David A. Powell's Blog, page 10

September 17, 1863. “It is trying on a mans nerves to be placed in this position.”

Down in McLemore’s Cove, both armies remained in close proximity. Reynolds’s Division, Thomas’s 14th Corps, was stationed at Pond Spring on September 17th – awaiting the arrival of McCook’s men from the south. William Miller belonged to the 75th Indiana, and described an uneasy night on picket: 

September 17, 1863

Orders came for a detail of twenty men from the company to go to the right and relieve Gen Turchin’s men who had a fight at Bailey’s Cross Roads. We started about noon and met our ambulances coming in with the dead and wounded. We relieved Turchin’s men about sunset. I was sent with Wm. Starr and J. C. Millihen on picket and it was dark where we was posted and we could not see what we have in front. Our orders were for one to stand while the other[s] slept as they could not relieve us. We could hear the Rebs in their camp and they are so close we can hear them talking and swearing. They are moving camp from the noise.

I stood my several tricks and tried to sleep while the others were on duty but I have too many things to think about. It is trying on a mans nerves to be placed in this position. Out in the woods with but two companions and them sleeping and in hearing of the enemy and not knowing what moment they may demonstrate. It causes a man to think of all the mean things he ever did in his life and he will keep his eyes and ears open.

A little circumstance occurred tonight that frightened me terribly. I was leaning against a Red Oak tree and everything was quiet when I thought I heard the brush rustle in my front. I was all attention as I could not see very far. Soon I heard it again. This time I am certain and finally a third time accompanied with a “Whee-Who Who-Who oh” and I felt my hair assume a perpendicular as I thought a Reb had me sure. I stepped back, and about ten feet up in the tree, a clear sky delineated the out line of a “screetch owl” perched on a limb, who was the innocent cause of my alarm. I “Smiled a Surole” and held my position manfully until relieved. I tell this to illustrate the nervous condition I was in and I don’t know if anybody else would done as I did. I knew what it was in an instant but his scream went through me like a shot.

Several miles to the northeast, a Union column from Granger’s Reserve Corps threatened the Confederates in Ringgold. Rebel Private W. J. Davidson, the 41st Tennessee, Gregg’s Brigade of Johnson’s Provisional Division, recorded that incident in his diary: 

September 17, 1863

During the day we heard that a battle was expected every day between Bragg and Rosecrans, and that we were now in seven miles of the enemy’s advance. General Bragg had increased his army by reinforcements from Virginia and Mississippi, and was supposed to have about sixty-five thousand men wherewith to match Rosecrans’ one hundred thousand hitherto victorious and well-armed troops.

Thursday evening a courier announced to General Gregg that the enemy’s cavalry had driven in our pickets beyond Ringgold, and were then in possession of the place. In a short time, the brigade was under arms and on the march. Had to wade the Chickamauga three times in going one half-mile. Heard artillery firing ahead, but, after taking position on a hill overlooking the town, learned that Bushrod Johnson’s Brigade had driven the enemy off. The brigade was then marched back to camps and ordered to cook four day’s rations, which consumed the greater part of the night.

September 16, 1863. “If that is so it will help us out a heap.”

By September 16, the Confederate mood seems to have shifted. Talk of retreating and desertion is on the wane. The letters are more upbeat, buoyed by daily-arriving reinforcements and the fact that now the Federals seem to be falling back. Private John W. Cotton served in the Confederate 10th Cavalry, a composite unit made up of Georgians and Alabamans. Cotton hailed from Coosa County, Alabama. His unit belonged to the newly formed cavalry division of John H. Pegram, Forrest’s Corps. He was writing to his wife and seven children.

Tennessee Camps 15 miles northwest of dalton 7 miles south of ringgold, September 16, 1883,

Here we are 15 miles northwest of dalton. we stayed camped on the battlefield where they had a fight last saturday [probably Leet’s Tanyard] we lost 5 men and the yankeys 17 killed. we taken some fifty prisoners. we had only one regiment in the fite and I dont know how many yankeys. we whipt them. they are about three miles from here now. we expect to fite every day. the first georgia had a skirmich with them today. they tried to take some yankey wagons but failed. I expect we will bee into it before many days.

there will be a big fite before many days some where between here and rome and I expect it will be the worst battle that has ever been fought in this war. they say we have got the largest armey there has ever been together since this was commenced and I feel confident that we will whip the fite. if we do I think that will bring about peace.

there has been several small fites with the cavalry and we have drove them back. it was thought three days ago that they were retreating back across [the] tennessee river but they dont think so now. we keep heering that longstreet have retaken knoxville and a number of prisoners. if that is so it will help us out a heap.

 

Major Henry A. Potter of the 4th Michigan Cavalry (Minty’s Brigade) was one of those nearby Federals: 

[Peeler’s Mill,] Wednesday, September 16th, 1863.

Disturbance last night. Report says Pegram’s forces are at Ringgold. Our pickets in that direction were fired on, or they fired on a squad of rebels – ‘to horse’ sounded and every man was in his saddle – the teams were not loosened from the wagons at all thro the night – quite an excitement this morning.

I was ordered to go to the bridge over the Chickamauga & see if it was destroyed – it was safe – our battery was planted on a hill fronting the camp & the guns masked – we are waiting – ready for anything that may turn up – Rumor that knowing individual says our forces on the right & Burnside on the left have swung around & formed a connection 7 that [the] rebels are surrounded & must fight us – we will see – In afternoon moved back 2 miles & camped for the night.

September 15, 1863. “McPherson’s corps has joined McCook on the right…”

 

From the diary of Lt. Robert B. Davidson, the 35th Ohio, 

Sept. 15, 1863.

Weather hot.  we started at seven (7) AM and encamped at twelve (12) noon, after a march of four miles.  Water is plenty and good all over this country but we are unfortunately not close to a good spring this time.  This is a very fertile country, especially the valleys.  The finest corn I ever saw in these valleys.  MY diarrhea is worse today.  It is reported that McPherson’s Corps has joined McCook on the right, and Burnside has joined us on the left.  The reserve corps had moved up.  Genl. Steadman ( commander in the reserve corps) has come up with his division.

The rumors concerning McPherson and Burnside are interesting. Of these, only the news about Steedman was accurate; leading elements of the Reserve Corps reached Rossville the previous day.

Captain William A. Boyd, the 84th Indiana, Steedman’s division of the Reserve corps, describes his march through Chattanooga to Rossville on the 14th: 

Near noon we passed over a part of Lookout [Mountain] high above the river overlooking the city of Chattanooga, and the beautiful valleys and hills adjacent. We left the town to the left and halted at Rossville Georgia, six miles to the east of south. Rossville is entirely untenanted, and never held more than six or eight log homes. The last one of them was the former residence of the Cherokee Chief John Ross. A large cool spring issues from the base of the mountain in rear of the house.

September 15,

We made a shelter of the bushes and limbs of trees. The men had nothing but rubber blankets and the officers but little more.

Sergeant Styles Porter, of the 52nd Ohio, was also present at Rossville on the 15th, describing some internal strife:  

Sept 15, 1863.

Still without rations, some of the boys go out to try their luck foraging, but a few carry it to excess. Then General Gordon Granger sends out a mounted squad of infantry with orders to bring in every soldier they could find. Something like a hundred are caught, about fifty of whom are brought to General Granger’s headquarters, where he had them tied to trees, with their shirts off, intending to have them whipped. When the whip was brought Granger ordered the guard to use it, but the guard refused. The excitement got up the men gathered in knots, discussing the matter. Col. Dan McCook, Major Holmes and Captain Rothacker went to General Granger and protested, with the result that the whipping was abandoned. The General and his staff would certainly have been annihilated by the infuriated soldiers had not the haughty chief let the men go without whipping. Still, to satisfy a fiendish disposition the General ordered an unusually heavy camp guard and seven roll calls a day. I have often wondered why so many of our army officers take so much pleasure in insulting and wounding the feelings of respectable men.

 

September 13, 1863. “We was going to try and draw them on to some chosen ground.”

On September 13, Union troops under Horatio Van Cleve moved south from Lee and Gordon’s Mills, conducting a reconnaissance towards Rock Spring. They soon collided with Confederates belonging to Stahl’s Brigade, Cheatham’s Division, of Polk’s Corps; engaged in a similar effort. This skirmish did not escalate into a full scale battle, but clearly, both sides were present in force.

Private William Sylvester Dillon was a member of Company E, the 4th Tennessee Infantry, one of those engaged that morning: 

September 13,

We marched about two miles towards the enemy again formed in line of battle – when my company and B was thrown out as skirmishers we had only to advance about 200 yards when we were ordered to halt and wait the advance of the enemy. Almost immediately our cavalry videttes were engaged with their advancing skirmishers, but only exchanged a few shot with them [before] falling back – when close behind their skirmishers on the brow of the hill appeared their main line of battle in beautiful array, but a battery of ours just behind us quickly opened upon them and after two or three well directed shots they broke and fled and quickly in turn brought a battery to bear upon our battery. [T]hen our battery was withdrawn and our entire line fell back.

This maneuver convinced me that a report I heard this morning was true – that we was going to try and draw them on to some chosen ground – but the General failed in this for after following us very cautiously for about 1 1/2 miles they withdrew at night to the same ground they [held] last night. This ended a very hard days duty.

That same day, Union Lieutenant Alfred L. Hough, staff officer to General Negley, expressed similar frustrations about the Confederates: 

Sept 13, 1863, at Stevens Gap on top of Lookout Mountain,

My dearest Mary,

I find the Generals of Divisions and Genl Thomas in consultation. They don’t know whether to advance or not and are I believe waiting for information. If we could get Bragg’s army in a position where our whole army could concentrate we would fight him, but he will not fight. I was in hopes Chattanooga would end our campaign, but am now afraid we will have to go to Atlanta. I cannot begin to tell you of our work, but if I live it will be long a subject of conversation. From all accounts it is decidedly the hardest campaign of the war.

I suppose you will be glad to hear of the occupation of Knoxville and Chattanooga, thereby giving us East Tennessee, but their army is still in existence, and it is our duty to follow it until it is destroyed, and that may yet be through a deal of hard work.

September 12, 1863. “The whole country was a wilderness of timber…”

From the diary of William H. Records, 72nd Indiana, at Tunnel Hill, Georgia: 

September 12, 1863.

When the morning came instead of engaging the enemy on our front we were ordered to retreat to Ringold. We withdrew under cover of the timber leaving a line of Skirmishers firing at the enemy until we were well away. On arriving at Ringold we drew three days rations in haversacks and after some delay the brigade moved out on the road leading to Lafayette Ga. After proceeding about eight miles the advance encountered the enemies advance on the “Nick-a-Jack Trace.” They – the rebels – retired upon their column and our advance promptly followed, and soon came upon the enemy’s position at

Rock Springs

Where we fought a battle which we gave the name of Rock Spring. The 72nd [Indiana] Regt was about the third regt from the front today. As soon as it was ascertained that the enemy was in force each regt was brought rapidly forward and ‘prepared to fight on foot.’ By the time we were forming artillery was being used but that did not continue very long. When everything settled down to a very ominous silence . . . four companies of the 72nd viz A F D & I was detached from the rest and sent to the left of [the] position occupied by the rest of the brigade.

The whole country was a wilderness of timber scarcely a clearing of any description to be seen  in any direction. For that reason we could see nothing, and it looked very much like going it blind to be preparing for battle in a woods like this. When ready to dismount Capt. W. H. McMurtry directed me to take charge of the horses and gave me some further directions about the men and then run on after the company having sent it on with 1st Lieut. R. A. Vance.

What made me take such notice of the Captains instructions in regard to the horses, etc. was because here forore, he was in the habit of having nobody in command of horse holders and trusted everything to their fidelity. There was little or no firing going on until our battalion of four companies arrived at the position assigned when they encountered the 6th Ga. all ready in line. There was about six hundred rebels concealed in the brush and our force averaged about thirty men to the company, which made only 120 men for us.

The enemies line overlapped ours at both flanks and as soon as the firing began they began closing their wings around ours, and had it not been for our men being armed with the Spencer Rifle – a seven Shooter – there is no doubt but the entire battalion would have been ‘gobbled up.’ But as it was the struggle was a fearful one while it lasted. The enemy was repulsed at a fearful cost to us. Co. I lost her Captain, Wm. H. McMurtry. He called Wm. Harvey as he fell, [but] died before he could tell Harvey what he wanted done.

1st lieut R. Vance then took command of Co. I.

Geo. Brooks, private, of Co. I. killed. Jacob Allen wounded. The entire loss of killed in the four companies was 8, and 8 wounded, which made a total loss of 16 out of 120. Co. D escaped without a scratch.

This affair happened up on a hill to [the] left of Rock Springs as you go towards Lafayette. The dead were all carried down to a house [Dr. Leet’s] on the road near the spring. It was now nearly night and the force we retreated from this morning was now on our back – Wheler’s [really Forrest’s] cavalry.

In our front was Pegram’s brigade of Mounted Infantry, a part of which we had just fought and then in front an to our right lay Clayborne’s [Cheatham’s] division of infantry. We did not stop to burry our dead, but laid them all on a porch of the house and left them. The wounded was taken along in the ambulances, poor fellows. How they must have suffered. One died before we reached camp.

Soon after starting we could see the light of campfires and we thought it must be our infantry, but orders were to keep very quiet. Presently some scouts that were ahead came back and reported that it was rebels camped in line of battle. To our right was a high rail fence. This was taken down very carefully so as not to make any noise for rebel pickets were not 200 yards off. We then took to the fields and woods for it.

Col. Monroe with his regt the 123rd Ill was covering the rear, for Wheeler was pressing hard upon us. Failing to elude him by moving out of the roads and going in the woods, Col Wilder at last resorted to a ‘false camp’ and that had the desired effect. . . .We managed to get to Lee and Gordons Mills that night where we found Crittenden’s Army Corps.