The National tribune., 1902-07-24
WOUNDiNG OF GEN. GILES A. SMITH.
A Chaplain's Recollections of the Exciting
Events Of Nov. "a, 1863.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In order
to make plain the circumstances under
which Gen. Giles A. Smith was wounded,
l send you my memoranda as written at
various times during the oath day Of No
vember. 1868:
"At II o'clock last night our brigade
First Brigade, Second Division, Fif-
teenth Corps was called into line and
marched near a mile to where more than
100 pontoon boats were lying in the North
Chickamauga Creek. Fifteen men entered
each boat in addition to the five that man
aged the oars. The whole brigade EN-
barked at the same time. AT a. m. we
got under way, the Sth Mo. in advance,
the 10th Ill. next in order. Every sound
was suppressed as much as possible; talk
ing was not allowed above a whisper.
I'VE soon passed into the Tennessee
River, keeping as near to the bank as we
could. Occasionally some boat would drift
too near and be caught by Oyerhanging
limbs, making noise enough, 1t seemed to
US, to wake the seven sleepers. We could
see the fires of the enemy on the other
side, the sparks flying up when they were
stirred, and at some points could even
hear the voices of the pickets as they
talked with each other. A drizzling rain
was falling. Thus we drifted down the
river for three miles without creating any
alarm.
when opposite the point which we
wished to occupy, the boats turned and
approached the shore abreast. The mo-
ment was full Of excitement. Should we
land unmolested? Or should we meet
deadly fire and be compelled to engage in
hand-to-hand struggle? for we were to
land with fixed bayOnets and unlOaded
guns. 1t would seem that we should have
crouched down so as to derive some pro-
lection from the sides of the boats, in case
fra1 nm. hrt ipcfaaA nj hat
we approached the bank, every man of
us stood up with muscles braced ready for
a spring. To our surprise no enemy APP
peared.
MY regiment and one other landed just
above the mouth of the South Chicka-
mauga, the rest of the brigade just below
: it; but the boat in which | was with the
Surgeons was washed down stream. so
that we first touched the bank below. Just
as we did So Gen. Smith, who had sprung
on shore before US, ran down the bank to
see who we were, and he was so anxious
for fighting men that he swOre little
when he found we were non-combatants;
but hastily checking himself he said:
Never mind, never mind; we'll be glad
enough of your help before an hour has
passed.
I'VE then backed off shore, rowed
across the mouth of the creek and
Joined our regiment. There was a
short rifle pit just above the mouth of
the creek, in which about 20 of the enemy
were browsing over a smoldering fire.
They were captured at once, as were all
the pickets, soon after, whose fires we had
seen, by force of men sent up in their
rear. These pickets were cavalry, and so
every officer who was entitled to q horse
was mounted within 10 minutes after we
had touched the land. In the meantime
the troops below the creek were intrench-
ing with all their might, while the empty
boats were sent straight across the river,
where the rest of the division had been
collected. SO as to bring over more men.
1t was 3 a. IN. when we landed, and by
daylight two whole divisions were over
and pretty well intrenched.
"At daylight the building of a pontoon
bridge was commenced, the boats not yet
fastened in the. bridge still bringing over
troops. A pontoon bridge was also built
across the Chickamauga near its mouth,
and we marched across it and joined the
troops below. At 8 o'clock the steamer
bringing over batteries, which we were
very glad to see. With the addition of
this artillery we began to feel pretty Sc
lcure in our position.
"Some rebel skirmishers now showed
themselves, and we were deplOyed in line
of battle. (This is doubtless the time that
ICOmrade w. A. Douglas thinks that Gen
Smith was wOunded) Some shots were
fired, but no one was hurt
ut is now 10 a. m., and we have not
yet been attacked in force. There has
been considerable cannonading and some
musketry away on our right during all
the morning.
"Later.-About II o'clock the pontoon
bridge was finished, and the troops passed
over rapidly. We ate dinner, and then
"a general advance was ordered. We
moved over an open field toward high
spur of Missionary Ridge. 1t was as
splendid q military spectacle as anyone