in large numbers of starvation. The supplies for the animals of the mounted officers, grew so small that they too began to die. The rations supplied the men consisted of bread, corn and meat, and in such meagre quantities that they were always on the watch for crumbs of crackers dropped from the boxes, and kernels of corn dropped by the animals. Men with bayonets guarded the animals while they ate their scanty rations of corn and they •eagerly picked out of the soil the kernels dropped. The men became gaunt and hollow-eyed; however, not for an instant was the idea entertained of abandoning the town. The wagon trains could no longer be depended on and a plan was made to utilize the river with boats. The course of the river from Chattanooga is due west; passing the town it flows south to the base of Look out Mountain, from which point it sweeps with a sharp curve to the north- HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. H7 west, then north, forming what is known as Moccasin Point. Crossing the river at the town, a road leads southwest across this point to the other side, where the river, as it sweeps north, is reached at Brown's Ferry. After pass ing Brown's Ferry, the river again makes a sharp bend to the south, forming another point of land running northwardly. Across this point on the east bank, as the river passes south, is Kelly's Ferry; at the extreme angle of this bend, the river rushes through the mountains which here crowd down closely forming a narrow gorge, through which the water rushes with headlong veloc ity. Steamers in high water cannot stem the current, and can only pass up by the aid of windlass and rope. This, when the river could be used, would necessitate the leaving of supplies at Kelly's Ferry and then hauling them by team overland to Brown's Fen-y, thence by pontoon bridge across the bend of Moccasin Point, again across the river on pontoons to Chattanooga. Plans were made to bring supplies by this route by General Rosecrans. Before he could carry out these plans he was superseded by General Grant, and on the 24th day of October Generals Grant, Thomas and W. F. Smith made a per sonal examination of the country, and General Grant directed Thomas to exe cute the plans, which required the greatest secrecy of movement, otherwise the entire command of General Longstreet, stationed on Lookout Mountain and its vicinity, would resist the crossing of the river. The command of General Hooker was to move up from Bridgeport, holding the road to Kelly's Ferry and thence to Brown's Ferry, there to meet a force sent down the river from the town in pontoon boats. These boats were con structed by the First Michigan Engineers under command of Captain P. V. Fox. (See narrative of that regiment, and of the Twenty-flrst.) Under cover of the darkness these boats, loaded with troops under command of General Hazen, safely made the landing at the designated place, driving back the enemy's pickets. The entire expedition was in charge of General W. F. Smith, and consisted of Hazen's and Turchin's brigades with three batteries of artil lery under Major Mendenhall. A picked force of these brigades, consisting of fifty squads of twenty-four men each, each under command of an officer, were placed in the boats. The balance of the command marched across the bend and were to cross the river in the boats after the first landing had been made. With this party were several companies of the First Michigan Engin eers under command of Capt. P. V. Fox, who was to construct the pontoon bridge from the boats containing the troops. The command of Captain Fox not being considered strong enough to do the work, one hundred men of the Twenty-first Michigan were taken from their positions in the line and made a part of Captain Fox's command. The overland command moved late in the night under cover of the dense woods across the point to a position near the Ferry, where in the utmost silence, they waited the arrival near daylight under cover of a dense fog. The plans so far had been successfully carried out. The landing party met with some resistance, but soon drove the surprised enemy from the ground and then the Michigan men began the construction of the bridge. Daylight brought the entire operations of the troops in full view of the enemy occupy ing Lookout Mountain, who at once opened their batteries on the working parties. Dunng the morning several attempts were made by the infantry forces of the enemy to drive back the Union soldiers, without success. The artillery fire upon the bridge builders continued the entire day, the shells striking all about the men, but strange to "say, doing no serious damage or causing loss of life. The bridge was completed after 4 o'clock in the after- 178 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. noon. Then the command of Captain P. V. Fox was relieved, and the five com panies of the left wing of the Twenty-first Michigan, under command of Cap tain A. C. Prince, were left to guard the bridge. In tne camps of the enemy the Michigan boys discovered a quantity of corn in the ear. This was brought into camp and dealt out to the men, two ears each day as long as it lasted. For several days this corn was nearly the entire rations of the men and they made the most of it, by boiling it until it was soft then grating it into meal, upon grates made out of their canteens. The oval shaped canteens were melted apart, then punched with the point of a bayonet from the inside, making a sort of grater upon which the corn was ground from the cob. This mush or meal was then rolled into balls and cooked in the ashes, making dodgers. In this way until the first of November the men sus tained life, until the cracker route was fully opened to Bridgeport, and the first rations came over the bridge. During all the time up to the battle of Missionary Ridge, the Twenty-first Michigan cared for the bridge, the enemy shelling the camps and bridge from their positions on the mountain every day. The men became so used to the whistling shells that no attention was paid to them. Very soon after the construction of the bridge, the enemy began sending down rafts of timber which lodged against the pontoons in the rapid stream causing many breaks and making it necessary to keep men in boats on the watch night and day, some distance above the bridge. Fastening ropes to the rafts they were towed to the shores and made fast. Many of these rafts were rigged with torpedoes so arranged as to explode when striking any obstacle. The bridge itself was a frail affair, the boats constructed from green pine plank, the stringers and planking of the same material, and the boats were held in place against the strong current by anchors made of car wheels con nected to the boats by ropes and trace chains taken from the mule harnesses. The drift wood and rafts sent down by the enemy kept the command in con stant action and arduous work. On the 28th of October the Confederates made strenuous efforts to destroy the bridge. That night they made an attack upon Hooker's command, camped at Wauhatehie, a short distance from the Ferry, and the desperate engage ment that lasted nearly the entire night, resulted in a grand victory for the Union soldiers, the Union loss being 437 men. The Confederate loss was more than that, 153 being killed in front of Geary's division alone. Longstreet made no complete list of his loss, but it must have been more than 1,000 men. Hooker's command remained in Lookout Valley. On November 15th, General Sherman reported to Grant at Chattanooga, and his army began the crossing at Brown's Ferry. General Grant planned to open the battle of Missionary Ridge on the 21st, but owing to the constant rains and almost impassable roads, the first division of Sherman's army was the only one to cross the bridge. By great efforts the second division was crossed on the 22d, and the third division on the 23rd. That day the Confederates succeeded in breaking out the bridge, and all efforts to repair it were abandoned. The remaining division of Sherman's army joined with Hooker in the battle of Lookout Mountain. This trouble with the bridge changed very materially General Grant's plans. The battle on Lookout Mountain that followed immediately opened the way into Chattanooga by road under the point of the Mountain and the Brown's Ferry Bridge became a thing of the past. After the battle the prisoners captured by the Union armies were marched across the bend to Brown's Ferry, ferried across the river in flat boats by BROWN'S FERRY, VIEW FROM NORTH SIDE OF TENNESSEE RIVER,— RACCOON MOUNTAIN IN THE DISTANCE. HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 179 the Twenty-first Michigan, thence they were marched to Kelly's Ferry, and thence by boat to Bridgeport. In the, first detachment of these, which consisted of two thousand men, at least one-half were bare-footed, and none of them were decently clad. The roads were frozen hard and the poor fellows left a trail of blood where they marched. A more miserable lot of beings the writer had never seen, and the members of the Twenty-first Michigan, to their credit, did all they could to relieve the sufferings of the poor wretches. They cut up their blankets and tents to wrap about the feet of their enemies. Fires were built on the river banks, coffee prepared and in every way our men tried to lessen the suffering of their captives in strong contrast to the barbarities practiced on our men captured at Chickamauga and confined in rebel prisons. It is right to say here a few words in continuation of the destruction of the pontoon bridge at Brown's Ferry. It was not the original plan of General Grant to fight a battle on Lookout Mountain. Hooker's force had been reduced and at most he was to make a demonstration. Being re-enforced by the division of Sherman's army una Die to cross the river, he determined to drive the Confederates off from Lookout Mountain; thus, with Geary's division, lately from the Potomac, Osterhout's from Sherman's army and Cruft's division and Whitaker's and Grose's brigades of the Fourth Corps, of the Army of the Cumberland, Hooker fought the battle above the clouds that will grow in memory and song and last in history forever. It now seems as one studies the history of these campaigns, that the Gods of War combated the efforts of the Michigan men in their struggles to hold the bridge" intact. There were tears in their eyes, as they saw their work destroyed by the enemy, but the tears turned to shouts of gladness as they saw the troops advance toward the Mountain, and drive the foe from their stronghold. Then the clouds came down to meet "the boys in blue," and the noise of battle came from above the clouds where God's guiding care led the victorious patriots in their wild charge for human liberty. While the Union soldiers were suffering the privations of war besieged in Chattanooga, what of the Confederates on the mountains outside? An expres sion of the condition of the rebel army can be gained from the following let ter to Jefferson Davis, supposed to have been written by General Buckner, and signed by Generals Hill, Brown, Preston and others. "Before Chattanooga, Tenn., Oct. 4, 1863. His Excellency Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States, Rich mond: Sir— Your petitioners, Generals, officers of the Confederate Armies, now serving with the Army of the Tennessee, impressed alike with the importance of the questions they propose to present to you, and the responsibilities attached to their actions, deem it their duty to make to you the following representations: Two weeks ago this army, elated by a great victory, which promised to be the most fruitful of the war, was in readiness to pursue its defeated enemy. That enemy, driven in confusion from the field, was fleeing in disorder and panic stricken across the Tennessee River. Today, after having been twelve days in line of battle in that enemy's front, within cannon range of his position, the Army of the Tennessee has seen a new Sebastopol rise steadily before its view. The beaten enemy recov ering behind its formidable works, from the effects of his defeat, is under- 180 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. stood to be already receiving re-inforcements, while heavy additions to his strength are rapidly approaching him. Whatever may have been accom plished heretofore, it is certain that the fruits of the victory of the Chicka mauga have now escaped our grasp. The Army of the Tennessee, stricken with a complete paralysis, will, in a few days time, be thrown strictly on the defensive, and may deem itself fortunate if it escapes from its present posi tion without disaster. It is needless to enlarge on the importance of the possession of Chatta nooga. To us it is the gateway of supplies for a Confederate Army in Tennes see. To the enemy it is a formidable Tete-de-pont, from which his army can debouch into the heart of the Confederacy. It has already been to him an asylum within which his army has found refuge and the possession of which has enabled him to paralyze the movements of our forces. It has thus far maintained him in the possession of a great part of East Tennessee. A few more weeks of unmolested possession, and it will be to him a formidable fortress, provisioned for six months and capable of being held, by a small garrison, against any assailing force. The recovery of Middle Tennessee will thereby be effectually prevented, even though we defeat his armies beyond the river, our only line of supplies will be obstructed, and the maintenance of our Army cut off. Your petitioners view the campaign as virtually closed. The preponderance of strength by the delays of the past two weeks is again with the enemy. The increased difficulties of the situation requre increased resources on our part. But in addition to reinforcements, your petitioners would deem it a dereliction of the sacred duty they owe to the country, if they did not further ask, that your Excellency assign to the command of this army an officer who will inspire this Army and the Country with undivided con fidence." Many letters of this kind, from the Generals of the Confederate Army, were written to Jefferson Davis. Longstreet, Hill and Polk joined in requests for the removal of General Bragg. The disaffection extended throughout the Army, the loss of Chattanooga and the appalling losses of the Veterans of the Armies coupled with the want of proper food and clothing, seemed to have completely unnerved the rank and file, as well as the field and staff. The food of the Confederate soldier was of the poorest kind. When they had hard bread, it was composed of unbolted oats, . rye, corn and wheat, mixed. Common field peas were served in lieu of beans. Cornmeal was more commonly issued as the bread rations, and there were meagre facilities for cooking it; for meat, scant rations of beef and bacon; of tea, coffee and sugar there was none. GRANT'S PLAN OF BATTLE. Major General Sherman, commanding the Army of the Tennessee, having been ordered, with the Fifteenth Army Corps, to reinforce the Army of the Cumberland, reached Bridgeport with part of his force on the 15th of Novem ber. Arriving at Chattanooga in advance of his columns, and after examining the country and the plans of battle, expressed himself as confident of his abil ity to execute his share of the work. The plans had been written out substantially as follows: Sherman with the Fifteenth Corps, strengthened with one division of the Army of the Cumberland, was to effect a crossing of the Tennessee River, just below the mouth of the South Chickamauga, on Saturday, November 21, at daylight, protected by artillery placed on the heights on the north bank of the river. After crossing he was to carry the heights of Missionary Ridge, from their northern extremity to or near the railroad tunnel before the enemy could con centrate a force against him. General Thomas was to co-operate with him by concentrating his troops in Chattanooga Valley, on the left flank, leaving only the necessary force to defend the fortifications on the right and center, with a movable column of one division in readiness, to move whenever ordered. This division was to show itself as threateningly as possible on the most practi cable line for making an attack up the valley; Thomas was then to effect a junction with Sherman, well towards the north end of Missionary Ridge. The junction once formed and the Ridge carried, communication would be at once established by roads running on the south bank of the river; further movements to depend on those of the enemy. Lookout Valley was to be held by Greary's division of the Twelfth Corps and the two brigades of the Fourth Corps, ordered to co-operate with him, the whole under command of General Hooker. Howard's Eleventh Corps to be held in readiness to act either with Thomas at Chattanooga or with Sherman, and was ordered on Friday night to take up a position on the north side of the Tennessee opposite the town, and there held in readiness for such orders as might be necessary. General Smith commenced at once to collect his pontoon boats and mate rial for bridges in the north Chickamauga Creek, preparatory to the crossing of Sherman's troops, proper precautions being taken to prevent the discovery of the movement by the enemy. Colonel Long, commanding the Second Brigade, Second Division of Cavalry, of which the Fourth Michigan was a part, was ordered to a position to fol low Sherman's troops across the Tennessee, then taking position on the left make a raid on the enemy's communications, and do as much damage as possi ble; but owing to continued heavy rains General Sherman could not get his men up from Bridgeport in time to commence the operations as soon as he expected. 24 182 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. Learning that the enemy had discovered Sherman's movements, across Lookout Valley, it was thought best that Howard should cross over into Chat tanooga, thus attracting the attention of the enemy, with the intention of leading him to suppose that those troops he had observed were reinforcing Chattanooga, and thereby concealing the real movements of Sherman. Ac cordingly, Howard's troops were crossed into Chattanooga on Sunday and took up a position in full view of the enemy. In the meantime the river hav ing risen, both pontoon bridges were broken by rafts sent down the river by the enemy, cutting off Osterhaus' division from the balance of Sherman's troops, leaving it with Hooker in Lookout Valley. It was found impossible to rebuild the Brown's Ferry Bridge, and it was determined that Hooker should take Osterhaus and Greary's division, Whit aker's and Grose's brigades of the Fourth Corps under General Crufts, and make a demonstration on the western slope of Lookout Mountain for the pur pose of attracting the enemy's attention in that direction; thus withdrawing him from Sherman, while crossing the river at the mouth of the South Chicka mauga. Hooker was instructed that in making this demonstration if he dis covered the position and strength of the enemy would justify him in attempt ing to carry the point of the mountain to do so. By 4 o'clock on the morning of the 24th, Hooker reported his troops in position and ready to advance. At midnight the pontoon boats that had been placed in the North Chicka mauga River were loaded with the designated brigade of Sherman's army, and they silently floated out of the stream into the rapid current of the Tennessee, and quietly effected a landing on the south bank, both above and below the South Chickamauga, and the ferrying over of other troops at once began, and by daylight 8,000 men were across, and by 12 o'clock the pontoon bridge was completed both across the Tennessee and South Chicka mauga, and the northern end of Missionary Ridge in Sherman's possession. Colonel Long following Sherman's advance closely with the Fourth Michigan Cavalry in advance of the mounted force. General Sherman soon became heavily engaged, the enemy having massed a strong force in his front; and General Howard with the Eleventh Corps moved to the left, connecting with Sherman and Baird's division of the Fourteenth Corps, also followed in support. General Hooker with his command, having gained possession of Lookout Mountain, the stronghold of the enemy's left, followed the retreating Con federates across Chattanooga Valley, striking them again at Rossville. Thus, the original plan of operations was somewhat modified to meet and take advantage of emergencies which necessitated modifications of the plan. It is believed, however, that the original plan had it been carried out could not possibly have led to more successful results. BATTLE OF CHATTANOOGA OR ORCHARD KNOB. No battlefield in our war, none in the wars of history where large armies were engaged, was so spectacular or so well fitted for a display of soldierly courage and daring as the amphitheater of Chattanooga. Chattanooga, Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain were three detached actions, fought by different portions of our troops. They were a series of operations for driving from our front the enemy, and known as the Battles of Chattanooga. Late on the night of the 22d of November, a deserter from the rebel army came into the lines of Sheridan's division. This man talked quite freely and intelligently and was taken to General Sheridan, whom he told that General Bragg was making preparations to retreat from his position. General Grant had been waiting the arrival of Sherman's Army but decided to wait no longer. On the morning of the 23d he directed General Thomas to drive in the enemy's pickets. At 12:30 Gen. Wood's division of the 4th Army Corps supported by Gen Sheridan's division of the same corps, marched out on the plains in front of Fort Wood in the direction of Orchard Knob, a rough steep hill about one hundred feet high, covered with a growth of small tim ber, rising abruptly from the Chattanooga Valley and lying about half way between our outer pits and the breastworks of logs and stones. At its western base and extending for a mile beyond both north and south of the hill were other rifle pits, hid in part by a heavy belt of timber that extended for a quarter of a mile into the plains. Between this belt of timber and our line were open fields in which there was not a tree, fence or other obstruc tion save the bed of the East Tennessee Railroad, and the hundreds of little pits and mounds thrown up by the pickets of both armies. The notes of the bugles, the sharp commands of the company officers, the time beats of the drums, the flags flying, the companies wheeling and counter marching, regiments getting into line, the bright sun flashing upon ten thousand bayonets, made an impressive sight, more like the preparation for a grand review than for the bloody work of death. Groups of officers on Missionary Ridge gathered and, with their glasses, looked down upon the scene. The enemy's pickets came out of their works, in their tattered ragged grey clothing, in harmony with the frosted leaves upon the trees, and idly looked on, viewing what they supposed a grand review. And while they looked, the bugles' ringing notes set the column in motion with the steadiness of a vast machine. As the lines advanced, the enemy for the first time realized that it was not a review. The pickets discharged their muskets, then retired to the reserves on the run. The reserves in turn hastily fell back to the main line. Firing opened up all the line, a contin uous roar of musketry, and then a crash of cannons in front of them, "cannon to the right of them and cannon to the left of them, volleyed and thundered." 184 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. The prostrate forms of men in blue dotted the ground over which the line had advanced. Ambulances went quickly to the field and came back with the first of the wounded. From the woods of Orchard- Knob came puffs of smoke, then cheers that sounded faint in the din and crash, and the boys were sweeping true as a sword blade across the fields in splendid line two miles long, as unwavering as a ray of light. On they went. Shots of musketry, like great drops of rain pattered along the line. Men fell here and there, but still like joyous heralds before a royal progress the skirmishers passed on. From wood and ' rifle pit, from rocky ledge and mountain top, sixty-five thousand Confederate soldiers watched these couriers bearing the gift of battle in their hands. Black rifle pits were tipped with sheets of flame, the sputter of musketry deepened into volleys and rolled like muffled drums. Hostile batteries opened from the cliffs. The Rodmans joined in from Fort Wood. Bursting shells and whistling grape filled the air, the echoes roused up and growled back from the mountains; the rattle became a roar as those gallant fellows moved steadily on down the slopes, through the woods, up the hills, straight for Orchard Knob, as the crow flies, moved that glorious line of blue. The air grew livid as the grey clouds of smoke surged up the valley. It was a terrible journey they were making, those brave boys of ours. They neared the Knob and the enemy's fire converged the arc of batteries pouring in upon them, lines of fire like the rays of glory about the head of the Madonna and the Child, but they went up the ragged altar of Orchard Knob at the double quick, with cheers that could not be drowned by the cannons' roar. They wrapped like a cloak about the Confederate regiment that defended the crest and swept them down and sent them across the fields as prisoners like flocks of geese; a short sharp struggle and the Knob was ours. Then on for a second altar a half mile to the north and east that bristled with a battery. They swept it of foes and garnished it with blue in thirty minutes. The gallant divisions of the Fourth Corps had made a splendid march. They had bent their lines outward to the enemy like Apollo's bow to cut new swaths and leave the edges even. From the Knob the ground presents rolling sweeps for two miles more until the whole rough and stony land scape dashed against Missionary Ridge, that lifts like a sea wall eight hun dred feet high, wooded, rocky, precipitous, wrinkled with ravines, it extends north as far as one can see, with fields here and there cut down through the woods and lying on the hillsides like brown linen to bleach; and then away to the south it curves, leaving the valley a way out between it and Lookout Mountain. Altogether the rough mountains seem to have been plowed by the Titans in times gone by. A small stream of water ran parallel to the line of battle as presented in front, bordered by thin patches of timber. Beyond this timber an open plain to the foot of Missionary Ridge at the foot of which was the enemy's first line of works. At a point midway up its face another line of rifle pits and then the crest with its third line in which the Confederate Commander has massed his artillery. The battle of Orchard Knob ends with the day. Far out in the fields the pickets assume their old proximity in new neighborhoods. No musket shot startles the silence and behind the fresh earthworks that have carried the heavy labors of soul and sinew far into the night, the soldier for the Union HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 185 sleeps upon his arms to dream perchance of fierce assault and sweeping triumphs of other days, of struggles and of bloodshed. While Granger's troops were fighting at Orchard Knob, part of Gen. Slier- man's force was still at Brown's Ferry. The crossing was slow and difficult because the pontoon bridge was frequently broken by the rafts of logs and driftwood sent down the river by the enemy. The bridge was under the immediate control of Captain A. C. Prince of the 21st Michigan with five companies of that regiment numbering all told about one hundred men fit for duty. These were the men who did most of the work of placing the bridge, and they had continued charge of it. The difficulties under which they labored to build this bridge and keep it in serviceable condition has had no part in the grand details of the campaign, nevertheless they formed an important part in the plans and have been mentioned elsewhere. The current of the stream here was strong and the boats of the bridge held in place by anchors made of car wheels connected to the boats by pieces of rope and trace chains from the train harness. These fragile affairs were doubled and twisted together in several strands to secure the requisite strength. To prevent the rafts and driftwood from striking the pontoons, several canoes were kept parroling the river up stream as near the base of Lookout Mountain as could be safely done, from the shots of the enemy. As soon as the raft was discovered the canoe parties left their shelter along the banks and made fast lines, then the heavy masses of timber, often several whole trees lashed together, were towed to the shore, and made fast to the banks. This was no easy task against the rapid currents, often supplemented by shells and canister from the enemy's batteries on the mountain. These rafts came down at all hours of the day and night. To many of them torpedoes were attached, making the duty doubly hazardous. If one of these rafts escaped the men in boats and lodged against the bridge, as was often the case, a section of it would be torn out, and all crossing stopped until repairs could be made. The frequent freshets in the stream caused continual changes at each end, taking out or putting in extra boats as the bridge had to be lengthened or shortened. The Michigan men were nearly all expert river and woods men and they were soon perfect in this work. . ¦ On the afternoon of the 23d, all the divisions of Sherman's Army had crossed except Osterhaus, when a raft with a large cast iron torpedo attached struck the bridge. The torpedo did not explode when it lodged against the bridge, but several boats were torn out and carried down stream. The loss was irreparable that day or in time for Osterhaus to join Sherman in his movement against Missionary Ridge, and he was ordered to join Hooker and the place of his division in the 15th corps was filled by Davis' division of the 14th corps, Army of the Cumberland. About 4 o'clock on the afternoon of the 23d, when it became apparent that Osterhaus would be attached to Hooker's command, General Thomas directed Hooker to make a demonstration against Lookout Mountain, the next morning, and if it developed that it could be carried, to proceed to take it. Later in the day, orders came to General Hooker from General Grant to the same effect. These orders were carried across the river above the broken pontoon bridge by a lieutenant of the 21st Michigan in a small canoe. The success at Orchard Knob and the breaking of the bridge at Brown's Ferry caused radical changes in the plans of the battle, and but for 186 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. the mishap at the bridge, the battle "above the clouds" would never have been fought. That day tbe enemy upon the mountain who could plainly see the Army crossing the stream, seemed to double their force of raft builders. The stream was fairly filled with floating trees and driftwood, and it was the Michigan boys and the enemy at long range, in which, aided by the elements, the enemy was victorious although they did but cause their own destruction as the following day proved. HOOKER'S BATTLEFIELD, LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN. Moccasin Bend, Chattanooga on the right, Wallen's Ridge in the distance. LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN. General Grant said, speaking of the battle of Lookout Mountain, "Lookout was one of the 'Romances of the War.' It was not an action, entitled to the name of Battle, but it was all Poetry." Yes, it was poetry, the composition of the Gods of War, to thrill the souls of men for all ages to come. In. relating the story of the assault and capture of Lookout Mountain, it will be well to show how a force of four thousand men forced their way in line of battle, up the steep slope of a mountain, broken into deep ravines and precip itous cliffs. These natural defenses were manned by a brave and vigilant force of veteran soldiers, ably commanded, quick to take advantage of any sign of wavering on the part of their assailants and who contested stub bornly every foot of the ground from the base to summit These four thousand men made up representative brigades of the grand divisions of the Army, animated by a generous rivalry, bared their breasts to the God of Battles, and these soldiers fell like heroes, with their faces to the foei never yielding one inch of the ground their valor had won. The battle began in the valley with the first light of the morning sun, and ended above the clouds in the starlight of night, when all the earth below was in darkness. Major General Stevenson, with six brigades at his disposal, was in com mand of the Confederate forces on Lookout Mountain and in Chattanooga Valley. General John K. Jackson was in immediate command of the forces on the Mountain, and General Gist of those in the Valley. The troops on the Mountain consisted of three brigades under command of Generals Wal thall, Moore and Pettus. The rough nature of the western slope of the Mountain was regarded in itself a sufficient barrier to the advance of any considerable force from that direction. The Craven House, a summer hotel perched upon the plateau beneath the summit of Lookout Mountain, was considerably in rear of Walthall's main line which was half way down the western side of the Mountain, while his pickets were posted at the foot of the Mountain, on the east bank of Lookout Creek, Moore's brigade was on the right and in rear of Walthall's, near the Craven House. General Walthall says in his report, "I expected from the rugged nature of the ground, and the fact that the enemy had to ascend the Mountain, that the picket fighting would continue some time before the main body would be engaged." The effective total of Walthall's brigade was 1,489, and of Moore's 1,205. Gen. Pettus' brigade, with the exception of two regiments, was posted at Summertown on top of the Mountain and at Powell's and Nickajack trails and other passes. A section of artillery was posted near the point supported by the 32d Tennessee Infantry. This brigade numbered 980 effective, fight- 188 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. ing men making a total force on the Mountain of 3,674, or about 4,000, including officers. The Union forces were under command of General Joseph Hooker, and comprised all told an effective strength of 9,681 men, representing the three great armies, the Cumberland, Potomac and Tennessee; they were the veterans of Antietam, South Mountain and Gettysburg, in line with the men of Shiloh, Corinth, Vicksburg, Stone River and Chick amauga. Although the force on the Mountain was but half that of the attacking troops, the ground was such that the entire force of the latter could not be used, and the enemy occupied passes that could be held by a handful of men against a brigade. There were steep acclivities that must be mounted on hands and knees; there were deep ravines and tangled abatis to be passed in the face of a storm of musketry. Each man in the ranks felt that the reputation of the Army to which he belonged rested on himself. There were no roads for a distance of twenty miles up the Valley; the only access to the summit of the Mountain was by narrow foot paths, admitting the passage of but one man at a time. Each of these passes was guarded by a force of sharpshooters. General Hooker says in his report, "Viewed from whatever point, Lookout Mountain, with its high palisaded crest, and its steep, rugged, rocky and deeply furrowed slopes, presented an imposing barrier to our advance; and when to these natural obstacles were added almost unsurmountable, well planned and well constructed defenses, held by Americans, the assault became an enterprise worthy of the ambition and renown of the troops to whom it was intrusted." On the northern slope, midway between the summit and the Tennessee River, a plateau or belt of arable land encircles the crest. There a continuous line of earthworks had been thrown up while redoubts, redans and pits, appeared lower down the Mountain, to repel an assault from the direction of the river. On each flank were rifle pits, epaulments for batteries, walls of stone and abatis to resist attack, from either the Chattanooga Valley on the east or the Lookout Valley on the west. The base of the Moun tain, was guarded by works constructed by Longstreet's troops during its occupancy of the Mountain." Before crossing Lookout Creek in the morning, every officer and man was enlightened upon the task assigned to them. The force guarding the Moun tain was an unknown quantity to the Union soldiers. It was only known that they were veterans of many a hot contested field, and that they would fight like demons was known to none better than to the men who were about to attack them in their stronghold. The lines of battle were formed along the valleys at the base of the Mountain, that loomed upward through the mist of the early morning. The signal to advance set the lines in motion. Climbing over jutting pro montories, sloping downward to the Valley, plunging into dark ravines, a hundred feet in depth, scaling precipices, with muskets slung to the shoulder, both hands and feet engaged in the desperate gymnastics, the line moved like the border of a shadow, cast by a passing cloud, sweeping every Confederate soldier from its path. The scouts of the Confederate Commander brought him swift information of the movements of the Union forces who says in his report, "Meanwhile the firing of the batteries, posted on the hills in Lookout Valley, not more than three-fourths of a mile from my main line, which before had been irregular, became constant and heavy." HISTORY OF MICHIGAN ORGANIZATIONS. 189 As the lines advanced the enemy were found sheltered by rocks, trees and timber cut to abatis while the summit of the Mountain was covered with sharpshooters, concealed by the overhanging cliffs. The enemy being familiar with every part of the mountain fell back stubbornly, contesting every available position. Every rock and tree concealed a foe. The two guns pre viously referred to on the crest of the Mountain, could not be depressed sufficiently to do any damage and the gunners threw shells by hand over the cliffs, and hugh boulders lossened from their resting places, were sent crashing down the narrow paths that at times were choked with the advanc ing soldiers, who insensible to all danger, pressed on with the light of battle "in their faces. The morning of the 24th of November opened up with a cold drizzling rain. Thick clouds of mist settled about the tops of the Mountain. At daybreak Hooker's men began their movements upon the enemy holding Lookout Mountain. The rain swelled Lookout creek's banks full. The heavy banks of mist hid the movements of the troops who were expecting and well pre pared for the movement. There were no Michigan organizations properly in this action, but parties of the 21st Michigan, whose occupation was gone with the destruction of the Brown's Ferry Bridge, ascended the river in small boats keeping well up to the advancing columns, and aided the cross ing of the skirmishers over Lookout Creek. Later in the day they brought boxes of ammunition to Hooker's men, whose supply was exhausted by their long, continued battle. In this way they gave great assistance to their soldier comrades as ammunition wagons could not be hauled up the sides of the Mountain. Perhaps a soldier's memory of the battle may not be out of place in this narrative, so let us step aside and tell you the simple story of what a soldier witnessed. Perhaps it was ten o'clock in the morning, when the rumble of artillery came in gusts from the Valley, to the west of Lookout. Climbing up the river bank well up under the point of the Mountain, I could see volumes of smoke rolling to and fro like clouds from a boiling cauldron. The mad crash and roar of cannons in the Valley echoed from crag to crag, until you might have fancied all the thunders of a long summer tumbled into that Valley together and in the rain and skirts of mist that trailed through the woods, sweeping down the ravines and creeping about the great rocks, the battle was unseen. The enemy roused by the sound and fury, came forth from their camps and works high up on the Mountain, to dispute the passage of the Union men, and then the play began. The enemy's camps were seized, his pickets captured, the rifle pits along the base and at the point were taken; but above them grand and sullen lifted the giant Mountain, and they were but men, not eagles. The way was strewn with nature's fortifications, rocks, trees, fallen timber, jungles of brush, briars and tangled mountain side forests. From behind every rock and tree there came the flash of muskets and cheers of defiant foes, as they contested every inch of the upward way. Often in the fogs and mists the conflicts came hand to hand. Slowly, stubbornly, the enemy gave up the ground; the batteries of Moccasin point were sweeping the open spaces and roads on the Mountain sides. The batteries along the base of the Mountain were playing like a heart in fever, the rebel guns on the top >of Lookout were pounding away at their lowest depression; the flash of the guns fairly burning holes through the clouds. The clouds on the summit and the smoke of battle had met half way, mingling, and Lookout Mountain had vanished. 25 190 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. It was Sinai over again with its thunderings and lightnings and thick dark ness, and the Lord was on our side. Finally the storm ceased and only wandering shots tolled off the evening hour. About half past nine, there came a crashing volley and a desperate charge of the Confederate forces on the Federal lines. The onslaught was met with a sheet of flame from a thousand muskets and shouts of defiance. It was their good night to our boys, good night to the grand old mountain.. The clouds rolled away, the stars came out bright, and the air frosty. Soon rows of glittering lights, a mile apart, were the parallel camp fires of the contending armies extending from the summit of the mountain to its base, looking like great streams of burning lava, while in between the flashes from the muskets of the vigilant skirmishers, glowed like great fireflies. The wounded lay about the front lines all the chilly night, unrepining and content. The unharmed heroes lay there upon their arms; our dead lay there, "and surely they slept well." At dawn of day, a gallant band crept up among the rocky cliffs and stood at length upon the summit. From away across the Valleys and the distant Mountains, the sun cast glorious rays of light upon the- stars and stripes floating from the Mountain peaks. As it waved there the soldiers of the Union, away below in the valley, caught the sight and cheers arose to the skies. It ran along the Valleys from regiment to regiment, through bri gades, divisions and corps, until the boys away around in the face of Mis sionary Ridge, passed it along the line of battle to Sherman on the far left. And so, at Wednesday's dawn, ended the second act of the battle of Chattanooga, a day whose sun should set upon the third act, the grandest and last. In closing his report of the capture of Lookout Mountain, General Crufts says, "The storming of Lookout must rank as one of the great achievements of the war. It was a complete success throughout, the result of the dash and intrepidity of the soldiery engaged. Detachments of three armies fought side by side, engaged in a common purpose, only emulating each other in the amount of peril and labor each should encounter. The spectacle of the assault on the west side of the Mountain was sublime, and one that is not rewitnessed in a life time. The exploit will become historical, and must take rank among the noblest feats of the arms of any nation." General Geary footed up the results of the day's operations as follows: "Captured from the enemy, 1,940 prisoners; 125 rebels killed, 300 rebels wounded and left on the field; 2,800 stands of arms, two cannons with limbers, and ammunition, 5 battle-flags, with thousands of small arms, and intrenching tools and camp equippage. The fighting men engaged in the assault and defense represented nearly all the States of the Union. The position was assaulted and defended by American soldiers— an in stance of courage and daring well worthy of being handed down to future generations. TUNNEL HILL, MISSIONARY RIDGE.— RIGHT OF SHERMAN'S ASSAULT. THE STORMING OF MISSIONARY RIDGE. WEDNESDAY, THE TWENTY-FIFTH. If seeing for one's self is an art, seeing for another is a mystery, requiring eyes of magic power. I give you but the simple story of what one man saw standing that day on Orchard Knob, the center of our lines of advance. Missionary Ridge is in front, Fort Wood and the village of Chattanooga behind, . Lookout Mountain on the right, and the glistening waters of the Tennessee to the left. The Gods of War ne'er created theatre more magnifi cent, never were warriors more worthy of such surroundings. A chain of Federal forts built in between the lines of living men, wind along through wood and vale northward out of sight, and southward until the Mountain heads it off. And to the front a chain of mountains crowned with batteries and lines of hostile troops, a six mile sweep set against us in plain sight, and you have the two fronts, the blue and the gray. Away to the left, the iron hearts of Sherman's veterans were throbbing, As the morning grew apace, the ro*r of the cannons grew into one continual peal of thunder. 'Tis the ring of Sherman's iron knuckles at the northern door of Missionary Ridge. The Confederate Commander had massed there the Corps of Hardee and Buckner as upon the battlement utterly inaccessi ble save by one steep narrow way, commanded by their guns. A thousand men could hold it against a host and in front of this bold abutment of the Ridge is a broad clear field skirted by woods. Across the threshold up to death's door moved the veterans of Shiloh and Vicksburg. Twice it advanced and twice it was swept back in bleeding, broken columns before that furnace blast, until the brown cold ground seemed like some strange page ruled thick with lines of blue and red. Bright valor was in vain. The daring fellows lacked the ground to stand on. Before them was a lane whose upper end the rebel cannon swept with deadly fire. To the right or to the left nature opposed them with precipitous heights. There was nothing for it but straight across the fields swept by enfilading fire of musketry. If Sherman did not roll the enemy along the mountain crest, he at least did splendid service in holding a strong force of the foe firmly on their right as if he had them in a vise. The brief November day was more than half gone, and Sherman was thundering yet, and away to the right Hooker's men had swept across the valley and were assaulting the enemy's left near Rossville, four miles away towards the fields of Chickamauga. They carried the end of the ridge, strew ing the summit with the dead. The hostile army was being terribly battered af the edges, but there in our front it grimly waited biding out its time. If the flanks could not be crushed together in confusion, possibly it might be cleft at its center and hurled down the far side of the mountain, but to the men in the center their time had come. 192 CHICKAMAUGA, CHATTANOOGA AND MISSIONARY RIDGE. By the evacuation of the mountain top and the retreat of the Confederates across the valley, General Bragg had concentrated his entire command on Missionary Ridge, shortening his line one-half. The developments of the past two days had caused General Grant to make many changes in his original plan. Four insulated divisions of Gen eral Thomas' command were in line in front of General Bragg's center, Wood's and Sheridan's divisions were in the position attained on the 23d. Johnson was on the right of Sheridan and Baird on the left of Wood. These divisions were formed by brigades from right to left in the following order: Carlin and Stoughton's of Johnson's; Sherman, Harker's and Wagner's of Sheridan's; Hazen's Willich's and Beatty's of Wood's; and Turchin, Van Derveer and Phelps of Baird's. Two lines of skirmishers covered the battle front and such troops as were designated as reserves were massed in rear of their respective organizations. The movement was to commence at three o'clock by a signal of six guns fired in rapid succession from Orchard Knob. There was some delay attend ing the preliminaries of the movement and it was not until half -past three that the guns sounded the signal, one, two, three, four, five, six, that set the hearts to beating and the blood tingling through the bodies of the impatient soldiers who had been waiting all day while their brothers in arms, on the left under Sherman, had been hard at work. The men sprang from their positions behind the defenses and pressed to the front, divisions, brigades and regiments, striving each with the other for the advance. The enemy had originally four lines of breastworks; the first one captured when Orchard Knob was taken. This left three lines remaining. The second was near the foot of the ridge, the third about half way up the ridge, and the fourth on the crest where the Confederates had constructed their best and heaviest line, protected by some fifty places of artillery. General Grant's order required only that the enemy should be dislodged from the rifle pits and entrenchments at the base of Missionary Ridge. The statement is made in his official report that this was his design, but no such instructions were given to division, brigade or regimental commanders and it does not appear that he meditated an independent assault of the summit; certain it was, however, that neither of the Generals of the contending forces thought it possible that the third and fourth lines on the ridge would be assaulted. Directly in front of Orchard Knog and on the summit of the ridge was a small house where the headquarters of the Confederate armies were estab lished. As the guns tolled the signal, twenty thousand men rushed forward. The big siege guns in the forts at Chattanooga roared above the light artillery and musketry in the valley, sending their screeching missiles over the tree- tops against the face of the ridge. No sooner had the lines advanced than the enemy's rifle pits became ablaze, and the whole face of the ridge a blazing volcano. Though exposed to a terrible fire, our men pushed on rapidly, working their way through felled trees and other obstructions until they came upon the rifle pits. By a bold dash they broke through the works in several places, catching the enemy in rear and flank by reverse fires and they were thrown into confusion and sought safety in precipitate flight up the ridge. Here many prisoners and small arms were captured and the order of the commanding general successfully carried out. But this did not Eh