The Ordway new era., 1913-04-18
STORIES 2 9a4|. :
AND WAR %
BRAGG At MISSIONARY RlDe.
Hard Fighting by Fifteenth Corps
Drew Heavy Force From Enemy's
csnter-Loss Severe.

/ -Sse SSNSses
have seen a great deal in prinl
about how the forces commanded b,
General Thomas broke the rebel cen
ter and drove Bragg's army from Mis-
sionary ridge. but very little about the
hard fighting of the Fifteenth corps
on the north end OF the ridge, which
drew heavy force from the enemy's
center. and made il possible for the
Union forces to break through and
drive the rebels from the ridge.
The forces under General Thomas
deserve great praise for doing their
part so well. AT a. m.. November
20. saw our line OF battle was formed
In the edge OF some timber west OF
the north end OF Missionary ridge
writer Joseph Witham OF the Twelfth
indiana, of Cherryvale. Kan. in the
National Tribune. From there we
could see across the cleared field in
our front the enemy and his batteries
IN the ridge but little more than 100
rods away. while the timber hid US
from their view. Al 10 a m we
emerged from the timber. climbed
over a high fence and landed in the
open field In plain view of the enemy
Here we were greeted with the heav
lest storm of shells we ever expert
enced.
I In a few minutes we were in line
ana ready to move. The order was
given to charge. and we advanced
on the run. forcing the enemy up the
steep hillside. We halted 15 or 20
rods before we reached the foot Of
the ridge. and there we remained In
the open field exposed to the shot
and shell of the enemy for five long
hours. The brigade was composed Of
the Twentysixth and Ninetieth iii.
nois and the One Hundretdth and
Twelfth Indiana. The last named reg
iment was on the extreme right.
As we crossed the open field the
battle ragged in all its fury In beau
tiful and unbroken line the command
pressed forward. with flags flying.
bullets whizzing and shells shrieking
and bursting overhead and among US.
saw picture Of the brigade In that
battle when was in Washington in
1855 at the time of our Grand Re-
view. and 1t was SO true in every par
ticular that l think there was . pho
tographer on the field of battle who
took the picture there.
Al II .. m. We could see General
Corse's men lining up at the foot OF
the extreme north end OF Missionary
ridge Soon they began to ascend
the ridge In line OF battle. and when
within about 80 steps Of the enemy's
works they halted for nearly one
minute. while the rain Of iron and
lead from the enemy was terrific All
Of q sudden the boys In blue went
forward on the run, right on to the
enemy's works. as their loud cheers
rang down the valley. We could
clearly see our men clubbing the rebs
with the butts of their guns and hav-
ing general mix-up.
Away down on top of the ridge to
our right column of rebel infantry
was coming from the center Of
Bragg's line as a reinforcement. Al
arst we could only see their head
bobblng up and down as they came
Soon they were near the end of the
ridge. swinging into line Of battle
They fired volley at our men on the
rebel works, who. being .outnumbered
retreated to the foot of the ridge
Soon corse's men were reinforced
and again gained the summit as be
fore. where another furious handto
land conflict occurred. And again a
force could be seen coming from
Bragg's center, and when they arrived
our men were repulsed as before.
Thus the furious battle ragged
charge after charge. until p. m.
when we could heard the rssttle Of
musketry far down the line to our
right. as Thomas was charging the
enemy's center. 1t was then that ouI
bugie blew retreat. and we retreated
under calling fire from the enemy
Their loud cheers of victory rang
lown the valley. But our demonstra
tions on the enemy's flank had Sc
cured his defeat by weakening his cen
ter, and the day was ours. Chaplain
Gage, who was in this battle and wrote
history. Of the Twelfth Indiana
says: "The loss in the Fourth divi
sion was severe. In the First brigade
nearly 500 men were killed and
wounded"