The National tribune., 1901-06-06
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What the Veterans Have TO Say
About Their Campaigns.
CHICKAMAuGA.
wilder's Brigade at the Glenn House, and
Previous Work

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Comradt
| Falls, of the 39th Indiana, has inquired
through The National Tribune why Wild
er's Brigade monument is erected at th'
Widow Glenn's, on the Chickamauga bat
| tlefield, asserting that his regiment fought
at that point. He, like Quinn, whom he
quotes, is badly mixed, and if he will read
the reports of Chckamauga he will find
that Wilder's Brigade We're the only
troops engaged at the Glenn House, cXcep
the skirmish line of Lytle's Brigade
Sheridan's Division, which was left when
Lytle's Brigade moved to the left toward
the Dyer House, or lanyard, where Lytl1
was killed, and which is probably the point
to which the 39th Ind. We're sent.
Wilder's Brigade crossed the Tennessee
at Friar's Island on Sept. s, 1868. y de
tachmcnt of the 18th Ind. swan to the
Island and opened fire on the rebel works
guarding the ford, while Lillys battery
engaged their artillery. The 18th Ind,
followed 10y the rest of the brigade, then
started across, whereupOn the rebels limb
cred up their guns and left and the brigade
moved 20 miles toward Dalton, camping
Il miles south of Chattanooga. Here the
brigade trains came up, seven days ra-
tiOns were issued on the 9Th, and on the
10th the brigade moved to near RinggOld,
Ga.
Sept IL, marched through Ringgold,
SkirmiShing with the enemy, who turned
out to be Scott's Brigade of cavalry with
two guns, and after passing through Il gap
in TaylorS Ridge they made a stand, but
were quickly driven off, setting fire to two
trestle bridges Oh the railroad before they
left. HaZen's Brigade was then sent for
ward to support Wilder, with orders from
Crittenden to push the rebels, and we
showed them to Tunnel Hill, 10 miles from
RinggOld, where the enemy We're i'll line
in force and where the brigade diSmOuntcd
and skirmshcd heavily with them. Co.
ii, 18th Ind, had a sharp fight with For
rests bOdy-guard, driving them from the
railroad embankment and wounding For
rest with a loss to themselves of one killed
and two wounded. We soon found that
Scott's Brigade had been reinforced by
Dibbrell's,. of Armstrong; Division, and
Davidsons Brigade, of Pegrams, Forrest
in immediate command. But we went at
them unhcstatimgly, although our infan-
try supports had halted ut RinggOld, and
drove them back to within four miles OF
Tunnel Hill
Sept. j., Crittenden with the infantry,
having been recalled to Lee IL Gordon
Mill to join Thomas. Wilder was ordered
to report to Gen. Reynolds at Lafayette,
Ga, by way of Lect's lanyard. Start
ing before daylight, the 18th Ind. soon
ran into one of Pegram's Brigades oppos-
ing their advance, and Immediately at
tackled him, aided by the 9Sth Ill. Then
Armstrong attacked us on the left flank,
and SCOTS Brigade pushed us from the
rear. On the right was Stahl with a bri-
gade of rebel infantry, so matters looked
blue for Wilder. But he acted with his
usual energy. With the two regiments
mentioned he boldly dashed at Pegram,
driving him back toward Lafayette, the
I'D Ind. and 123d Ill. holding the rear
and left flank. Then leaving Il strong
line of skirmiShcrs facing rear, left and
front, we charged Stahls infantry bri
gade, forced back his LETT, and opened the
road to Napier's Gap. in Pea Vine Ridge,
through which all the command was
drawn, reaching Crittenden near Lee ~
GOrdOn's Mill at midnight. In this fight
at Leet's lanyard, or Rock Springs, the
brigade lost 10 men killed and Is
wounded, while Pegram alone reported a
loss Of 30 killed and wounded. Our days
march was - miles.
Sept. 13, supported by Beatty's Brigade
we marched out two miles and skirInlsncd
with the enemy for six miles further,
when, finding strong resistance, we re-
turned to Lee d GOrdon's Mills and next
day moved to near Pond Springs, 20 miles,
and on the SJth to Pond Springs, three
miles. Resting over the 10th, we moved
to AleXander's Bridge, on the Chicka-
mauga, % miles, on the 1Ith.
Wilder had reported that he had fought
with Forrest, from Mississippi, on the
11th, some of Buckner's command on the
18th from East TENNESSEE, and that
from prisoners taken in his dash near Dal-
ton he had aSccrtaincd that forces under
Longstreet were arriving or expected TO
arrive at that point. These reports with
the resistance Negley found at Dug Gap
convinced ROsecrans that Haleck's dis
patch Of 1lth, saying that IA part of
Braggs army is reinforcing Lee was Il
great mistake, and he was therefore CON
centrating his army behind the Chicka-
mauga. Further, when Wilder was
ordered from Ringgold to Lafayette on
the 18th, he reported to Crittrnden that
from statements of prisoners and deserters
he would have to pass through Biagg's
whole army to reach there. What trouble
we would have been saved if we had only
known that Gov. Isham Harris, peripa-
tetic from Tennessee, had said in a speech
at Rome, Ga, that they had 100000 men
ito drive the vandals across the Ohio
River" However the 18th found
Minty's Brigade holding Reeds Bridge
and Wilder at AleXanders Bridge, over
his post a vital point, being the nearest
crossing to our gathering army, he threw
up some defenses and prepared for a stout
resistance. BushrOd JohnsOnrs Division
advanced on Minty at about 10 a. m,
and he took his gallant brigade out about
a mile and half to meet them. Although
their Spencer carbines poured deadly vol
leys and the Board of Trade Battery
hurled storms Of grape and canister,
Mintys Brigade was gradually forced
back to the bridge with severe loss, and
called upon Wilder for assistance. Lid
dellS Division attacked Wilder at Alex
ander's at the same time that Minty was
attacked by Johnson, but Wilder repulsed
him easily and then sent Col. Miller with
the I'D Ind, seven companies of the 125d
ILL.,, and a section of the 18th Ind Battery
to his assistance. Liddell again attacked
Wilder, but the 18th Ind. and 9Sth H.,
with Lilly's Battery, repulsed him before
the return of the rest of the brigade
Reeds Brigade was three miles below
and Minty was driven from
IT at 4:3O p. m, but as we had scouts at
Lamberts Ford, about half way, we soon
received news of the retreat, and as by
the bend of the creek the enemy could
get IN our rear. AleXander'S Bridge was
burned and we fell back to the Jays Mill
road at 5:lo p. m, about two miles, where
we formed line of battle again. Liddell |
losing 405 killed and wounded,
while our loss was not more than a
dozen. Wilder sent word to Crittenden
that Mlnty was driven from Reeds |
Bridge, which compelled his falling back, |
and Just as it was getting dark Forrest |
made an attack upon us, but was hand |
CnmGlV rnnnlGnH n I.(t ta,l-