The National tribune., 1906-10-18
THE 9TH OHIO AT CHICKAMAUGA.
Their Gallant Charge Which Reeaptured
Battery.

Editor National Tribune: was espe-
cially interested in your number of
Sept. 20. First. In reading Gen. Will
der's report of his capture of Hoover's
Gap in June, 1868.
Second. In the account of Stonewall
Jackson's death.
Third. In Mr.. McElroys account of
the first day at Chickamauga, and espe-
cially in what he said about the opera
tions of the brigade of Col. Ferd Van
Derveer and IF the 9th Ohio.
Shortly after the battles of Mission
Ri6ge and Lookout Mountain, in the
company of large number of officers,
/ rode out from Chattanooga to and
over a considerable part of the battle
field of Chickamauga, and on that trip
@. Col. Van Derveer gave an account of
the charge made by the 9Th Ohio, which
bel nged to his brigade, and of the
capture of the guns which had been
taken from our people by the Confeder-
ates earlier in the engagement.
The 9Th Ohio at that time was COM
manded by Col. Kammerling, and was
German regiment from top to bot
tom. The Colonel gave his commands
in German, and i well remember the
first time that We were out together
and heard him giving commands to his
men.
1t was the second morning of the
operations in front of Chattanooga, and
on the m orning of the day that we
went up Mission Ridge. Our men were
unaccustomed to it and were very much
amused.
At the battle of Chickamauga, up to
the time of the making this charge
the 9th Ohio had been in the rear in
charge of an ammunition train. The
Colonel and his men both resented it,
and they got the impression that they
We're put there on account of a want
of confidence in them, thing in which
they We're wholly and entirely mistak
en-.
The Colonel raved and tore around
about it, attacking every general Off
Ger that he met and asking to be Or
dcred to his command, until finally he
succeeded in getting an order to rejoin
his brigade. He found his brigade was
on the extreme left guarding ford,
and started down the road in that di-
rection. He had not gone great ways
before he discovered a Confederate
command coming right down toward
him from his right. He Immediately
fixed bayonets, and started for the Con-
federates on the double jump. He nev-
er stopped t. see whether it was
brigade, division or an entire corps, but
his men commenced yelling; there was
considerable underbrush, and they
spread out a good deal and made such
a noise that they soon created a panic
among the Confederates, who retreated.
and he followed them up quite a dis
tance and until he recaptured the five
pieces of artillery, which his men
dragged back to the road. He never
had any very definite idea as to the
number of the men he attacked, but
was well atisfied that it was from four
to 10 times as many as he had himself.
Coming back to the road, he started
on toward the ford, his men hauling
the guns along by hand. The first that
Col. Van Derveer knew of his approach
some one called out, Look out, What's
coming?" Everyone sprang to his feet.
They saw a cloud of dust, and at first
concluded that some cavalry were max
ing an attack upon them from the rear.
Presently a little whiff of air scattered
the dust, and they discovered it was
Col. Kammerling on his old white mare
all alone, but coming at the top of her
speed. He did not see Col. Van Derveer
or any of his officers until he was right
opposite them, and then pulled up the
old mare so quickly that he sat her
right down on her launches and called
out in very excited manner, Colonel,
Colonel, my Mint takes battery. What
must l do NIT him ?''
He was SD excited and talked so fast
that neither the Colonel nor anyone
else could understand a word he said
for some time, and finally Col. Van
Derveer said to him, Speak slower; I
can't understand word you say.
After a time Col. Kammerling got cool
ed down, and Col. Van Derveer found
out what he was trying to say.
BY this time his men were in sight,
and came up pulling the guns by hand,
and feeling that they had retrieved
their reputation. or at least satisfied
with what they had done. There was
not the slightest ground for their hav-
ing had such feeling, because there was
no braver set of men nor better regi-
ment in the service than were they.
/ was also interested in reading Capt.
Bradley's report of the battle of Chick
amauga and of the movements Of Gen.
Wood on the second day of the battle,
3n the same number of your paper. But
his account is SO at variance with all
accepted reports that 1t seems to me
that the Captain must be mistaken.
Gen. Wood himself, in his official re-
port, on pages 635 and 636 Of part /
of Vol. 80 of the Rebellion Records
gives the order which he received in
the following words:
THE General commanding directs
that you close up on Reynolds as fast
as possible.
Frank S. Bond, Major and Abide
Camp"
He says that Gen. McCook was pres
ent when he received the order and
that he turned to him at once and told
him what his order was, and what he
was going to do, and that Gen. McCook
told him one of his divisions was right
at hand and il would take his place.
He does not mention Rosecrans as be-
ing present or Garfield, nor either one
of them as saying one word to him
about his order. He says that he turn
ed at once and gave his order for the
movement, and followed along himself
until he met Gen. Thomas, and ex-
planned to him what his orders were;
that Gen. Thomas told him that Rey-
Golds needed no support, but that Gen.
Baird, further to the left, did, and to
go to his support; that he went in that
direction with his first brigade, and,
returning for the other two, found that
they and Davis's DivisiG, and the right
of Brannan's Division were ell in con-
fusion and had been driven back.
Gen. Rosecrans in his official report
which will be found on page SO, Part 1,
Vol 80 of Rebellion Records, and fol-
loving. says that he was in the rear OF
the right of Gen. Davis's Division when
the Confederate troops rushed through
and stampeded Davis's Division as
well as some of the others. He does
not mention having been near Gen
Wood and II seems to me that Capt
Bradley must be mistaken in his ac.
count as to Rosecrans and Garfield be.
Ing present
j should like to inquire when the s.
and Shorty papers are to be renewed