The National tribune., 1900-11-01
SHERIDAN WITH THE
ARMY OF THE CUMBERL AND.
History of TIE Mastery Services Of Little Phil from Perryvie
TO Missionary Ridge


Hill is a mile and one-half."
Col Michael V. Sheridan, Assistant Ad-
jutant- General, U. S. A, and recently
Brigadier-General of Volunteers, who
served on his brothers staff at Chicka-
mauga and thereafter through the civil
war, was present at the meeting of the
Minnesota Commandery, heretofore allud-
ed to, when the statement concerning
Sheridans abandonment of the field was
made. Col. Sheridan promptly contradict
ed the assertion, and said that as Gen.
Sheridan neared Clouds Church Sunday
evening, he dhen Lieut.. NJ. V. Sheridan)
was sent forward to report TO Gen. Thorn
as and ask for instructions. He accom-
pliShed this errand and conveyed to Gen.
Sheridan the order TO halt at the church
and cover the withdrawal of Thomas S
army.
This array of authorities is certainly
conclusive as against the unsupported as
sertions of possibly well-meaning persons
who are victims of a phenomenal outburst
of misinformation, and who could have
no personal knowledge of the actual facts.
There is just discrepancy enough as to de-
| tail to negative all idea of collusion, and
| the pivotal truth stands out boldly that
Sheridan did on Sunday evening march
forward with his command from Rossyille
TO Clouds Church, a distance of three
miles or more, report to Gen. Thomas
| from that point, and remain there until
ordered by Thomas to return to Rossville.
This is something very different from
| abandoning his command and leaving the
| field. The action of his noble division is
| something very different from abandoning
the field in a demoralized mass, only to
be regathered and reorganIzed day or
| two later within the intrenchments of
Chattanooga.
After this long interval of time we can
all, think, measurably concur with Capt.
G. L. Belknap, 21st Mich, soldier Of the
old division, who writes to me: Il have
wondered and l still marvel at the bravery
of Sheridan in going back to the battle
| field after the terrible experience of that
| day. L have been a close student of
| Chickamauga and its results, and | think
\ that Sheridan displayed the most cour-
| age and the best judgment of all the com
! manders in the Army of the Cumberland
! with the possible exception of Thomas and
the officers directly GIder him."
BATTLE OF MISSIONARY RIDGE.
The Army of the Cumberland assembled
| within the intrenchments of Chattanooga,
closely beleaguered by Bragg; Thomas su-
perseded Rosecrans; Hooker's men came
| from the Potomac; Grant and Sherman,
with their men, came from the Mississippi;
Grant was placed in supreme command,
and on Nov. %, 1868, two months after
| Chickamauga, was won the magnificent
Union victory of Missionary Ridge.
| Hooker attacked Bragg on our extreme
| right, at Lookout Mountain; Sherman car
ried the northern extremity of Missionary
Ridge, on our extreme left; the army Of
| Thomas, the center, moved out from Chat
tanooga against the square, bold front of
| Missionary Ridge, girdled with intrench-
ments, frowning with rebel artillery and
guarded by the flower of the Southern
| forces, who laughed to scorn the idea of
successful assault. Sheridan's Division oc-
cupied a central position in Thomas's line,
his center brigade being directly opposite
Braggs headquarters, on the summit of
| the ridge, a marked objective point of the
movement the key of the defensive line.
| The fighting on the right and left wings
| had reached a stage where the Army of
| the Cumberland must make its crowning
effort. Grants order had manifestly only
| contemplated that the first line of rebel
works, at the foot of the ridge, should be
carried by this assault. But when the sig
/ nal gun fred, the divisions of Sheridan
and Wood moved promptly to the charge,
| and Sheridan, knowing his men and see
| ing the opportunity, ordered his brigade
commanders to go on, if possible, until the
summit was reached and captured.
Then followed one of the most thrilling
! feats recorded in the annals of war. Few,
who now coolly look over the ground, see
! the hight and steepness of the ridge, with
| its many distractions of rock, tree and
gully, would believe it within the power of
mortal man to win in such charge. But
Sheridan placed himself in front of Har-
ker's Brigade, and through the storm of
rebel missiles the troops pressed forward
steadily to the first intrenchments. His
three brigades went over the rife-pits si-
multaneOusly, capturing all their occu-
pants. After a short breathing spell the
ascent of the ridge began, and. it never
paused until the intermediate intrench-
ments were gained. Sheridan was in the
midst of his men,. or IN the van: and the
line of regimental colors along his whole
division front was planted on the rebel
works halfway to the summit.
SHERIDAN LEADS THE CHARGE.
After slight change in disposition of
troops, the grand, final effort was made,
and right over the crest of the ridge, at
Bragg's headquarters, poured the exultant
soldiers, with their idolized General in the
front rank, and their bullet-riddled flags
all high advanced" in splendid triumph
The enemy had yainly poured his heaviest
| fire Of artillery and musketry into their
faces as they came on, and was stricken
| dumb with CONSERVATION at the achieve
| ment.
Bragg himself narrowly escaped: some
| of his high officers were captured; the two
pet guns. Lady Breckinridge" and Lady
Buckner," which guarded his sacred per-
son, fell into the pious hands of the
Preacher Regiment"
Sheridan captured 1.762 prisoners and
II pieces OF artillery. But he did not stop
even with this great success. He alone of
| all the Union commanders pursued the
enemy beyond the ridge and had he been
properly supported Bragg and half his
army might have been captured Sheri-
| dams Division followed the rebels impetu-
ousy more than two miles; drove them
across Chickamauga River; had severe
fight: made more captures of men and
| guns, and, finally, after dark, receiving no
support, gave up the ene-sided contest.
Gen. Grant says in his Memoirs: "To
| Sheridan's prompt pursuit the Army of
the Cumberland and the Nation are in
debted for the bulk of the capture of pris-
oners and small-arms that day."
The effective force of Sheridan's Diyi-
sion in this battle was 5000. Its less was
123 officers and 1,1S1 men killed and
wounded-not one missing. Not single
life was wasted; he was not one of those
| Generals who measure a victory by the
demand for stretchers. But the above
| figures comprise one-tbird the casualties
of the entire Union force, Sherman's and
Hooker's included.
| Thirty-seven years have passed. A land
mark for miles on Missionary Ridge is
the towering monument which the Impe-
rial State of Illinois has erected to the
! valor of her sons on the site of Bragg's
| bao narsar In ha CHI do . IL.