The National tribune., 1900-02-15
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What the Veterans Have 10 Say
About Their Campaigns.
CAPTURING rWo GUNS.
The 10th Ill. Tersion of the Taking of Lady
Breckinridge" and Lady Buckner.

breck1uIlQR6 anu LAuy buCkuoI.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: There
has been quite a controversy in the columns
of your valuable paper by many comrades
in regard to the battle of Missionary Ridge,
the capture of artillery, etc. / do not be-
lieve there is comrade living of the 10th
Ill. who does not feel positive that our regi-
ment did capture Lady Breckenridge" and
Lady Buckner." l have no doubt other
regiments captured artillery on the Ridge,
as the enemy had guns planted all along
the crest of the mountain, Rebels were
guarding this artillery, and did not sur
render until we got within short distance
of them. l wrote our Colonel, Allen Buck
| ner, Chaplain of the House of Representa-
tives at Topeka, Kan, for his version OF
the battle. He sent me a complete state
ment with permission to have it published.
This statement ought forever to settle the
controversy as to who is entitled to the
honor of the capture above mentioned, as
the ere was not another officer in Sheridan s
Division (or any other diviSion) who had
as good an opportunity of knowing where
each brigade and regiment was situated,
or the position each was to occupy. as our
Colonel, for he was Officer of the Day for
Sheridan's Division, and had the locating
and arranging of the picket-line: had ridden
back and forth along the line all day, until
the charge was ordered late in the after
noon. One can readily see the advantage
he had of knowing who did the capturing at
Bragg s headquarters.
Capt. Barnes says Sheridan's Division
is not entitled to the capture of the artil-
lery at Bragg'S headquarters; that his
division was halted while Woods Division
advanced. Grant or Thomas do not talk
this way. ! know that no troops were in
front OF our regiment except Bragg's.
Our Lieutenant-COlonel, Rlves, one OF the
Commissioners appointed by the Govern
ment to locate the monuments for the
different regiments that fought in the bat
ties around Chattanooga, sent me map
showing the different positions Of the d.
visions and brigades. This map was got
ten up for the benefit of the Commissioners.
1t shows Hazen's Brigade a mile to the left
of Bragg'S headquarters. The AdJutant-
Generals report for the State of Illinois,
Vol. 5. page AZ, shows that the 18th III.
captured two pieces of artillery in the
charge of Missionary Ridge. Harker's
Brigade was composed of the following:
22d, 9th, 42d. 51st, and 18th H.; Gath,
Goth, and 125th Ohio, and Sd KY. Fol
lowing is Comrade Buckner's statement:
AT Missionary Ridge on Nov. %, 1863.
| was Officer of the Day of Sheridan s
Division. In the charge through the
timber and the open field TO the foot of the
Ridge | had charge Of the front or skirmish
line. When we reached that point the
rebel skirmsh line had gone TO the top
of the Ridge. 1t was but "a short time
before my skrmish line became involved
in the main line of battle g l. hurried to the
place where | thought our regiment would
come in. Col. Rives brought the regi-
ment in exactly where | supposed it would
come
We stopped near some ShantieS, and Sc
cured some protection for the regiment in
trenches used by the Confederates, but be-
ing used by them, the emhaHkments We're
toward us, and these trenches did us little
good. The rebels were hurting grape, |
nd I'M 10Th.
from the top of the Ridge into our ranks. |
| stood on the Confederate breaStworkS and |
saw Sheridan with his staff come down |
the line from the left to the right of his |
division. u.a
He said when opposite and little to
the rear Of each regiment: H.
boys, when | say go, viii you gO? to |
which the response went up, Yes
Soon our whole line started for the sum-
init. 1t is 500 yards TO the top.) Our !
regiment was on the right of the center of
the division. Our flag was carried up near
the gulch, which ran down the mountain
side. / hurried the regiment up and over
the breaStWOrkS, somewhat to the right |
)f BraggS headquarters. We faced a
battery on top Of the Ridge and captured
the two cannon-'Lady Breckinridge' and
Lady Buckner. went over in the center
)f the regiment close 10 the flag. j found
a large number Of holes III my clothes after
the battle was over.
Sheridan says in his Memoirs: My
right-center first Grant says, Sheridan
first then Wood, then some one else.
Sheridan speaks of the gulch being the
locality where his right-center went up.
Il was in Nebraska few years ago, and
met a man who had been a Colonel Of a
(Missouri) regiment. He said
his regiment was guarding the battery i'll
whose front we came. He also said he saw
me come over their breastworks close to
the flag of the 18th Ill. He knew me again
without an introduction. He was sure
we were the first over in their front. and
added that ne could not he mistaken.
Gen. Thomas says: The line was broken
n six places simultaneously j have
never claimed for our regiment that we
were over first, and yet believe we were;
md not a few men have taken the ground
hat the Colonel of the 10th III. led the charge.
do not claim such honor for our regiment
Jr myself, but am sure that we were among
he first to go over. and believe we should
lave credit for the capture of six guns in
stead of two. | absolutely know that no
egiment or part of a regiment was in front
If us. was in the front line, and have the
,est Of reasons for knowing the truth
whereof | speak."-W. L. KESTER, Kan