[229] entered the strip of woods. Willich and Hazen, however, continued steadily to advance, nor was their progress checked until they had ascended the slope of the hills, hurled the rebels from their rifle-pits, and planted the American flag upon the summit of the ridge. The position was, however, hotly contested by the enemy, and some of our men were shot down at the very foot of the intrenchments. Meantime Sam Beatty's brigade had moved as the left of Wood's division, and, after Hazen and Willich had carried the heights in front of them, became sharply engaged with the enemy's skirmishers who obstinately contended for the low ground lying north-east of the hills we had carried. Through this low ground, indeed, a rude continuation of the line of rifle-pits upon the hill extended to a lithe stream called Citico Creek. Sheridan had also moved up on the right of General Wood, driving the rebel pickets before him and occupied that portion of their first line which lay in front of his division. At three o'clock, General Howard's corps was put in motion. Wheeling to the left, it passed Fort Wood, between that work and the railroad, and took position upon the left of General Granger's corps, (Wood and Sheridan;) and while Carl Schurz's division relieved Sam Beatty, Steinwehr's halted in the open ground and waited for orders. At this point, I, with hundreds of others, was gazing upon the spectacle below from the battlements of Fort Wood. Generals Thomas, Granger, and Reynolds were there, watching every movement of the troops, with looks of intelligence and earnestness. Wood and Sheridan were at the head of their respective divisions. General Howard was also on the parapet of Fort Wood, and, standing a little apart from the rest, was gazing fixedly upon his corps below. He seemed really absorbed in reverie, and motionless as a marble statue. Not feeling absolutely certain as to which of the two divisions of the famous Eleventh corps it was which was then taking position upon Granger's right, I approached General Howard to inquire. Twice I spoke to him, but he did not hear. I touched him upon the elbow. “General,” I said, “which of your divisions is nearest General Granger's left?” He turned sharply round, as if suddenly waked from sleep, and asked me what I had said. I repeated my question. He answered politely, and immediately added: “My line yonder does not suit me exactly; I must go and rectify it.” He started off, and in a few minutes afterward Steinwehr was moving around to the left of Schurz, his skirmishers were driving the enemy's pickets before them, and dislodging such rebels as defended this part of their first line of works. Fifteen minutes afterward the rebels had abandoned the whole of their advance line; the battery at the foot of Mission Ridge was hastening up to the summit; nothing remained to them west of the ridge, except their rifle-pits at the foot; and thirty thousand men of the Union army were in line of battle, a full mile in advance of the outposts which at noon that day were occupied by the enemy. A grand artillery duel, in which Fort Wood vied with the rebel cannon upon Missionary Ridge, continued until nightfall, when all the tumult ceased, and we had time to count our losses and gains. One hundred men of the Union army had been killed and wounded. Among the former was Major Wm. Burch, of the Ninety-third Ohio, who is spoken of by those who knew him best as an efficient officer and gallant gentleman. Captain W. W. Munn, of the Forty-first Ohio, was also numbered amongst our dead. These two regiments, with the Fifth Kentucky, whose colonel was slightly wounded, suffered more than any others. The rebels had, perhaps, lost as many as we in killed and wounded, and, besides these, a hundred and fifty prisoners, among whom eight commissioned officers were left in our hands. One hundred and seventeen of the captives belonged to the Twenty-eighth Alabama. A number of deserters came into our lines, even during the progress of the fight; and not one of the prisoners manifested the least chagrin or disappointment at having been taken. Granger had not fallen short of expectations based upon his conduct at Chickamauga; Sheridan had sustained his excellent reputation; Howard had done well; brave old Willich had won the confidence of his new brigade; and Wood had exhibited, in a highly favorable light, his great and striking abilities. The result of this passage at arms cannot be measured by the casualties or the prisoners. The enemy had been driven from his first line of intrenchments; his prestige was gone; his demoralization was begun; while, on the other hand, a wonderful confidence was diffused throughout our army, and the men lay down upon their arms, longing for the renewal of the combat, and for the coming day.
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[229] entered the strip of woods. Willich and Hazen, however, continued steadily to advance, nor was their progress checked until they had ascended the slope of the hills, hurled the rebels from their rifle-pits, and planted the American flag upon the summit of the ridge. The position was, however, hotly contested by the enemy, and some of our men were shot down at the very foot of the intrenchments. Meantime Sam Beatty's brigade had moved as the left of Wood's division, and, after Hazen and Willich had carried the heights in front of them, became sharply engaged with the enemy's skirmishers who obstinately contended for the low ground lying north-east of the hills we had carried. Through this low ground, indeed, a rude continuation of the line of rifle-pits upon the hill extended to a lithe stream called Citico Creek. Sheridan had also moved up on the right of General Wood, driving the rebel pickets before him and occupied that portion of their first line which lay in front of his division. At three o'clock, General Howard's corps was put in motion. Wheeling to the left, it passed Fort Wood, between that work and the railroad, and took position upon the left of General Granger's corps, (Wood and Sheridan;) and while Carl Schurz's division relieved Sam Beatty, Steinwehr's halted in the open ground and waited for orders. At this point, I, with hundreds of others, was gazing upon the spectacle below from the battlements of Fort Wood. Generals Thomas, Granger, and Reynolds were there, watching every movement of the troops, with looks of intelligence and earnestness. Wood and Sheridan were at the head of their respective divisions. General Howard was also on the parapet of Fort Wood, and, standing a little apart from the rest, was gazing fixedly upon his corps below. He seemed really absorbed in reverie, and motionless as a marble statue. Not feeling absolutely certain as to which of the two divisions of the famous Eleventh corps it was which was then taking position upon Granger's right, I approached General Howard to inquire. Twice I spoke to him, but he did not hear. I touched him upon the elbow. “General,” I said, “which of your divisions is nearest General Granger's left?” He turned sharply round, as if suddenly waked from sleep, and asked me what I had said. I repeated my question. He answered politely, and immediately added: “My line yonder does not suit me exactly; I must go and rectify it.” He started off, and in a few minutes afterward Steinwehr was moving around to the left of Schurz, his skirmishers were driving the enemy's pickets before them, and dislodging such rebels as defended this part of their first line of works. Fifteen minutes afterward the rebels had abandoned the whole of their advance line; the battery at the foot of Mission Ridge was hastening up to the summit; nothing remained to them west of the ridge, except their rifle-pits at the foot; and thirty thousand men of the Union army were in line of battle, a full mile in advance of the outposts which at noon that day were occupied by the enemy. A grand artillery duel, in which Fort Wood vied with the rebel cannon upon Missionary Ridge, continued until nightfall, when all the tumult ceased, and we had time to count our losses and gains. One hundred men of the Union army had been killed and wounded. Among the former was Major Wm. Burch, of the Ninety-third Ohio, who is spoken of by those who knew him best as an efficient officer and gallant gentleman. Captain W. W. Munn, of the Forty-first Ohio, was also numbered amongst our dead. These two regiments, with the Fifth Kentucky, whose colonel was slightly wounded, suffered more than any others. The rebels had, perhaps, lost as many as we in killed and wounded, and, besides these, a hundred and fifty prisoners, among whom eight commissioned officers were left in our hands. One hundred and seventeen of the captives belonged to the Twenty-eighth Alabama. A number of deserters came into our lines, even during the progress of the fight; and not one of the prisoners manifested the least chagrin or disappointment at having been taken. Granger had not fallen short of expectations based upon his conduct at Chickamauga; Sheridan had sustained his excellent reputation; Howard had done well; brave old Willich had won the confidence of his new brigade; and Wood had exhibited, in a highly favorable light, his great and striking abilities. The result of this passage at arms cannot be measured by the casualties or the prisoners. The enemy had been driven from his first line of intrenchments; his prestige was gone; his demoralization was begun; while, on the other hand, a wonderful confidence was diffused throughout our army, and the men lay down upon their arms, longing for the renewal of the combat, and for the coming day.
Van Nostrand. New York, New York. 1862.
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