Judson W. Bishop's "The Story of A Regiment" (2nd Minn)

[gary]

Not a remarkable history, but for those of you who know that there was fighting outside of Northern Virginia, this book is especially important with respects to Missionary Ridge (outside of Chattanooga, TN). It identifies the men who, when ordered to skirmish (and provide a diversion) and seize the foot of the hill, carried Missionary Ridge instead.

According to the book, that fateful charge was led by the 2nd Minnesota. Capt. John Read Beatty was serving as assistant adjutant general. When the lower entrenchments had been seized, the men knew that they could not remain in the exposed position. They must either retire and yield their gain or continue the momentum of the charge. Capt. Beatty ordered the bugler, Billings J. Sibley to sound the charge. The rest as we say is history.

Beatty knew his order was beyond that that was issued and that his command to charge could result in insubordination charges against him. He swore his men to secrecy. It was only after Betty died (1916) that a member of his company, Roswell Lyon Nason stepped forward and related the entire story. Historians may question Roswell's motive (glory seeking, lack of contemporaneous documentation), but decide for yourself. BTW, I bought it cheap (opening bid price) on Ebay.