The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-02-03
THEY FOLLOWED OSTERHAUS.
One Of His Orderlies Tells of Lively Cam
paigning.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: We had
been in camp about two months at Black
River Bridge, in rear of Vicksburg. Gen.
Fred. Steele, our old commander, had been
| superseded by Gen. Osterhaus. On Sept. %,
1868, we got marching orders. Two hours
afterwards we were on the road to Vicksburg.
In due time we left Memphis, with the Sec
ond Division (Smith's), under command OF
Gen. Frank Blair. We marched to Chero-
kee Station Ala. We had n fight with
Wheeler's cavalry on Oct. %. On the oath
we drove them towards Tuscumbia, and or
the 25th on through the town. The next day
we marched back to our old camp.
We got orders to harry on to Chattanooga
On the 2Stii we started for the Tennessee
River 1t rained hard all day. The rebel
cavalry followed on our rear, and gave us a
good deal of trouble We only had the 5th
Ohio and part of the Sd u. s. Cav. to
protect our rear.
On Oct 20 we arrived at Chickasaw Land
ing During the first days march the rebs
captured several of Gen Blair's Headquarters
wagons In about 20 days we arrived at
Stevenson. Ala, and marched into the town,
band playin. The Girl Left Behind Me. +"
1t was here that we first saw corps badge.
Some of Hookers men were there "a fine
looking set ofsoldiers. They all had on paper
collars, wore the star, and had straw to sleep
on, while we Vicksburg fellows were pleased
If we could get fiat fence rail.
The next place was Bridgeport, Ala When
there met q brother of mine | had not seen
for six years. He was in the commssary of
the Fourth Corps, and / got several square
meals from him.
On Nov % we arrived at Browns Ferry.
below Lookout Mountain, and found the
pontoon bridge gone. We couldn't join the
rest of our corps, and were assigned to Gen.
Hooker On the morning of the 9th he put
Us on the left OF the Twentieth Corps. The
reb5 occupied a line Of works at the foot OF
the mountain. We drove them up onto the
mountain that day, and our division lay III
front OF the peak OF the mountain.
That night our headquarters were ut the
White House. The next day the rebels left
the mountain, and while the Twentieth
Corps was putting flag on top our division
was driving the ,Joinnies through the valley
back to Missionary Ridge.
We moved up RIO Roswell Gap. Gen.
Osterhaus rode down behind tine ridge about
three-quarterso OF mile, when we were fired
on We could see the rebels moving down
the ridge t>wards the gap. The General
rode baclS and brought bur division around
on a doahic-quisl belsi,,d the ridge, and az
soon as our left was clear we moved by the
left flank and charged Breekinriages Corps
III the rear, capturing one brigade, two can
non, and three flags; also, young Col. Breck-
inridge on his fine horse. The cheering could
he heard for miles down the line. Bragg's
army had been routed.
The next morning, Nov. 26, | rode down
TO Braggs Headquarters, and the dead that
lay there Oh both sides Of the line showed
how desperate the fighting must have been
there.
Two days later we came up TO the rebs,
campc III and around Ringgold
Gen. Osteriiaus Thought he could capture a
battery with his escort and the Orderlies,
hut after three Of the escort and one Orderly
had been captured he fell back until the
troops came up.
The rebs fell back to Taylor's Ridge, south
Of the town. We moved up, and Hooker sent
one brigade of the Twentieth Corps on our
lett.
1t was here that our division was badly
cut up. Gen. Grant rode up, and / heard
him tell Gen. Hooker that he (Iooker) had
lntertered with his arrangements; he had not
wanted Hooker to bring on an engagement; !;
he wanted to get behind and capture them.
Gen. Osteriiau5 wanted, Gen. Hooker to
support our men. ] know he sent a brigade,
but when they started up The rebs opened on
them with such a deadly fire that they fell
back as soon is our artillery came up having
been delayed while building a bridge. The
rcbs then fell back towards Dalton.
The next day, Nov. %, Gen Logan came to
our Headquarters and rcorganzcd the divis-
ION. This was my 2Dth birthday. On the
20th we started back toChattanooga. We
turned over our captured cannon and llags to
Gen. Hooker. and the only credit we ever got
for that battle was given by Gen. Sherman
who, i'll his report, said'lle hadn heard from
one of his best divisions (Osterhaus). but
knew wherever they had been they had done
| their duty. We marched to Woodvil!e, Ala,
and went into Winter quarters. -HUGH W.
BgANDLE, Orderly to Gen. Osterhaus, S9l1
Exchange Ave, Chicago.
DIpuT nT TIE rnnHT