The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-01-07
The Charse..on Mission Ridge
For the Cttumwa Courier.

"a .
DEAR SISTER, embrace the present op-
portunity to write you few lines, in order
10 give you more minute description of
eur late marches and engagements, than I
did in my last, will begin at the time we
arrived in the rear of Stringer's Ridge, which
was about the Goth of Nov. here we were
about one mile from the Tenn. River and
about three miles above Chattanooga We
knew that some thing grand was going to
be done but how, or when, we could not
conjecture until we saw the pontoon train
collecting in ravne below US, then we
knew we had to Cross the river at the upper
end Omission Ridge, and turn the enemies
right flank. Our orders were to keep three
days cooked rations in our haversacks and
he ready to move at moments warning.
On the 2sd Gen. Thomas made recannois
sance in force from Fl. Wood. and for some
time the firing was very rapid We con,
gregated on the higest knobs we could find,
but we could see nothing but the rebel can
on as they pelched forth their missiles of
death. That night we lay down bat not to
sleep, for We had orders to be ready tocross
the river at midnight, and we were think
ing of the probable events of tomorrow
AT the appointed hour we were in line,
and soon on our way to the river. When we
arrived there Gen. Morgan l.. Smiths divi-
sion was crossing. It was beautiful sight to
see the river thickly dotted with boats fly
ing back and forth, carrying from fifteen to
twenty soldiers to the southern shore and
then returning again for another load of
living freight. II was about O'Clock be-
fore all our division (the Sd was over; we
immediately went to throwing up rihepits
to protect ourselves, for we expected the
rebels would come down upon us like an
avalanche as seon as they discovered U.S.
Daylight came but no rebels, so we adyaced
our line about 400 yards and again went to
work throwing up intrenchments. About
! o'clock p. m. the pontoon bridge was fin
ished, our artillery brought over, and we
prepared for an immediate advance on Mis-.
sion Ridge. Our line of battle was as fol.
lows; Gen. Ewing occupied the right Gen.
Morgan L. Smith the left and Gen John E.
Smith the centre, while Gen. jeff. G. Davis
division acted as the reserve. Gen. Frank
p. Blair, our corps commander, formed each
division into columns by divisions, and we
moved off toward the Ridge with colors
flying About mile from the river we
came to wood and into this we went ex-
pecting every moment to see blaze of fire
leap from the ridge in our front, but all was
quiet. At length when we neared the rail
road our Skirmishers became engaged with
those of the enemy, we then dcployed in
line of battle and advanced up the hill
onr skirmishers clearing it before us.
The top Of the hill gained we went to in
trenching, and the rebs vent to Smelling us,
but dense fog hung over the ridge and the
hollow intervening between them and us,
consequently their aim was inaccurate and
they did no harm. The next morning our
rifle pits were completed, and the sun coming
ont revealed to us the enemy on top of Tun-
mel Hill; they were very busy telling trees
and making log brcastworks. About a. IN.
the right wing Of orr reg't was ordered to
relieve the 4th MINI. as skirmishers IN our
front. We hal hardly taken our position be
fore we were ordered To CHARGE the enemy,c
skirm:shers and advance our line. Away we
went at the double quick up the side of Tun-
mel Hill. driving the 1O.h Texas before us
Suddenly We came in full view Of four pieces
ofartillery and whole Brigade of rebels; in
stan,ly the air was full Of grape. canister. and
inusket balls, which cansed us 20 fall back
under the crest Of the hill. We lay there
Strengthening until the line of battle was
formed to charge the hill. and then we fell
back and JOINED enr command in the rife
pits. Our Brigad Cthe lst) was ordered to
support two batteries, so that We were not
in the charge, bur from where we were we
c<Nrld nanfn1y tce our men and the rebels a.
they aljs1Iootjy contended for victory
our idya Ib6gks bravely but the enemy
on,nnmbered iitssn at lcast two to ono, and
having the a1y1i6>1sc ofihe ground tog ther
SSsh log hrcssfxalill<s, no wonder they re
I'D them with considerable slaughter,
NNuel TIN! ~ tlc key to their posi-