Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1864-01-05
A Union County Mans Part in the
Chattanooga Campaign.

CAMP NEAR CuAT-A, d.

move by Il o'clock, that nisot, "hsu We
we're up aud ready. A drizzling rain
commenced falling, and the night was
pretty dark, which greatly favored US.
We were all instructed what our duty
was, and to be as quiet as possible. Our
reyiment was to take the advance, followed
by the ll6th lii. Gen. Giles A Smith
four second Col aud pew brigade com
usuder) was with Us. At IL, We fell 10
( line and marched to the boats and from
IL to Is men we're put in each boat.
/ Two companies Of our regiment we're to be
used as skitmishers under M.j. Kiuly, aud
those we're the only ones tha. loaded guus,
tae remainder we're instructed to use the
bayoner if the Rebs disputed our landing.
At o'clock, ali were ready, aud the boats
pulled out into the stream, and at a given
signal began to move down the creek. As
soon ss We entered the river, We expected
a salute from the Rebel picke,s, whose
fires We could see along the bsuks of the
river, while to the rear along Mission
Ridge the camp fires of the Rebels flashed
aud sent up titful glare sgaiuss the
clouds, the sleepers around all unconscious
that brigade of Yankees were about to
invade the little piece Of sacred soil thai,
they prizsd so highly. We kept near the
north bank of the river, under the shadow
of the bank ard trees, md nothing could
be beard but the dip Of The oars in the va
ter. The Rebel pickets could be seen
poking up their fires, throwing on fresh
wood, aud l suppose thinking they were
fui6.liDg their duty to the mark. The
night was cold aud chilly, and as We foat
ed down the river could DO, help think
ing Of the night iha, Washington crossed
the Delaware. When nearly opposite the
mouth Of Cbickamauga river, We turned,
ran our boats across, aud as soon as the
FIRE. boat touched the shore the skirnisb-
ers hoped ashore, run up the bank, rap
tured the picket, and in less than five
miuu,es our regiment aud the ll6th Ill,
we're in line, the other regiments follow
ing as fss; as possible. The skirmishers
Fan up the river and captured about 25
prisoners, withsu; firing a shot. As soon
as the boats were emptied, they showed
across the river for the % brigade, which
was soon over, while our brigade advanced
abou. 200 yards, aud began throwing up
rife pits. At dayligh, the Sd division
WAS across, aud Mr.. Bragg had the pleas
ure Of seeing long line of bluecoats
standing behind rife pits, ready for break
fas, or a fght-it did uOs matter much
wtich-bu, of the latter We expected .
pretty good share.
An cd steam boat that had been repair
ed at Chattanooga came up, and began
crossing artillery. The pontoou was i'm
medis,ely commenced, BY 10 o'clock was
completed, and sy IL o'clock The 4,h divis
ion, and Davis division, With the artillery
we're scross We then began to advance
and skirmishipg commenced, but We drove
them, and by dark carried the first hill,
and began fOrtifying it, and planted our
batteries ready for tO.mOrrox's work.
The Rebels re,reated to their works on
the next bill. About sunset, our brigade
commander (Gen. Giles A. Smi,b) was
severely wounded while in advance.
That evening, as We were eating supper
Msj. Gen. F. 2. Blair, our corps comman-
der, rode along our line and said be
"wauted to see the men that stole Brsgg's
picke,s' Heavy cannonading was heard
to the righ; all day, and as We went to
sleep, late at night they were still thun-
deriDg away.
Next morning, the 25th, We formed iu
line, and began advancing, our brigade
occupying the extreme lsf, Of the line, aud
our left resting on Chickamaugs river,
crossing the Cleveland and Chattanooga
Railway. The morning was clear and
bright, and our Springfield rifles gli.,ered
in the SUD. Our skirmishsrs soon became
engaged with the Rebels, but they fell
back, and We succeeded in getting the
ridge without much trouble, aud were
ordered to boldit. About 10 o'clock the
I'd brigade TO our right became hotly eu-
gagged, and We we're ordered to its support
The cannoOading now became terrific,
while the rosr Of muske,ry was awful.
The bill where our batteries we're, sloped
Of gradually for over half . mile, and over
this We had to 60 in plain view of their
batteries. As soon 60 We made our sp- |
Pearauce, they quit firing at our battery,
turned their attention to us, and flung
shell and solid shot at Us the whole dis
t'nce down the hill, but they aimed badly,
as their shot either plunged into the
ground before US, or crashed through the
trees overhead. We marched almost n
orderly ss on parade, and but two we're
wounded. The bill or mountain on which
they had fortified, Was hfoad aud level on