The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-05-31
ANOTHER CLAIM.
A Regular Officer Tells How He Was the
Last to Leave RossvilIe Gap.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: As to who
We're the last to leave Rossvllle Gap please
allow me to state what know.
The Regular Brigade, consisting of the
18th, 18th, 18th and 18th U. S., held the
Gtp from early Monday morning, Sept. 81,
1868, until its final evacuation by our army
on the morning of the 22d or Odd of Septem-
Der. My own impression is that it was the
Odd. l do not like to be positive as to date,
but you may rely upon the following facts.
Just before dark of the last night we held
the Gap was detailed TO take charge of the
picket-iine in our front. The line was
established on the highest ground near the
ROssville end of the Gap and on both sides
of the pike running through the Gap, and
facing the rebels, who were in our immediate
front. The two picket-lines were so close
that we could hear musket moved if it
touched a stone. As we lay on the ground,
if one Of my men had stretched his musket
10 the front he could have nearly touched
the gun of the rebel picket
My instructions were to keep my men
quiet, and not allow a shot to be fired except
in case of an advance by the rebels. The
men behaved admirably.
Mission Ridge, to the left of my position,
had been picketed the day before with a
thin line of pickets; / do not know what
regiment or brigade, or if they remained on
picket during the night. The Regular Bri-
gade was in hastiiy-constructed breast
works about so PAGES in rear Of my picket
line.
About midnight received orders to with
draw my men and form them in the high
way without noise. and to use the utmost
care that no sound was made. / sent Ser
geant along the line to the right of the road
and ] went myself to the left, instructing
each picket in whisper how to proceed.
The pickets were Withdrawn, as / thought,
without noise or mishap and formed in the
road in the Gap, and we found to our as
constituent that our brigade was gone from
it's position. One soldier alone remained,
and AS / met him he informed me that the
commanding officer ms ructed me to march
my command to Chattanooga as quickly as
possible. He at once started on his own ac-
count in that direction.
By the time we were marching out of the
Gap we could notice that day was breaking,
and we soon saw that all the troops had
gone, and / assure you that / did not like
The situation, for | felt sure that the rebels
must soon discover our absence at the Gap.
AS we marched toward Chattanooga l kept
glancing to the rear, expecting each time to
see the rebels after us. Nor was / long in
noticing troops moving in the vicinity of
the Gap, and we were not mile away from
the Gap when / saw rebel cavalry coming
down the road after US. Knowing it was
useless for me to attempt to make a stand
with my small command, ordered double
quick, and we made as good time as we
could toward Chattanooga.
1t soon became evident to me that the
rebels had discovered us and were in pur-
snit. / acquainted the men with my idea
that we should have to take to the woods
and each man must endeav0r TO make the
best OF his way toward Chattanooga: but
just as was on the point of ordering this
movement / heard sharp rattle of mus
kerry in my rear, and on looking back | saw
some of our own cavalry engaged with
the rebels who were pursuing us, and see
ing the pursuit checked / gave the order,
Quick time-Marchi and subsequently
Route step-March! and we proceeded
leisurely TO Chattanooga, and reported there
as ordered.
The Union cavalry that attacked our pur-
suers came out OF the woods between the
road and Mission Ridge, and after the firing
! saw that there was quite body of them,
and it may have been Gen. Minty's COM
mand but they fell back slowly in our rear
toward Chattanooga.
The above facts can be established by
a reference to the records on file at Regi-
mental Headquarters of the 18th U. S., and
clearly shows that myself and pickets were
the last Union troops to leave the Gap, and
the Regular Brigade was the last brigade to
leave the Gap. Other troops may have
been on Mission Ridge to the left of the Gap
later, but none were in the Gap later than
myselE-REUBEN F. LITTLE, First Lieu
tenant 18th u S. Richardson Wis