USA > Illinois > History of the Ninety-sixth Regiment, Illinois volunteer Infantry, Vol. I > Part 16
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
The history of that eventful Saturday can be but briefly described. Gen. Rosecrans, in forming his line of battle on the west bank of Chickamauga Crock, had expected that the strean: would serve an admirable purpose for defensive opera- tions. With this expectation he had ordered that every bridge and ford should be seenrely guarded by cavalry, with infantry in support, and that the strongest possible resistance should be offered to the passage of the enemy. But it transpired. early on Saturday, that the stream was not a formidable barrier. Indeed, on Friday evening. While Col. McCook's* Brigade of the Reserve Corps was marching to Reed's Bridge. the cavalry posted there had been driven back, and a large force of the enemy had crossed before dark. Col. MeCook believed it to be but a single Brigade, and so reported ; but when, at about ten o'clock Saturday morning, Gen. Brannan attempted to move his Division to the bridge and capture it, he found himself confronted by a force greatly outnumber- ing his own. Simultaneously with his advance the enemy were moving to the assault, and the two forces met and began a terrible struggle for the mastery. Speedily the roar of battle ran to the southward, as division after division of the Rebel army took up the charge. The order of Gen. Bragg had been for a series of charges, beginning on his extreme right, cach Division to move as rapidly as it should appear that the Union lines withstood the contest at their right, until some weak point should be found and penetrated. Such a point was found, but farther to the south ward and later in the day. As the
* The reader should not confuse Col. Dauiel McCook with Gen. A. MED. MeCook. The former commanded a Brigade in the Reserve Corps, and the letter was the com- mander of the Twenty-Arst Army Corps.
174
ILISTORY OF THE 96TH REGIMENT, ILL. V. I.
terrible roar of insketry gave evidence that the contest was to be a full-fledged battle, and that the plan of the Rebel leader was to break back the Union left if possible, troops were hurried from the right centre and thrown into the maelstrom where Brannan's Division, and subsequently Baird's and Johnson's Divisions, were striving, with desperate courage, to withstand the terrific efforts of the enemy. Some ground was lost, and a half dozen pieces of artillery had to be aban- doned ; but the loft was by no means routed, and the losses of the brave battalions in gray that had opened the battle were such as to render them cantions in their subsequent advances. Gen. Rosecrans soon ordered thet portion of Gen. MeCook's Corps that had been left in the neighborhood of Crawfish Springs to move toward the left, closing up on the forces at Lee & Gordon's Mills. This movement was not begun nuti! afternoon, and when the tide of battle had swung far toward the Union right. The assaulting columns found more than one weak place in the Union lines before the right had been reached, but the Brigades and Divisions in reserve had been able to move into the breaks in the lines, and but little ground was lost. along the centre. Near the Mills the Union forces were driven backward, before the arrival of the troops from Crawfish Springs, and these latter, after a long double-quick, and under the order, "On the right, by files. into line !" wout at once into action : in a few cases the right of a regiment being aet- ively firing and moving to the front before the left had come into line. Some disorder resulted, but a gallant defense was made, and the right wing, although borne backward some- what, met no serious disaster. Night closed with no great advantage gained by the Confederates and no serious loss, so far as position was concerned. to the Union forces. * Trie. the losses had been heavy, and both the right and left were forced to yield ground. but the lines had been fairly main- tained, and the situation at dark was not critical. Nearly
* Gen. Hood, who commanded the right of the Rebel army on Saturday, in his work entitled " Advance and Retreat," says that a majority of the Cotafederate corps com- anders, at their council that evening, were rather dispirited then otherwise at the result of Saturday's battle, and by no means a unit in favor of renewing the contest on Sunday.
175
CHICKAMAUGA.
1848]
every Regiment of the Fourteenth, Twentieth and Twenty- first Corps had been engaged, and most of them had sustained heavy losses, hat all had maintained their organizations, and were ready for the conflict that all knew must be renewed on the morrow.
The soldiers of the NINETY-Sixru, occupying the extreme left of the infantry forces of that great army, shared in the general anxiety as to the result of the contest, and -- it is but the truth to say it-were ahnost disappointed that they had borne so inconspicuous a part in the battle. They did not. know as well as did the troops at the right, that the conflict was only well begun. There was an expression, common enough in those days, but which, in the lapse of years, may have in a measure lost its significance, that to the old soldier who reads these pages will exactly describe their condition : They were " spoiling for a fight." Half in hopes that they might be spared the dangers of the battle, and half in fear lest they might not share in its honors, they saw darkness settle down upon the fields and forests. Then they sought such comfort as might be seenred. They were still blanket- less, but they had been provided with hot coffee and were in much better condition for securing rest than on the previous night. Large details were upon the picket lines, and were compelled to remain in position, unrelieved, all through the chilly hours, for it was deemed imprudent to attempt to change guards in the face of an active and vigilant enemy. To these sentinels the night was one of much suffering. On the main line, however, the soldiers gathered up the leaves, or picked fine boughs from the young timber covering the ridge, and "inade up their beds." A dozen would lay down close together with the command " by the right flank spoon ! " and three or four ponchos covered the squad. For a time every- thing was all right. but after a little the outside ones began to freeze out, and by midnight all were up. Small fires were kindled in a ravine in rear of the line, and there they sat through the lonely hours and tried to keep warm. Before daylight breakfast was eaten. and the men were ready for their work. A few had been made ill by the two nights'
176
ILISTOL Y of THE OUTH Kre DUST, JIM. V. J.
exposure and were sent back to Rossville, while a few other, came up, so that 419 men and officers were in line. Early in the day Gen. Steedman, accompanied by Major Smith of his Staff, and followed by a few orderlies, rode ont upon the open ground near the skirmish line to look over the situation, and soon drew the fire of the enemy's pickets. The shots were at widely separated points, and experience and soldierly instinct told the commander that the force in front must be a light one, merely held there as a party of observation, or to detain the force in their front and keep up a show of battle. Riding leisurely back to the high groand near the main line. Gen. Steedman expressed this belief to Major Smith. Pres- ently Gen. Granger and a portion of his Staff rode up. The usual morning salutations were passed, and other conversa- tion followed. As the morning wore away, the sounds of battle at the southward were wafted to them, indicating a renewal of the conflict ofthe main armies. The roar deopened. and both musketry and artillery could be plainly heard. They listened for a thee and then Gen. Granger said : "Steel- man, they are pushing our forces ; we are needed badly over there, and are not needed here. I can't order you to go : you are ordered here by the General commanding the army." Gen. Steedman replied : " I know we are needed over there. and if satisfied there is no considerable force in our front I'll take the responsibility and go." A little later eloads of dust off to the southeast indicated that the enemy had left the Ringgold road and were pushing down toward the main army, when Gen. Granger again spoke : "Do you see that clond of dust ? That shows where they are." " Yes," said Gen. Steedman, "they are going where the fight is thickest, and I'll go too." Gen. Granger interposed : "It's a fearful thing, General, to disregard orders and abandon a position in the face of an enemy." ". I know it is, " said Gen. Steedman, " but everything is changed since we were ordered here. I'll take the responsibility and go." Meanwhile staff officers and orderlies had been sent to the right to ask that the com- mand be relieved from the irksome duty of guarding a waron road on which there was no enemy. One of these orderlies
177
CHICKAMAUGA.
was William M. Perry, of Company ], and his experience was a thrilling one. With a comrade he galloped along, only to find, at a sudden turn, that the road was full of Rebel infantry. Putting spurs to their horses they galloped through the crowd. Perry escaping, although his horse was wounded, but his companion falling, doubtless killed. The survivor reached the main army, but the General to whom he reported would not ask him to return. It is probable that still others were captured or killed in the attempt to reach Gen. Rose- crans, as none came back to the loft.
Meanwhile a reconnoissance in force had been ordered by Gen. Steedman, and the lines were advanced for a half mile or more, but without developing auy considerable force of the enemy. It was a splendid sight as those battalions moved across the fields in line of battle on that beautiful Sabbath morning, their colors kissed by the breezes and their muskets glemtning in the bright September sun. The troops, having been in reserve, were under strict discipline, exceptionally well drilled, and their swords and muskets all as bright and clean as though they were moving out for an inspection instead of for a battle. Moving back to the lines, they still waited while the battle sounds came, wafted from the southward. Would the orders to move never come? Was the battle to be fought to its close. and the Reserve Corps to have in it no part save the insignificant one already played ?
It was at this time that the final conversation between Gen. Granger and Gen. Steedman, alluded to above, occurred, and staff officers rode along the line with orders to move. Col. MeCook's Brigade was ordered to remain on the line, while Gen. Whittaker's and Col. Mitchell's Brigades, at a little past eleven o'clock, filed out from the position at McAffee's Church, and, with the sound of battle for a guide. moved southward. The 22d Michigan and the 89th Ohio, had been assigned to Gen. Whittaker's Brigada, so that the columnn comprised ten regimemts of infantry and two batteries of artillery. Again the NINETY-SixTH was given the lead, the three right Companies. alternately, taking the front and lett flank in line as skirmishers. There were frequent corn fields
12
178
HISTORY OF THE 96TH REGIMENT, ILL .. V. I.
and occasional open meadows, but the greater part of the country was heavily timbered. The march was a rapid one. A wooded road was followed for a time, and then the fields wore taken, until the La Fayette road was reached. This highway was followed for quite a distance, and until the enemy's cavalry was seen in front, when the fields were again resorted to, and the troops moved in a more compact mass, in. order that they might the better resist a cavalry attack. The din of battle was growing louder. Cartridge boxes, muskets. knapsaks and other abandoned articles were seen. An occa sional straggler or wounded man was encountered, who told pitiful stories, and claimed to be abont the only survivors of their respective commands. Deflecting to the right to avoid the cavalry now appearing in force, they found themselves still with the enemy between them and the Union line of battle. The commanding officer now sent a staff officer with orders to Col. MeCook to move his Brigade from the Ringgold road to the La Fayette road, and cover and protect this line of retreat to Rossville. Then a hollow square was formed, and in this way. with Rebel cavalry hanging on front and flank, the two Bri- gades moved on. But valuable time was being consumed, and when the enemy sought the cover of the woods the formation was changed. Soon the hospital. near a spring, and which had been used by the left wing of the Union forces, was reached. It had fallen into Rebel hands two or three hours before, and a number of Rebel soldiers were guarding it. These were surprised and captured, and such as were under arms were sent to the right and rear, across Missionary Ridge. under charge of Sergeant Berg, of Company A. three or four guards accompanying him. Through the trees near the hos- pital the soldiers canght glimpses of a long row of Union dead, and thus had additional evidence of the bloody work going on near by. Passing to the right of this hospital they hurried along, and, making their way through a terrible snarl of tangled vines, emerged into an open field, across which they passed on the double quick. A Rebel battery galloped into the field at the left and unlimbered its gans. not more than three or four hundred yards away. The soldiers saw the puff's
179
CHICKAMACC 1.
1863]
of smoke and heard the hiss of the shells, like the sound of a rocket as it leaves the pyrotechnic stand, a hen hed times intensified. Section after section unlimbered and joined in the terrible work, until the air seemed full of iron and the ground was seamed and furrowed. It was a fting introduc- tion to the still more terrible scones through which the com- mand was soon to pass. Strange to say, only a few were hurt. A shell buest above Company D, and Lieutenant Theo- Jore F. Clarkson fell, terribly wounded .in the head, Jolm Swindells had a hand shattered, Alza M. Stewart was badly wounded in the leg. Edmund S. Stevens was seriously bruised on the leg, and Corporal O. V. Young hal a heel con- siderably out. The two last mentioned remained with the command, but the others wore tikon to the right and rear. Some not mentioned were struck by flying fragments of the shell, but none seriously hurt.
The regiments following also sustained some loss. But through it all the troops kept straight forward. never furling their banners nor deflecting from their course. The command- ers knew that here was not the place where they were most needed, and hurried forward. The air was full of smoke, the fences and fields burning in many places and adding to the more sulphurous smoke from the burning powder. Wounded men were frognently met, and dead bodies lay here and there. giving evidence that the ground over which the commons were passing had been the scene of a hot contest. After crossing this field, they bare still farther to the west, and succeeded in passing the Rebel right without encountering serious oppo- sition.
They had traveled almost continuously for two hours. fully one-half of the time at a double-quick. The distance. if measured in a direct line, would not have exceeded five miles, -- possibly it was not more than four, -but they had resisted the several times repeated attempts of the enemy to engage them, although suffering themselves to be somewhat delayed. At last they had reached and passed Gen. Thomas' lives. Halting near the burning ont-buildings, of the Snod- grass farm, where Gen. Thomas had his headquarters, they
180
HISTORY OF THE 96TH REGDIENT, ILL. V. I.
rested for a moment. Near by were two or three other Gen- eral officers with their Staffs, and the field seemed full of couriers, stragglers and wounded men.
The arrival was most timely. Until eleven o'clock the principal fighting had been on Thomas' left, not far from the ground over which the Reserves had passed, and the enemy had again and again assaulted the lines with the view of turning the Union left, and thus cutting off retreat from the gaps through Missionary Ridge. They had not fully accomplished their purpose, but had gained repeated slight advantages. Gen. Rosecrans had fully appreciated the situa- tion of affairs. and, anticipating exactly the movement that Gen. Bragg would make, had shortened his lines somewhat. during Saturday night, retiring both his flanks and arranging to have supports thrown from his right to his left, as needed. The Corps had not been formed in regular order, and the coti- tinuous shifting of troops to the left during Saturday had seemingly disarranged the army ; the order of formation San- day morning being Baird's Division of Thomas' Corps on the left, then Johnson's Division of MeCook's Corps, Palmer's Division of Crittenden's Corps, and Reynolds' and Brannan's Divisions of Thomas' Corps, in succession. Still further to the right were. Sheridan's and Davis' Divisions of MeCook's Corps, and to their rear, in support, Wood's and Van Cleve's Divisions of Crittenden's Corps. Some of the cavalry and mounted infantry regiments were sandwiched between the Divisions near the right. Gen. Negley's Division was in reserve, with orders to move to the extreme left, at the time the battle opened. Light breastworks covered a portion of the lines, but none were as formidable as would have been constructed a year later.
Gen. Bragg, having reorganized his lines and received numerous reinforcements, ordered Gen. Polk, commanding his right wing, to attack heavily at daylight. Fortunately for the Union cause, delays occurred. the enemy making ne general assault until after nine o'clock. But even at that hour Gen. Negley had not reached Baird's left, and when the charge was made the line of gray overlapped the Federals.
181
CHICKAMAUGA.
and Beatty's Brigade of Van Cleve's Division, which had been hastily thrown out to meet the movement, was swept backward in disorder. It was on the grounds passed over by the Reserves on their way to Thomas, that this opening engage- ment of the morning had occurred. The advantages gained by the Rebel forces at this point were not important, and they withdrew .- having been repulsed in Baird's front, - after sustaining heavy losses. A second assault resulted as did the first. Following these sanguinary struggles, and deceived by the quiet on his right into the belief that Gen. Bragg was massing his troops for a still further effort to train the left. Gen Rosecrans had ordered a large body of troops from his right centre to go to Thomas' support, the others to close up the gaps thus made. Just at this critical moment, the enemy, apparently despairing of turning the Union left, were moving forward, under cover of the hills and woods. to assault the Federal right. Coming in large force and catching the right wing in the midst of these movements, they had forced the greater part of Sheridan's and Davis' Divisions of MeCook's Corps. Van Cleve's and a portion of Wood's Division of Crittenden's Corps, and the cavalry and some artillery and trains to the rear and right in much disorder, and with heavy losses in artillery and prisoners. Gen. Rosecrans and two of his Corps Commanders -- MeCook and Crittenden-had been caught in the confusion which ensued, and made their way across Missionary Ridge to the Crawfish Spring Road. going thence by way of Rossville to Chattanooga. There is a con- tliet of testimony as to the hour at which this disastroas break occurred, but it was probably not long after eleven o'clock, or almost at the moment that the Reserves left MeAffee's Church. Nor is it entirely clear as to who was responsible for the irregular movement by which the gap was opened and the opportunity given for the Rebel cohunns to pierce the right centre. The rapid driving of a battery of artillery that had been forced to retreat from an advanced position. and which struck a division as it was marching to the left, breaking the column, throwing it into disorder and injuring many men. doubtless played an important part. Atall events the army was
182
HISTORY OF THE 96Th REGIMENT, ILL. V. I.
cut in twain, and Gen. Brannan's Division occupied the right of that portion of the line which still remained firm. Owing to intervening hills and woods, Gen. Thomas, who was now the only Corps commander on the field, was not aware of the extent of the disaster on his right. He did not know that his Commander had left the field and that the Rebels had gained, with but little fighting. on his right, what they had failed to accomplish, with heavy slaughter, on his left. Gen. Brannan soon became aware that he was flanked, and drew back his right to a position favorable for defense, and threw up a light barricade.
Gen. Longstreet, after his exultant troops had pierced the Union lines, pashed his advantage for a time, but dared not wholly pass the new Union right without reorganizing his forces. He therefore helted and formed his troops in a suc- cession of strong lines of battle. meanwhile consulting with Gen. Bragg and caring for his prisoners and the mimerons can- non that had fallen into his hands. He then determined to again strike the Union right a terrific blow and seek to shatter it by force of numbers. But the Rebel assaults were repulsed, and other tactics muade necessary. A show, of light- ing was kept up along the ridges where the Federals were posted. while the main portion of Longstreet's force was pushed northward. confidently expecting to reach and pass the rear of Gen. Thomas, and surround and capture the well- nigh exhausted forces still remaining on the field. Almost two hours had passed since the disaster on the right. It had been in.proved by the Confederates, and they were now ready for the movement which was to encircle the broken bat- talions still fighting under the Old Flag. The situation was growing critical. The Federal forces occupied an irregular half circle, either flank being a little west of the Lafayette and Rossville road. There were portions of seven Divisions. but all had been heavily engaged and sustained severe losses. They were irregularly grouped, and the commanders were disconcerted by the movement of Rebels to their right and rear, from which direction, if at all, reinforcements rather than an enemy had been expected. To add to the anxiety the
1
183
CHICKAMAUGA.
1863]
cartridge boxes of Thomas' men were well-nigh empty, and the ammunition train had disappeared, some mauthorized person having ordered it to Rossville, as was afterward learned.
Gen. Longstreet was now moving his heavy lines of infantry to some ridges, from which he could compel the Fede- ral forces to form a final "square" where they must exhaust themselves with defensive operations or ent their way out at a frightful cost of life. At one o'clock his methodical move- ments were well advanced. With his forces well in hand, he was preparing to swing in his Division, like a ponderous gate, and completely envelope Gen. Thomas' army. A half hour more and the movement would be complete.
It was just at this critical juncture that help arrived. Gen. Thomas had observed a cloud of dust off' to the left, and was alternating 'twixt hope and fear, thinking, until a staff officer. sent for the purpose, brought him other word. that the chances were that it was Rebel and not Union reinforcements. It was just at this supreme moment in the battle. and while the enemy was preparing to take advantage of the favorable posi- tions they had obtained with unexpected case. that the Reserves arrived. hot, dusty and fatigued with the long march at double-quick. There was a hurried consultation between the Generals and their Staff Officers, a brief inquiry as to the mnaber and condition of the reinforcements, and then the First Brigade was faced toward the right centre of the semi- cirele with orders to move to the support of Gen. Wood and fill a gap in the lines. Before the proposed forward move- ment had begun the heavy masses of the enemy on the right became visible, and the commander knew-what he had but guessed before --- that his right was gone, and that a great danger was confronting him from an unexpected direction. Instantly the order to move to Wood's support was counter- manded. The battalions wore faced and filed to the right, moved across an open field into the woods and halted. The NINETY-SixTur still had the lead, and a company of skir- mishers preceded it. On the way the Division Commander and his Staff, who realized something of the work before them, were discussing the situation, when Capt. Moe, then A. A. G.
JS4
to Gen. Steedman, said, in substance: " There are often disputes as to the time when important military events occur. and as this is likely to be an important event. gentlemen, just remember that it is now ten minutes past one o'clock."
After a short march the column was commanded to halt and come to a front. The NisFir-SixTH thuis formed the extreme right of the line. Directly at its kft and separated from it by a brief interval was the 115th Illinois, and at their left the 22d Michigan. A second line was formed, the 40th Ohio being directly in rear of the NINETy-Sixru, and the S4th Indiana and S9th Ohio at the lett of the 40th. On a ridge at the front several Rebel skirmishers were seen, who fired a few shots and then ran back. But they had fixed to some purpose, for there was a dnl! thud as a bullet struck a man in the Regi- ment just in rear of the NINEis-Sixin, and a sickening sensa- tion came over those who heard it. "There is a . Rebou the hill, " said one of the skirmishers just in front. " Why don't you shoot him, then ?' calmly replied Colonel Champion. and the man responded with a rifle shot. In a moment the skirmishers had been sent to the right, guns were hastily inspected, the men were counted. and the double line moved forward. There were fallen trees, which served to break up the lines somewhat, but the movement was, in the main. admirably executed. A series of little ravines were passed. and the soldiers broke into a double quick. Ascending a longer ridge, there came the pattering of shots, like the first drops of a shower : then the ragged, fearing report of an irreg- war skirmish volley; then the constant, deafening roar. as regiment after regiment took up the deadly work. The first line of Rebels gave way, and the lines of blue pressed on down the long slope, with a wild cheer, bounding over logs and stones, through the hollow and up to the crest of another ridge. The noise was deafening. The enemy was but from six to ten rods distant, but through the smoke and bushes they could hardly be seen, although the guns belched forth a ter- rible fire seemingly right in their faces. Halting there. from ten to twenty shots were fired by each of those not disabled. Scores of brave men had been shot, and were either lying silent
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.