The National tribune., 1902-09-25
VOLUNTEERS FROM MccOOK's CORPS.
Lieut.. Col. Fahnestock, seth ILL.,, Writes of
the Crossing of the. Tennessee.

1
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: | wish
to correct Joseph f. Seifert, First Lieu
tenant, Co. b, and later commanding Co
A, 3Ith Chic, in his reply to Cyrus \. Il.
Fox, Fifer, Seth ILL.,, of Col. Daniel Nc
Cooks brigade. COmrade Seifert states
| that there were 130 pontoons, each holding
40 men, and that his brigade furnished
the required number of men and cap
| tured the rebel battery.
Col. Daniel McCoOk's Brigade furnish
ed quite number of men to man these
boats. My old company Il, Seth ILL., fur
nlshed one Lieutenant. X. NJ. Groninger,
Josiah Green, Thos. w. Bolts, John Her
slime, David Smith, John Clark, James
Weaver. and others whose names | have
forgotten. If one company in the Seth Ill.
furnished seven, surely it shows that
there was quite large per cent. furnish
ed by Col. Daniel McCooll's Brigade
There were in all 60 to so pOntoons
loaded with 80 men and officers in COM
mand of commissioned officer to each
section of boats, commanded by Gen.
Giles A. Smith. Some of the men named
were in the first boat with Gen. Smith,
and he was the first to land.
Gen. Smith took supper with our mess
while we were guarding the Tennessee
River at the mouth of the North Chick
amauga Greek. We showed him the
dreaded the effect of the rebel artillery
on the boats, but was confident if he could
land part Of his men he could capture
the reserve. This he did, but there was
no battery there that night: the battery
was there on the night of Nov. II. and
fired on the 12Jth ILL.,, and one shot killed
the Chaplain of the regiment. The 125th
Ill. belonged to our brigade, and lay two
miles below North Chickamauga Creek.
My diary states:
NOV. 30, Friday mOrning-CIear and
warm. Strict orders on the picket line to
let no one pass. Orders for the men to
have 100 rounds of cartridges and be ready
to march at moments notice.
NOV. y. Saturday morning - Cloudy
and rain. Am called on for men who can
row boat. We got quite number of
volunteers.
NOV. 22. Sunday morning-Clear and
pleasant Remained in camp. Orders in
the evening to be ready to move the pom
toons in the North Chickamauga Greek,
and be ready TO float down the Tennessee
River.
Monday morning, Nov. 23-Cloudy and
pleasant. Heavy cannonading and mus
kerry fire hear Chattanooga, extending all
along our line. We intended to cross the
river last night, but it was too clear. The
Sth Mo. will lead.
Tuesday mOrning-Foggy, drizzly rain
The men that volunteered to man the pom
toons embarked, under the command of
Gen. Giles a. Smith, at II o'clock IN.
Lieut.. X. w. Groninger commanding one
section Of boats. keeping close to our side
Of the river; muffled oars; the boats all in
line. There was a dim light on our side,
South Chickamauga Creek, at
which point the boats crossed the river
aud captured II Confederates on guard,
asleep. The p0nioon train commenced to
lay the bridge while the boats We're taking
Gen. Sherman's men over the river. Our
Daniel McCOOk's - crossed
the pontoon bridge about noon, formed in
line OF battle facing the north end of Mis- |
sionary Ridge. One of the grandest sights |
ever saw-the men by brigades, the col |
Drs advancing up the Ridge in splendid |
order until the top was gained. when the |
lighting commenced. Gen. Smith was |
but held his position until dark
1t is not my desire to claim anything |
more for my men than they deserve |
Every officer and soldier that volunteered |
% run those pOntOOn boats should have a |
medal for bravery. Many of those men
md officers are dead The Government
should not forget the living. We consid-
,red it took brave men to cross the river
n such boats at night. Had the battery
,een there it is probable many of our boys
would have found the bottom of the Ten
lessee River. History of the great re-
,ellion can never be written, but let us
10 justice to all that took part in that
leroic deed. - ALLEN L. FAHNEsToCK,
Colonel, Seth ILL.,, Col. Daniel
McCOok's Brigade, Fourteenth Corps,
Ill.