The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-22


 Report of 18th Alabama Regiment. Lowrey's Brigade. Cleburne's Division, Army of Tennessee. in battle of Rim gold Ridge. November 27. 1868:
 This statement Is made by one, 8 Lieutenant of Company F, 45th Ala bamas who was in said fight and re- ports as he saw 1t. By Captain l. R, D. King. 45th Alabama Regiment.
 Written for Mrs. W. H. Phillips. Historian of Bessemer Chapter, U. D. c,
 The Confederate army, commanded by General Braxton Bragg, had been defeated on the 25th and had retreated behind Ringold Ridge and camped there and beyond towards Tunnel Hill. All Of the wagon tAarns and artillery of the army were parked on the Chick amauga River behind this ridge, and could be plainly seen from its top. Cleburne's Division had covered the rear Of the retreating army acting as It's rear guard. After two heavy and successful skirmishes during the first day of the retreat we reached Ringold in the night and camped on Its west ern line during the night. At an early hour the next morning we marched out and through the town to the railroad gap in the ridge. Here the soldiers climbed up the sides of the gap and formed line of battle on It's crest, part on one side and part on the other. A section (two guns) Of one of the batteries, shotted with double charges of canister were masked in the gap and ranged so as to command the line of railroad running on the western side of the ridge and parallel with 1t for more than half a mile. The grade of the railroad was about six or eight feet above the level ground, which gave the cannons fine opportunity for deadly work.
 Although the army had suffered A crushing defeat at Missionary Ridge. driven off the field, losing many men ana arms and cannon and were greatly dispirited, yet Cleburne's Division. which had held it's position all day un. der desperate attacks and heavy odds of the enemy, and by this saved the army from complete destruction and perhaps capture. and acting as rear guard all the following night and the next day, repulsing two desperate at tempts of the enemy to push on and through and attack the retreating col. umns of the shattered army, were full of the martial spirit and ready for any demand. Everything was thus ready and awaiting the oncoming of the en- emy. About 9 o'clock a. m on the same morning they appeared in force on the western side of the town, and marching through formed line of bat tie on the east side. Little did they think of what was in store for them. In fifteen minutes the skirmishers of both armies met and sharp fighting all along the line followed. both sides holding their ground. It was not long before their main line of battle moved forward. With their flags waving in the breeze and the sunshine gleaming and glistening from their bright guns and the rolling, rattling of the small drums presented a majestic and beau- tiful appearance. The order was per- feet and grand.
 But this did not last long. No soon- CT had they mounted the railroad em- bankment than masked cannon poured its deadly charge into their ranks, and at the same time the heavy line of skirmishers at the foot of the ridge and about 100 yards off, fired their vol lies of death Into them, death and de- struction followed in their ranks. They were so amazed and stunned by this sudden and deadly blow that they fled the field. They soon rallied and re- formed and came again in a double quick charge. The masked battery and skirmishers repeated their fires and destruction followed again; but on they came and driving our skirmishers up the ridge they attempted to follow on. But they met the deadly volleys