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Page 17 BATTLE OF MISSIONARY RIDGE O n December 25th [November], the Union forces made a forward movement to the foot of Missionary Ridge. Grant now had Sherman’s army above, and Hooker’s below him, and both on the same side of the river; while Thomas lay in front of Chattanooga. Missionary Ridge, tending southwest from Sherman, passed in front of Chattanooga where the center lay. The brigade, General C. L. Mathies, commanding, had to move across an open filed, and did so in quick time, for it was exposed to the fire of the enemy’s guns, but they were trained so high that they could not get the range on the rapidly moving troops.The foot of the ridge was gained without having any killed. A few soldiers were wounded by the bursting of shells. Col. Dean received a slight wound on the shoulder by a piece of a shell which carried away on of the eagle wings of his shoulder strap. The position of the 26th Missouri soon became very uncomfortable. The enemy were getting the range with one of their small guns, and Col. Putnam, of the 93rd Illinois asked permission of General Mathies to go to the top of the hill and silence it, which request was granted, and he moved forward, the 26th Missouri following close behind. Just as the 93rd Illinois was nearing the top of the ridge, the enemy made a charge upon them with superior numbers, Page 18 and would have driven them back, but the 26th Missouri rushed to their support, and the two regiments drove them back and held the position, keeping the battery silenced for about an hour and a half without any support near. Colonel Putnam, of the 93rd Illinois was killed and brigade commander, General Mathies wounded, the command devolved on Colonel Dean. The ammunition was nearly exhausted, and Colonel Dean contemplated moving the two regiments back to the foot of the ridge, but to do so he saw that a loss would follow. The enemy’s battery was captured, but to let go was not easy. Enough sharpshooters would have to be left to keep the gun silenced for the enemy could open a destructive fire upon the troops if they retired, and would be very apt to capture the sharpshooters if they were not supported. While thus meditating on the situation, it was discovered that a heavy force of the enemy was upon the right flank and a little to the rear of Colonel Dean’s command, in fact it was nearly surrounded. Hence, the order was given to fall back on the double quick to the foot of the ridge. Fortunately, the enemy was partially between Colonel Dean’s force and their own battery which was under control of the Union soldiers, so the Confederates were only able to fire one round at the boys in blue. The enemy, however, made flank movement by rushing through the railroad tunnel and captured about one-half of the 5th Iowa. The battle ended, the enemy retreated, and the 26th Missouri with others troops followed in pursuit. Captain E. H. Stoddard, of Co. B, and Lieutenant H. P. Harding, of Co. D., 26th Missouri Infantry, were killed in the battle of Missionary Ridge, and Lieutenant A. W. Page 19 Fritchey, Co. A, 26th Missouri Infantry, was close under the rebels guns with a squad of men, and being unable to retreat was captured by the enemy. Mr. J. T. Headly, in his History of the Civil War, thus describes the battles of Missionary Ridge and Chattanooga: "Bragg was amazed at this sudden apparition of a powerful army on his extreme right, and immediately made preparations to dislodge Sherman. In the meantime, Hooker, from below, moved against Lookout Mountain, and by dark carried the nose of it, and at once opened direct communications with Chattanooga. His advance up the steep sides of the mountain had been made with great celerity and skill. A thick fog for awhile concealed him, but as it lifted before the sun, the cliffs above were seen crowded with the enemy, while cannon sent a plunging fire from the heights. Grant, far down in the mist-shrouded valley below, could hear the thunder of guns and crash of musketry high up in the clouds above, as though the gods were warring there. Says an eye witness: ‘At this juncture the scene became one of most exciting interest. The thick fog, which had heretofore rested in dense folds upon the sides of the mountain, concealing the combatants from view, suddenly listed to the summit of the lofty ridge, revealing to the anxious gaze of thousands in the valleys and on the plains below, a scene such as is witnessed by once in a century. General Geary’s columns, flushed with victory, grappled with the foe upon the rocky ledges, and drove him back with slaughter from his works. While the result was uncertain, the attention was breathless and painful; but when victory perched upon our standards, shout upon shout rent the air. The whole army, Page 20 with one accord, broke out into joyous acclamations. The enthusiasm of the scene beggars description. Men were frantic with joy, and even General Thomas himself, who seldom exhibits his emotions, said involuntarily, ‘I did not think it possible for men to accomplish so much.’ The day before, Thomas had made a strong reconnaissance in force, in his front, and with but slight loss, had occupied Orchard Knob, and developed the lines of the enemy. Everything was therefore now ready for the grand assault upon the rebel position. Bragg had thought that Chattanooga was his beyond a doubt; but suddenly to the right, in front and left of him, he saw himself confronted by three armies. Still he believed Missionary Ridge to be impregnable, and that no force could climb its steep and rugged sides in the face of his powerful batteries. "Sherman, from his position, could glance across to Tunnel Hill, on which the rebel batteries were placed; and he looked grave, but determined, at the fearful task that had been assigned his brave troops. Before the great, decisive day (the 25th) had fairly dawned, he was in the saddle, and by the dim light that streaked the cloudy east betokening a stormy day, rode along his entire line. A deep valley lay between him and the steep hill beyond, which was partly covered with trees to the narrow, wooded top, across which was a breastwork of logs and earth, dark with men. Two guns enfiladed the narrow way that led to it. Further back arose a still higher hill, lined with guns that could pour a plunging fire on the first hill if it should be taken. The depth and character of the gorge between, could not be ascertained. Just as the rising sun was tinged with red the murky rain-clouds, the bugles sounded ‘Forward’ and Page 21 Corse, leading the advance, briskly descended the hill, crossed the valley under a heavy fire, began to ascend the opposite heights, and soon gained a foothold; but the spot where he stood was swept by the enemy’s artillery. BATTLE OF CHATTANOOGA The great battle had now fairly opened, and for more than an hour it swayed backward and forward in front of Sherman. Bringing up brigade after brigade, this gallant commander strove nobly, but in vain, to carry the lofty heights above him. By ten o’clock, it was one peal of thunder from top to base, while the smoke, in swift puffs and floating masses, draped it like a waving mantle. Corse, severely wounded, was borne to the rear; yet still the columns stubbornly held the ground. All the forenoon the battle raged furiously at this point. This most northern and vital position must be held by the rebels at all hazards, for if once taken, their rear would be threatened, with all the stores at Chickamauga. Hence, Bragg massed his forces here, and at three o’clock, says Sherman, ‘column after column of the enemy was streaming toward me; gun after gun poured its concentric shot on us from every hill and spur that gave a view of any part of the ground.’ Once he was forced back, but by a skillful move, he recovered his ground and drove the pursuing, shouting enemy to his cover. His men were sternly held to their terrible work; but Sherman was getting impatient for Grant to move on the center, as he told him the night before he would. From his elevated position he could see the flags of Thomas’ corps waving in the murky atmosphere; but hour after hour passed away and still they did not advance. The enemy was steadily Page 22 accumulating his forces against him, and his troops that had fought from early dawn, were getting weary. Grant had sat on his horse, listening to the thunder of artillery on his right, as Hooker came down like an avalanche from the heights of Lookout Mountain, and to the deafening uproar on his left, where his favorite lieutenant, Sherman, was hurling his brave columns on the batteries of the enemy; but still he did not move. Thinking, at one time, that Sherman was too hard pressed, he sent over a brigade to his help, but the latter, who had become thoroughly aroused at the resistance he met with, sent it back, saying he did not need it. And so, hour after hour, for six miler, it flamed and thundered along those rocky crests, until at last the decisive moment, looked for by Grant, had arrived. In front of him the steep acclivity went sheer up four hundred feet. The base was encircled with a line of rifle-pits, while the summit was black with batteries. Between him and the foot of the mountain was an open space a mile and a half wide, which the advancing columns would be compelled to cross. He saw that it would require no common effort and no common bravery on the part of troops to reach and climb that steep, in the face of such difficulties, and he therefore wished Sherman to push the rebel left till Bragg, in order to save the key of his position, would be compelled to weaken his center; and also till Hooker could come up, who was detained in building a bridge. The rebel commander, not dreaming that Grant would attempt to advance up the steep face of the mountain in front, and evidently thinking that he meant at all hazards to crush his right, and thus threaten his rear, drew away his troops from the center, till the line here became comparatively weak. This was what Grant had been Page 23 waiting for, though fearful that the day would be passed before it came. But it had come at last, and Hooker being well advanced, he, from his position on Indian Hill, ordered the signal for the ‘Forward!’ to be given. These were six cannon shots, to be fired at intervals of two seconds. Strong and steady the order rang out: ‘Number one, fire! Number two, fire! Number three, fire!’ ‘It seemed to me,’ says an eye witness, ‘like the tolling of the clock of destiny. And when, at ‘Number six, fire!’ the roar throbbed out with the flash, you should have seen the dead line, that had been lying behind the works all day, come to resurrection in the twinkling of and eye, and leap like a blade from its scabbard.’ Three divisions, under the command of Granger, composed the storming force, and as they moved off towards the frowning heights, the enemy seemed to regard it as a mere review. But, with a swift steady motion, the glittering line swept on, and it was soon evident that desperate work was afoot. Suddenly, all along the crest of the ridge, the artillery opened, and the gallant line began to melt away. Still,, it never faltered – the banners kept advancing, and at last that terrible mile and a half were past, and the columns stood face to face with the long line of rifle-pits at the base of the mountain. A sheet of fire ran along the summit, cutting with fearful mortality our exposed battalions. There was no time to stop here, for, great as was the obstacle that confronted them, it was only a barrier of mist, compared to the awful work that lay beyond; and so, with one wild cheer and a bound, they cleared it, and stood panting in the deserted ditch. And now for the ridge. ‘Take it if you can!’ passed along the bleeding line, but it was already advancing. The brave fellows, casting one Page 24 look up the steep, rocky sides to the thirteen batteries flaming at the top, clutched their weapons with a firmer grasp, and began to mount the slope. Here can be no rush – no sudden charge. Step by step, like mountain goats, they must win their way upward. As the smoke lifted here and there, Grant saw with inexpressible anxiety, the regimental flags, like mere crimson specks, fluttering slowly upward. Regardless of shot and shell, each vied with the other in the advance. Over their heads, from Forts Wood and Neagley, and other batteries, our shot and shell flew with fearful precision, and fell crashing in the rebel works. Rocks and stones, and shells with lighted fuses, were rolled down on the torn line, and it now and then halted under some projecting rocks for breath. But ‘Forward!’ again rung above the uproar, and each flag seemed to have a voice crying ‘Excelsior.’ O! it was a thrilling sight. Shot and shell were doing their murderous work; but nothing short of annihilation could stop those noble battalions. Higher, and still higher they crept until at last, just as the sun was sinking in the west, they reached the summit, and then, as the gathered billow thunders and foams along and over the sunken ledges of the sea, they, with one wild shout and burst, swept over the deadly batteries. The next moment, cheer after cheer went up all along the smoking crest, and rolled down the crimson steep, till, to the right and left, and far below, the air trembled with glad echoes. Dismayed and filled with consternation at the frightful calamity, Bragg, mounted on his gray horse, sped away to the rear, followed by his discomfited host. The army was now thrown forward in swift pursuit, which was kept up till late at night and renewed next morning before daylight. As the columns swept Page 25 on, wagons, guns, caissons, forage, stores, and all the wreck of a routed army, met them at every step. By night, the rear-guard of the enemy was reached, and a fight ensued which lasted till darkness closed in. The next day Hooker and Thomas joined in the pursuit, and the beaten army was smitten with blow upon blow, until further advance became impossible. In the meantime, Sherman detached Howard to move against the railroad between Dalton and Cleveland, to destroy it. This was done and communication between Bragg and Longstreet cut off. Our total loss in the battle was about four thousand. We took six thousand prisoners, forty pieces of artillery, and five or six thousand small arms. The rebels killed and wounded was not known."
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