The National tribune., 1908-12-31

Nh. "AoniN9iotfi =" III
up the valley to the northwest of the
advance % followed by Ifths rs Brigade M ahe
Reaching point 500 or 500 yards from
the Snodgrass House. and Opposite the
high point at the cerNeG OF Snodgrass
Ridge, Whitaker's Brigade was quickly
formed in two lines, the front line be-
ing composed of the seth ill. on the
fright, the 115th Ill. in the, center and
the 22d Mich on the left. s5n the Sec
ond line the 10th OtnD was on the
right, the S4th Ind. ing thefcenter and
the seth Ohio on the deft Mitchelrs
Brigade, passing our rear, fas formed
on our right. g.. &c sa.
The ridge was covered with an oak
forest; the soil poor and grayelly; there
Twas very little underbrush. From our
/ position we could easily hear the noise
made by the move of the enemy COM
| ing up the opposite side of the ridge
As soon as the lines were formed the
order for the charge was given. and the
/ gallant Gen. James B. Steedman, of this
city. on his faithful charger. directly
behind the 115th H., gave the signal
| for the Union yell as our lines, with
cleaning bayonets, started on the
charge up that now historic hin. We
have often heard of the rebel yell, but
think the yelling of our boys on that
Echarge certainly equaled their best
Doubtless the rebels coming up the op-
posite side of the hill were making an
| equal demonstration. but we were MAX
| ing too much noise to hear It, It was
a race for the crest Of the hill, with
the chances about equal.
| On rushed our column, bearing lit
tie to the right, Stacking a little at the
fsteepest part, but never halting till the
summit was reached, about 400 yards
FnNv 4t.4 -Arx- sv.k A If..1
rolled over the crest the Cenfederates
were in plain view. in some places not
more than so yards distant. For a mo-
ment the clash of bayonets seemed fn-
| evitable, but we had the advantage.
/ Every one of our boys. presented q
bright bayonet, while many Of the
| C0nfederates had none. The men in
that plight could not stand against our
advancing line of steel The intense
excitement of that moment can be real
lied OF appreciated by those only who
| have had a similar experience. After
/ a volley the Confederates gave way,
| closely followed by our. front line a
distance of so to 100 yards down the
tsout1ern slope.
| A Terrific sEusIesry DacA '''
I Our advantage, however. was for the
moment only, for as soon as we halted
| the enemy turned upon us with the
most terrific musketry fire ever seen in
any battle. For 20 minutes a musketry
duel, with all the fury Imaginable,
ragged between the two lines. with fear
f;i loss on both sides. Being unable to
stand it longer, the Confederates with
drew to reform their lines, and our
| front line fell back a little beyond the
crest, allowing the second line to pass
to the front.
In the meantime Col Mitchelrs Bri-
gade had moved to our right, and in
getting into position by some means
got in between the two wings of the
seth Ill 1t appears that the officers
in command of the right wing Of the
96th, hearing the repeated commands
"Give way to the right" supposed they
came from their own regiment, and
continued moving to the right until
that portion of the 96th occupied an
exposed position on the extreme right
of the division, where 1t remained till
the close of the battle ana where IT
suffered terrible loss. Va
The Iuil in the battle was but for a
few minutes, when the C3nfedcrates
again came to the attack. Assault after
assault was made on our lines. Our
two lines of battle had Been merged
into one, and soon became a thin one
at that. The battle ragged with inces-
SAINT fury, but Whitaker's Brigade held
the crest of the ridge, with slight ex-
ceptions. until sundown. Mtchells Bri-
gade had a more varied experience.
Sometimes it was forced back little,
gained its lost ground. eIr2ene OF these
charges the 121st 0hiolycaptufed the
colors Of the ED Ala. 80 - ,sn /
The ConSederates.
The Confederate forces engaged in
this conflict consisted Of Humphreys's,
Kersfraw's, Andersonss, Greggs, john
gtnnfS MnNQtrsa npaS'S and ManiQanlf'c
Brigades. in the order named, from
their right to left. Gen. Hindman, in
his report, SAYS: Tho commanding nine
brigades, I found the gain both slow
and costly. T have never known Fed
eraI troops to fight SO well. It is lust
ate soldiers fight better"
As showing the effect of the fight put
up by our two brigades against nine,
Gen. Bushrod Johnson, in his report,
referring to Deas's and Manigault's Bri-
gades, that had been driven from the
hill and ordered to return, says: Lieut.
Marchbanks (his Aid reported that
Brig. Gen. Deas replied that on con-
suItation with Gen. Manigauit they had
decided that 1t would not be safe TO
put their commands in that position
without the support of fresh troops"
Further speaking, he says: "Over three
hours passed in this conflict, In which
officers and men toiled on and mani
tested more perseverance, determfna-
ton and endurance than I have ever
before witnessed on any field"
Late in the afternoon our men, out
of ammunition, were assaulted b. Gen.
Preston's Division, and for a moment
were compelled to withdraw little dis
tance from the crest, when Gen. Steed-
man came gaIloping along the line.
shouting, give them the bayonet."
and, seizing the colors of the 115th ILL.,.
gallantly led charge that again drove
the enemy from the ridge
While Whitaker's Brigade still held
the ridge, Gen. Thomas was withdraw
ing his army to Chattanooga, beginning
with the divisions on his left and in
pursuance of orders Whitaker's Brigade
quietly dropped back from the crest,
passed the hollow and formed on the
next ridge. BY some strange fatality
the command to withdraw failed to
reach the 22d Mich, S9th Ohio and
21st Ohio, which occupied a position
near them. A little later in the DUSK
of evening Trigg's Brigade Of Prestoa's
Division. meeting no opposition on the
ridge, formerly occupied by Whitaker
and Mitchell, crossed over thru the de-
preston in the ridge, and, wheeling to
the right, soon appeared in the rear of
the 22d Mich, 89th Ohio and 21st Ohio,
while Kelly's Brigade of the same divf-
sion came up in their front. A portion
of each regiment made successful,
tho desperate, break for. liberty, while
the remainder, finding themselves in
darkness surrounded hu fha