The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-11-26
AFTER THE BATTLE.
Removing the Wounded from RluggOld 10 Chat.
tnnuOgR.

tHnuOgR.
EDITOR NATIONAL TETBUNE; As partici.
pant in The several fights from Lookout
Mountain 30 lauEEo.d, Ca, NOV. "a 10 Dec j,
1862 can fully udurse Capt. Jesse III. JOnes's
article, published in thc issue OF May Z. lie
has very ucdIy aud wildly retoid what every
soldier Cf THE old Nh.ta Star Division wit
messed during that Cy.Htful week, and which
made history as iorc,bly and rapidly as any
one week Of the war.
Without commenting I'm any particular on
Capt Joncss excellent story OF tho brilliant
battles Of Gcarys Division around Chattanooga
il II the desire of the writer 20 simply add
sequel TO the closing scenes resulting from
the battlc Of Taylor's Ridge or Ringgold.
After the enemy was driven from the Ridge
Gen Hooker ordered all troops al that adj
vanCed point back 90 their old quarters IN the
vicinity Of Chattanooga aud lookout Mount
ain, distance Of about % miles. There were
few ambulances followed orr light marching
division, and the wounded could not be taken
back 20 Chattanooga by the few convCyances
al hand There were - seriously wounded,
most Of them of the 9TH Ohio, who could not
be left there, as no detachment would remain
to hold the sParsely inhabited mountain TO-
Fion. Nor was il necessary, for the rebels
would not return 20 our lines now, as IL was
late IN the Fall and the campaign there was
ended.
But OF the badly wounded. Gen. Geary's
quick eve fell upon two old rusty box ears
which lay sido-tracked on a switch at the sta
tion. The junction OF the Knoxville 4 Chat
tanO0gR Railroads brauched az Rinerold from
the south, aud IL was at once ordered that a
middle floor be pHt half distance mp in each
car, the badly wounded 20 be carefully laid on
the two floors, and by thus increasing the ca
pacty would place ali tie very serious cases,
that could not be taken otherwise. back that
night to the hospital at Chattanooga on these
cars.
detail Of 200 men was made from the d.
vision, aud the writer was placed IN command,
with orders 10 haul the two ears. with the sul-
tering and grooming and dying passengers, on
the railroad 10 Chattanooga, q distance Of %
miles.
lt was late IN the afternoon OF the day Of the
fght, Nov. 81, 1863 when an were ready Ia
slarL. Telegraph wires were cut aud attached
Go the front end of the first car, the two being
coupled t0Eether. The wire was made stToH z
by multiplying the shrods, and along down the
track 200 slawari men tugged the rusty, IN
oiled cars. All went pretty well. and after Eve
miles Of hard pulling we had passed Gen.
Sherman's headquarters Of the Fifteenth Corps
mile or two, then suddenly came 10 a STOP as q
small bridge had been burned by Sherman's
men, and our further way by the cars was cut
of. This was extremely unfortunate, as Sher.
man would march 10 Knoxville in tie morning
10 relieve Burnside. We could not 20 back to
RingF0ld, for the troops had left 10 reach their
old quarters. We EaW the visions OF bong left
Ia dosolate, wooded region, with no habi-
tations except lew log shanties occupied by
w0rkmen On tho railroad. The writer con-
suited with Surg. III. Earnest Goodman Medi-
cal Director Of the Second Division, who had
charge Of the wounded. The Doctor with scani
appliances or medical supplies for 70 dcs.
peratoly- manEled men. said that be would re.
main with them. while the writer would return
% Gen. Shormans headquarters, ret a horse
aud ride 10 Chattanooga fOT ambulances sup.
l plies, etc.
Fortunately, horse was obtained, aud
night ride over the Cui-up route Of the al
vance and the crossing Of CbiczamanFa Creek
4 the town was reached by a. IN. o distance o.
I 20 miles. lt required that day 20 get the am
\ balances and supplies back 20 DR.. Goodman
when IL wis found that eight Of thc wounded
] bad died. The following day, over rough aut
4 turtuuus roads Ht 10 p. Tn- Chattanooga WA
reached. The suffering OF the poor fellows wa
j terrible and Is they were carried into cold wal
/ tents, without any bedding except blanket, ia
which they were wrapped, their groaus an,
/ shrieEs were sad and touching 10 the hardcs
/ heart Of the old veteran. Three more had d iet
/ on the way, making III deaths before rnGchini
4 Chattanooga. The horse which the writer hat
ridden In this extremely tiresome tourney die
4 after reaching the headquarters OF Gen. Gear,
at Aanhatchis TenR.-JosEPH A. moore
Captain, 90. Il, lf7th Pa. Camp Hin, Pa.