Chapter 67

CHAPTER LXVII

Slowly we began to move down the Chattanooga side of the mountain.  We found it strongly fortified, but the rapid discharge of fire-arms and the heavy cannonading which reached us from the rebel position beyond Chattanooga gave us too much uneasiness and we did take much time to inspect the deserted works, and which on the day previously had bristled with rebel bayonets.

The entire Union Army was in motion and just as far as our eyes could reach we could trace the long blue columns with their burnished arms and bayonets glittering in the sun, whilst their proud standards fluttered and waved on the morning breeze, all moving forward steadily towards the chosen position of the rebel commander, and where was destined to be enacted one of the most sanguinary acts in war’s bloody drama.

It is not within my province to describe the battle in general detail, nor do I feel myself competent to do so, and in accordance with my design when I first commenced to write this sketch I shall confine myself to giving a brief account of the action taken by the command of which I was an humble member.

We continued our march, passing over the very same route taken by Gen. Jackson, during his famous Indian campaign.

We were evidently moving by signal, and were at times almost moved on the double quick, and then again we would halt for a considerable length of time, and it was not until about 4 o’clock, p.m., until we found ourselves uncomfortably near to the enemy, who were in position on a very strongly fortified height, on their right, on Missionary Ridge.

We entered a small strip of woods, here we were formed similar to the way we had gone into battle on the previous day, by Brigades, in three lines each, the 5^th Ohio and the 147^th, P. V. I., in the advance.  As we moved up in line a number of prisoners were taken past to the rear, among the party was Major Breckenridge, a son of the ex-Vice President, who himself came near being captured.

We were ordered to advance, and as soon as we came in range the enemy opened a destructive fire upon us.  At this opportune moment, a Missouri flying battery came up to our relief.  The regiment was ordered to open a way for it, which we had no sooner accomplished than the horses came up on a full gallop, when a short distance in advance of the regiment, the horses were suddenly turned to the rear, and a well aimed volley discharged, the shells were immediately exploded over the heads of the rebels and they were soon put to flight.

With a cheer the line advanced up the steep ridge, the enemy made a feeble resistance and just as the sun was sinking to rest in the west, we gained the crest of the ridge, and the battle of Missionary Ridge was over and the Union Army had won another grand victory,

Our Division, with the taking of the ridge, captured several stands of colors, and a large number of Rebel prisoners.  After the battle, General Hooker and staff came riding along our line and was made the recipient of those characteristic cheers which always  greeted him when coming among the men.

The prisoners were moved down into the valley and a corral of rails was thrown up, and they were placed in it, under strong guard.  We were then moved down also, and permitted to spread our blankets on the ground, and to refresh ourselves with a soldiers­ sleep.

At the first break of day, on the morning of the 25^th, we were awakened by the unwelcome sound of the bugle, announcing that the contest was not, over yet and that we would move in pursuit of the fleeing foe.

We sprang front our beds, packed our scanty camp equipage and at once prepared our simple meal, which consisted of a cup of coffee and a few pieces of hardtack, after which we awaited the orders to ‘‘fall in.”

We had passed the night in what had been a rebel camp, and it was really amusing to us to see what shifts they had made to erect their winter quarters.  Many of their tents were constructed out of shingles and lath split by themselves, and covered over with beef hides for roofs.  Their diet was principally corn meal and the stench which surrounded the camp was very offensive.

Being on the right of our line, and in consequence nearer the rebels, we did not move until the left of our line was well under way, and consequently did not get orders to move until after 9 o’clock, a. m.

Our line of march lay over the route taken by Breckenridge and Cheatam’s troops, and was strewn over with the usual debris generally left behind by a  fleeing army.  Several abandoned caissons and one 10 pound parrot gun besides a number of prisoners fell into our hands during the day.  Toward dusk we began to feel the enemy in our immediate front and our officers at once made arrangements to meet them.  The skirmish line was strengthened and the regiments were moved up to easy supporting distance, and the entire command was pushed forward.  Upon reaching Pumpkin Vine Creek and finding the bridges gone, we were halted at the foot of a small ridge and were ordered to throw up breast-works. Scarcely had we commenced to throw up barricades, ere a force of rebel cav­alry charged down on us, but a well directed volley soon checked them and they about-faced and left us the masters of the situation, and the victors of the skirmish of Pumpkin Vine Creek.  Fearing another attack, we hastily finished our works, and when we lay down for the night it was on our arms and were ordered to sleep like rabbits with one eye open.  During the night several volleys were fired, but no further advance was made, and morning found the enemy gone.

The first thing to be accomplished, was the building of a bridge over the stream, to allow the troops to be taken across and the pioneer corps was put to work on it as soon as it was light enough to see where to build it with advantage.

We crossed the creek at about 7 o’clock, a.m., and moved leisurely in the direction of Taylor’s Ridge.  As we ascended a ridge, we heard several musket shots, these were speedily followed by several heavy volleys, and soon the continuous roar of musketry announced that a general engagement was going on.

We were moved out into an open space on the top of the ridge, and our Division was massed by Brigade.  We had a full view of the open country to our front, whilst we could also see our men advancing upon the enemy, who held a strong position of a ridge back of the town of Ringold.

We could see that the enemy had at first given sway, but now the musketry was growing hotter, and the enemy were gallantly holding our men at bay with a probability of driving them back.

Whilst in the thickest of the fray a horseman was seen approaching us at full speed.  General Geary divining his errand, the bugle was sounded and we at once moved to the sup­port of General Ouasterhaus’ Division.

We were marching along on quick time, each moment the sound of the engagement become more real, whilst our thoughts were taken up with the probabilities of the fight.  Those who have been placed in similar circumstances, marching towards a battle­field with every probability of becoming engaged, need not be informed how trying to the nerve of the soldier the situation is.  A stillness reigns in the ranks, cards are thrown away, and those who in camp are never know to give a comrade a chew of tobacco are now ready to share the last chew of the weed with any one, the pale cheek and tightly compressed lip, tells the inward emotions that are controlling the soldier’s action; finally he fills his canteen to quench his thirst and to have the same ready in case of an emergency, for well he knows that he may be wounded, or at least one of his favored companions, will need a draught from it, then as he nears the fatal field and the minnies begin to strike around him, he draws a quiet breath and an unlisped petition for his protection, wings its way to Heaven’s court.

We soon reached Chicamagua Creek when moved down the northern bank until we came to an old fashioned red bridge, similar to the ones we had often played “fox” in during our boy­hood days, over which we crossed, Greene’s and Kane’s Brigades were already engaged with the enemy, as they were in advance of us, they formed by regiment and were moved in on the right to the relief of Ousterhaus’ hard pressed troops as fast as they arrived on the ground.

Our Brigade with the lamented Col. Creighton at its head moved past their position through a perfect storm of rifle balls, and took position on the left of the other two Brigades.

The 147^th was the extreme rear of the Brigade and was in consequence on the left flank or our line, and we were compelled to move through the town and were formed “by file right into line,” in an open field just as fast as the right of the companies came up.  By the time that the regiment was formed and the command given, “147^th, guide the center, forward m-a-r-c-h,” the minnies began to come “zipping” along, quite lively.  Steadily the men touched elbows to right and left, and pressing forward firmly, and the 147^th was advancing up the fatal ridge, towards the enemy’s works, which were defended by Frank Cheatam’ s Brigade of General Pat Clebourne’ s Division.