Correcting a Slight Mistake: The 100th Illinois Saves the 8th Indiana Battery at Chickamauga

After losing a third of his command in the short span of 15 minutes on the first day of Chickamauga, Major Charles M. Hammond of the 100th Illinois was eager that the homefolks got the story right. 

    "I noticed in your issue of September 23rd a slight account of the fight of Saturday afternoon the 19th and in relation to Davis’s division rescuing the 8th Indiana Battery and discovered a slight mistake," he commented to the editors of the Wilmington Independent. After describing how the brigade arrived on the field, he wrote " At that moment, troops from Davis’s division came rushing through our lines and a battery from the same division, I think (though have not been able to ascertain positively) ran over us, killing one man and wounding several others. In the meantime, the Rebels were pouring in upon us a raking fire which was returned with interest. At this moment, General [Thomas J.] Wood rode up and ordered the 100th to charge, which was responded to with a shout and a rush, but our left being heavily pressed, began to give way, and the order was given to fall back and after retreating about 250 yards was again rallied and moved up to the crest of the knoll. We sent the enemy back kiting and recapturing that 8th Indiana Battery spoken of in yours of the 23rd, hauling it off by hand, the horses being mostly shot down. We drove the enemy back into the woods and held the ground fought over until darkness closed over the scene of action."

    Major Hammond's account of Chickamauga first appeared in the October 28, 1863, edition of the Wilmington Independent published in Wilmington, Illinois.

Major (later Colonel) Charles M. Hammond, 100th Illinois Volunteer Infantry

Camp of 100th Regt. Illinois Vols., Chattanooga,Tennessee

October 8, 1863

 

Friend Steele,

          I noticed inyour issue of September 23rd a slight account of the fight ofSaturday afternoon the 19th and in relation to Davis’s divisionrescuing the 8th Indiana Battery and discovered a slight mistake.There was the spot and that the time, full one-third of the 100thwas cut down in the short space of 15 minutes.

          About 3 p.m.of that day, orders came to the First Brigade consisting of the 58thIndiana, 26th Ohio, 13th Michigan, 100thIllinois, and 8th Indiana Battery, then stationed at Gordon’s Mills,holding the ford to move on a double quick about two miles to our left to thesupport of Davis’s division who were then being heavily pressed. On arriving atthat point which was an open field skirted with timber on the right, left, andfront, we were immediately formed in two lines with the 26th Ohioand 100th Illinois in front, and the 58th Indiana and 13thMichigan in the rear supporting us while the 8th Indiana Battery tooka position between and a little in the rear of the 26th Ohio and 100thIllinois.

          At that moment,troops from Davis’s division came rushing through our lines and a battery fromthe same division, I think (though have not been able to ascertain positively)ran over us, killing one man and wounding several others. In the meantime, theRebels were pouring in upon us a raking fire which was returned with interest.At this moment, General [Thomas J.] Wood rode up and ordered the 100thto charge, which was responded to with a shout and a rush, but our left beingheavily pressed, began to give way, and the order was given to fall back andafter retreating about 250 yards was again rallied and moved up to the crest ofthe knoll. We sent the enemy back kiting and recapturing that 8thIndiana Battery spoken of in yours of the 23rd, hauling it off byhand, the horses being mostly shot down. We drove the enemy back into the woodsand held the ground fought over until darkness closed over the scene of action.

          Our regimentimmediately commenced looking over the field after our killed and wounded, butwere fired upon by the enemy, probably to afford them an opportunity forplundering. They succeeded, however, in bringing off most of the wounded, whowere conveyed in ambulances to the field hospital. Those are the facts, writtennot to boast of the 100th (for that is unnecessary) but to set thematter right before friends at home.

          A Tennesseemajor with 48 deserters came into our lines yesterday morning. The major statesthat on the evening of the 4th, when they attacked and attempted tocarry our whole line by storm, the Tennessee troops did not come up to thework, which so enraged Longstreet’s troops that a pitched battle grew out of itwherein some 500-600 were killed and wounded. This is a Rebel account and Igive it for what is worth.

          CaptainBradley opened on them today with a 32-lb Parrott, stirring them up on a hillestimated to be three miles from us. They returned the fire; but the shots fellamongst their own pickets, falling short nearly one mile which does not lookmuch like shelling Rosy out of Chattanooga.

          Before Iclose, let me add a word for Chaplain Crews and Dr. Bowen who came to lookafter our wounded. On arriving at Stevenson and finding no conveyance to take themany farther, each immediately cut a good hickory and charged over themountains, a distance of 40 miles, on foot. On arriving at the camp of the 100th,notwithstanding they walked like old stage horses, they immediately repaired tothe hospital, took off their coats, rolled up their sleeves, and waded in,dressing the wounded, and sticking to their work while here like men mowing bythe acre. Long will they be remembered by the 100th and particularlyby those whose sufferings they relieved.

          Trustingeverything is all quiet on the Potomac now that no fears are entertained froman attack by Longstreet and Washington is safe, I remain very respectfullyyours,

C.M. Hammond,

Major, 100th Ill. Vol.

To learn more about the actions of the First Brigade which fought under the command of Colonel George P. Buell at Chickamauga, please check out these posts:

In the Center at Chickamauga (58th Indiana) 

The Chances of War: Captured Surgeons After Chickamauga (13th Michigan)

It is the Fate of War: The 26th Ohio at Chickamauga

Source:

Letter from Major Charles Morrel Hammond, 100thIllinois Volunteer Infantry, Wilmington Independent (Illinois), October28, 1863, pg. 2