The National tribune., 1900-03-29
BATTLING WITH BRAGG.
The Story of the Work Done by the Second
Brigade, Third Division, Fourteenth Corps.

Ine SbOry OF tQe WOTk Done Dy CQe SeCOuu
Brigade, Third Division, Fourteenth Corps.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: When
| my mind goes back SO years l think of two
| terrible days spent on the Chickamauga
battlefield. While there has been much
said on the subject. i do not think the half
has been told. | will give short sketch Of
| the part taken by my regiment, the 14th
| Ind, Second Brigade, Third Division,
Fourteenth Corps.
On July 4, 1868, We had just completed
| the Tullahoma Campaign without a de-
ciSive battle, and gone into camp at Win
chester, Tenn, when we heard of the sur
| render of Vicksburg and the defeat of Lee
at Gettysburg. We thought one more
| battle would end the war, so we were quite
| anxious to have the honor of striking the
| blow. On Aug. 16 We broke camp and
started for Chattanooga, where we ex-
pected to knock out the rebel army in the
| first round.
On Aug. 10 we bivouacked on Cumber-
land Mountain. On Aug. % we went in
camp in Sweden Cove, on the bank Of the
Tennessee River, where BuelPs army had
been in camp the year previous. Here we
could see the enemy on the opposite side
of the river.
| On Sept we received orders to cross.
There being no bridge or boats, and a deep,
navigable river, 80 rods TO the opposite
bank. we thought another case Of Moses
and the Red Sea. We never faltered at
command, and going to the woods, getting
dry chunks to make RATS sufficient to
carry our clothing. guns and cartridge
boxes. placing all in the river, then getting
in the water behind them, We swan and
pushed them before us to the opposite
bank. 1t was a laughable sight to see
river in this novel way. The artillerymen
built large raft by lashing logs together
to take their guns over, and swan their
horses. In the evening Brannan's Diyis-
ion was all i'll camp on the opposite side.
On Sept. 4. we crossed Raccoon Mount
ain; Sept IL, crossed Lookout Mountain,
and went into camp in McLemore's Cove;
Sept. IS, received orders to march late in
the evening. and marched all night in the
direction of Chattanooga. At daylight
we had marched Is miles, stopping at
Crawfish Springs TO make coffee; before
/ our coffee was made we were ordered to fall
in.
On Sept. 10, marched four miles and
halted at the Snodgrass farm. There
our brigade was ordered east of the Chat
tanooga road to capture some rebel troops
that had crossed the Chickamauga Creek.
| Forming in line of battle and going
half a mile. we came to some cavalry pickets,
who proved to belong to Forests command.
We followed our skirmishers closely until
we saw the enemy forming line to COM
position to receive them. We did not have
TO wait long before we heard yell that
never heard the like of before or since, and
to make the scene more hideous the rebels
had something like a dozen bloodhounds
to lead the charge.
They were received by the 4th KY, 10th
Ind, and 74th Ind. We waited with a
steady aim until they were within 20 PAGES
Of our lines, then let them have a volley
that caused sudden halt.
| large, vicious horse came plunging
headlong UP TO our lines, which was caught
| l,, Tnh + E'raata,,H and tho Uritar n,
rider, rebel officer, lay dozen PAGES
away. While we were wondering what
would be next. large body OF infantry
came out of the brush on our right and
rear, making things pretty warm for us,
running us back 200 PAGES Then in
turn we ran them back 40 rods, but were
forced to our former position.
Now we began to realize the size OF the
job we had on our hands. We had fired
all of our 90 rounds OF ammunition and lost
lquite heavily. We were ordered to pile
our knapsacks and draw 30 rounds more
of ammunition.
, At this time all OF Brannan's Division
had arrived on the field and was in line
ready to start. We joined them in a
determined effort to drive the enemy from
the field. After advancing 40 rods we
. came to them well posted in two lines wait
, ing to receive us. We forced the fight at
close quarters. They gave ground at
! first, but finally we took our places 30 PAGES
, apart, and remained there until our ammuni-
ton was all expended, and to our great
relief we could see the enemy falling back.
Just at this opportune moment johnson s
= Division. of McCook's Corps, came to our
relief, striking the enemy in flank and
driving them from the field. This gave
us a chance to care for the wounded
2 and to reorganize, as we We're badly used
r up, losing 164 men killed and wounded,
out of 400. of the 18th Ind.
| The battle was fairly open now at p. m.
, both sides having about all their forces on
, the field, and sending them in by brigade
{ and division. The artillery had come uI
= and taken position ready for action.
9 Here we leared from prisoners that Long
1 streets Corps. from the Eastern army, had
: ioined Bragg, and Johnston's and For
rests commands, from Mississippi, were OF
: the field. We were convinced that we
were greatly outnumbered, but did moi
, feel the least shaky.
/ At p. m. our brigade was placed in tho
t reserve line and the battle fairly raging il
$ great fury, at times our men being driver
e back to the Chattanooga road. where We
!. had determined not to give up; here W.
4 would have a reorganiZed force ready
n that would send the enemy back to tn,
/ Chickamauga Creek, about mile. and il
V turn the rebels would force our men back. III
s this way the battle ragged till dark, wheI
e the fighting siackened and we thought tn,
V battle over. But the enemy concentrated {
e large force on our right with the view o
/ gaining some advantage for the hare
It days work. After one hour of desperate
/, struggle they were driven back and settlet
e for the night, without having gained on
|. advantage or a foot OF ground. We hell
l. them east of the Chattanooga road, whicl
d runs north and south.
ol At dark we were marched to the west o
s the Snodgrass house in large stubble
J. field (where the weeds were as tall as W
IS were) to camp for the night.
On Sept. 20, 3 a. m, received orders Z
move to the front as soon as We had mad
:, coffee, but could not get any water to max
J. it with. as all the water was on the rebels
1t side. In conversation with a Johnny
, short time after the battle, he said: 81
d yo'uns had mentioned the matter we'un.
e would a-been glad to swopped water fu
, coffee" The night being cold and chilly
g and We having lost our knapsacks, we di'
T. not fare any too well.
IS At daylight we started for the front go
1. ing cast. The fog being quite dense, W
If did not see the enemy until We came clos
1t to them. Forming our lines Is rods eas
lie Of the Chattanooga road, we built a ligi
n breastwork, three feet high and one-hal