The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-01
FIGHTING THEN OVER.
Nhat0HT Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns


The S0th GIIo's CaIlaatry IN the Battle.
EDIroR NATIONAL TRIBUSE: This regiment
was part 0l the Second Brigade, second Di-
vision. Fifteenth Corps. said brigade being
then commanded by Brig.-Gon. j. A. }. Light
burn, formerly Colonel Of the 4lh W. Va. j
want 30 say 60 the other regiments 81 the brl-
EaCe that I am net writing history OF the
brigade, the division or corps, only 81 one regl-
meut, and Ii any member Of the ether regl-
meuts should chance 10 see this letter ana ma
that they are not mentioned they need not
feel hurt about De- as DO not intend 10 even
jnsiunatc thai the others were not there doing
.aeir whole duty.
The 35th Ohio was al that time commanded
ny Col. Theodore Jones. Of Columbus, o., as
sisted by Licut-Coi George u. HIlut, O! Canal
Dover O., and Mai. Charles Townsend, Of
athens, @. We had been on long march
from Memphis, Tenn, aud had arrived OppO-
sije Chattanooga but a DAY or two previous 70
the battle. a detail of men with a number Of
p0ulO0G-b0ats had been sent some distance ap
the river 10 4 small stream which flows into
the Tennessee from the north probably nile
above tie mouth OF ChicKanau-a Creek, when
LJEs into the tennessee from tie south aJ Jle
cast CHG oil Mission Ridge. The cacmy had a
picket OF 90 n3eH on tie baaE I'd Tic tennessee
probably half a nile below tie mouth OF
Ch5lzaiaauga Creek. The detail VITA The pom
tuJa boats I'm Jae small creek launched their
boats in tbe night shortly after midnight, and
proceeded down the river Blth mUlEcd oars
and SO u0isgessiy that their approach was not
observed 10y the rebel piCkets before mentioned.
IaT, O. The men in the boats landed above and
part below them and so continuous aud rapid
was the movement that the whole picket post
was captured without gun being fired on
either side and The rebel relief which CAME
down about 4 a. n. was quietly allowed 10
enter the same charmed circle and was as
quietly relieved Of their arms, so that we had
possession OF both sides OF the river before day
light and the rebel officers or the ridge were
none the wiser.
Now, I am not claiming that all this was
done by tie 30th Ohio; for, lea fact, ! do not
remember how many Of the regiment were in
that detail, or whether there were any Of them.
j hope some OF the boys VIII speak out and tell
how thar WAS; but l mention this movement as
al Introduction TO what followed during that
Gay ana the next.
While the boats we're coming down the river
the Fifteenth Corps, with the Second Brigade,
Second Division, Ia advance, proceeded eau
JlOusly 10 point opposite the rebel picket,
and awaited the results Of the abOVe-descrlbed
movement.
Immediately after the capture Of the pickets
the pOut0On- wagons were brought forward and
bridge thrown across the river, which was
done SO rapidly that our brigade crossed on the
bridge before it was fairly daylight, and by
sunrise nearly the whole corps were south Of
the river and ready for al advance
The Both Ohio was now thrown forward as
skiTmishers, and the balance Of the brigade
following closely, We proceeded without much
opposition TO take possession Of a spur of Mis-
sion Ridge which Iuts out 10 the north al the
east end Of the ridge proper aud Is somewhat
lower than the main ridge, being timbered on
The north decliTity, with q cleared space on
Top OF the spnr exposing Us to full view of the
enemy. who were posted on the east end Of the
main ridge aud within easy musket range of
said open space on the spur The brigade
formed along the north side of the summit of
the spur out Of range Of the euemy's musketTy,
until the arrival Of the balance OF the division,
and also the Fourth Division Gen. Corset,
which formed on our right.
The 30Lh Ohio was then sent forward across
the open space, under a brisk fire from the
enemy, in order 70 develop their position and
reconnoiUer for the best position from which to
make the attack, the object being TO threaten
his right flank by 2 spirited demonstration,
and either turn his flank or cause him to rein
force il, and thus weaken the center in Thomas
front and enable him to break It.
Col. Jones soon uncovered the enemy's posi-
ton, and held his ground until the other regi-
ments OF the brigade came into position late in
the evening They were then furnished with
very scant supply Of intrenching tools, which
were used by the other regiments first, and
then toward morning passed along 10 the 30th
Ohio, who proceeded to dig a rife-pit until
daylight Of the 25th. Then, after q hasty
breakfast, eaten raw, the Both was again or
oered forward as skirmisheTs TO connect with
Gen. Corse on the right which being executed
as ordered, there was a consultation between
Co. Jones and Gen. Corse, IN which they did
notqulte agree; but ] am not able 10 remember
the exact nature OF it now. However, Corse
being the ranking officer, the Colonel acqui-
esced and the attack was made, and the enemy
came out or his works to meet 1t.
The Goth lost the Color-Sergeant (Sherman)
and quite a number Of men IN that sanguinary
contest, which was kept up with more or less
severity until the reiniorcements drawn from
the rebel center TO save his right had so weak
ened his center that Thomas's men were enabled
q break II IN their historic charge up Mission
Ridge, and the enemy were thus sent flying
southwark.
do not wish to pluck single leaf from the
-aurels Of Ihomas's men, but viii make the
assertion that on the evening Of Nov. % the
dead men lay thicker tb0th blue and gray1 in
'front.' OF the Fifteenth Corps, than on any other
part Of that famous battlefield
The writer walked over the ground in front
Of the Fifteenth Corps early on the morning OF
the Goth, and when near the little log fort OF
the rebels on the point Of the main ridge he
found the dead lying so close together for sew.
eral rods In front Of said fort, that a man could
have stepped on men without touching ground
for eight or ten rods in the direction of oul
lines from the fort. First he would find gray
near the fort. then two or three rods away blue
and gray mixed for several rods, and then al
blue. We had but a short time TO contemplatf
the scene, as we were ordered to follow the foe
20 Graysville, and then bearing to the north
est we hurried on to Knoxville to the relic
Of Burnside.
Gy object in selecting this battle to write o
at this time IS 10 call attention to the fact tha
il was the fierce fighting of Sherman on III,
left that weakened the rebel center and made
the victory Of Mission Ridge possible. and be
cause j have never yet IL all the accounts O.
that battle seen anyone give due credit TO tn,
strategic movements Of Sherman's troops and
their important results; and If I can succeed
~ stirring up The old boys to discuss the sub
5ect i am sure that history viii be al III,
richer for the facts dcveloped-J. L. WAr,rs7y
Co. j, 50tA OAio Bloomfield, Ind.
The 3Jth Ind.