The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-12-29
KEOKUK:
HEADo'Rs l7rH Iowa INyAxTRY,
NEAR CHATTANOOGA, TENN,
November 80, 1868.

HEADERS 18th Iowa 1NYAHTRY,
NEAR CHATTANOOGA, TENN, :
November 80, 1863.
LTxUTENANT-Ih have the honor to sub
NIT the following report Of the part taken
by the 18th Iowa Infantry during the en-.
gagement of the 18th Army Corps at
Mission Ridge on the Gath and 18th
instant.
On the morning of the Gath, at 1880
A. NJ, ia accordance with orders previous
ly received, ! moved my regiment TO the
Tennessee river, near the mouth of West
Chickamauga and rested in line in rear
of the 9Th Iowa Infantry until about $50
A. M, when / embarked in small pontoon
boats, landing the regiment about one
mile below the mouth of East Chickamau-
ga, where formed line in corn field
under cover of hin and rested until I
O'Clock A. n, when my regiment, with
its brigade, was marched in the direction
of Mission Ridge, when the brigade was
formed in column of regiments, the 18th
Iowa being in the rear. The brigade IVES
then moved by the left flank to the rear
of the Third brigade, where arms we're
stacked and the men permitted to rest
At about 10 AN my regiment, in COM
mon with the whole division, was ployed
into close column BY division and moved
toward Mission Ridge, the 18th Iowa in
advance of tie ed and following the Sd
brigade. In this order we moved through
aswamp aud close underbrush about three
fourths of mile to railroad, when was
ordered by Col. Raum, commanding Cd
brigade, Sd division, 18th Army Corps.
to move my regiment by the right flank
and form in rear of the LIST brigade, which
succeeded in reaching the top of the
ridge and here rested in line until it
was almost dark, when the brigade moved
to the rear about three-quarters of mile
and bivouaced for the night.
AT 10 A. NJ. on the 25th was ordered
by Col. Raum to move by the left flank
toward Tunnel Hill. We were soon halt
ed in an open field and the brigade formed
in line in front of rife pit occupied by
the 4th division, the 18th Iowa on the
right of the brigade, its right resting on
the railroad. Here arms were stacked
and my men rested until $50 P. NJ, when
the brigade was ployed into close column
by division in two lines, the 18th Iowa
forming the right of the first line, and
moved forward TO support the Sd brigade,
commanded by Gen. Matthias, which, at
that time was closely contesting with the
enemy for narrow ridge to the left Of
Tunnel Hill. When about 800 wards
from the base of the hill / was ordered by
Col. Raum to move by the left flank and
follow the sosh Ohio up the road that runs
along rocky ledge, perpendicular with
the hill occupied by the Sd brigade.
Here we met heavy FIRE from battery
that the enemy had planted on hill to
our right, but we reached the base of the
hill without casualty. l was then order
ed by Col Raum to form on the right of
the 80th Ohio along rail fence in rear of
the 93d Illinois, about three. fourths of
the distance from the base to the ton of
the ridge, and awaitfurther orders. Here
1 found the gallant Gen. Matthias, who
had been wounded, and i rapidly confer
red with him in regard to the position of
his brigade. l also learned that the en-
envy was heavily posted on our front and
right, but that portion of the 5th Iowa
was deployed to the right as skirmishers.
Gen. Matthias stated that his men were
nearly out of ammunition and his A. A.
A. General informed ME that the amma.
milton would not last over Is minutes. /
Immediately sent my Adjutants Lieut..
Woolsey. to Col. Raum, who WAS with the
reserve ooh Missouri and 10th Ohio !
about goo yards in our rear, with state.
ment as to the condition of the Sd brigade.
and awaited orders. Col. Raum came mn
and ordered me to advance. By this
time large number of men had fallen
back from the ridge, Immediately in frort
of the l7th Iowa and breaking through
its line. When l had advanced about
BALI way up the hin the whole right Of
the Sd brigade gave way and fell back
through the 18th Iowa and the 8o,h
Ohio. We reached the crest of the ridge
aud discovered heavy force of the enc.
my to my right and quite close, the left
OF the line coming up on our rear on /.
double quick. Seeing that we were flank
ed and outnumbered. ordered nv RIGHT
to fall back, which they did. retreatinp
down the line toward the left. Here the