The National tribune., 1911-01-05
AT DAvIs's CROSSROADS.
With Ncglcy's Division in the Noun
tGins of Gcorgia-ScoiGs'd by Rose

With Ncgicy's Division i'm the Noun
tGins of Gcorga-ScoiGsd by Rose
Grams.
Editor National Tribune: on Sept. 9,
| 1863, Negley's Division, the advance of
the Fourteenth Corps. descended the
east side OF Lookout Mountain and en-
tered McLemore's Cove at the head of
the Chickamauga Valley. Beyond the
valley, seven miles in from; of US, rose
a spur of the Lookout range named
Pigeon Mountain. 1t was rather low
ridge, about 3 miles long and 500 to
500 feet high, bare in some parts and
densely wooded in others. Thru it were
several passes called Blue Bird, Dug
and Catletts Gaps These gaps were
narrow and rough, easily defended. and
hard to force. In truth, Pigeon Noun
tain was a perfect barrlcade for the
enemy and also a perfect screen behind
which they could manuver unseen.
Our destination was Lafayette, and
TO reach it we had to pass thru Dug
Gap. We had driven Wheeler's Cav
airy from Lookout, and as soon as we
touched the lowIand we encountered
| them again. AT p. m. the 18th Ohio
moved out to attack them, and after
a few shots they retreated across a
creek in the cove. and there we halted
for the night. On the 10th the divi-
sion moved forward in battle line to-
ward Dug Gap, crossing Mission Ridge
Bailey's and Davis's Crossroads, fight
ing all day with the cavalry.
Our regiment passed thru field of
the tallest corn any of us had ever
seen. Many of the ears could not be
reached by the outstretched hand. Soon
after reaching the cornfield We were
halted and ordered to retire for sew
eral hundred yards, and formed line
again on the front of the road. We
had been in ticklish place., but could
see nothing, on account of the thick
woods. Our skrmish line was thrown
out and soon engaged with the rebel
infantry, and fought until dark with
out any gain.
The enemy in front was Cleburne's s
Division supported by Walkers Corps.
Their skirmishers were very bold and
very close, and after dark threw rocks
at ours to draw their fire. One of the
| 18th had his eyes injured by rock
We bivouaced at night in dense pine
woods close to the gap and mile east
of DaviS's Crossroads. During the day
a body of the enemy was discovered
north of us down the valley toward
Chattanooga. and Gen. Negiey sent a
regiment out firm the crossroads to
watch and hold them in check.
| At daybreak on the 11th the firing
recommended and kept up all fore
noon without any advance on either
| side. Our artillery fired few times
without eliciting a reply. At noon our
company relieved the skirmishers on
the left of the road, and we soon heard
the whistling of bullets. 1t was as I'M
desirable position as company could
be placed in. The ground was rough
rolling and very brushy. We were car
rying our knapsacks and they greatly
impeded our movements. We could
neither advance, retreat nor lie down
with any celebrity at all.
Our men never should have been
sent out to skirmish on brushy ground
loaded with their full equipment. weigh
ing about so pounds. 1t destroyed all
their mobility. In open ground the
knapsack could be used at times IS a
defense. Gen. Baird. with two of his
brigades. arrived before noon and was
posted at Davis's Crossroads to protec.
our rear from the enemy on the north
At 3 O'Clock he found large body Of
| troops advancing against him and ad-
vised Negley>to withdraw to tho cruSs-
roads. This fianking force was Ge.
Hindman with his own and S,"waf'' =
and Preston's Divisions, also three coz.
mands of cavalry and a full artillery
Itrain.
| Hindman had been standing at arms
at our left flank since the morning OF
| the 10th under repeated orders from
Gen. Bragg to attack Immediately. but
he was chary and cautious, and his in
decision probably saved us from serious
rout. Gen. Negley realized the danger
and at 4 o'clock our line WAS drawn
! back to a low ridge on the west side
of Chickamauga Creek. 1t was for
tunate move and relieved us from any
great disaster
CIeburne pushed after us with his
characteristic energy, and we lad jus,
gotten into line when one of his bat;
| teries moved up within 400 yards ana
opcned a hot fire with shell and cam
lister on the left wing of the 1Sth Obi"
and threw il into disorder. iicgi'ur
Cleburncs guns, Hindman attacked
with some spirit, but failed to reach ous
road from Lookout to the crossroads
Stanley. commanding the Second Bri
gadc. thought we were also attacked
of Blue Bird Gap.
Our position was found untenablc, n
Hindman still threatened our rear; bun
we held it until dark, and then r"t'rrt
two miles farther back 10 Mission
Ridge The enemy continued their
artillery fire long after we had let and
moved into Dug and Catletts Gaps H.
the night. The loss on our side in th!s
fight was seven killed and q wounded
Early on the 18th the enemy parted
a signal station on Pigeon MuJGJaia
south of and near Dug Gap. Baird ana
Brannon, who had come down, mace q
reconnaissance TO the crossroads and
found that the enemy had Withdraw
to their lairs. on the 14th We rlarC;.~t
out and buried our dead. Tney wrrc
I dreadful sight. Three had LOST THEN
heads in the cannonade. | picked up
two of the canister balls and nae then.
yet. | look at them sometimes and
think of the awful sound they iuDIe
and OF the destruction they wrought
That day.
There was doubt in the mind of the
highest authority about having been IN
a critical situation at Dug Cap and
Davis's Crossroads. Gen. NeSley re-
ported to Gen. Thomas that he had
been attacked by superior forces and
saved himself by retreating. -Thomas
reported thc same to the General COM
nanding in Chattanooga, but Gen
ROsccrans had unfortunately convinced
himself that Bragg was retreatins to
Atlanta as fast as he could, and, instead
Of coming out to see the situation, wrote