The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-11-04
MISSION RIDGE.
Where the First Break was Made In the COnfeder
nj Line

ate lane.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: As Comrade
S. A. Mcneil, 3lst Ohio, in your issue of Oct.
a. 1885, invites the men of Sheridan's and
Woods Divisions TO fire by file" will take
my turn. j would like 10 know from some
source, official or otherwise, who really did
break the rebel line at Mission Ridge was a
member Of the First Brigade lWillichs), Third
Division, Fourth Corps. The brigade was COM
posed of the following regiments, which were
formed in line of battle in this charge as named
here 32d Ind. 49th Ohio, sth Kan, 25th Ill,
18th Wis 35th ILL.,, 18th and 63d Ohio, and seth
Ill. do not know the exact location of Gen.
Bragg's headquarters. Our brigade formed as
above, first named on the right and so on 10
the left. We started the advance from knoll
4 in front of Fort Wood called by US Apple
Knob. Our advance was rather 10 the left for
q mile or more; then for third Of a mile
strongly TO right-oblique, until we came TO
the foot of Mission Ridge.
IL understood the formation of our division
on that day, Beatty's Brigade was directly on
our right and Hazen's on the right of Beatty.
j thought at the time that the BOD Ind. and
49th Ohio broke the rebel line, but have since
been told that either Beatty or Hazen first
broke IL. j am still Of opinion the rebel works
were first occupied by the SD Ind. and 49th
Ohio, or their immediate neighbors on their
right; also, that the rebel line was broken just
Prior TO our advance / understood that Bragg
headquarters was located on the ridge at that
crossing. i know well as j know anything
that the 49th Ohio and 32d Ind were over the
rebel works and had the rebels on the run when
we (the 25th Ill. reached the line. At that
time there were no live rebels Just there, but
quite number of dead ones. The most prom
inent one was Licut.-Col. Porchen, Of the 10th
S. C. Lieut.. Alex. South, OF Co. +, 25th H.,
papers on his person. He was shot through the
left breast.
To more clearly establish my statement that
there was no fighting rebels in our immediate
front, ran mp TO where the ridge began to as
cend toward Dalton, and did so without being
halted or hindered. Upon reaching the sum-
NIT j espied three rebels getting away with a
cannon. My Enfield being loaded i fired at the
bunch. Ny shot, or some ones else killed the
swing horse and caused them 10 cut the FIVE
living horses loose and leave the gun, which
proved TO be 24-pound brass piece that had
been captured from some one of our batteries
mt Stone River, IL my memory is correct.
Looking TO the left Of where we had passed
through the rebel breastworks and Immediately
in front Of the 35th III. and 18th Wis, which
were at our immediate left on the advance in
the valley, Comrade Walker and the writer
could see plenty Of rebels in their rife-pits
Walker and i both fired into them, causing a
stampede Of the entire rebel force visible from
that point, numbering anywhere from 300 TO
1000. j am of opinion that Gen. Bragg knew
we were there. As 10 any repulse as spoken
Of in the quoted report of Gen. Bragg, there is
not shadow Of correctness in IL. There was
not halt made nor anything approaching q
repulse until the line Of advance reached the
foot of Mission Ridge, and then only long
enough 30 catch our breath. As If by common
impulse the whole line moved for the crest of
the Ridge However, our part Of the line went
In an irregular manner, every fellow. as il
were, for himself owing TO the roughness OF
the ground over which we had 20 pass. II was
covered with stones logs, bries and bushes
until within so or rs yards Of the rebel works,
where the ground was more smooth
j am not prepared 10 say where Gen. Tur-
chin's Brigade was, from us, but am quite sat
isfed that the rebel line was broken very near
the right Of the position occupied by the right
Of Willichs Brigade and that il must have
been done by the 32d Ind. and 49th Ohio or
those on their immediate right. will add
that the 49th and Bed went up Mission Ridge
more like q machine than a body of men.
mean their movement was 10 perfect never !
believe, hating until their part of the work
was sccomplished.-THos A. MAYEs, First
Sergeant, Co. E. 9th Ill, Urbana o.