The National tribune., 1900-06-28
UP THE RIDGE.
One Of Willich's Men Tells of the Part the
Brigade Took

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Looking
back over SO years my recollections of the
battle of Missionary Ridge are as vivid
as if it had happened but yesterday. My
regiment lay just to the right of Fort
Wood, on one of the highest points with
in our lines. In plain view about three
miles to the south and east lay Mission,
ary Ridge; midway between lay Orchard
Knob; low, timbered ridge ran off to the
right. Our lines occupied this position the
evening of the 23d; the 18th Ohio occu-
pied the Knob. The hardest fighting oc-
Cured on the Ridge, just to the right of
the Knob, in plain view of our position,
by, l think, Hazen's left.
On the afternoon of the 25th Willich's
Brigade Joined in the assault on the
Ridge. Our alignment was not very good
after we got on the double-quick, and the
farther We got the more room we had.
Having been on half rations for the past
two months came in good play here, as
we had got rid of all surplus fat. This
explains why no general officers got
across that valley to stop us at the rifle
pits at the foot of the ridge; also Grant S
and Thomas's anxiety for us. We just
ran away from them. Comrade Ham
mond, Co. A, 18th Ohio, is certainly in
error when he says Sheridan, Wood and
other Generals held a consultation in
front of the firing line.
L would suppose we Travelled at least
one mile before reaching the works at the
foot of Ridge, most of the way on the
run, our nerves strung to their highest
tension. The Johnnies rained their shot
and shell down into the valley, and our
own batteries in the rear were hurting
their shot over our heads at the Ridge.
We stopped just long enough after tax
ing their first works to catch a breath.
Then, without any general orders, COM
mo tn j.
particular order as we slowly fought our
way up.
1t is a well-knOwn fact that after leav-
ing the works at the foot of the Ridge
we went the balance of the way on our
own responsibility and without any orders
except from Coionels and Captains. 1t
has been said that when Grant asked
who gave the order, Thomas said, NO
one; they just seem to be going up them
selves"
Soon after the battle, while lying
wounded, in hospital in Chattanooga, a
complimentary order was laid on my cot,
which read about this way:
Woods Division may consider them
selves under arrest for disobedience to or
ders, as when ordered to make diver
sion on the enemys first line, they diso-
beyed and took the Ridge"
The 18th Ohio started up the Ridge
Just to the left of a wagon road running
up and bearing to the left, crossing it
farther up; the enemy's works seemed to
make an angle to suit the lay of the
Ridge, and as we advanced received the
severest fire from the left across a ravine.
where was located a battery that raked
our part of the line and to which we gave
most of our fire; and as we paid but little
attention to company or regimental forma-
ton, possibly Co. \ became detached and
bore off toward Bragg's headquarters,
TO Co. a, on the right, were headed for
their works several hundred yards to left
Of there.
l was wounded before reaching the
works, and, like Comrade Bird, crawled
back to n large oak. Our line at this time
seemed almost at standstill and looked
so thin that feared lest the enemy should
make counter charge and L should be
captured.
Now, comrades of Willich's Brigade,
why not go down there and attend the
Reunion of the Army of the Cumberland,
to be held the 9th, 10th and 11th of Octo-
Der next, and meet the Military Park
Commission, when the texts on the 1000
tablets marking the positions of brigade
lines on the different fields included in
the Park are dedicated, and see to it that
history is right. Only think of the Cyclic
rama of the Battle of Missionary Ridge
with Sheridan in the fore front leading
the advance of the Army of the Cumber-
land up the Ridge. l have often thought
we were unfortunate in not belonging to
his division; yet we all dearly love his
memory.-AsBURY WELSH, Co. L, 10th
Ohio. Willich's Brigade, Woods Division,
Fourth Corps, Iaclede, Mo.