The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-03-29
ANOTHER CLAIM.
The 1Ith Mich. and the 18Th Ohio at Ross
willie Gap.

willie Gap.
| EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: / wish to
make a brief statement of facts in regard to
| the last infantry regiments that left Ross
| vile Gap Ga. on the morning of the 22d Of
| September, 1863.
On the morning of the Goth of September
| Col. 7. r. Stanley, of the 18th Ohio, COM
handing Second Brigade, Second Division,
| Fourteenth Corps, was disabled by gun
shot wound in the shoulder, and the COM
mand of the brigade devolved upon Col. VIM.
| L. StoughtOn, 18th Mich.
The three small vetera3 regiments, the
| 18th Ohio, 10Th Ill. and 11th Mich, which
composed this brigade in the battle of
| Chickamauga, performed efficient service
| on that field, and on Sunday from noon till
after o'clock at night held the first spur of
the ridge south of the Snodgrass House, and
| fought under the eye Of Gen. Thomas. 1t
made the last cheer of defiance in that ter
rible struggle, and was the last organized
| force to leave the field. Now know this,
| and the reports made at the time prove 1t
! beyond contradiction.
When the brigade left the hill that night
every member could feel that they had done
their full duty; that they had held every
position to which they had been assigned,
| and whipped every force which had con-
fronted them, and they left that field at
common time, in perfect order and with the
assurance that the enemy had not yet even
begun TO whip them.
On the morning of the 21st, by personal
direction of Gen. Thomas, this brigade was
stationed in the Gap in front of Rossville.
The following is what the brave Col.
Stoughton in his report says about the
matter:
"On the night of the Goth of September I
fell back with the army to Rossville, leaving
the field of Chickamauga after dark. The
next morning l took up position in Ross
vile Gap] il front of Rossville, covering the
| approach to the battlefield, and held the
position during the day. The night OF the
21st our whole army retired to Chattanooga,
and was ordered to send back my artillery
and three regiments of my brigade, and to
remain in charge of the picket-line and cover
the movement.
q had my artillery drawn off by hand,
and muffled the sound by putting leaves and
small brush under the wheels.
a remained with the Goth Ohio, 18th
KY 37th Ind. and 18th Mich. till 4:l0
o'clock next morning [Sept. % when l
successfully withdrew my pickets and made
forced march to Chattanooga without the
loss of man.
when withdrew my picket-line could
hear the enemy moving.
~ received my final orders from Gen.
George III. Thomas, and knew that he re-
garded it as dangerous and important
duty, and he afterwards complimented me
personally on my success"
The words inclosed in brackets / have in
serted for the purpose of representing the
facts more definitely. | will also state that
| during the Dist several other regiments of
Negley's Division, besides his own brigade,
were placed under the command of the gall
liant StOughtOn.
There is no guess work about the above re-
port It gives the facts as they were re-
corded at the time, and the writer can pro-
duce in Col. Stoughtons own handwriting
| the original draft of his report.
Should any of my late comrades of the
Army of the Cumberland go to Rossville,
and pass out through the Gap to point
where it opens to the southeast, on the left
hand side of the wagon-track, protected by
| a pile of Stones they will find a stake on
which is marked 18th Mich. Inf, Sept. %,
| 1863" Where that stake is driven a stone
| tablet will be erected, bearing an inscription
about as follows: 1.-THE 18th Mich. Inf held
this Gap from o'clock a. m, Sept. 81, 1863,
until 4:10 a. M. Sept. %, 1868, and was the
last infantry regiment to leave the line at
this point"
On the southeast face of the ridge on each
side of the Gap will undoubtedly be tablets
bearing similar legends for the 18th Ill, 18th
| Ohio, and the three other regiments men
TONED in Col. Stoughton's report.-JAs. M.
WHALLoN, 18th Mich, Fitchburg, Mich.