USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > Gettysburg > The 109th Regiment Penna. Veteran Volunteers. An address delivered at the unveiling of their monument on Culp's hill, Gettysburg, Pa., September 11, 1889 > Part 2
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About twenty-five minutes past ten, two brigades of Johnson's Division having formed in column by regiments, charged upon the right occupied by the 109th and Second Brigade. Gen. Geary in an official report says of the charge, "They met the determined men of Kane's little brigade, which though only six hundred and fifty strong, poured into them so continuous a fire that when within seventy paces, their columns wavered and soon broke to the rear. This was the last charge ; as they fell back our troops rushed for- ward, driving the rebels in confusion over the intrenchments, and ending every attempt of the enemy to obtain possession of the right of the line and the Baltimore Turnpike. The enemy's loss was very severe, as nine hundred were buried by our troops in front of the line of the Second Division, Twelfth Army Corps."
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At half-past ten a. m., July 3, the 109th was relieved and marched out, taking position near the Baltimore Turnpike, where they remained until half-past twelve p. m. They then returned to the position, on right of the Third Brigade, which they first occu- pied in the breastworks. Gen. Geary in an official report says of the Second Brigade, "It sustains the most excellent reputation as a high-toned brigade." They retained this position in the breast- works until the morning of July 4, when it was discovered that the enemy had withdrawn and was retreating.
On July 5, the entire army was in pursuit of Gen. Lee, and after crossing South Mountain on July 12, found him occupying a position on the heights of Marsh Run in front of Williamsport. The Second Division, Twelfth Army Corps, of which the 109th was a part, held the extreme left of our army line, which place was directly opposite the right of Gen. Lee's army facing us in front of Williamsport. The Second Division, Twelfth Army Corps, took position about twelve o'clock m. on July 12, and pickets were ordered to be thrown out ; Captain Ralston of the 109th was in com- mand of the division picket-line. One of Gen. Geary's staff- officers, an officer of the 109th, requested the privilege of passing outside of the picket line on recognizance, and with one orderly passed on the road to the left of the line leading to Williamsport. When a considerable distance inside of the enemy's vidette line, he called at a farm-house not far from the road, and inquired whether any Confederates had been there, and was answered, Yes, several officers had taken dinner there but a short time before, and that not far from the road a short distance further on, "a field was full of cannon." In this field the enemy had massed their artillery before crossing the river. Here was Gen. Lee with the swollen waters of the Potomac in his rear, and without means of crossing his artillery, pontoons having been swept away. And here defeat must cause the
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surrender of his entire army. The staff-officer returned to division headquarters, and reported what he had heard to Gen. Geary, and Gen. Geary, accompanied by this staff-officer, reported to Gen. Slocum, commanding the Twelfth Army Corps. When Gen. Slocum had heard the staff-officer's statement he said "Geary, take your division, make an advance and feel the enemy." As Geary was about to leave Gen. Slocum's quarters to carry out this order, a staff-officer from Gen. Meade reported to Gen. Slocum, with Gen. Meade's compliments, that Gen. Meade would hold a council of war. Gen. Slocum then said to Gen. Geary, "Don't make any movement until I return from Gen. Meade." No advance was made until July 14, when Gen. Lee had constructed a pontoon bridge of lumber collected from canal boats and the ruins of wooden houses. The advance on July 14 was a failure, as the last of Gen. Lee's army had crossed when we arrived at the river.
After this the line of march was taken for Catlett's Station, Va., where the 109th Regiment arrived July 29, having marched from Gettysburg, since July 5, two hundred and four miles. The regiment remained at Catlett's Station until August 5, and from August 5 until September 18 it was on duty along the Rapidan, and from September 18 until September 28 it was on duty near Brandy Station, Va.
On September 28 the regiment was relieved from duty with the Army of the Potomac, and with the Twelfth Army Corps and Eleventh Army Corps, under Gen. Hooker, ordered west to the re- lief of the army at Chattanooga, and reached Murfreesboro, Tenn., October 6, and operated against Confederate cavalry from Nashville to Murfreesboro. During this time the Confederates held pos- session of the east bank of the Tennessee River from Chattanooga to below Kelly's Ferry, holding both Brown's Ferry and Kelly's Ferry, and preventing the furnishing of supplies to the army at
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Chattanooga by the Tennessee River. To supply the army at Chattanooga was becoming difficult and almost impossible, and the opening of the Tennessee River became a necessity.
October 25 the regiment was ordered from Stevenson, Ala., to the front. They arrived at Bridgeport, Ala., October 27, crossing the Tennessee River, and struck the Memphis and Charleston R. R. near Lookout Mountain. At about five o'clock on the afternoon of October 28, they camped in Wauhatchie Valley. The Eleventh Army Corps encamped about three miles in advance, near Brown's Ferry. The troops encamped in Wauhatchie Valley, near Lookout Mountain, consisted of the 29th Penna. Vols., 109th Penna. Vols., ILIth Penna. Vols., 78th N. Y. Vols., 137th N. Y. Vols., 149th N. Y. Vols., and four guns of Knap's Battery.
The 29th Penna. Vols. was posted on picket. About half-past eleven p. m. the pickets were partly driven and the troops were at once placed in line. The IIIth Penna. Vols. on the right, the 109th Penna. Vols. on the left of the 11Ith, the 137th N. Y. on the left of the 109th Penna. Vols., and the 78th N. Y. on the left of the 137th N. Y., and the four guns of Knap's Battery were placed in the rear of the 11Ith and 109th on rising ground, so as to fire over the infantry and be supported.
The firing on the pickets at half-past eleven proved to be a feint, and the troops lay upon their arms. Between twelve p. m. and half-past twelve a. m. on October 28, the enemy charged, firing with tremendous fury, driving in the pickets, and then commenced one of the most furious and important battles of the war. The Army of the Cumberland was then on short rations, and supplies were impossible except by the Tennessee River. These fourteen hun- dred troops of the Second Division, Twelfth Army Corps, covered Kelly's Ferry. This must be maintained or the enemy would com- mand the Tennessee River. From three to five thousand of Stone-
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wall Jackson's old troops were thrown against us for the purpose of either capturing our little command, or annihilating it, and gain- ing possession of Kelly's Ferry. They poured into us three con- centrated fires, from front and right and left flanks, but this little band of brave and tried Army of Potomac troops fought with steady and determined desperation, not giving way a single foot. The 109th fought without a field officer, under the command of a captain, but every man realized the importance of the fight and his own individual importance, where so few were fighting against so many.
From half-past twelve to half-past three o'clock this desperate fight continued. At one time it did appear as though the enemy would gain the rear of our right and capture the guns of our bat- tery, but by a most timely movement one piece was thrown across the road on the right, which gave the enemy a raking fire and saved the flank. As the guns of the battery flashed the enemy would pour such a deadly fire into them, that both commissioned officers were killed, twenty-four of the men out of forty-eight were killed or wounded, and thirty-seven of the forty-eight horses were killed. At the end of three hours the enemy retired, leaving in our hands one hundred and fifty-three killed, including six commissioned officers, and fifty-two wounded, including three officers, making the enemy's loss in killed and wounded, according to the statistics of most battle-fields, about one thousand. In this fight the 1ogth added another page of honor to its history, of which every man engaged in this battle might feel justly proud. Gen. Geary in an official report says, " The enemy precipitately hurled their main body without skirmishers upon the left where the 137th N. V., the togth Penna., and the two left companies of the frith Penna., met them with intense and well directed fire. And the actual fighting throughout the battle was sustained in conjunction with the artil-
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lery by the 137th N. Y., the 109th Penna., the 11Ith Penna., and a portion of the 29th Penna. numbering eight hundred and fifty of- ficers and men." Gen. Geary further says of the conduct of the 137th N. Y., the 109th Penna., and ITIth Penna., in sustaining the brunt of the battle, " I cannot speak too highly, they acquitted them- selves in a manner deserving all the commendation that a commander can bestow upon them, and which I take pleasure in mentioning officially."
Previous to the battle of Lookout Mountain the Second Divi- sion Twelfth Army Corps maintained a line extending from the confluence of Lookout Creek and the Tennessee River on the left to the top of Raccoon Mountain on the right. On the morning of November 24, 1863, the 109th Penna. and 78th N. Y. were placed on the right of these defences, while the balance of the division was withdrawn to charge Lookout Mountain. Although the 109th Penna. was not actively engaged in the fight, its position in reserve was ex- ceedingly important, and the War Department authorizes the battles of Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge and Ringgold inscribed upon the colors of the 109th Penna. Veteran Volunteers. These battles therefore become a part and parcel of the history of the 109th.
About four o'clock on the morning of November 24, 1863, the Second Division Twelfth Army Corps, with some other troops, temporarily assigned under the command of Gen. Geary, crossed the railroad at Wauhatchie Junction and marched to a point about two and one-half miles up Lookout Creek, and here the entire command massed behind a hill which effectually secured it from view from the mountain. Throwing a bridge across the creek at this point the skirmishers and picket-line crossed, surprised and captured the en- my's picket-line without firing ; forty-two pickets were captured.
Four pieces of light artillery, twelve-pounders, were placed on Bald Hill near the junction of the creek and river, and four pieces of
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artillery on a hill opposite Lookout Point and behind Bald Hill. Two pieces of twenty-pound Parrotts were placed in the gap to the right and one section of howitzers commanded the approach to the lower bridge, and four pieces of Knap's Battery were posted on an eminence to the left of Kelly's Ferry Road from which it commanded the sides of Lookout.
About half-past eight o'clock the entire column commenced to cross the bridge, the Second Brigade in advance moved rapidly up the hill-slope by the right flank in a direct line from the crossing to the wall of the crest ; the Third Brigade followed and joined the Second . Brigade's left. Gen. Whittaker's Brigade crossed, followed by First Brigade, Second Division, Twelfth Army Corps. The line of battle as formed faced to the front was, Second Brigade with 111th and 29th Penna. on the right ; Third Brigade with four regiments in the centre ; First Brigade on the left in echelon with 66th Ohio and three companies of 5th Ohio in reserve. This constituted the front, covering the slopes from the mound of the crest to Lookout Creek. The Sth Kentucky, 35th Indiana, 99th and 40th Ohio re- spectively in order from the right of Whittaker's Brigade formed the second line in support, about three hundred and fifty yards to the rear of the front line, his right resting opposite Second Brigade's centre ; about one hundred yards in the rear of the supporting line were the 96th Illinois and 5Ist Ohio, also of Whittaker's Brigade. This formation and distances were maintained until the farthest point gained on the mountain. A heavy line of skirmishers had been advanced and covered the entire front through the day's move- ments, and the flanks were kept so intact that the supporting line was perfectly secure, excepting from sharpshooters on the crest.
About nine o'clock the whole line moved forward, the right, held by the 29th Penna., kept in close contact with the ragged pre- cipice of the summit ; the left was instructed to govern its move-
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ments by those of the front line on the right, the extreme left resting near the creek, the guide being the upper curvature of the mountain. The movement was quite rapid over the steep sides of the mountain which sloped at ncarly an angle of forty-five degrees, breaking into numerous successive ravines from fifty to a hundred feet in depth, overcome by clambering almost perpendicular ascents and descents. When the right and .centre had progressed about one mile and a quarter, the enemy's pickets were encountered and driven back upon their main advance body, a mile beyond a part of a series of fortifications, rugged nature and artificial, occupied by a brigade of the enemy. With fixed bayonets our troops charged at double-quick over all obstructions, regardless of the active work of the sharpshooters in the gorges and from the crest and the heavy musketry in front, and with wild enthusiasm made a sudden and vigorous assault. The Third Brigade and the IrIth Penna., closing in with the enemy, and the 29th Penna. on the right, hurled them- selves upon their flank with furious effect. The enemy offered a sturdy but brief resistance and soon yielded and threw down their arms. This was the first success in the charge upon Lookout Moun- tain. Many of the enemy were killed and wounded and the balance of the brigade were taken prisoners, with small arms, camp equipage, and four rebel flags, were captured by the 149th and both N. Y. regiments. The prisoners were sent to the rear to be disposed of by Gen. Whittaker's command.
The command without halting upon the site of the victory, pressed eagerly forward in original formation. Many were the ob- structions now surmounted at every step, ravines, precipices, im- mense boulders, abbatis, slashings and carefully constructed works. Keeping the right firm against the barrier of the mountain top. the right, having the shorter line, made more advance with less marching than the balance of the line.
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Before reaching the next line of the enemy, the right of the line encountered the almost perpendicular pyramid of Lookout Point, the line being obliqued to the right so as to keep the rock for the right to rest upon. This brought the line to the most elevated accessible point of the mountain, short of the most elevated peak. At this point a rebel regiment was observed making a hasty descent through a pass from the westerly crest upon our flank. The 29th Penna. changed front to rear and succeeded in capturing the entire rebel regiment and thus counteracted this flank movement of the enemy. At this time our artillery opened upon the enemy's fortifications, the missiles flying over our troops into their lines. The artillery ceased and the Third Brigade and left of the Second Brigade charged the fortifications, who offered a stout resistance, but the Third Bri- gade pressed them hotly while the right of the Second poured in its flanking fire with such vigor that the enemy sullenly fell back from work to work until they were driven from each strong lodgement.
During this time the enemy opened with three pieces of light artillery from the crest and for twenty minutes made every effort to enfilade our lines, but their guns could not be sufficiently depressed to reach our ranks, and their missiles burst with trivial effect over the heads of the First Brigade, which unseen by the enemy was sweeping up the rough declivity just below the plateau. Being baffled with their artillery they hurled shell and hand grenades from the cliffs, but our lines moved so rapidly that they were mostly ineffective. Our lines still pressed on, pushing the enemy with such vigor that they could not recover, and their front wavered more and more each stand, until their falling back became a flight.
This was about twelve o'clock noon. The Second Brigade ad- vanced about eight hundred yards around the point so as to com- mand the enemy's flank and protect our own. At this point the brigade passed the mountain side at almost a perpendicular angle,
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and when the brigade's right reached the desired point, their column was closed up, and with backs firm against the acclivity, presented a front toward Chattanooga Creek. At the same time the Third Brigade charged through the Peach Orchard taking the works en- circling it and driving the enemy from a stone wall parallel with our line. The 137th and 60th N. Y., dashed through the yard of the " White House," where the enemy had two pieces of artillery in position, capturing them and their gunners, throwing the colors of the 137th N. Y. on the guns, as token of capture.
Our troops were fired with enthusiasm and on they went over the successive belts of ramparts inclosing the level area which the rebels reluctantly yielded. We had progressed about five hundred yards beyond the " White House " with our right, and in front of the mountain road, when the routed rebels rallied upon a large body of the enemy, three brigades being covered by the woods and rocks. Our men were imbued with irresistible ardor and vigorously engaged them. Whittaker's Brigade was halted at the stone wall of the " White House " and several of his regiments were formed about two hun- dred yards to the rear and left of it. A part of one of his regiments moved up to the support of the left of the line but was soon with- drawn. The enemy made several charges and were as often driven back to their original line. While the Third Brigade combatted the massed forces in front, the Second Brigade opened an oblique fire on the enemy's flank which enfiladed their lines and made their situation untenable. The impenetrable fog, which had for some time lingered above, now settled down upon and below the Third Brigade and it became impossible to direct fire upon the enemy unseen with- out endangering our own men ; the fog prevailed during the balance of the day. The left of our line was still striving for the old road leading from the mountain into Chattanooga Valley, when at half- past twelve an order from Gen. Hooker commanded a halt along
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the crest. We had gone already beyond the intended point. The ground occupied by our line was very abrupt. The Second Brigade flug floated from the highest point yet gained on the 24th. The officers and men manifested an eagerness to go forward. At about one o'clock the enemy made an assault in force upon our left, but our men stood firm and soon forced the enemy back to cover. From two o'clock p. m., of the 24th, and during the afternoon, night and early morning of the 25th, the Second Division was re- lieved at different times by Col. Grose's Brigade, Gen. Whittaker's Brigade and Gen. Carlin's Brigade. During the night of the 24th and morning of the 25th but little firing was done, but the men suf- fered considerably from cold. Before daylight of the 25th Gen. Geary gave orders for small reconnoitering parties to gain the sum- mit with ladders and plant the colors on top had the enemy evacu- ated. The colors of the 8th Kentucky ascended on the eastern side of the ridge and the 29th Penna. on the western. They stood upon the summit about the same time, but the 8th Kentucky having the shorter line was the first to unfurl the flag from the gigantic.cliffs, but almost the same instant the 29th Penna. unfurled their flag and the " white star," the symbol of the division which carried Look- out Mountain. The enemy had evacuated, and from ten thousand throats burst forth the wildest shouts of patriotic enthusiasm. The victory was complete and without measure in its importance.
At shortly after ten o'clock on the morning of the 25th, pursu- ant to orders from Gen. Hooker, the Second Division, preceded by Osterhaus' and Cruft's Divisions, marched down the mountain toward Mission Ridge, upon the left of which the rebel troops withdrawn from Lookout and Chattanooga Valley had been placed in position in extension of the entire rebel line. Our troops descended into Chattanooga Valley taking the rebel route. The enemy disputed the advance of the column with artillery for a short
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time, but was driven back and one of their guns captured. At about three o'clock in the afternoon our column turned to the left and followed the base of Mission Ridge.
Osterhaus moved down the eastern base and Cruft was getting a foothold to sweep along the crest line, when our division advanced along the western base with five batteries and parallel to the enemy's front and toward their right. The First and Second Brigades were pushed forward along the base and the Third Brigade in support of the artillery opened a battery on the enemy's flank and rear, com- pelling them to fall back; at the same time continuing a brisk artillery fire upon them. The division was then formed in column of brigades with the First Brigade in front and the Second Brigade in second line. They scaled the craggy sides of the ridge, moving obliquely to effect a junction with the right of Gen. Palmer's Fourteenth Corps. The rebel retreat at this time had fairly started, and our effort was made to cut them off. The descent of the ridge was a difficult work, but was accomplished in good order amid shouts and cheers. As our line of battle gained the summit Johnston's Division of the Fourteenth Corps attained the adjoining cliff on the left. At six p. m. our junction was complete and the left of the ridge was ours.
The balance of the army was successful and the entire range was taken from the enemy. Pursuant to orders we descended to the western base of the ridge and bivouacked for the night in the enemy's winter quarters. Several hundred prisoners were taken.
At ten o'clock on the morning of the 26th, under orders from Gen. Hooker, our division marched through Rossville Gap, fol- lowing the line of retreat of the left of the enemy's army on the road to Graysville. The main body of the enemy retreated rapidly. Our division having passed Pea Vine Creek and Chickamauga Swamp at ten p. m. it was ascertained that the enemy had forces
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on Pidgeon Hill. Osterhaus' advance commenced skirmishing ; our First Brigade was hastily moved to the front, doubled on Osterhaus' column, and formed in line at right angles with the Ringgold Road. The Second Brigade was drawn up in line in an open field about three hundred yards to the rear. Skirmishers were immediately thrown to the front, scaled the hills and drove the rebel rear-guard from the ridge. Our division was within four miles of Ringgold. We bivouacked for the night at the foot of Pidgeon Hills.
At daylight on the 27th we marched from bivonac, in rear of Osterhaus' Division. At eight o'clock we marched rapidly through the town of Ringgold under a musketry fire from the ridge beyond. A short distance beyond, the Western and Atlantic Railroad ran through a gap in Taylor's Ridge, running in the same general direction as Mission Ridge ; through this gap the whole of Bragg's retreating army had passed towards Dalton up to the time of our arrival, leaving one division in position on the ridge to dispute our passage. At half-past seven, Osterhaus, in advance, had formed his line at the foot of the hill, and assaulted the ridge under severe fire from the enemy. About eight o'clock our First Brigade passed to the left to scale the mountain and if possible gain the summit, attack the enemy in flank and charge with vigor along the ridge. The brigade was formed about three-quarters of a mile from the gap parallel with the railroad in two lines in echelon ; the 66th Ohio and 28th Penna. in front, and the 7th Ohio and 147th Penna. one hundred yards in rear. The movements were made with rapidity, passing across a large open field to the foot of the ridge, under a severe fire from the summit. The two lines were here deployed into a single line of battle, throwing the 7th Ohio and 147th Pen !. a. on the left. About five hundred feet above was the enemy pouring down a rapid deadly fire. The brigade steadily descended the
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steep sides of the hill. Our fire was withdrawn until about half way up, when the whole line opened upon the enemy on the summit and pressed on.
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