Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 10.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[340] regiment, brigade, or division was first on the summit. Where all strove so ardently to do well, he who was first up can only be considered as more fortunate, not more deserving, than his comrades.

I must refer to the report of brigade commanders, with their accompaniments, the reports of regimental commanders, for a more minute and detailed narrative of the operations of their several commands than I can present in this report. To these reports I must also refer for many instances of special commendation for gallantry and good conduct displayed by regimental and company officers and soldiers. To record all the instances of heroism displayed by men and officers, would extend this report beyond all reasonable compass.

After the rout of the enemy by the successful assault on Mission Ridge on the afternoon of the twenty-fifth, as shown by the reports of the brigade commanders, were as follows: General Willich, commanding First brigade, reports the capture of five pieces of artillery; General Hazen, commanding Second brigade, reports the capture of eighteen pieces of artillery; and General Beatty, commanding Third brigade, reports the capture of eight pieces of artillery. There is, I believe, some conflict of claims between Generals Willich and Hazen as to the priority of capture of two pieces of artillery, and I think they have both included them in their reports of captures. Without pretending to decide which of the two has the better claim, which I am really not able to do (nor is it at all important the question should be settled), I make the correction, to avoid counting two pieces twice. The reports of the brigade commanders show an aggregate capture of twenty-nine pieces of artillery by the division-all field pieces. In regard to the conflict between Generals Willich and Hazen, it may be remarked that it is not at all strange such differences of opinion should exist in regard to occurrences on the battle-field, as, by reason of the turmoil of the conflict, it is often impossible to mark distinctly the exact order of precedence of events; and where also two regiments may arrive simultaneously at the same place, and yet each honestly think itself the first there. General Willich, commanding First brigade, reports the capture of two regimental colors; General Hazen, commanding Second brigade, three; and General Beatty, two; making a total of seven. General Willich reports the capture of twelve hundred stands of small arms; General Hazen, six hundred and fifty; and General Beatty, two hundred; making an aggregate of two thousand and fifty stands of small arms.

Grand summary of captures by the division:

Field guns-twenty-nine.

Field caissons-twenty-five.

Regimental colors-seven.

Stands of small arms-two thousand and fifty.

Prisoners-over one thousand, for whom receipts were received by the Provost-Marshal of the division from the Provost-Marshal General. I have not the report of my Provost Marshal before me, and hence cannot give the exact number. Among the prisoners were officers of various grades.

The causualties in. the division amounted to sixteen officers killed and fifty-nine wounded; non-commissioned officers and privates killed, one hundred and fifty-four; wounded, eight hundred and thirteen; making the total casualties of the division one thousand and thirty-two. Among these the country has to mourn the loss of many gallant and accomplished officers, and brave and devoted men. I have already noted the. death of Major Birch, of the Ninety-third Ohio, who was killed while gallantly leading his regiment in the assault on the enemy's intrenchments on Monday afternoon of the twenty-third. Major Irvin, Sixth Ohio, and Major Glass, Thirty-second Indiana, while displaying like heroism, were killed in the assault on Mission Ridge. In the death of these gallant and excellent officers the country has sustained a severe loss.

To my brigade commanders, General Willich, commanding First brigade; General Hazen, commanding Second brigade; and General Beatty, commanding Third brigade, my warmest thanks are due (and are hereby tendered) for the prompt, skilful, and intelligent manner in which they performed their duties in these brilliant operations. They each displayed high personal gallantry, as well as professional intelligence. I commend them to the consideration and care of my seniors in rank. They speak in terms of high praise of their staff officers, and, I doubt not, justly.

In writing a report of operations affording opportunities for the display of personal gallantry and heroism, and for rendering high and distinguished service, it is impossible to chronicle the name of every officer or soldier specially distinguishing himself. And where all have done well, to attempt to discriminate individuals would, perhaps, lead to invidious distinctions. But, as in extensive operations, some are fortunate enough to specially distinguish themselves, it is doing no more than justice to them to commemorate their names in an official report. Colonel Berry, commanding Fifth Kentucky, displayed conspicuous gallantry on the twenty-third and on the twenty-fifth. He was slightly wounded on both days. Colonel Wiley, commanding Forty-first Ohio, rendered signal service on both days, and displayed high courage. In the assault on Mission Ridge he received a ghastly wound in his right knee, rendering amputation necessary. Lieutenant-Colonel Chandler, commanding Thirty-fifth Illinois, after being among the very first on the summit of Mission Ridge, rendered the most important service by a prompt flank movement to the left, whereby a portion of the resisting rebels were swept off, Lieutenant-Colonel Chandler then, according to his brigade commander's report, followed up the enemy a mile and a half in his retreat. Colonel Stout, commanding Seventeenth Kentucky, and Colonel Knefler, commanding