Statewide County IN Archives History - Books .....Chapter VII Battle Of Missionary Ridge, Etc. 1893
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Book Title: History Of The 82nd Indiana Volunteer Infantry

CHAPTER VII.
BATTLE OF MISSIONARY RIDGE, ETC.

  At 2 o'clock P. M. of Monday, November 23, 1863, the Third Division of the
Fourteenth Corps, of which the Eighty-second formed a part, moved out in front
of Fort Negley and took position near the rebel picket line. This was done to
give appearance of an attack on the front line on Missionary Ridge to keep the
enemy from removing troops to their right and left flanks, where every
preparation was being made for attack. General Sherman on their right and Hooker
on the left. We remained in position until "Wednesday the twenty-fifth, Hooker's
forces having stormed and taken Lookout Mountain, and Sherman having crossed his
troops over the Tennessee River some six miles above Chattanooga and attacked
the enemy's right flank. Our division was moved to the left to assist him as his
attack had proved a failure. On our arrival, there being no room for more
troops, General Baird received orders to move back to the right to assist in
storming the front of the ridge. We took position about midway between Fort Wood
and the ridge. We had scarcely reached our position before the whole line of the
Cumberland Army moved forward on a grand charge on the works at the foot of the
ridge. Our brigade was formed in two lines. The Eleventh, Thirty-sixth and
Ninety-second Ohio, forming the front line. The Seventeenth, Thirty-first,
Eighty-ninth Ohio and Eighty-second Indiana the rear line. The Eighty-second
Indiana and Eighty-ninth Ohio acting as one regiment, under command of Colonel
Hunter. We were about one and a quarter miles from the foot of the ridge. We
received orders to fix bayonets and away we went. The enemy soon opened a most
terrific artillery fire from the ridge, yet it did but little injury as we
advanced so rapidly that they could not get proper range upon us, the missiles
falling behind us tearing up the earth in great shape. On our arrival at the
foot of the ridge we came upon a line of works which was held by a strong force
of the enemy. But such was the impetuosity of our charge that they gave way
abandoning their works and fled up the hill for safety. On our arrival at the
works our men were almost worried out. Here fire from the rebels' guns was
severe, and told with wonderful effect as we were now in full range of their
muskets, yet, notwithstanding the exhaustion of the men, the severity of their
fire and the steepness of the hill, our brave boys of the different regiments
advanced steadily and firmly until at length the breastworks on the top of the
ridge were reached, when Sergeant John D. Willson, who carried our colors, was
at the front, crossed the rebel works amid the cheers of the true and brave boys
of the First Brigade, who followed. Sergeant Willson was never known to let any
man be ahead of his colors in a charge if his position was such as to prevent
it. No regiment had an organization. Those who could travel fastest were at the
front and the sergeant was one of the first to enter the works on this occasion.
The enemy gave back in great confusion before our advancing column, and in a few
moments the ridge with its artillery and many of its garrison was ours. It was a
sight to look over the opposite side of the ridge and see the Johnnies trying
their speed to the rear without any order. A regular skedadle "Every man for
himself and the devil take the hindmost." Night soon overtook us and put a stop
to our following the enemy and making a more complete success of our victory. If
we could have had the day before us, there would not have been much left of that
army of rebels to fight us soon again. The Eighty-second had four men killed and
sixteen wounded. The Eighty-ninth Ohio had four men killed and fourteen wounded.
We were proud of the Eighty-ninth; they were a good regiment and always did
their duty gallantly and cheerfully. Our brigade was all Ohioans except our own,
the Eighty-second Indiana. History will bear me out in saying the First Brigade
of the Third Division of the Fourteenth Corps was equal to any brigade in the
army for both discipline and courage. We moved back off the ridge and encamped
for the night, giving Wood's Division an opportunity to gather all the artillery
we had captured in our front and claim it as their capture. If my regiment,
brigade, division or corps would stoop to claim work done by others I would feel
heartily ashamed of them, and as their historian, would feel ashamed to claim
the honors for them, I intend to confine myself to the truth as I understand it,
and let others judge the work of the regiment of which I write.

  On the morning of November 26 our brigade made a reconnoisance as far as the
Chickamauga River without coming up with the rear of the enemy, and in the
afternoon marched in the direction of Ringgold, Ga. On Friday morning, the 27th,
we reached that place and joined the other divisions of our corps. We remained
at Ringgold without performing any unusual duties until Sunday, the 29th, when
we returned to Chattanooga. General Grant decided to not follow the enemy
further than Ringgold, but made arrangements for sending reinforcements to
relieve General Burnside at Knoxville. We remained in Chattanooga, doing usual
army duty, until the 22& of February, 1864, when we received orders to move on
the enemy at Dalton, thus causing them to draw back the troops sent to
Mississippi for the purpose of assisting in preventing General Sherman's army
from making a raid through the State. The Seventeenth and Thirty-first Ohio
regiments had gone home on veteran furlough. This left our brigade only four
regiments, the Eleventh, Eighty-ninth and Ninety-second Ohio, and the the [sic]
Eighty-second Indiana, the Thirty-sixth Ohio having been taken from us. On the
morning of the 22d of February our division started from Chattanooga, the
morning clear and nice. I looked along the road; saw the colors of many
regiments floating in the morning breeze; listened to music from brass and
martial bands, knowing it was the birthday of the noble Washington, the father
of our country. My mind wandered to the gallant deeds of our forefathers, who
had suffered through years of toil and privations to save this great country
from the hands of despotic rulers. Then the change coming on to remind me that
on the birth day of the man whose memory was so dear to the true patriots of our
country, that it was established by law as a national holiday. We were called
upon to go forth to meet in deadly conflict the descendants of many who had
given their lives and health for the establishment of a government which had
been transmitted to them unimpaired through many years which were passed and
gone. My mind became so deeply engrossed in thought as to make me entirely
forget where I was, or in what duty engaged, when General Turchin rode up and
requested me to furnish him with some smoking tobacco, he having left camp
without replenishing his tobacco sack. This woke me up as from a dream, and
brought to realization that we were moving in quest of our country's traitors.
We reached Ringgold that evening and encamped for the night. On the morning of
the 23d we moved out through Ringgold Gap toward Tunnel Hill, driving the
enemy's pickets as we advanced. We moved to Tunnel Hill, meeting more of the
enemy. Here the forces divided, a part going to Buzzard Roost Gap and the other
part taking to the left down along Rocky Face Ridge, the division to which the
Eighty-second belonged being in this movement to the left. Not long after
dividing the forces we bivouacked for the night. On the 24th we moved out in the
morning, skirmishing with the enemy's advance guard. Our regiment was moving by
Turchin's favorite movement—double column in eight ranks, (which throws the
colors in front and the right and left flanks to the rear)—when we run into a
masked battery, which dropped a shell into the regiment, wounding three or four
men. The batallion [sic] was forwarded double-quick into a ravine which the road
crossed, and deployed into line of battle. Here we received an order to move to
the right up this ravine and join the left of the Eighty-ninth Ohio. Lt. Colonel
Slocum was in command of the regiment, Colonel Hunter being at Nashville as
president of a court martial. He moved the regiment and connected with the
Eighty-ninth.

  We received an order from a soldier carrying a gun for Colonel Slocum to take
command of the two regiments and at a signal from our battery to charge down the
hill and drive the enemy from the ravine and take the hill in our front. The
order, coming as it did, Colonel Slocum failed to obey. Then one of General
Turchin's orderlies came up and gave the same order, when we again failed to
obey. Finally one of Turchin's staff came and delivered the order, and, at the
signal, the two regiments having bayonets fixed, charged down and drove the
enemy back until half way up the ridge. Captain Whedon, of the Eighty-second,
with his company ("A") was on the skirmish line, having concentrated his men on
the right flank of the Eighty-ninth Ohio, found, as the line advanced, it became
more extended to the left and exposed the right flank in such a manner as to
endanger the whole line. Word was sent to General Turchin notifying him of our
trouble. He came up with the Eleventh and Ninety-second Ohio regiments putting
them on our right. The Eleventh deployed in line of battle, the Ninety-second in
support, and away we went again. The Eleventh met with too much resistance and
gave back to a ravine which they had passed over and reformed (the enemy were
following them) and charged the enemy-again driving them back in great
confusion. This relieved our flank and we carried the ridge. The men were so
elated there was no holding them; they followed the enemy down into the ravine
and up another hill. When we raised the top of the hill the enemy was laying
four lines deep and poured a galling fire into our ranks, making it so hot that
we were compelled to fall back to the first hill. Here we threw up works of
logs, rocks, rails or anything that would turn bullets.

  During the charge the Eighty second lost some thirty men wounded. Sergeant
John D. Wilson, color bearer, fell severely wounded. One of the color guards
took the colors and was soon wounded; another guard took them and soon fell; the
fourth guard took the colors and brought it off the field. Lieutenant-Colonel
Paul E. Slocum, a brave and noble officer, fell mortally wounded, dying in three
or four days. The gallant Eighty-ninth Ohio lost many men; the Eleventh lost
considerable; the Ninety second sustained some loss, but not so heavy as the
advance regiments. Major Jolly, of the Eighty-ninth Ohio, took command of the
two regiments. Captain W. C. Stineback took command of the Eighty-second. None
of our killed or wounded fell into the enemy's hands. We held this position
until eleven o'clock that night. The woods between us and the enemy were on
fire, making it so light that it was impossible to get in front of our works
without being shot at. At eleven o'clock p. M. we received an order to move back
off the ridge, making as little noise as possible. We retraced our march back to
where we left the main road at Tunnel Hill, leaving a force there to guard
against the approach of the enemy. Our division went out to Buzzard Roost to
assist the troops there in withdrawing. The troops all moved back to Ringgold
without the enemy doing any harm. The Third Division of the Fourteenth Corps,
General Baird commanding, of which the Eighty-second formed a part, remained at
Ringgold, it being a very important point in regard to a movement on Atlanta.
Our picket line extending beyond the gap, which was a very strong position to
overcome when properly defended. The enemy made several desperate attempts to
dislodge our forces who were guarding it. Colonel Hunter, of the Eighty-second,
was grand officer of the day, and during the night of his command the enemy made
a desperate attempt to carry the picket line. They drove the pickets in on the
reserve. Colonel Hunter being present took charge of the forces, and after a
hard battle routed the attacking party, killing and capturing over one hundred
and fifty men, one colonel among the number. While laying here our duties were
very exacting, as we expected any hour, day or night, to be called into action.
Company and regimental drill was kept up daily as long as we remained in this
position. Every preparation was being made for an advance on Atlanta and all the
men were anxious for the order for a forward movement, as there was more
responsibility felt while laying within a few miles of the bulk of the enemy
than taking their chances along with our whole army. The men of our brigade had
learned to love their brigade commander, General Turchin, and their division
commander, General Baird, having full confidence in their ability to take proper
care of them, and knowing they were brave and careful men who would not
sacrifice them to make a star for themselves. During our stay at this point,
some time in March, a snow six inches deep fell, and two Ohio regiments formed
in line of battle some distance apart facing each other, and opened a snowball
battle. It was real exciting to see them charge and counter charge, and finally
commence capturing their enemy and carry them to the rear. The men became as
earnest in the battle as though it was an actual enemy confronting them. There
was much blood spilled— principally from noses—and all appeared to enjoy it very
much. While here the officer in charge of the Indiana Sanitary Commission
stationed at Chattanooga sent a lot of potatoes in barrels to my care to be
divided among the Indiana regiments. I went around and notified all the
regiments to call and get their share. One of the regiments was all ready to
start for home on veteran furlough, and did not want their share. Knowing the
amount would be hard to divide and not wishiug [sic] to make the rounds again to
notify them to come and get their share, I done what I thought best, i. e.,
issued them to the Eighty-second; then wrote the Captain that I had three
barrels left on my hands, and if not receiving word from him by a certain time
would issue them to suit myself, being extremely careful to set the time so as I
knew he could not get me word by letter. The Captain wrote me how to issue them.
I answered him how they had been issued. In a few days received a letter giving
me a good setting up. If the amount had been ample for division among the
several regiments they would have been so divided, but being so few I felt my
first duty was the Eighty-second's welfare, and thus it was done.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF THE EIGHTY-SECOND
Indiana Volunteer Infantry,
ITS ORGANIZATION, CAMPAIGNS AND BATTLES.

WRITTEN AT THE REQUEST OF THE MEMBERS

BY
ALF. G. HUNTER,
Late Adjutant.

INDIANAPOLIS:
WH. B. BURFORD, PRINTER AND BINDER.
1893.


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