USA > Indiana > History of the Sixth regiment Indiana volunteer infantry. Of both the three months' and three years' services.. > Part 14
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
Once more we take pleasure in scoring another victory for our grand old Sixth Regiment. This Brown's Ferry expedition was one full of danger. It was very hazardous, indeed .. Upon its success- ful execution depended the welfare of the entire
261
GENERAL SMITH'S SELECTION.
army. Mistakes and blunders would bring cer- tain disaster and disgrace, not only upon us who were entrusted with its execution, but upon the Army of the Cumberland. All these things were fully discussed at headquarters, and General Smith was cautioned to select men and officers whom he could depend upon. They should be brave, cour- ageous and skillful. They should be tried vet- erans. General Smith had the army to select from, and his choice was Colonel Baldwin's old brigade, consisting of the Sixth Indiana, First Ohio, Fifth Kentucky and Ninety-third Ohio, and General Turchin's Brigade, consisting entirely of Ohio vet- eran troops. The regiments were the Eleventh, Thirty-sixth, Eighty-ninth and Ninety-second Ohio infantry.
The Sixth Indiana boys will remember that Colonel Baldwin was our Brigade Commander up until he was killed at Chickamauga, on the 19th of September. Then Colonel W. W. Berry, of the Fifth Kentucky, or Louisville Legion, was placed in command. But for this expedition, General Hazen took command of our brigade. Here we have them-one Indiana regiment (our dear old Sixth), one Kentucky regiment (our beloved sister, the dear old Legion), and two Ohio regiments. These old veteran regiments have assigned them a task, which, if successful, would not only add lau- rels to their crown, but reflect credit and honor upon the whole army. History tells how well they did their work. And now, boys, being the
262
HISTORY OF THE SIXTH REGIMENT.
only Indiana regiment selected to perform this hazardous task, should we not feel proud of it, and especially so when we remember our success ? It might be well to note that the enemy did not pretend to recapture Brown's Ferry, and as many troops were thrown across the river at this ferry on the same day it was taken, we need not wonder that Bragg abandoned the idea as a hopeless task.
"The problem of supplies was soon solved, and the question now was not how long should the Army of the Cumberland hold Chattanooga, but how long should the rebel banners be permitted to wave on Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge ?"
This change of problems had been produced by measures commenced by General Rosecrans, con- tinued under General Thomas, elaborated by Gen- eral Smith, and which, having been approved by General Grant, were executed by his authority.
The loss of Lookout Valley, the river, and the direct roads to Bridgeport, virtually threw Bragg upon the defensive. But he still maintained his lines on Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, and through the intervening valley, in semblance of besieging effort, until the army with which he had so often battled leaped from its intrenchments and hurled him and his oft-defeated army from their lofty battlements.
For four weeks Chattanooga was the scene of the most comprehensive activities. In the rebound from the constraint of investing lines, the menace
263
GENERAL SHERMAN IS COMING.
of starvation and the foreshadows of direct dis- aster, the Army of the Cumberland displayed new vigor and spirit, while the resources of the military division were made tributary to the concentration of forces to operate offensively. All the troops of the Army of the Cumberland that could be spared from the rear, especially cavalry and artillery, were ordered forward, and General Sherman, long be- fore ordered to Chattanooga, but delayed hitherto by repairing roads, was directed to move the Fif- teenth Corps as rapidly as possible, paying no fur- ther attention to the roads than the swift move- ment of his troops required. General W. F. Smith, Chief Engineer, and General Brannon, Chief of Artillery of the Army of the Cumberland, were charged with preparing the fortifications for heavier guns than those with the army. New pon- toon bridges were built across the Tennessee, and the coming of troops, supplies and munitions, and the din of preparation for battle, known to be im- minent, would have made Chattanooga historic without the clash of arms which soon electrified the continent, or the previous battle involved in gaining possession.
Battlefields become a part of history equally with the story of the conflicts enacted upon them. They are mapped on stone and steel, and delineated in pen pictures, appear in historie narration, in in- timate association with the deeds of heroes. Not alone do the topographical features, which suggest plans of battle and dominate tactical combinations,
264
HISTORY OF THE SIXTH REGIMENT.
become historic, but those also of mere grandeur and beauty. Whenever the hosts of war com- mingle in deadly strife, where nature has been lavish of her gifts, even the name of him who may, perchance, offer his humble cot for the fire of war to burn, or its enginery to level, has association on the historic page with him who commands an army; and in all that is grandly concomitant with grandest battles, Chattanooga is pre-eminent.
The town is surrounded with almost all the types of the grand and beautiful in nature. Moun- tains far and near, rising from water and plain, sharply defined by low valleys, and the river curving at their feet; subordinate hills, with rounded summits and undulating slopes, and broad plains delicately penciled here and there by wind- ing creeks and rivulets, are the prominent fea- tures of nature's amphitheatre, in the center of which is Chattanooga.
Looking to the southwest, Lookout Mountain, with bold front and craggy crest, is seen rising ab- ruptly from the river and the valleys on either side, to the height of one thousand four hundred and sixty-four feet above the beautiful Tennessee river, which rushes rapidly by its western base. To the west, Raccoon Mountain appears, trending from its river front far to the southwest, parallel with Lookout. To the north, Waldron's Ridge forms the sky line far to right and left. To east, Missionary Ridge, with indented summit, more humbly takes position, hiding the lofty ranges far
265
REBEL PRESIDENT VISITS CHATTANOOGA.
beyond. To the south, the east and to the north- east stretches the plain where the armies were marshaled for the assault of Bragg's army on Missionary Ridge, and to the southwest, twice across the river, lies the valley from which Hooker crept slyly up the mountain steeps, covered with trees and shrubs, standing and fallen, and with huge fragments of stone, which, during the ages, have dropped from the ledges overhanging the crest, to give battle on a field suited to the stealthy belligerence of the Indian, but adverse in every phase to the repetition of all the precedents of modern warfare.
But this battle-field defies description, and he who would fully appreciate either battle or field must read the story of the one as he looks down from Lookout Mountain upon the magnificence of the other.
My dear old comrades of the Sixth, I fear we failed to fully appreciate the great beauty of this grand scenery when stationed there as soldiers, but of course we had something else to think of at that time. and while these scenes pass before my vision in grand review, I imagine that I can yet hear the rebel band on Missionary Ridge playing the "Bonny Blue Flag" or "Dixie." I can also, in my mind, imagine that I see old Bragg, as he stood beside the Confederate President on " Pulpit Rock," up on Lookout Mountain, as he looked down exultingly upon the beleaguered Yankee army and predicted its total ruin. But the foolish
266
HISTORY OF THE SIXTH REGIMENT.
old dotard failed to see the boiling volcano at his feet, which was soon to burst forth with such ter- rible destruction to himself and his army of rebels.
But the four weeks from the capture of Brown's Ferry to the storming of Missionary Ridge was a busy month for the Army of the Cumberland. The old Sixth Regiment was luxuriating on the bountiful supply of fresh army rations, taking just exercise enough to produce a good appetite. The boys were gaining strength every day, so that when the 25th of November came each man was himself again, and ready and eager for the fray.
During our stay at Chattanooga some changes took place in the regiment worthy of note. Lieu- tenant-Colonel Hagerman Tripp was promoted to colonel of the regiment, while Major Calvin D. Campbell was promoted to lieutenant - colonel. William P. Dillon was promoted captain of Con- pany D, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Captain Russell, who was killed at Chickamauga. Lieutenant Charles C. Briant was promoted cap- tain in Company K, while Lewis H. Hill was pro- moted first lieutenant in Company K.
After General Rosecrans was removed from the command of the Army of the Cumberland, Gen- eral George H. Thomas was placed in command. He reorganized the army, and, consequently, the Sixth Indiana finds itself a part of the Fourth Army Corps, commanded by Major-General Gor- don Granger, and in the Second Division, com- manded by Brigadier-General T. J. Wood, and the
267
THE UNION ARMY REORGANIZED.
Second Brigade of this division, commanded by W. B. Hazen. Our brigade was now composed of the Sixth Indiana, Fifth Kentucky, Sixth Ken- tucky, Twenty-third Kentucky, First Ohio, Sixth Ohio, Forty-first Ohio, Ninety-third Ohio and One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Ohio.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE BATTLE OF CHATTANOOGA.
Grant requested to remove non-combatants -- November 23 we go out on Brigade drill-We form line of battle and move to the front-A bayonet charge captures the first line-We halt and watch Hooker and Sherman-We witness the fight above the clouds-Our boys wild with enthusiasm-The order to forward received with cheers-We capture the line at the foot of the hill-We capture Missionary Ridge without orders-Behold the demoralized rebels running-General Wood makes us a speech-Our boys again wild with joy-The results of the battle-Comments on the battle.
On the 20th of November General Bragg noti- fied General Grant to remove all non-combatants from Chattanooga. This notice Grant interpreted as an intention on the part of Bragg to withdraw his forces from our front, and directed Thomas to order a reconnoissance in front of Chattanooga that General Bragg might not withdraw his army in quietness, if such was his intention. Under the general direction, to ascertain the truth or falsity of the report of Bragg's retreat, General Thomas organized a movement, which, in expression and unexpected issue, was a suitable prelude to the grand battle of which it constituted the initial ag- gression.
The enemy's first line of pickets rested a short distance east of the Western & Atlantic Railroad
/
269
WE GO OUT ON BRIGADE DRILL.
passing in front of the hill which was crowned with Fort Wood, a fortification of marked eleva- tion and strength. Between this fort and the railroad the ground at first descends abruptly, but soon gently and smoothly, and blending with the slopes of other hills forms a broad area, suited for the review of an army or its formation for actual battle. Upon this space, about noon on the 23d, several divisions formed in line of battle in plain view from all the commanding positions held by the enemy.
Thomas directed General Granger to throw for- ward one division of his corps, supported by another, in the direction of Orchard Knob, to dis- cover the position of the enemy, if he still remain in the vicinity of his old camp.
The boys of the Sixth Indiana will remember that we thought we were only out for the purpose of brigade drill. Our division (General Wood's) was designated to lead first, and it deployed before the fort. Then General Sheridan's moved to the right of General Wood. General Howard's corps formed in mass in rear of these two divisions, etc. These movements were regarded by the enemy as indicating the extension of our lines to obtain fuel, or as a mere pageant, and he made no special preparation to resist them.
Orchard Knob, in the direction of which the movement was ordered, is situated half way from Chattanooga to Missionary Ridge. It rises ab- ruptly to a considerable elevation above the plain.
270
HISTORY OF THE SIXTH REGIMENT.
Between it and the lines of our troops the ground is low, and being at the time covered in part with trees and brushes, was favorable for the conceal- ment of defenses and forces. Along the western base of Orchard Knob, as also over its rocky sum- mit, and for a half mile to the southwest, the enemy had barricades of logs and stones. In front of these, which were for the grand guards, were defenses for the picket reserves.
At about 2 P. M. General Wood moved rapidly forward, with Hazen's brigade on the right. Wil- lich's on the left, and Beatty's in reserve. If the boys of the Sixth had not changed their minds as to our being out only for the purpose of drilling, before, they certainly did when this movement commenced, for it attracted the attention of both armies, and in its developments revealed to each the nearness of a general battle, and if General Bragg had previously fancied that his position was so strong as to preclude attack, he now had cause to apprehend that the trial of its strength was at hand. And it was soon evident to our commanders that the enemy was still in position, and that his withdrawal was improbable, except when forced from plain, hill and mountain.
It is not at all strange that Hazen's brigade of old tried veterans should have been again placed in the front. Our boys will remember how orderly . we moved to the front, just as though we were on drill sure enough; but we needed no drilling for this occasion. How grandly we passed to the
271
BAYONET CHARGE.
front, just a little to the right of Orchard Knob, with one eye on the rebels and the other on the top of Missionary Ridge. Onward we moved in harmony with the grandeur of the scenery. In- spired by the consciousness of leading our grand army into battle, and that, too, in full view of both the contending armies, our boys (Woods' division) pressed rapidly forward. Our compact lines, marred by no straggling to the rear, swept from position, first the pickets and their reserves, and then moved without halt or slackened pace, to the attack of the strong line on the hill. Our brigade met with stout resistance at first, but they were soon foreed by the bayonet to yield position, leav- ing for capture the Twenty-eighth Alabama regi- ment, and its Hag.
General Woods' division lost one hundred and twenty-five men killed and wounded, but I have no means at hand to enable me to tell just how many our regiment lost, but my recollections are that it was in this charge that Captain Frank P. Strader received a wound from which he died on the 10th day of the following December.
The gallantry and quick dash of our division in this charge took the enemy completely by surprise, and seeured for us an important position, and gave the type of the grander assaults by which one of the most decisive victories of the war was gained.
We now occupied a most important position, as we held nearly all the high ground between Fort Wood and Missionary Ridge, and it afforded a
272
HISTORY OF THE SIXTH REGIMENT.
good base for operations against the enemy's main lines beyond.
Late in the evening General Wood was in- structed by General Thomas to hold and fortify the position which he had unexpectedly gained, and General Wood placed Bridges' Battery of six guns on Orchard Knob, during the night. .
The next day, the 24th, as well as the 25th, up until about 3 p. M., our division simply held its line, without any attempt at an advance, and these are the two days long to be remembered by members of the Sixth Indiana. With Sherman on our left, and Hooker on our right, both in full view of our position, the boys watched with eager eyes the progress of the two battles, we might say. The concentration of the enemy to oppose Sherman made his progress very slow. We could, from our position, plainly see the movement of the troops on both sides. It was charge and counter-charge ; our boys would, with a most furious bayonet charge, drive the enemy from his rifle-pits, only to give them up again inside of perhaps the next thirty minutes. Reinforcements sent Sherman did not seem to add to his strengh, as the enemy's position seemed almost impregnable. But one thing sure, Sherman was keeping Bragg right busy to watch his right flank, and in doing this, he, to some extent, neglected his left, and here Hooker was giving him a little amusement.
Early on the morning of the 24th the roar of artillery and rattle of musketry from the direction
273
THE FIGHT ABOVE THE CLOUDS.
of Lookout Mountain, was positive evidence that Hooker was making it hot for the enemy, who held this strong position. The heavy fog and mist that completely enveloped the north end of Lookout Mountain kept us from seeing all the grand battle that was being fought there, but sometime during the afternoon the fog lifted, and exposed to view the grandest sight of a lifetime. On the front of Lookout Mountain, intermediate between base and summit, there is a wide open space, cultivated as a farm, in vivid contrast with the natural sur- roundings of the wildest type. The farm house. known as Craven's, or the " white house," was sit- nated upon the upper margin of the farm. Bo- low the house, and across this little farm we could plainly see the contending forces engaged in deadly strife. We could hear them cheer, and see them charge back and forth across this field. How our hearts would swell and leap for joy when we could see our boys drive the enemy from his works. Some of the boys became' so excited over watch- ing them that whenever they could recognize a victory on the part of our boys they would take off their hats and wave them, and cheer at the top of their voice. The reader no doubt has, since the close of the war, witnessed a sham battle, and can remember how he himself became excited as first one side or the other would gain au apparent victory. How much more. and stronger are the reasons for cheering and feeling interested for your real friends when you see them engaged in deadly
18
274
HISTORY OF THE SIXTH REGIMENT.
combat with an enemy whose only object is to take their life. But imagine the feeling of our boys when they finally saw our forces gradually gain one line after another, and eventually drive the enemy in rapid retreat around the face of the mountain.
I did not stop with waving my hat, but yelled and clapped my hands, jumped up and down, laughed and cried for joy. In fact, the whole army in front of Chattanooga was simply wild with excitement, and if at this moment General Grant had said the word, Missionary Ridge would have been taken in thirty minutes' time. The boys were restless and wild with excitement, and that eager "to go" for Missionary Ridge that they could hardly contain themselves. All they wanted was the word to go! and it came, and they went. Yes, and they went to stay. After the word to forward was given, as well might they try to stop the sweeping avalanche, which carries death and destruction before it, as to try to stop the Fourth Army Corps short of the top of Missionary Ridge. We had been held in restraint so long, and had witnessed the gallant work of Hooker's men with such signal victory that our enthusiasm knew no bounds. In fact, it was more trouble to hold the men back in line than to keep them up even. Every man was himself a host. To illustrate this feeling among the men I will relate a circumstance. After the order to forward was given, with a rush we captured the line of rifle-pits at the foot of the
275
WE CAPTURE MISSIONARY RIDGE.
hill. It only took a moment for every man to see that we could not reman there, and it was either to go for the top of the hill or retreat, and this no man thought of doing, so, instinctively, every man fixed his eve upon the top of the ridge. I could almost see the fire flash from the eyes of my men. It was a critical moment. Just at this moment I heard some one yell at the top of his voice, "for- und." This was enough. I instantly sprang in front of my company and repeated the order. I then turned, and with a bound started for the top of the ridge-determined to lead the company. determined to be the first of my company on the rebel works-but, in spite of my good running qualities, some of the boys would get ahead of me : and I remember very well of catching one of them. Thomas W. Jackson, by the coat tail and holding on until I got ahead of him, and when I let go of him he ran around me, and was the only man that was on the works ahead of me, and. somehow, I have felt a little envious toward Tom ever since. However, he was only one jump ahead of me, and in less than a minute every member of the com- pany was on the works, and my company took sixteen men and a line officer prisoners right in their mon ditch.
The officer. a rebel captain, made no attempt at resistance. but handed me his sword and asked what he should do. I placed him and his men in charge of Sergeant B. M. Robinson and a small
276
HISTORY OF THE SIXTH REGIMENT.
guard, and sent them to the rear. All this was the work of a moment, and our company (except Tom Jackson) was still standing on the works yet, when the last of the sixteen rebels filed by me to the rear. I made a spring, clearing the ditch and lighting near Jackson, who was admiring a large brass cannon, whose mouth seemed large enough to crawl into, and whose tube still smoked from its last discharge. I stepped up to lay my hand on the barrel of the cannon. About this time Tom yelled, "Look out! that darned thing is hot," but before he could speak the words, my hand was high in the air. It was simply hissing hot, for it had not been three minutes since its last discharge.
But by this time all the boys were over the ditch, with not a rebel to be seen on top the ridge. However, just at this instant our attention was attracted by a voice, loud and excited, giving or- ders on the other side of the ridge, about one hun- dred feet from us. Every eye was instantly turned on this lone specimen of a forlorn hope. For a moment not a man of us moved or said a word- while he was calling at the top of his voice to his men to come back, saying there were only a few of the Yankees, and " We can drive them back." While he was thus delivering himself, Tom, whose eyes were riveted on the speaker, set his gun against the cannon, unbuckled his cartridge box, which dropped at his feet, and not uttering a word,
277
DEMORALIZED REBELS RUNNING.
but crouched like a cat, started on a quick run to- ward his victim. The rest of us took in the sit- uation instantly, and held our breaths in anticipa- tion of the result. But fortunately for either Tom or the rebel officer, I don't know which, the fellow looked back just in time to take in the situation, and when Tom was within ten feet of him, with one desperate bound he cleared the top of the ridge and disappeared down over the bluff. Tom did not venture any further. but called ont : " My God! come and see them run." We all broke and ran over to where Tom was, and such a sight I never expect to see again.
The western side of the ridge where we came up is a long, gradual slope, while the eastern side is steep and rugged and covered with trees and large rocks, and it was down over these rocks the rebels went, every fellow for himself. We saw the braces tumbling over each other in a most reckless man- ner: some without guns, others without hats, and all one conglomerated mass of demoralized men whose sole object was to save their own scalp, and was verifying the old adage that "he that fights and runs away lives to fight another day."
After the excitement was over, I asked Tom what ever made him act so strangely in this mat- ter, and he said he wanted to bring the fellow in alive.
While we were watching the flying rebels as they swept in wild confusion across the valley be- yond the ridge, our division commander, General
278
HISTORY OF THE SIXTH REGIMENT.
Wood, rode up in our midst and made us a speech. He said we were up there without orders, and that he would have every man court-martialed. Be- fore he quit talking, however, he gave us to un- derstand that he was only joking, and compli- mented the boys in the highest terms for their bravery and the great victory they had won, and said that he claimed no credit for himself in the matter, but that it was one case, at least, where the men had fought and won a great victory with- out the aid of commanding officers.
I can not refrain from mentioning, some things I saw as we went up Missionary Ridge. When we got within one hundred feet of the rebel rifle- pits at the top of the hill, the bullets came into our faces so thick and fast, that it, for a moment only, created a waver in our lines, when some one gave the order to "fix bayonets," I repeated the order and sent it on down the line. For a mo- ment, the noise made by this rattling of cold steel, seemed to fairly chill my blood. But instantly the order to forward came down the line like a flash of lightning, and when the fresh start was made, a wild yell went up from the boys as they made a dash for the rebel works. It was simply foolish for the rebels to try to resist this bayonet charge. It was simply irresistible, and meant victory or death ! And the rebels so under- stood it, and did not stay to argue the question. Some, however, did not give up without a strug- gle. Just at my right, Lieutenant Andy Conner, of
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.