The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1863-12-25
THE SECOND MINNESOTA,
It's Part in the Late Battles at
Chattanooga.
OFFICIAL LIST OF THE KILLED
AND WOUNDED.
Report Of Lieut.. Colonel Bishop.
EEHfOle G..

HEADQUARTERS % RECT MINI. VoIs.,l
Chattanooga Tenn, Nov. 80, 1868.
Capt. j. r. Beatty, A. A. A. G. I'd Brigade,
Sd Dicision, 14M Army Corps:
CAPTAIN-In response to circular instruc-
tions of this date from brigade headquarters, l
have the honor to submit the following report
OF the part taken by the Second Regt MINI. In
fantry Volunteers in the operations against the
enemy during the week commencing Novem-
ber %, 1868:
On Monday, the 23d instant, at 8 o'clock p.
NJ, the regiment marched from its encampment
in Chattanooga with the other regiments COM
prising the I'd brigade, with two days rations
and one hundred rounds of ammunition per
man, and was placed in line of battle about half
a mile distant from and in front or south of
Fort Negley.
The regiment remained in position here until
noon of Wednesday, the 25th inst, when, with
the brigade, it marched to the left, taking pot
sition to the east of, and about mile distan
from, Fort Wood. and facing the enemy's posi-
ton at the foot, Of and on the crest of Mission
| Ridge. -. .u. -.
Here the regiment was advanced with two
companies deployed, for the purpose of cover
| ing the brigade in its formation and movement
| towards the enemys works. 9-34
The brigade being formed, general advance
was commenced at 8 o'clock P. M, and contin-
| ued without opposition for distance of about
| three-fOurths of a mile when the deplOyed
| companies reached the eastern or farther edge
| of q strip of woods, and came in full view of
the enemy's works, the remaining companies
| being about $50 yards in rear of the deployed
line, and the remaining six regiments of the
| brigade about 500 yards still farther back and
partially concealed from the enemys view by
| the woods in front of them.
Immediately in front of the deployed line lay
an open field, the ground descending for short
| distance to small creek, and beyond it rising
| gradually for distance of about quarter of a
mile to the crest of secondary ridge, running
parallel to, and about quarter of mile distant
from the foot of Mission Ridge. Along the
crest of this secondary ridge was breastwork
of logs, occupied as the front line of the ene-
| my's defences by two regiments or battalions of
| infantry.
| Beyond it the ground ascended with an easy
slope for distance of 800 or 400 yards to the
foot of the main Or Mission Ridge, which rises
thence with slope, gradual at first, but increas-
ing in abruptness toward the top, to height of
500 or 600 feet. Along the crest of Mission
Ridge were the main defences of the enemy,
consisting of breastwOrk of logs, fully
manned with infantry, with artillery posted on
the more commanding points in sections of
two guns each at intervals of from one to two
hundred yards.
| The artillery thus placed swept with direct
md cross-fire the whole space between the
| ridges mentioned, and also the open field
across which we had to advance upon the first
breastworks
| In the valley between the main and secondary
ridge were the enemy's encampments, the huts
mostly hidden from our view by the smaller
ridge and the breastwork in front of them
The space between the two ridges had been
covered with woods, but, except the highest
and steepest part of the slope of the main ridge,
where the smaller trees had been felled and
entangled as an obstacle, the timber had been
recently cut away and used in the construction
of huts and breastworks.
| After remaining in front of this part of the
enemy's lines for some twenty minutes, re-
ceived an order from Col. Van Deryeer COM
manding the brigade to deploy my entire COM
mand and advance upon the first line of breast
works, to seize aud occupy it if possible, If
| repulsed, to fall back on the brigade
The men were briefly Informed of the des-
perate service required of them, and instructed
to withhold their fire, and to move steadily
| forward until the work was gained, and then to
| defend it to the utmost. ~
The reserve companies near, then dcployed
and with bayonets fixed the whole line COM
menced the advance The enemy opened fire
| with with musketry from the breastwork, and
with artillery from the main ridge, as soon as
| our line emerged from the woods, but in the
face of both, the men moved silently and stead
lily forward across the elk and up the slope,
| until within about one hundred PAGES of the
| breastworks, when, as the pace was quickened,
| the enemy broke from behind the work and
ran in some confusion down the slope into and
| beyond their camps, where, taking cover be-
| hind the stumps and among the huts they
| opened a brisk FIRE on us again IS ,s9eh as we
gained and occupied the breastwpfR.: .Oar lire
| now partially sheltered by the works, returned
| the fire with such effect as soon to drive the
enemy out of the valley and up the slope of
the main ridge beyond the range of our rifles:
Our loss in the attack was severe, though
probably much less than would have been suf-
fered by troops advancing upon the work in
regular order of battle. Fourteen prisoners
were taken in this breastwork and sent to the
rear. t,y .At:it la.E+ Eia at1.t
About twenty minutes after the capture OF
the first work, the brigade advanced from the
woods and on arriving at the work halted for a
few minutes. when the order was given for q
general assault upon the enemy's main de-
fences on Mission Ridge. .als .sle
My regiment moved forward with the others
of the brigade, assembling on the colors as far
as it was possible to do on the way, until, in
ascending the steepest part of the slope, where
every man had to find or clear his own way
through the ENHANCEMENT, and in the face of
terrible fire of musketry and artillery, the men
of the different regiments of the brigade be-
came generally intermingled, and when the