USA > Illinois > History of the Ninety-sixth Regiment, Illinois volunteer Infantry, Vol. I > Part 18
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* Captured.
? Disabled for further field service.
196
HISTORY OF THE 96TH REGIMENT, ILL .. V. I.
The casualties among the troops in Gen. Steedman's com- mand in this memorable battle were as follows :
Second Brigade, Second Division, Reserve Corps, Col. Daniel MeCook commanding :
528 Ohio
Killed. ()
Wounded.
Captured. 3
5
85th Illinois.
1
C
0
86th Ilinois
1
5
1
125th Illinois.
1
2
4
Total
2
15
8
20
First Brigade, First Division, Reserve Corps, Gen. Walter C. Whit. taker commanding :
Killed.
Wounded. 130
Captured. 40
215 *
115th Illinois
2.1
137
6 167
10th Ohio
18
94
11
193
$4th Indiana.
20
ST
11
118
18th Ohio Battery
0
9
0
9
Total
101
457
632
Col. Heber Le Favour's Demi-Brigade, attached to and fighting with Gen. Whittaker's Brigade :
Killed.
Wounded.
Captured. 247
372
89th Ohio.
23
64
140
227
Total.
50
153
387
599
Second Brigade, First Division, Reserve Corps, Col. John G. Mitchell commanding :
Total.
7th Illinois.
Killed. 17
Wounded.
Capired. 55
146
99th Ohio
7
18
63
113th Ohio
26
90
40
156
121st Ohio
12
73
ל-
Battery M, Ist Illinois Artillery.
2
11
0
13
Total
64
286
120
170
The total casualties were 1.727 out of a command not exceeding 4.000 men, excepting Co !. McCook's Brigade, which was not with Gen. Steed- man on the right.
The detail of men who had been guarding a wagon train during the battle -- numbering about thirty --- those who had
* This total of 215 was exclusive of the slightly wounded who remained on duty with the command.
Total.
sed Michigan
36
83
74
2
Total.
Total.
26th Illinois
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CHICKAMAUGA.
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been loft at Rossville sick, a few detached men and several of the slightly wounded joined the command on Monday and Tuesday, so that there were, including musicians and the medical staff. about two hundred and forty men with the Regi- ment on the arrival at Moccasin Point. But the thinned ranks closed up, and all resolved to do their duty and retain, to the last, the bright name won on the field of Chickamauga.
Military writers vary widely in estimating the results of the battle of Chickamauga. The campaign had for its object the possession of Chattanooga, and that was still occupied by the Federal forces. Nor had the battle itself been a complete victory for the Confederates, for their army had about spent its strength before the fighting closed, and at the very mo- ment Gen. Thomas was drawing back through MeFarland's Gap they were moving to a defensive position. Even when they discovered that the Union forces had fallen back they made no attempt to follow, and did not occupy that portion of the battle field where the two Brigades of the Reserve Corps fought until the forenoon of Monday was well advanced. This statement is made upon the testimony of the severely wounded of the Regiment left upon the battle field, and also upon the fact that at least two-James Guppy, of Company D, and William Joyce, of Company G-remained upon the battle field all night and Joft it some time after sunrise next morn- ing. without seeing any organized force of Rebels. In his official report of the action Gen. Bragg admitted a loss of two-fifths of his army. Gen. Longstreet, who coimnanded the left wing of the Rebel army, reported 1,080 killed. 6.506 wounded and 270 captured. on Sunday. It is known that ten Brigades were directly in front of Whittaker's and Mitchell's Brigades and the right Brigade of Brannan's Division, and several of them were very full when the engagement opened. The Rebel right wing suffered hardly less. The enemy was confident of victory, and fought most desperately, but without achieving the result promised by their chieftain. The best authorities place their total strength at 70,000, while the Fede- ral force was but 56,000, and it is doubtless true that the entire Federal force on the battle field during Sunday after-
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ILISTORY OF THE 96TH REGIMENT, ILL. V. J.
noon was not more than one-half the number of the Confede- rates. The troops umder Gen. Thomas embraced portions of every Corps in the army, the emergencies of the battle widely separating Brigades and Divisions, and breaking up commands to an extent hardly equalled in any other great battle of the war. As a victory to the Confederates it was most barren. The total loss to the Union arms was reported at 16.336, of whom more than two thousand were killed. Fifty-one cannon, 15,000 muskets and a large number of wagons and ambulances fell into the enemy's hands.
The campaign had ended, and on the morning of Tuesday. September 22, the Union forces occupied an entrenched line about the city of Chattanooga, while Missionary Ridge, Look- out Mountain and the intervening valleys swarmed with the men in gray, who calmly waited for the Federal forces to be starved out of a position that seemed well nigh untenable.
The following is Colonel Champion's
OFFICIAL REPORT."
On Friday, the 18th instant. the NINETY-SINTH Illinois Regiment left camp at Rossville, with the balance of the Brigade, about three o'clock P. M., and went out on a reconnoissance about three miles on the Ringgold road. As the head of the column (the NINETY-SIXTH being in the advance) arrived at the Little Chickamauga, and was about crossing the stream, we were fired upon by the enemy. Four companies were immediately thrown forward and deployed as skirmishers. The NINETY- Sixra then crossed the stream, and forined in line of battle on both sides of the road and advanced to meet the enemy. A sharp skirmish ensued, lasting about forty-five minutes, during which time we drove the enemy about three-fourths of a mile. We lost one killed-E. Haggart-and three wounded The Regiment lay on their arms during the night, and at daylight on the 19th, in obedience to orders, took up a position on the ridge, north of MeAffee's Church, where it lay in line of battle until about noon of the 20th, when orders were given to move, with the balance of the Brigade, in a southwest direction, toward Missionary Ridge. Going to the assistance of Gen. Thomas, we arrived on the field of hattle about two o'clock r. M., and immediately went into action. The NINETY. SIXTH occupied the extreme right of our front line. We charged the enemy's left in the face of a murderous fire of infantry and artillery, at
* Colonel Champion's first report was of ninch greater length, and made numerous personal mentions, but being warned that it must be brief he condensed it as herewith given. The original report is not now obtainable, a fact to be regretted. as it was a very full and interesting document.
199
CHICKAMAUGA.
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short range, and maintained our position until every regiment on our left all in our rear had given way. We then fell back about five or six hun- dred yards and re-formed. In the meaminie a section of our artillery had been planted about six hundred yards to the right of our previous posi- tion, and we were ordered up to repel the charge of the enemy. We repulsed the enemy after about twenty minutes' desperate fighting. We then moved to the left of the battery and again charged the enemy, driv- ing him down the ridge running nearly parallel with our first line, nearly half a mile, until we received an enfilading fire from the 84th Indiana and 115th Illinois, and were compelled to retire. Our officers seem sanguine that with five hundred more men we could have driven the enemy com- pletely from the field. We then fell back and re-formed, with the rem- nant of the regiment on the right of the first line of the Brigade, and as the left of the line successively gave way, we fell back with it until night ended the contest. Officers and men behaved with great gallantry, and where all did so well discrimination would serve to be invidious. Among the most conspicuous in rallying aud encouraging the men during the entire conflict were Captain Geo. Hicks, Company A, and Lieutenant Charles W. Earle, Company C. Our loss was heavy in both officers and men, including Lieutenant Colonel Isaac L. Clarke, killed on the field. He behaved with great gallantry.
The Regiment went into action on Sunday with four hundred and nineteen men, including the field, line and staff officers.
The losses of the NINETY-SixTH (exclusive of captures and slightly wounded) at last reports stood as follows :
Killed 42
Wounded 121
Missing
11
Total 174
The following is an extract from the official report of Major-General Gordon Granger, Commander of the Reserve Corps :
* The position of my forces on the morning of the twentieth, and up to the hour of battle, was as follows: Col. MeCook's Brigade was moved to a point near the MeAfee Church, and was placed in such a position as to cover the Ringgold road; Geu. Whittaker's Brigade, together with Col. Mitchell's, retained the same position that they had the evening before, and Col. Minty, who reported to me at daylight on the morning of the twentieth with a brigade of cavalry, was posted at Missionary Mills, which positions completely covered our extreme left flank.
The enemy did not make his appearance in our immediate front during the morning, but Inrge clouds of dust could be seen beyond our position arising from the Lafayette and Harrison roads, moving in the
200
HISTORY OF THE 96TH REGIMENT, ILL. V. I.
direction of the sound of battle. At 10.30 A. M. I heard very heavy · firing, which was momentarily increasing in volume and intensity, on our right, in the direction of Gen. Thomas' position. Soon afterward, being convinced, judging from the sound of battle, that the enemy were pushing him hard, and fearing that he would not be able to resist their combined attack, I determined to go to his assistance at once. It was now about eleven o'clock A. M. I started with Gen. Whittaker's and Col. Mitchell's Brigades, under the immediate command of Gen. Steed. man, and left Col. McCook's Brigade at the McAfee Church, in position to cover the Ringgold road. Gen. Thomas was at this time engaging the enemy at a point between the La Fayette and Dry Valley roads, in the
vicinity of - - house, about three and a half miles from our place of starting. We had not proceeded more than two miles when the enemy made his appearance in the woods to the left of our advancing column. about three-fourths of a mile from the road. They opened upon us quite briskly with their skirmishers and a section of artillery. I then made a short halt to feel them, and becoming convinced that they constituted only a party of observation, I again rapidly pushed forward my troops. At this juncture I sent back and ordered up Col. McCook's Brigade to watch the movements of the enemy at this point, to keep open the La Fayette road, and cover the open field on the right of the road, and those that intervened between this point and the position held by Gen. Thomas. As rapidly as possible, Col. McCook brought up his Brigade, took the position assigned to him, and held it until he marched to Rossville from the field of battle, at ten o'clock P. M. At six o'clock the enemy opened an artillery fire upon Col. McCook, but he soou silenced their battery, which had done little or no damage to his troops.
At about one o'clock r. M. I reported to Gen. Thomas. His forces were at that time stationed upon the brow of and holding a "horse-shoe ridge." The enemy were pressing him hard in front, and endeavoring to turn both of his flanks. To the right of this position was a ridge running east and west, and nearly at right angles therewith. Upon this the enemy were just forming. They also had possession of a gorge in the same through which they were rapidly moving in large masses, with the design of falling upon the right flank and rear of the forces upon the "horse-shoe ridge."
Gen. Thomas had not the troops to oppose this movement of the enemy, and in fifteen minutes from the time we appeared on the field. had it not been for our fortunate arrival, his forces would have been terribly cut up and captured. As rapidly as possible I formed Gen. Whittaker's and Col. Mitchell's Brigades, to hurl them against this threat ening force of the enemy-which afterward proved to be Gen. Hindman's Division. The gallant Steedman, seizing the colors of a Regiment, led his men to the attack. With loud cheers they rushed upon the enemy. and after a terrific conflict, lasting but twenty minutes, drove them fros! their ground, and occupied the ridge and gorge. The slaughter of both friend and foe was frightful. Gen. Whittaker, while rushing forward st
201
CHICKAMAUGA.
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tor head of his Brigade, was knocked from his horse by a musket-ball, t. ! was, for a short time, rendered unfit for duty; while two of his staff Evers were killed, and two mortally wounded. Gen. Steedman's horse ws. killed, and he was severely bruised, yet he was able to remain on duty during the day. This attack was made by our troops, -very few of «tom had ever been in an action before,-against a Division of old ,idiers who largely outnumbered them. Yet with resolution and energy they drove the enemy from this position, occupied it themselves, and afterward held the ground they had gained with such terrible losses. The victory was dearly won, but to this army it was a priceless one.
There was now a lull in the battle; it was of short duration, however, ! ! within thirty minutes after we had gained possession of the ridge we were vigorously attacked by two Divisions of Longstreet's veterans. Szain the enemy was driven back, and from this time until dark the Battle between these two opposing forces raged furiously.
Our whole line was continually enveloped in smoke and fire. The
a.pired by the bright prospect of a speedy vietory, and by a conscious- seus that it was only necessary to carry this position and crush our forces to enable them to overthrow our army, and drive it across the Tennessee River. Their forces were massed and hurled upon us for the purpose of terminating at once this great and bloody battle. But the stout hearts of (~ handful of men who stood before them quailed not. They under- Raul our perilous position, and held their ground, determined to perish mtber than yield it. Never had a commander such just cause for con- r:atulation over the action of his troops.
The ammunition which was brought in our train to this part of the 45,4 was divided with Gens. Brannan's and Wood's Divisions early in the M'irrsoon, and we soon exhausted the remainder. All that we could lara procure was taken from the cartridge boxes of our own and the wwwmay'sdead and wounded. Even this supply was exhausted before the VeHir was over, and while the enemy was still in our front, hurling fresh *^. ps against us. It was almost dark; the enemy had been driven back, ! ! xe had not a round of ammunition left. All now seemed to be lost ! Se should return to the contest. Anticipating another attaek, I ordered "At command to be given to the men to stand firm, and to use the cold "rel After an ominous silence of a few minutes the enemy came rush- @ upon us again. With fixed bayonets our troops gallantly charged witra and drove them back in confusion. Twice more were these charges age ated, and the enemy driven back, before darkness brought an end to At battle. Night came and the enemy fell back, whipped and discom- ! ! At three o'clock P. M. Gen. Garfield, Chief of Staff, appeared syve that part of the field where my troops were then hotly engaged 'S the enemy. He remained with me until dark, animating and cheer- Ar With officers and men. * * * At seven o'clock P. M. I received item from Major-General Thomas to withdraw my troops from the wo llon they held at dark, to march back to Rossville, and to cover the
202
ILISTORY OF THE 96TH REGIMENT, ILL. V. I.
rear of the forces falling back upon that place with McCook's Brigade. These instructions were promptly carried out, and I went into camp that night in accordance therewith.
My two Brigades numbered 216 commissioned officers and 3,697 men when they went into the action. Between the hours of one p. M. and dark there were killed, wounded and missing 109 commissioned officers and 1,623 men-a total of 1,732. These losses are subdivided as follows : Killed, 234 ; wounded, 936 ; missing-all of whom, with the exception of a very small fraction were taken prisoners-461.
* * * It is with pleasure that I call the attention of the Command- ing General to the bravery and gallantry displayed during the battle by Brigadier-General James B. Steedman. He fearlessly rushed into the midst of danger, and was ever present with his troops, handling them with ease and confidence, rallying and encouraging them, and establish- ing order and confidence. Gen. Whittaker and Col. Mitchell, command- ing Brigades, were also conspicuous for their bravery and activity. They managed their troops well, and contributed much to our success during the day. Col. Daniel MeCook, commanding the Second Brigade, Second Division, properly and promptly carried out all orders and instructions I gave him. Although his Brigade was not engaged in the battle, it held a very important position, protecting the rear of those who were fighting .*
Shortly following the battle, Lieutenant Wm. M. Loughlin, then on detached service with the Pioneers, wrote a letter to Colonel Champion, congratulating him upon the good name won for himself and the Regiment, and received the following reply :
HEADQUARTERS NINETY-SIXTH REGT. ILL. VOL. INF'T., CAMP OPPOSITE LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, NEAR CHATTANOOGA, October 10, 1863. LIEUTENANT WM. M. LOUGHLIN :
Dear Lieutenant,-I received your very welcome and kind letter of the 3d instant. So far as it relates to myself personally I am inclined to think the encomiums are, perhaps, hastily bestowed. But so far as the NINETY.SIXTH Regiment is concerned it is deserving of all praise. Its record on the terrible and bloody field of Chickamauga entitles it to rank ns one of the truest and bravest of any in the field, or that ever defended the Old Flag. When it is remembered that the NINETY-SIXTH Regiment went into the fight at two o'clock p. M. of Sunday with 415 officers and men, and before sundown had lost 43 men, killed on the field, 121 wounded and 11 missing, and that of the missing all thus far heard from were either killed or wounded, making our loss in killed and wounded 174, and the: of the wounded so many have since died that our total loss in killed will
* A long list of officers conspicnous for their bravery is published in Gen. Granger'. report, Included with which appear. all of the field officers of the NINETY-SIXTH ; also. Captain Hicks, of Company A.
203
CHICKAMAUGA.
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be 55 or 60, you may rest assured that the NINETY-SIXTH did not fail to do its whole duty. Three several times we charged upon and drove the « nemy, once laying down on the crest of a bill, and for half an hour pouring a heavy fire into the enemy so near his guns that every discharge from them, the hot air was literally blown into our faces, holding our position until every Regiment in our rear and on our left had given way. W'e occupied the extreme right of our lines, and for some reason or other, when there was any hard work to do we were called upon to do it.
I have not time to write you at length. Suffice it to say that other Regiments were in that fight for two whole days and did not lose, com- s.sratively nor actually, what we did in the two hours fighting.
My regards to all.
Very respectfully yours. THOS. E. CHAMPION.
The following letter, written by Major George Hicks to the New York Tribune, is a graphic account of the part borne in the battle by Gen. Steedman's Division :
THE BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA.
GEN. STEEDMAN'S DIVISION -THE RECORD IT MADE ON THE TWENTIETH. [From our Special Correspondent, in the field, opposite Chattanooga, September 30, 1863.]
Among the many Divisions of the Army of the Cumberland which acquitted themselves nobly in the battles of the nineteenth and twentieth Er First Division of the Reserve Corps, commanded by Brig. Gen. James E Steedman, deserves some mention.
On the eighteenth the First Brigade of the Division, commanded by Brig. Gen. W. C. Whittaker, was sent from Rossville to the Little Chicka- auga, on the road to Ringgold. Here, after sundown, a brief skirmish de s. had with the enemy, in which neither party suffered any considerable
On the afternoon of the nineteenth the tide of battle, which had been " aning heavily on our right during the day, reached this Brigade, and #* rhgagement of some fierceness was had with the enemy. The position Se: 1 by the Brigade was on the extreme left of our lines, and the key to M .ecrans' line of retreat. The position was much coveted by the enemy. as! they made repeated assaults to obtain it, but were handsomely 1.1 shed, and suffered quite severely, especially from our artillery.
During the night of the nineteenth the Second Brigade, commanded 1, 4ul. J. M. Mitchell, of the 113th Ohio, was sent to the aid of Whitta- a, also, Col. Dan. MeCook's Brigade, of the Second Division of the "wire, and the 22d Michigan and 89th Ohio, which two Regiments were se& hed to Whittaker's command.
During the forenoon of the twentieth these forces, under the com- "And of Gen. Steedman, held their position at that point, in line of bat- : .. swaiting a more formidable effort, which it was supposed the enemy
204
HISTORY OF THE 96TH REGIMENT, ILL. V. I.
would make to turn our left. But no assault was made, for the enemy had withdrawn his troops from that point to mass them against Thomas. While waiting there pursuant to orders from Gen. Rosecrans, the troops listened with anxious impatience to the heavy cannonading and sharp musketry which resounded along the line on the right, and which. approaching nearer and nearer, begat fearful suspicions that it was not Rosecrans but the enemy who were driving the opposing forces. Our suspense was broken, and our fears confirmed when, about noon, urgent orders were received to hasten to the relief of Thomas, who was in great danger.
The troops did not then know in how critical a condition the Army of the Cumberland was compelled to meet, unassisted, the flower of three large armies which the Rebels had assembled, intending to overwhelm it. They did not then know that while they were hastening to turn the tide of battle, it possible, portions of Crittenden's and McCook's Corps were retiring from the field. But they did know the time had come when the Reserve must be tested, and the question determined whether or not. it were worthy of its honorable position in the great Army of the Cuin- berland.
Steedman's Division, followed by McCook's Brigade, was speedily put in motion, and the columns moved forward at a rapid pace, some- times breaking into a double-quick. The sun shone hot, and the dust in the narrow road rose in dense, suffocating clouds ; but all thought of heat, and dust, and fatigue was lost in the eager anxiety to relieve our brave comrades who were in peril. After thus marching some three miles, the head of the column reached a portion of the battle field from which our forees had retired, and which the enemy occupied with his mounted infantry. Formed hastily in line-of-battle, Whittaker's Brigade advanced upon them. They did not await our approach, but gave up the ground, retreating in a direction which, had we followed, would have diverted us from the main purpose. In passing over this portion of the field the dead and dying of both armies were seen in considerable num- bers, and some Rebels, separated from their commands, were encountered on the right and taken prisoners by the NINETY-SIXTH Illinois.
Soon a point was reached directly opposite to and about three-fourth> of a mile distant from Gen. Thomas, and the whole Division turned square to the right. Here they formed in close columns by regiment -. with division front ; and, with a line of skirmishers thrown forward and along the left flank, the Division resumed its march. It was through sa extensive stretch of meadow land, overgrown with weeds almost breast high, that our course lay. Heavy batteries of the enemy's artillery werr posted in the woods on our left, and as we advanced through the meador to form a junction with Thomas they opened upon us a fearful fire. B :: few troops in the Division had ever seen more of war than is encountered in brisk skirmishing, and none had ever been under such a fire. Det Whittaker, with his staff, and Col. Mitchell and staff, rode steadily in front of their Brigades, and their troops, although the shells and shot fell fa .:
205
CHICKAMAUGA.
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and thick around and among them, wavered not in their march, but kept richt on, leaving many of their comrades dead and wounded on the field. At that moment the spectacle, to one not inured to all the pageantry of war, was intensely grand. The brigade and regimental colors floated gaily in the light of the midday sun. The far-stretching columns of troops, with glistening weapons, moved forward with uniform motion, presenting, at a distance, the appearance of one compact mass. On the 1-ft dense masses of sulphurous smoke hung just above the trees, and in front and along the lines the shells were bursting in the air, while the solid «Loot, seemingly imbued with infernal energy, plowed the ground, bound- ing and plunging over the fields, leaving all over the meadow little clouds of dust to mark their course. That march, through that storm of sbell and shot, was a fit introduction to the scenes upon which that Division was about to enter. But little time was occupied in reaching Thomas, where Gen. Granger, commanding the Reserve, and Gen. Steedman were already holding consultation with him. As we approached, Gen. Whit Kaker, whose Brigade was in the advance, was told that it was absolutely orcessary that he should drive the enemy from the ridge on our right. " here heavy forces had been massed, as if for the purpose of flanking Thomas. Indeed, the occupation of that ridge was so threatening that if the enemy continued to hold it Thomas must have retired. Whittaker said he would take the ridge, and he did it.
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