USA > New York > Memories of the 149th Regt. N. Y. Vol. Inft., 3d Brig., 2 Div., 12th and 20th A. C > Part 16
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Geary's line was in form like a horse-shoe, surrounding the knoll spoken of, with a regiment in reserve in the woods cover- ing the open end to the rear. The boys lay on their faces un- der the fences and along the railroad embankment and con- tinned firing on the enemy, surrounding them on three sides. while the battery seut shells, grape and canister over their heads. The battery was greatly exposed and suffered very severe losses. It was too dark to see more than a few feet away and the fire of the men was directed by watching the explosion of the enemy's muskets. The 149th occupied one side of the railroad embankment while the enemy occupied the other. After about three hours the Confederates slackened fire on the left, and as an effectual method of driving them from the right, a piece of artillery was taken by hand to the rallroad track and grape and canister was thrown along the side of the enbankment occupied by them. When the piece was in place, it was found that only two artillerymen were left to work it, so infantry men were detailed to assist them. After
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a few charges were fired the enemy retired, exchanging shots as they did so with the advance of Howard's men who were coming to Geary's relief.
It was now growing daylight, and not expecting the enemy to retire so soon, the men commeneed to fortify to resist further attack. They dropped their arms and carried sticks, stones and everything that could be carried to strengthen the lines. The people in the log house were hustled out, nearly frightened to death but unharmed, and the building was torn down and carried away in less time than it takes to describe the operation. When the men had done what they could to secure themselves, daylight came and gave them an opportunity to ascertain their losses and relieve the wounded.
About a hundred and fifty of the enemy's dead were found, some of whom were in the woods in rear of the Union lines. Most of his wounded had been removed, but still there were a few remaining whose injuries were considered mortal. One poor fellow, who had fallen almost up to the battery, had a musket ball through his body, the same having first penetrated a United States waist-belt plate worn by him. The men offered him coffee and stimulants, and tenderly cared for him as they did their own wounded carried away with him in an ambu- lance.
The 137th and Knap's Battery are entitled to the place of honor in this battle, as they held the most exposed positions and sustained the greatest losses. The battery was nearly wiped out of existence, rendering it necessary to recruit its decimated ranks from the infantry before it was fit for further service. The 78th, 137th and 149th were the only regiments of the 3d Brigade present, the Both and 102d being absent on other duty.
When the rays of the rising sun came over Lookout Moun- tain, they fell with a mellow light upon the tall and portly form of Gen. Geary, standing with bowed head on the sunmit of the knoll above described, while before him lay the lifeless form of a lieutenant of artillery. Scattered about were can- non, battered and bullet marked caissons and limbers, and many
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teams of horses dead in harness. And there were many other ยท dead, but none attracted his attention save this one, for he was his son. The men respecting his sorrow stood at a distance in silence while he communed with his grief. At a moment like this how hollow seems the glory of military honors and how priceless the privileges of a free and united country, which cost so much to attain !
The losses of the regiment were 1 killed, 1 missing and 11 wounded, total 13. Two of the badly wounded died a few days afterwards, one of whom was William C. Lilly, the color-bearer. The men were comforted with the assurance that his injuries, though serious, were not necessarily mortal and they looked forward to his speedy recovery. His record was a gallant one and he was generally respected. Owing to excessive loss of blood his dissolution took place, much to the regret of the regi- ment.
During the forenoon a burial party was organized and the dead buried in a little cemetery located near the position ocen- pied by the battery. Afterwards the enemy's dead were buried indiscriminately in trenches.
It was the intention of the enemy to surprise Geary's Division and capture it while Howard's troops were prevented from rendering assistance by other forces employed by the enemy for that purpose. Better to perfect a surprise, the enemy marched a portion of his command around to Geary's rear, and in so doing came in contact with his wagon train. The wag- oners, hearing distant picket firing, commenced hitching the mules to the wagons. At this inopportune moment the enemy unexpectedly appeared in the midst of the wagoners causing a great fright, which, being communicated to the mules, cansed them to make a wild stampede into the ranks of the foe throw- ing him into great confusion. In the darkness the enemy sup- posed the invasion of their ranks to be a charge of Union cavalry. and thereby the contemplated attack was delayed. In this regard the mule service was opportune and valuable. Owing to the ludicrous character of the incident, it gave birth to the follow-
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COLOR-SERGEANT WILLIAM C. LILLY.
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ing mock poem, published at the time in a Chattanooga paper, written in imitation of Tennyson's "Charge of the Light Brig- ade" :
CHARGE OF THE MULE BRIGADE.
Half a mile, half a mile, Half a mile onward,
Right on the Georgia troops Broke the two hundred. " Forward the Mule Brigade !" "Charge for the Rebs !" they neighed. Straight for the Georgia troops
Broke the two hundred.
" Forward the Mule Brigade " Was there a mule dismayed ? Not when the long ears felt All their ropes sundered ; Their's not to reason why ;
Their's but to make them fly.
On to the Georgia troops Broke the two hundred.
Mules to the right of them, Mules to the left of them, Mules behind them, Pawed, neighed and thundered,
Breaking their own confines,
Breaking through Longstreet's lines,
Into the Georgia troops Stormed the two hundred.
Wild all their eyes did glare, Whisked all their tails in air, Scattering the chivalry there, While all the world wondered. Not a mule back bestraddled.
Yet how they all skedaddled- Fled every Georgian. Unsabred, unsaddled, Scattered and sundered. How they were routed there By the two hundred !
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MEMOIRS 149th N. Y. INFT.
Mules to the right of them,
Mules to the left of them, Mules behind them,
Pawed, neighed and thundered ;
Followed by hoof and head,
Full many a hero fled, Fain in the last ditch, dead,
Back from an " Ass's jaw".
All that was left of them, Left by the two hundred.
When can their glory fade ?
O, the wild charge they made ! All the world wondered. Honor the charge they made, Honor the Mule Brigade, Long-eared two hundred.
The scene of the action did not cover more than three or four aeres, and the forces engaged were abont fifteen hundred Unionists and double that number of Confederates. Judged by numbers, the engagement was insignificant, but by the des- perate character of the fighting and the great results to the Army of the Cumberland in bringing it supplies and raising the siege of the enemy, it was of great importance, and one that will always command the attention of historians. Gen. Thomas was highly elated with the result, and issued the fol- lowing order :
"MAJOR GEN. HOOKER, Commanding 11th and 12th Corps,
"General : I most heartily congratulate yon and the troops under your command at the brilliant success you gained over your old adversary ( Longstreet) on the night of the 25th inst.
"The bayonet charge of Howard's troops made up the side of a steep and difficult hill, over 200 feet high, completely rout- ing and driving the enemy from his barricades on its top, and the repulse by Geary's Division of greatly superior numbers,
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who attempted to surprise him, will rank among the most dis- tinguished feats of arms of this war.
"Very Respectfully " Your Ob't Serv't, "GEO. H. THOMAS, " Major-Gen. U. S. V. Com'd'g."
At noon the regiment was detailed for pieket and remained on duty over fifty hours, while the remaining portion of the division built extensive entrenchments to resist any further at- tack of the enemy. While on this duty there were long and copious showers of rain. The men were worn out and towards the end were unable to keep awake and fell asleep on the picket line.
In the afternoon of the third day the division fell back to the foot-hills on the western side of the valley, near the mouth of the gap leading to Kelly's Ferry, and built breastworks. The position of the regiment was on an isolated hill, one to two hundred feet in height, in advance of the main line on the right. If an attack had been made the regiment would have been obliged to fight it out alone, as relief from the main line would have been difficult.
It was dark when the regiment occupied the hill and every person, irrespective of rank, worked during the night to fortify the position and render it defensible against attack. The men had been without food for several hours and without regular sleep for about nine days, so the fatigue and strain was terrible upon their endurance.
Just before dark one officer, more fortunate than others, opened his haver ack and dumped the contents, consisting of crumbs of hard-tack, tea and coffee intermixed, on a blanket and made a divy with his men. A cup of tea was made from the pile and, after removing a few large crumbs, the balance consisting of all sorts of ingredients was made into "hodge- podge". The whole, not sufficient to satisfy the appetite of one hungry man, did not go far in sustaining the strength of the half-dozen who partook of it, yet they were grateful for
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.even this. The wags cracked their jokes and endeavored to amuse and draw attention from the hardships, but in a com- parative wilderness without known resources to stay hunger, the situation was altogether too serious for laughter, and many worked in the trenches that night with sad hearts sustained only by pure patriotism and indomitable will. The existing -disloyalty in the North at this time was well known, and per- haps there was no period in the history of the regiment when its patriotism was put to a severer test than on this occasion. Men worn out with fatigne and exposure, and suffering the pangs of hunger, felt that their sacrifices and great personal risks were not appreciated, and they were well nigh discouraged. In the morning a few barrels of crackers, sent forward by the Quarter-master, opportunely arrived and the present necessities .of the regiment relieved, yet for a long time afterwards the men received only half and three-quarter rations,
The enemy made no further attack upon Geary's troops while in the valley, yet being often threatened, they spent many nights lying on their arms in anxious expectation.
A few days after the arrival at Wanhatchie supplies com- menced coming forward from Bridgport for the Army of the Cumberland on two stern-wheel steamboats built by Un- ion soldiers. They were landed at Kelly's Ferry and thence transported in wagons, a distance of about eight miles, through the pass and over Brown's Ferry to Chattanooga. . The wagon ronte used was immediately in rear of Geary, and a good road being required for so large a transportation, his men were con- stantly employed in repairing and improving it. After a little it was nearly all corduroy.
After the battle of Wanhatchie a large number of officers and men rejoined the regiment who had been absent-with leave-in parol camp since Chancellor ville, and on detached service in Elmira. Among those who returned were Col. Barnum, Capts. Lindsay, Wheeler, and Murray, Lieuts. Knapp and Merriam, Adjt. Dallman, and over fifty enlisted men.
Sergts. Pullen and Truair were promoted to 2d Lieutenants,
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WAUHATCHIE.
and Lieut. Burnett E. Miller joined by commission and was eventually assigned to duty in Company K. Doctor Adams resigned his commission and left for home on the 17th day of November. Lieut. Barnum was sent to hospital from Bridg- port, not being able to follow the command to Wauhatchie.
Between the head-quarters of the regiment and that of the brigade was a deep ravine which was difficult to cross. Col. Randall and the brigade staff officers inaugurated a signal ser- vice for communicating between the two head-quarters. The men became very proficient in its use and afterwards continued it at other places when occasion required. If it served no other purpose, it was a pleasant diversion for the men.
Daily during the time the enemy occupied Lookout Moun- tain he favored the troops in Lookout Valley with shells from a battery located on its top, but no great damage was done and the men soon became indifferent to the practice.
Lookout Creek, running northerly along the western base of Lookout Mountain, is bordered by foot-hills a hundred feet or more in height running along its western bank. The enemy's pickets were on one side of this stream, while those of Geary's command were on the other. In time the two lines became familiar with one another and frequent conferences were held between them. At several places the creek could be crossed on fallen trees and other things serving as a bridge and, as a re- sult, a large number of the enemy deserted, came over and gave themselves up. " It was a cold day" when the Union piekets did not make an inroad into those of the enemy. Some of the prisoners had been with Pemberton at Vicksburg and not exchanged, and claimed to have been forced to return to service. Many were from Tennessee and Kentucky and by deserting returned to their families. After a time the defection of the enemy became so great that Gen. Bragg caused a change of troops in Geary's front.
The nights were cold and frosty, but occasionally the days were warm and sunny. On one of these bright days a party of officers and men climbed to the top of Raccoon Mountain
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MEMOIRS 149th N. Y. INFT.
whence they obtained a beautiful and extended view of the surrounding country. With a powerful glass they were able to look into Chattanooga, and also to see the camps of both factions located in the valleys and on the mountain and hillsides. The view was one not seen more than once in a life- time.
After considerable delay the baggage of the officers came forward over the mountains with the Quarter-master's teams. It is not necessary to state that for certain sanitary reasons the officers were glad to get a change of underwear. Making re- ports and returns was very tedious on account of the cold weather, but no officer was heard to demur when required to make muster and pay-rolls.
On the 20th day of November the advance of Sherman's troops appeared in Lookout Valley on their way to Chattanooga and continued passing for several days. Gen. Osterhaus's Division, arriving on the 23d, was unable to eross the bridge at Brown's Ferry, so in pursuance of orders it joined the forces under Gen. Hooker.
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CHAPTER XXII.
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, MISSIONARY RIDGE, AND RINGGOLD.
Ar daylight on the 24th day of November, 1863, the 149th Regiment, leaving its tents standing in charge of a guard, formed in line, 16 officers and 222 men strong, with one day's rations, blankets, and sixty rounds of ammunition, to make an attack upon Lookout Mountain. The men had not breakfasted and this announcement took away their appetites. The regi- ment joined the division in the valley below camp and took a position on the left and fourth in line of the brigade, the 78th N. Y. having been detailed to take charge of camp and hold the pass leading to Kelly's Ferry. The road crosses Lookout Valley to a place where Wauhatchie Creek, a small stream of water, makes its way through the foot-hills to Lookout Creek. At the entrance to the gap was a small Tennessee house, with a large piazza on its western side. The division halted and closed in column by division in mass in a small field to the left of the house and close under the hill in front. A dense fog hung over the valley and covered the movement of troops, still the men were cautioned against making unnecessary noises. The suggestion was hardly necessary, for the heart of every man was in his mouth as he thought of the work before him.
The men had an impression that they were to scale the top of the mountain, and not knowing of any manner in which it could be done, they believed they were asked to do an impossi- bility. " What "" said the men to one another, " does the General expeet us to fly ?" But they quietly determined what- ever the orders they would do the best they could to perform them.
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MEMOIRS 149th N. Y. INFT.
A small detachment of skirmishers went forward along the road in the pass while the men quietly listened for the result. In a few moments a rapid discharge of musketry was heard and it was expected that the main column would be ordered forward, but soon the firing ceased and the pioneer corps went to build a bridge over Lookout Creek. While waiting some of the officers gathered in front of the house and chatted with one another. A conspicuous figure in this group was Maj- Elliot, a respected officer on the brigade staff. He was par- ticularly pleasant on this occasion and in high spirits.
Abont nine o'clock the command moved forward, the 2d Brigade under Col. George A. Cobham. Jr., taking the lead,
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN FROM CAMP OF THE HOTH.
followed by the 3d, under Col. David Ireland, this regiment being on the left of the line. Arriving at the eastern end of the gap, it was found that a temporary bridge had been erected over a dam across Lookont Creek. The regiment cautiously made its way across this and immediately commenced clamber- ing over bowlder- and loose stones, between bushes and vines directly up the side of old Lookout, which hung frowningly and defiantly overhead. The regiment did not go much more
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LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN.
than its length before it could go no further without wings to assist it. Then it came to a front and moved in a northerly direction, following the other regiments which had preceded it, over and between the bowlders and through the bushes, vines and briars, until it came to a comparatively level field, which set back from Lookout Creek into the side of the moun- tain. Passing this, the regiments on the right were enabled to make their way further up the side of the mountain, so be- fore proceeding a mile the two brigades were in one line, with the right up the mountain and the left down below. Two other lines similar to the one in front were formed in rear, the three being fifteen or twenty rods apart. As the respective lines proceeded along the side of the mountain northerly to- wards the Point, the nature of the ground was such that the colunm gradually worked its way higher and higher up the mountain-side, until when passing around the Point, or northern end of the mountain, the right swept close up under the over- hanging palisades themselves.
About half a mile from the crossing of the creek the forces of the enemy were encountered, and from that time forward until night the regiment was in close contact with them and continually under fire. The side of the mountain was covered with large bowlder- and loose stones, was very steep, almost perpendicular, and was furrowed by gullies and deep ravines running from the top down to the creek below. After encoun- tering the enemy, the plan of attack was to elamber forward as rapidly as possible, overwhelm him by the fury of the charge and prevent him from doing any great harm. As the boys pressed forward, the enemy fired a volley or two into their ranks and then made a desperate struggle to get away. When the boys had him running, they kept him going, so that it was a pure question of courage, musele and personal endurance. When the men were fatigued and their breaths so hot as to scorch their throat., they dropped on the ground for a few moments and then got up and went at it again. The course up and down the gullies and ravines was so rugged that the men had to
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MEMOIRS 149th N. Y. INFT.
work themselves along hanging to the bushes and by clamber- ing over rocks on their hands and knees.
Close behind the advance line came the surgeons, hospital stewards and stretcher-bearers. When the boys dropped out of line from injuries, their immediate wants were cared for by the medical officers and then they were carried back to the field hospital by the stretcher-bearers. Once on the stretcher, then came the tug of war to hang on and get safely down to the crossing over the creek. The men when injured were reeking with sweat and their clothes drenched with perspiration, con- sequently when relieved from exertion they were chilled to the bone by the bleak November air. Part way up the mountain the long line of stretcher-bearers were met by chaplains with large bottles of whisky to keep up the strength of the men and ward off the effects of the terrible chill. After crossing the creek on the foot-bridge, the wounded were taken to the house above described at the mouth of the gap, put on an operating table on the piazza, and their injuries cared for by the surgeons in charge. Let those who have a taste for such things describe the scene, the writer can only say it was horrible and a man once there never cares to go again. The attendants supplied the wounded liberally with whisky from a dipper, enabling them to endure the nervous strain incident to the occasion. Among the first brought from the field was the gallant Maj. Elliot, whose death occurred soon afterwards. His dead body lay under a blanket on the floor of the front room of the house when most of the wounded were taken there.
The column had not proceeded up Lookout Mountain more than a mile when the capture of prisoners commenced, and as the ball went rolling, they were taken too rapidly to be cared for by the advance and were simply sent through the line to the charge of the troops in rear. The mumber of prisoners taken by the 149th alone must have exceeded the number of men present for duty. Three of the men captured battle-flags.
On the northern extremity of the mountain, well up under the palisades, was a clearing with a house. Circling around
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this clearing the enemy had rifle-pits and other fortifications. When approaching these rifle-pits Geary's forces were met by a determined stand of the enemy, but the right of his line ex- tended so far up the mountain that it over-lapped the rifle-pits, and before the enemy was aware of it, he was flanked. As a result the enemy broke and ran and captures were made by the hundred. Having broken this line, the boys pursued their ad- vantage and swept around the Point like a whirlwind, driving the enemy before them.
Along the rifle-pits east of the house, in the elearing, the enemy made another stand, but being again flanked on the right, he broke and ran down the hill to the left in great con- fusion. The men were excited and pursued well down the eastern slope of the mountain. At this time a dense fog settled down, obsenring all movements, which, together with the ex- citement, caused a slight disorganization of the charging line. as well as of the regiment. The right of the regiment was in advance of the main line, while a portion on the left was in rear. On account of the fog it was deemed inexpedient to proceed further, so the column was halted, the advance recalled and that portion of the command in rear brought forward to the main line. The enemy was in large force in the woods in front and on the left. The reorganized line was well over the eastern slope of the mountain and extended from the palisades on the right to Chattanooga Creek on the left, where a con- nection was made with the Army of the Cumberland at Chat- tanooga. While the line was reorganizing some of the men went down into the woods in front occupied by the enemy. Before they could regain the shelter of a stone wall, which ran near the brigade line, some of them were injured and one or more was killed.
Before dark the first line was relieved by forces sent forward for the purpose and the men fell back to obtain food and rest. This regiment was relieved by one belonging to the Ist Brigade of the ed Division. Once during the night an assault was made by the enemy to cover his retreat from the mountain, but it was gallantly repulsed.
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At daylight it was found that old Lookout was in charge of the Union forces, with many valuable stores and munitions of war which the enemy was unable to remove. A member of a Kentucky regiment had the honor of being first to seale the palisades and wave the flag off the Point of old Lookout to the wondering gaze of our friends in Chattanooga, but it was the proud honor of the 2d Division of the 12th Corps, in which the 149th bore a conspicuous part, to capture the moun- tain by its courage and valor. Other troops bore part and rendered valuable assistance, but none can gainsay the 2d Division stands first on the roll of honor and conspicuously so the 149th Regiment.
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