Chickamuga !!!

scone · #1 10-01-2005, 12:18 AM

In memory of thoses that fought at Chickamuga.

The Following is one of the sadest stories I have heard of any battle .

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I remember witnessing a very pathetic seen early sunday morning soon after the fight opened. Lt. Renefro of the 22nd Alabama Regiment who some days before the fight had got leave of absence to visit his home at Jacksonville, Alabama (his father kept the hotel there at that time) and his father had brought him back to the army in a buggy arriving there on the evening before. Sunday morning Lt. Renefro joined his command and went into the fight and was killed on the first charge. When I saw him, his father was carrying his body off the battlefield in the buggy in which they had come and my information was that he brought his body on to Jacksonville to be buried. CAPTAIN WILLIAM P. HOWELL Co. I 25th Alabama Infantry

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Official Reports: "The capture of colors of the 22nd. Alabama Infantry"No. 355. Report of Capt. Harry T. Toulmin, Twenty-second Alabama Infantry.
Hdqrs. Twenty-second Alabama Regiment, Missionary Ridge, October 5, 1863.
Captain: I have the honor to report the part taken by the Twenty-second Alabama Regiment in the Battle of Chickamauga:

On the morning of September 20, the Twenty-second Alabama Regiment, under the command of Lieut. Col. John Weedon, and forming a part of the Left Wing of the line of battle, was ordered to move forward against the line of the enemy. The movement began about 11:20 a.m. The regiment had advanced about 300 yards, when it came in contact with the enemy's skirmishers, who immediatgely fell back on the main line. Here we met with heavy volleys of musketry from behind a temporary breastwork of logs about 3 feet high. Without halting to exchange fire with the enemy, the regiment most gallantly charged the works, capturing some 250 prisoners and a piece of artillery, and putting to flight the remainder of the line.

It was here that Capt. J. D. Nott and Lieut. Waller Mordecai, of Company B, fell mortally wounded. No truer patriots ever lived; no better, braver soldiers ever died. Here, too, Sergeant Laery, of Company H, bravely bearing the colors, fell severely wounded. The colors were then seized by Lieutenant Leonard, of Company K, and borne by him until he was wounded and forced to give them up. They then fell into the hands of Lieutenant Renfro, of Company K, who gallantly carried them to the front and planted them almost within the enemy's line. Moving rapidly forward, amid a destructive fire of shot and shell, some 200 yards across an open field, the regiment became engaged with a second line of battle, which obstinately contested every foot of ground over which it passed. Here took place a terrible conflict, which lasted about 20 minutes, and in which we lost many brave spirits, none of whom deserves more honorable mention than Lieut. A. B. Renfro, who fell pierced through the head with colors in hand. Here too, fell our brave, our true, our esteemed commander, Lieut. Col. John Weedon. Having led with distinguished coolness and bravery his command to within 20 paces of the enemy's line, he fell to rise no more. He fell beneath the honored folds of that cherished flag under which he had so gallantly led his brave men.

It was at this point the command of the regiment devolved upon me, Major Hart having been previously wounded and retired from the field. The command firmly held its ground and was driving the enemy slowly but surely before its destructive fire when re-enforcements came to our support. At this time the Twenty-second Alabama rushed forward with a yell and drove the enemy in dismayh from his strong position. Here it captured two pieces of cannon and the tattered remnants of a stand of colors. It pressed on and, in conjunction with a portion of General Anderson's brigade, captured several other pieces of cannon. The regiment continued to press forward, the enemy fleeing before it, until ordered to fall back about a quarter of a mile for the purpose of reforming the brigade. This order was promptly obeyed. Having formed, the regiment, with the brigade, moved by the right flank some half or three-quarters of a mile and again formed line of battle, when it was halted to procure ammunition. This being done, moved on a short distance into the woods, where it was halted and remained at rest about an hour.

The regiment moved from this point in a line at right angles with the one occupied in the morning over a range of thickly wooded and very steep hills. Being ordered to move by a right wheel and to assault the enemy's line, it did so, but finding the enemy on a very high hill with a strongly posted battery, it was impossible to penetrate his line. The fire of grape and canister at this point was terrific, and although the command made bold and earnest efforts to rise the hill and storm the battery it was unsuccessful. Here, I regret to state, we lost our colors. Private Braswell, of Company A, who was then bearing them, fearlessly rushed to the front and in advance of the line, and was there literally riddled with balls, as was subsequently shown by the recovery of his body. The fire at this time was such as to throw the regiment into confusion, in which the loss of Private Braswell and colors was not discovered until too late to rescue them, for amid this confusion the regiment fell back, and was unable afterward to regain its lost position. Twice did it rally and attempt to recover its ground and lost colors, but the storm of grape and canister was so terrible and destructive that every effort proved unavailing. Having fallen back a third time in some disorder, the regiment retired to the foot of the hill and reformed there. This was done by the whole brigade. From this point we moved by the right flank some 300 yards to a point on the crest of a hill, where we formed line of battle and bivouacked for the night. It was now about sunset.

Where all did so well, both officers and men, it would be hard to discrimate, but I cannot fail to mention the coolness and the gallantry of Adjt. W. G. Smith, and to express my appreciation of the valuable services rendered by him during the battle; nor can I close this report without the honorable mention of Lieut. C. J. Michailoffsky, of Company B, whose conduct was so worthy of the cause in which he fought, and whose gallantry was so conspicuous on every part of the field.

I am proud to be able to state that the command displayed such conduct on the battle-field of Chickamauga was will entitle it to another star in that crown of glory it has already won.

The following is a list of casualties in the Twenty-second Alabama Regiment during the battle of Chickamauga, September 20: Went into action with 31 officers and 340 men; aggregate 371. Killed: Officers, 5; enlisted men 39. Wounded: Officers 10; enlisted men, 151. Missing, none. Aggregate killed, wounded, and missing 205.

I have the honor to be, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. T. TOULMIN, Captain, Commanding Twenty-second Alabama Regiment. Capt. E. F. Travis, Assistant Adjutant-General

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Union account of capturing the flag of the 22nd.No. 356. Report of Col. John G. Mitchell, 113th Ohio Infantry, commanding 2nd Brigade.
Hdqrs. Second Brig., First Div., Reserve Corps, Camp near Chattanooga, Tenn., September 26, 1863.

Sir: I have the honor to submit herewith a report of the operations of this command in the late series of engagements in this department.

In accordance with instructions, the command left camp opposite Bridgeport, Ala., at 7 o'clock on the morning of the 13th instant, for Chattanooga, taking with them only blankets and five days' rations.

At 9 o'clock the next morning Chattanooga was passed on our left, and at 11 o'clock we bivouacked at Rossville, Ga., having marched a distance of nearly 40 miles in thirty consecutive hours.

On the morning of the 17th instant, the brigade formed a part of the force which marched to Ringgold, 16 miles from Rossville, drove in the enemy's pickets, and planted a battery on the crest of a hill commanding the town.

On the morning of the 18th instant, the command retujrned to Rossville, and in the evening of the same day was ordered to the support of Col. D. McCook, commanding the Second Brigade, Second Division, Reserve Corps, who had taken a position between the Ringgold and the La Fayette roads.

On the morning of the 19th instant, our skirmishers engaged the enemy's advance, and the engagement was fast becoming general when a peremptory order recalled us to Rossville, to place three days' rations in haversack, and proceed to the support of Brigadier-General Whitaker, whose command was lying on the Ringgold road, 4-1/2 miles southeast of Rossville. Here the command rested on their arms during the night of the 19th.

At 11 o'clock on the morning of the 20th, we were ordered across to the La Fayette road, thence to the proximity of the Fourteenth Army Corps. During the last mile of this march, our left flank was constantly threatened by the enemy's cavalry, and our column endangered by the continued firing from masked batteries. After having reached the extreme right of the center, Fourteenth Corps, we found the country one series of ridges separated from each other only by a few hundred yards of thick woods.

At 1 o'clock an order was received to form line of battle, which was arranged as follows: One hundred and Twenty-first Ohio, Lieut. Col. H. B. Banning commanding, on the right; the Ninety-eighth Ohio, Capt. M. J. Urquhart, on the left, with the Seventy-eighth Illinois, Lieut. Col. Carter Van Vleck, and the One hundred and thirteenth Ohio, Lieut. Col. D. B. Warner, in the center. Battery M, First Illinois Artillery, Lieut. Thomas Burton commanding, took position on the extreme right, supported by two companies of the One hundred and thirteenth and One hundred and Twenty-first Ohio Regiments.

When the line, thus formed, reached a point half way up the last of the mentioned ridges, the enemy appeared in force on the crest, and opened a murderous fire.

The order to charge was given, and in response the solid line rushed to the crest, drove the enemy from his position, and held it.

Three several times the enemy rushed upon us to hurl back our line, but in each instance he was met, and gallantly repulsed. In one of these charges, when the conflict had become hand-to-hand, the One hundred and Twenty-first Ohio captured the flag of the Twenty-second Alabama Regiment, and bore it with them from the field.

For five hours the command remained in the position first gained, holding it against the repeated assaults of greatly superior numbers, and at sundown, after the last cartridge was fired, fell back to the ridge first in our rear.

At half past 6 o'clock we were ordered to Rossville, where we remained until the morning of the 21st. when we went to the support of General Wood's division, Twenty-first Army Corps.

On the morning of the 22d, we were ordered to Chattanooga, where we have remained in the intrenchments up to this period.

An official list of the killed, wounded, and missing is herewith transmitted, showing that more than one-third of our brave comrades are gone. This list will tell more plainly than any words of mine can the manner in which the men of this command bore themselves in the trying hour.

Every officer, and almost every single man, did his whole duty.

The splendid manner in which their several commanders handled the individual regiments, deserves your special commendation. No men could have done more than they did.

My most cordial thanks are thus publicly due the members of the brigade staff for the gallant and efficient manner in which they performed every duty assigned them: Adjt. J. K. Hamilton, Lieut. J. T. Collins, and Capt. R. M. Black.

I have the honor to remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN G. MITCHELL, Colonel, Commanding. Capt. S. B. Moe, Assistant Adjutant-General, First Division

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The 22nd was in Deas Brigade. Deas Brigade routed Sheridan's Division, killing Brig. Gen. W.H. Lytle and capturing 17 cannon. and hundred of union soldiers. However, this was at a high cost of over a 40% casualty rate.

The Casualty rate of the 22nd. Alabama was over 50% going into battle with 31 officers and 340 men; aggregate 371. Killed: Officers, 5; enlisted men 39. Wounded: Officers 10; enlisted men, 151. Missing, none. Aggregate killed, wounded, and missing 205

johan_steele · #2 10-01-2005, 08:26 AM

Men... men of flesh and blood; and iron conviction.

larry_cockerham · #3 10-01-2005, 11:18 AM

The American Civil War was made horrible beyond belief by the fact that men of conviction populated both sides of the lines. Brother against brother or cousin and men of conviction against whatever or whoever was unlucky enough to enter the field of their sights.

lrd89 · #4 10-01-2005, 10:27 PM

Five stars Scone.

scone · #5 10-01-2005, 10:59 PM

I had relatives on both sides there shooting at each other. One of numerous battles that, occured

Some how by the grace of God my two relatives that were in the 22nd made it through.

one in the the 28th alabama (john Harris ) was not so lucky he was wounded and captured , but his brother in the same unit contined on till the end.

May we never forget what happened there.

steven

richard · #6 10-03-2005, 06:22 PM

Just a short note about General W. H. Lytle. Let it be noted that his body remained on the battlefield, Officers of the C.S. paid there respect as they pasted by. After the field was cleared, they then removed it for a proper funeral.

One other note. May it be said that Wilder stated that he wish the killing could be stopped. He did not like the way that so many CS boys were dying in that small revine near the LaFayett road.

r_moody · #7 10-03-2005, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richard

One other note. May it be said that Wilder stated that he wish the killing could be stopped. He did not like the way that so many CS boys were dying in that small revine near the LaFayett road.

As one of the first Mounted Infantry Units to utilize the Spenser Repeaters his “Lightning Brigade” inflicted far more casualties than other units. I am sure that he was glad he outfitted his men with these new weapons.

I have often wondered what would have happened if he had been allowed to stage the charge he wanted. If successful it could have easily changed the outcome of the battle.

johan_steele · #8 10-04-2005, 07:08 AM

I don't think it would hve changed the outcome, his supports would have been few & far between. An interesting thought regardless.

scone · #9 10-04-2005, 11:20 PM

Wilders Men did slam into the flank of Manigaults Brigade . the brigade that John Harris in the 28th Alabama was in .

"It almost sickened one to reflect how many of those sturdy forms moving steadily forward, in all the vigor and strength of manhood, ere the setting sun would lie cold ans stiff upon that bloody field. " Brig Gen. Arthur M. Manigault

Manigault own Brother in Law Capt. D. E. Huger was killed on snodgrass hill . He was the assistant inspector-general of his Brigade. Maj. John N. Slaughter of the 34th alabama had this to say of Huger.

"A half hour before sunset riding fearlessly amid the shower of canister and Minie balls, waving his sword and calling on the men to rally and encouraging them by his heroic daring , he fell pierced through the heart and died almost instantly. we rejoice to know that he died as the patriot and soldier would wish to die. . in the sytern performance of duty.. yet we mourn that one so young and gallant so full of promise should be cut off in the morning of life and at the threshold of his usefuliness and be lost to his family and his invaluable services lostr to his country in this hour of peril. . He Typified the yong men of the best blood of the south who gave their lives gladly for a cause they regarded as sacred. Although their memory was kept green by those who survived the war, their loss was a blow from which the south suffred for generations."

regards, steven

richard · #10 10-05-2005, 01:39 PM

For all that is spoken about the bravery and heroic daring of all the men on both sides of this war, it is truely a shame that any of them had to die. What a great a loss is the talent of the men and women who died in this war.