The National tribune., 1899-05-04
At MISSIONARY RIDGE.
Confederate Commander Writes OF the
Capture of Guns By Union Troops.

| Capture of Guns By Union Troops.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: A friend
sends lhe clipping from one of your recent
issues, showing much controversy between
commands of Federal troo. 8 rs to which of
them captured the guns Lady Breckin-
ridge" and LADY Buckner" at the battle
of Missionary Ridge One of your corre-
pondents mentions the 9Th Co of the
Battalion Washington Artillery (Slocomb's
Battery in this connection. The mention of
my name as being i'll command of the right
half battery of the company on that occa-
sion is my warrant for this writing.
The guns in controversy were not of the
Washington Artillery. They belonged to
Cobb's Kentucky Battery, and were planted
on the crest of the ridge almost in front of
Gen. Bragg's Headquarters. The only guns
left on the top Of the ridge by the 9TH Co.
Washington Artillery were from my half
battery; their limbers had been exploded and
horses killed. The Federals never got up in
the front of our battery. Extending for
$50 yards, it was kept clear by rapid and
well-sustained fire. from which the attacking
lines diverged to the right and left, seeking
shelter in the depressions between the abut-
ments of the ridge, avoiding our direct fire.
The guns we abandoned on the ridge had
been turned on the forces that had captured
the ridge, and two guns of Dents Battery,
$50 yards to my right.
My position was overlooking the gap in
the ridge, to the left, facing Chattanooga, up
which the electric railroad now reaches the
top of the ridge. A fine residence now
stands on part Of the spot; to the left of
which an earthwork can still be seen, where
at first | had two guns, which l soon took
| I<.Ytt 30 h. al
sufficient depression might be obtained to
sweep the declivity in my front and to my
right.
The elevation to my right across the gap
was occupied by the two guns of Dents
Battery, and this point, in my opinion, was
the first one on the ridge to be carried by the
Federal troops. 1 had turned my two
Napoleons on this point as soon as noticed
its capture, and had fired two shots at the
foe Oh and around the guns, when the
limbers of these two NapOleons were ex-
plOded by shell from 4 gun on Orchard
Knob. l have read, since the war, that Gen.
Granger had sighted that shot. If he did so,
it was most opportune hit, for the next
discharge of my guns would bave played
havoc with the small force Of Federals that
were forming to advance upon me from the
point they had captured.
From correspondence on the subject with
Gen. Hazen. and from a study of the locality
while marking the positions of the Louis-
ana troops on the ridge, feel convinced that
Hanen carried the position to my right,
capturing Dents guns. 1 feel fortified in
my belief that it was the first point carried
on the ridge, from the fact that Gen. Bragg
sent Reynolds's Brigade forward to retake
the position. As this brigade reached my
guns, coming from my left and rear, l started
with mounted Sergeant and a Corporal
afoot, of my company, bearing its flag, to
lead the column in charge across the gap.
The troops did not respond.
Failing to clear the only way by which
my caissons could send me their limbers, 1
returned to my guns. The rifle gun that
had been out of ammunition about the
moment Of the explosion of the Napoleon's
limber5 was ordered off to the hollow in the
rear, and Capt. Slocomb and several of the
men then ran to the left half-battery, some
100 yards off, and returned bearing arms
full OF ammunition. This we could not use,
for we found ourselves without friction
primers.
The close advance of the Federal sharp
shooters, creeping up under cover of rocks
and trees, and the movement of others to
our rear from the gap, admonisfed US to
save, in time, our men and what horses we
had left. Under pelting fire we spiked
the guns, and hurled them down the declivity
towards the ascending enemy. My men
were then told to save themselves.
Fully 20 minutes had elapsed between the
explosion of my limbers and the abandon
ment of their two guns. The troops to the
left of our battery had by this time also
given way.-I. A. CHALARoN, surviving
officer 9Th Co., Washington Artillery, New
Orleans, La.