The Road to Hoover's Gap

[richard]

Wednesday, June 24, 1863, started early for the men of the 18th​ Indiana Light Artillery Battery and Wilder's Brigade. Henry Campbell, the 17 year old bugler of the Battery was blowing Reveilleat 2 AM in response to General William Rosecrans, commanding General of the Union Army of the Cumberland, order to move south from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Their objective was to engage the Army of Tennessee led by General Braxton Bragg.

For the 18th​, this would be the first real battle that they had fought since the battery was formed in the summer of 1862. Though not battle-tested, Captain Eli Lilly, founder of Eli Lilly and Company, was confident that his men were up to the task.

Just a few days before, the Battery had moved to a new camp about 5 miles east of Murfreesboro on the banks of the Stones River. This new camp was protected by thick woods. The sun could not penetrate the thick covering of leaves which made it cool for the men camping there. The men worked hard in making this camp the most comfortable one that they had so far had.

The orders that the Brigade receive the night before, stated that they were to move out to town at 4 AM. At the prescribed time, the battery had everything packed up and loaded onto the wagons and was prepared for the march to town.

Passing through town, the brigade took the Manchester pike southbound Today this road is old US 41 south. The road was just wide enough for two wagons to pass and was covered with broken stone for its surface. Just after they passed the last picket post outside of Murfreesboro, the brigade had to stop until a small bridge was repaired. After about an hour had passed, it started to rain. A drizzle at first and then heaver. This rain lasted for the better part of two weeks without stopping.

As the Brigade closer to Hoover's Gap, a lookout tower was spotted and the confederates were driven off. The race to the gap had started.

As stated before, the Manchester Pike was a rock-covered two-lane wagon road. The distance between the road and the high hills on the other side of the narrow valley, the brigade had to travel on the dirt and grass. The ground was wet and the rain was coming down harder at the march grew closer to the gap.

Today, parts of the civil war road can still be seen. Opposite of the old US 41 is Interstate 24. That highway actually cut the battlefield almost in half.

 

[richard]

In 2006 I had the pleasure of taking a tour of the battlefield with Dr. Michael Bradley who has written extensively about Hoovers Gap and the entire Tullahoma Campagne. This battle impressed me so much that I feel that its' story should be told by someone that was there. Therefore I will post from Henry Campbell's reconciliations of the battle. Henry was with the 18th Indiana Light Artillery and he will present his views.

I will be posting all of his posts but not at once.

 

[richard]

Post 1


"Today will be eventful in the history of the "Army of the Cumberland," as the one in which Rosecrans well planned, finely executed and strategic campaign of Chattanooga began. We had just got snugly quartered in our new camp when the order arrived for us to march at 4 o'clock this morning - with all our equipment. I sounded the reveille at 2 o'clock, at 4 we had everything packed and was on our way. Passed through town and took the Manchester Pike. After passing the last picket post, we waited an hour on the "Pioneers" who were repairing a bridge. - 8 o'clock it began to rain a slow drizzling rain common to this country (and kept it up for three weeks afterward, without stopping once.) Nine miles out our advance met the enemy pickets - charged - capturing one & driving the remainder down the pike. The column advanced briskly, supporting the Scouts who followed the Rebel pickets so closely that they did not rally behind the breastworks that protect the entrance to Hoover's Gap. Captured the signal station at the entrance of the Gap - instruments and all. They had hastily been deserted, barely having time to signal to the station on top of the hill that the Yankee cavalry were coming before they were on them. Moved up the Gap about 1 mile to a small creek without any opposition. Here we could distinctly hear the long roll of the Rebel drummers - we had taken them completely by surprise. The Scouts dashed across the creek over into the Rebel camp, captured and brought away 7 wagons loaded with corn - all this right under their very noses. Went into position on a hill on the right side of the road with the 1st Section, - the remainder of the Battery was held in reserve down behind the hill. It was now 12 and 1/2 o'clock and raining hard. No Rebels to be seen yet. - The position of the Brigade is as follows, Hoover's Gap consists of a narrow road running between two high ranges of hills (or small mountains). The Rebels had the entrance to this Gap strongly fortified and it would have been very difficult to capture it."

(Note that Cambell chose the word "Calvary" instead of Mounted Infantry.)

 

[richard]

 

[richard]

"Wilder's sudden and unexpected advance took the Rebels so completely by surprise that, before they were aware that we were coming, we had possession of all the hills and were in line of battle on the very ground they had chosen for the defense of the Gap. (We afterwards learned that they were having a review that day by General Bragg himself and had drawn all their troops except the picket force from the fortification.) The 1st section took position on a flat topped hill, with a very high "sugar loaf" shaped hill, right in the rear of it. In front ran a small creek fordable at all points. The hill the Battery was on extended to the right for some distance and ended in a high oblong hill. The 72d Indiana was posted in front of us, along the brow of the hill, - with 2 howitzers on their left holding the bridge. The 123rd Illinois joined their right and made an angle in their line, following up the edge of the hill back to the foot of the oblong hill on our right. Joining the left of the 17th Indiana which was posted along the top of this hill and held the key to the entire position. The 98th Illinois was held in reserve in the rear of the conical hill - where all the horses were placed. Our Battery was supported by 2 companies of the 123rd placed in a small hollow in the rear of the guns. About 1/2 hour after we were in position, the pickets, - posted along the edge of the woods in our front - began a brisk firing and in a moment afterwards we could see the Rebel line of Battle advancing toward us. The mountain howitzers of the 72nd were the first to open on them. - We were ordered to shell the advancing columns - opened out on them - and only had fired one round when - whiz - came a shell from a Rebel Battery placed on a hill (marked A on map) across the creek about 1000 yards distant. The shell passed above us and glanced down the road where the reserve forces lay, and killed the Chaplain of the 72nd Indiana (J. R. Eddy). The Rebs opened out on us with a 6 gun Battery from a good position on a hill, hidden from our view by the woods and undergrowth. - We were in distinct view of them - while we could only guess their position by the flash and smoke of their guns. - We had fired about 10 rounds when Number 1 got a shell wedged in the gun and was sent to the rear. 3rd Section was ordered up and went into position on the right of the 1st Section. < Just as the 3rd was in position the Rebels were discovered charging across the field to our right. (marked E in the map) Lieutenant Scott threw around his guns, loaded them with thribble charges of long range canister and waited until they had almost reached the hollow in which the 123d lie concealed and then let them have it. - This checked them and before the smoke cleared away the 123rd rose up and poured a continuous volley into their already thinned ranks.'"

 

[Jim Vaughan]

Thanks for posting the map. I ordered Rowell's book "Yankee Artillerymen" this summer and it didn't disappoint. The book had this same map but it is nowhere near as legible as the one you posted. My great grand father's unit - Darden's battery, aka The Jefferson Flying Artillery, or the Jefferson Artillery (Mississippi) - managed to get to the battlefield with Johnson's brigade just as it was getting dark. One section joined the Eufaula (Alabama) Artillery at or very near position A on the map and threw a few rounds at Lilly's pieces before it got too dark.

Johnson's report (OR Vol. 23, page 602) states that "Darden's battery, proceeded to a point on Garrison's Fork, near Jacob's Store, to support Brigadier-General Bate's command where it arrived about 6 p. m. One section of Darden's battery was immediately placed on a wooded eminence on the south side of the Manchester pike and on the right of Bate's brigade. It fired a few rounds at one of the enemy's batteries, when it became to dark to aim with accuracy, and the firing ceased."

A corporal in the battery wrote in his diary, "Just before dark we arrived at the scene of action and found Bate's brigade checking the enemy. Two of our guns were immediately ordered to open upon a battery of the enemy which was firing on the Eufaula battery, which we did, firing until dark whether with any effect we could not tell, as we only knew their position by the flash of their guns. We lost one horse, and a great many shells passed very near us. Slept in a drenching rain nearly all night."

A monument was placed at Beechgrove cemetery in 2010 that gives the Confederate Order of Battle but sadly a mistake was made and instead of listing the Jefferson Flying Artillery in Johnson's brigade, they inscribed the Pettus Flying Artillery on the stone. No disrespect intended though as that battery more than had their hands full at Vicksburg ( just a few miles or so southwest of Hoover's Gap) at about that time.

 

[richard]

Thanks for posting the map. I ordered Rowell's book "Yankee Artillerymen" this summer and it didn't disappoint. The book had this same map but it is nowhere near as legible as the one you posted. My great grand father's unit - Darden's battery, aka The Jefferson Flying Artillery, or the Jefferson Artillery (Mississippi) - managed to get to the battlefield with Johnson's brigade just as it was getting dark. One section joined the Eufaula (Alabama) Artillery at or very near position A on the map and threw a few rounds at Lilly's pieces before it got too dark.

Johnson's report (OR Vol. 23, page 602) states that "Darden's battery, proceeded to a point on Garrison's Fork, near Jacob's Store, to support Brigadier-General Bate's command where it arrived about 6 p. m. One section of Darden's battery was immediately placed on a wooded eminence on the south side of the Manchester pike and on the right of Bate's brigade. It fired a few rounds at one of the enemy's batteries, when it became to dark to aim with accuracy, and the firing ceased."

A corporal in the battery wrote in his diary, "Just before dark we arrived at the scene of action and found Bate's brigade checking the enemy. Two of our guns were immediately ordered to open upon a battery of the enemy which was firing on the Eufaula battery, which we did, firing until dark whether with any effect we could not tell, as we only knew their position by the flash of their guns. We lost one horse, and a great many shells passed very near us. Slept in a drenching rain nearly all night."

A monument was placed at Beechgrove cemetery in 2010 that gives the Confederate Order of Battle but sadly a mistake was made and instead of listing the Jefferson Flying Artillery in Johnson's brigade, they inscribed the Pettus Flying Artillery on the stone. No disrespect intended though as that battery more than had their hands full at Vicksburg ( just a few miles or so southwest of Hoover's Gap) at about that time.

When we placed the marker for the 18th Indiana at Hoover's Gap, we found a spent 6 lb shot when we dug the hole for the marker.

 

[Jim Vaughan]

I wonder who's gun fired that shot or if it was fired during the battle. It wasn't Darden's battery because they turned in their old 6-pounders after they received 4 brand new Napoleons ten days before the engagement at Hoover's Gap. The Eufaula Artillery was using Parrotts (I assume 10-pounder rifles) but they had six guns at one time, I wonder if they had a section of 6-pounders and four Parrotts?

There was a section, described as light field guns, belonging to Frank Maney's Tennessee battery that was used on the 26th when the Confederates were being flanked on their left and began falling back. They may have been positioned close enough to fire on that hill.(Vol. 23, page 606 of Johnson's report)

 

[gjpratt]

Thanks for posting the map. I ordered Rowell's book "Yankee Artillerymen" this summer and it didn't disappoint. The book had this same map but it is nowhere near as legible as the one you posted. My great grand father's unit - Darden's battery, aka The Jefferson Flying Artillery, or the Jefferson Artillery (Mississippi) - managed to get to the battlefield with Johnson's brigade just as it was getting dark. One section joined the Eufaula (Alabama) Artillery at or very near position A on the map and threw a few rounds at Lilly's pieces before it got too dark.

Johnson's report (OR Vol. 23, page 602) states that "Darden's battery, proceeded to a point on Garrison's Fork, near Jacob's Store, to support Brigadier-General Bate's command where it arrived about 6 p. m. One section of Darden's battery was immediately placed on a wooded eminence on the south side of the Manchester pike and on the right of Bate's brigade. It fired a few rounds at one of the enemy's batteries, when it became to dark to aim with accuracy, and the firing ceased."

A corporal in the battery wrote in his diary, "Just before dark we arrived at the scene of action and found Bate's brigade checking the enemy. Two of our guns were immediately ordered to open upon a battery of the enemy which was firing on the Eufaula battery, which we did, firing until dark whether with any effect we could not tell, as we only knew their position by the flash of their guns. We lost one horse, and a great many shells passed very near us. Slept in a drenching rain nearly all night."

A monument was placed at Beechgrove cemetery in 2010 that gives the Confederate Order of Battle but sadly a mistake was made and instead of listing the Jefferson Flying Artillery in Johnson's brigade, they inscribed the Pettus Flying Artillery on the stone. No disrespect intended though as that battery more than had their hands full at Vicksburg ( just a few miles or so southwest of Hoover's Gap) at about that time.

The eminence on the south side of the Pike where the section of Darden's battery was placed is very easy to spot today. Unlike the actual site of the battle that was emasculated (desecrated?) by I -24

 

[USS ALASKA]

Collection; Master of Military Art and Science Theses
Title; Wilder's brigade in the Tullahoma and Chattanooga campaigns of the American Civil War.
Author; Harbison, Robert E.

Abstract
The thesis is a historical analysis of Colonel John T. Wilder's infantry brigade in the Tullahoma and Chickamauga campaigns of the American Civil War. In 1863 General Rosecrans, commander of the Army of the Cumberland, authorized Wilder to mount the brigade on horseback and rearm it with Spencer repeating rifles, giving the brigade unsurpassed mobility and firepower. The thesis examines the mounting and rearming of the brigade, then examines the role the brigade played in the Army of the Cumberland through the Chickamauga campaign. The primary research question concerns how effectively the leadership in the Army of the Cumberland employed the brigade in light of its capabilities. Subordinate questions concern Wilder's leadership, the impact of technology on the performance of the brigade, and the brigade's potential for offensive operations. The thesis concludes that the leadership of the Army of the Cumberland, in particular General Rosecrans, did not employ the brigade well. Lack of a clear concept of how to employ the brigade and command and control problems led to ineffectual tasks and minimal contributions. Wilder's personality compounded the problem. During the campaigns, the brigade's Spencer repeating rifles proved to be an improvement over standard-issue rifled muskets. The mobility of the brigade was its most influential asset, but the army was not able to take advantage of it.


Series; Command and General Staff College (CGSC) MMAS thesis
Publisher; Fort Leavenworth, KS : U.S. Army Command and General Staff College,
Date, Original; 2002-05-31
Date, Digital; 2002-05-31
Call number; ADA 406434
Release statement; Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)
Repository; Combined Arms Research Library
Library; Combined Arms Research Library Digital Library
Date created; 2005-05-13

CONTENTdm

cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[Jim Vaughan]

The eminence on the south side of the Pike where the section of Darden's battery was placed is very easy to spot today. Unlike the actual site of the battle that was emasculated (desecrated?) by I -24

I knew that construction had changed the topography but that's good to know. One of these days I've got to visit that site.

 

[JOHN42768]

Collection; Master of Military Art and Science Theses
Title; Wilder's brigade in the Tullahoma and Chattanooga campaigns of the American Civil War.
Author; Harbison, Robert E.

Abstract
The thesis is a historical analysis of Colonel John T. Wilder's infantry brigade in the Tullahoma and Chickamauga campaigns of the American Civil War. In 1863 General Rosecrans, commander of the Army of the Cumberland, authorized Wilder to mount the brigade on horseback and rearm it with Spencer repeating rifles, giving the brigade unsurpassed mobility and firepower. The thesis examines the mounting and rearming of the brigade, then examines the role the brigade played in the Army of the Cumberland through the Chickamauga campaign. The primary research question concerns how effectively the leadership in the Army of the Cumberland employed the brigade in light of its capabilities. Subordinate questions concern Wilder's leadership, the impact of technology on the performance of the brigade, and the brigade's potential for offensive operations. The thesis concludes that the leadership of the Army of the Cumberland, in particular General Rosecrans, did not employ the brigade well. Lack of a clear concept of how to employ the brigade and command and control problems led to ineffectual tasks and minimal contributions. Wilder's personality compounded the problem. During the campaigns, the brigade's Spencer repeating rifles proved to be an improvement over standard-issue rifled muskets. The mobility of the brigade was its most influential asset, but the army was not able to take advantage of it.


Series; Command and General Staff College (CGSC) MMAS thesis
Publisher; Fort Leavenworth, KS : U.S. Army Command and General Staff College,
Date, Original; 2002-05-31
Date, Digital; 2002-05-31
Call number; ADA 406434
Release statement; Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)
Repository; Combined Arms Research Library
Library; Combined Arms Research Library Digital Library
Date created; 2005-05-13

CONTENTdm

cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

Thanks for posting

 

[richard]

I knew that construction had changed the topography but that's good to know. One of these days I've got to visit that site.

At the time of the battle, there was a cemetery located on the small knoll where the 18th was stationed overlooking the creek. When the historic graves were rebuilt. During that process shell casings from the Spencer Rifle were found. Some were not fired. I am grateful to Dr. Bradley and the Sons Of Confederate Veterans Camp 155 for giving me the opportunity to help persevere history.

 

[Jim Vaughan]

At the time of the battle, there was a cemetery located on the small knoll where the 18th was stationed overlooking the creek. When the historic graves were rebuilt. During that process shell casings from the Spencer Rifle were found. Some were not fired. I am grateful to Dr. Bradley and the Sons Of Confederate Veterans Camp 155 for giving me the opportunity to help persevere history.

Well done.

I knew that construction had changed the topography but that's good to know. One of these days I've got to visit that site.

The eminence on the south side of the Pike where the section of Darden's battery was placed is very easy to spot today. Unlike the actual site of the battle that was emasculated (desecrated?) by I -24

I assume that site where the Confederate guns were located is on private property?

 

[richard]

Well done.


I assume that site where the Confederate guns were located is on private property?

Yes, it is. Almost of everything, today is private. The interstate took most of a large hill for use as fill. Where the gun is placed to the right is a second hill and then there is a cell tower. Wilder's line went about 3/4 mile from where the gun is located to the right.

 

[richard]

This sent them back over the hill with severe loss and told them we were something more than a mere handful of cavalry as they first supposed. The Rebels' Battery kept belching forth a perfect shower of shot and shell all this time, - but had done us no damage, every one of their shot going above us or striking the ground in our front and glancing over our heads. The reserve force & led horses happened to be in range of the Rebel shell, and they were obliged to move up behind the high conical hill (marked B on map), where they were out of range. This was our first fight - but the Boys were all cool - no excitement. - The gun corporals sighted each gun, and dropped the shells thick and fast around the Rebel Battery. Our shots soon began to tell on them as their fire began to slacken and finally in about half an hour from the time they began, they withdrew some of their guns from this position altogether. (We afterwards found we had dismounted one gun.) They moved two guns away round to the right and opened out on us from a small hill just across the open field with one gun. (F) We fired three shots at this gun when they got out in a hurry, and moved it further to the rear, and right on top of a high hill about 1 mile distant. (H) Their other gun they placed still farther to the right on a hill marked G in the map and soon after they brought another gun from their first position (A) and placed it on this hill, thereby gaining a severe cross fire on us from three different positions. Their fire from the other two positions was very wild - their shell striking in front of us and glancing over our heads, passed harmlessly into the hills in our rear. I was stationed on a little rise on the right of the Battery, and whenever I seen the flash of the Rebel guns, would call out - "down" and the boys would lay flat on the ground thus avoiding the pieces of shells that flew in thick profusion all about the battery. - Our guns were also retired back beyond the brow of the hill in such a manner that just the top of the gun was visible over the rise of the hill. - In this manner it made a kind of a breastwork for us and the Rebel shell would strike out in front of us on top of the hill and ricochet over our heads - to this maneuver we owe a great many of our lives. One of their shells from position G passed over the battery & killed one of the 123rd - supporting us. Kept up a brisk fire at long range on their guns at H & G and occasionally dropped a shell down along the bank of the creek and over to their first position at the sharpshooters who were more annoying than the shells. They wounded Bingham (Bicken) - driver in 3rd Section - through the knee. This was the first casualty we had. - At 3 o'clock the enemy made his last and most desperate effort to dislodge us. They formed one brigade 4 regiments deep and advanced across the open field to our right (E) with a yell. Their object was to charge the 17th posted on the hill - turn them back and gain our rear thereby cutting off all our chances of escape. They advanced with a determination to capture the position or die in the attempt. The 17th held their fire until they reached the bottom of the hill and then let drive one continuous volley from their seven shooters. At the same time, we poured double charges of canister into their flank, - raking them from end to end. This terrible hail of balls staggered the Rebels - but they rallied - filled up their ranks from the rear and started up the hill again. - The regiments in the rear pressing those in the front to advance the firing now was terrible - one continual roar, no stopping to reload - the Rebels couldn't understand it. - They advanced to within 50 feet of the 17th but still the Indiana boys never faltered, but poured in one continuous sheet of lead. - Nothing human could stand such a storm of destruction as this and they fell back to the bottom of the hill. Reforming they made a desperate attempt to turn our right by assaulting the extreme right of the 17th with an entire regiment, - but the 98th was hurried up from the reserve, and moved into position on the right. The Rebels, foiled at all points, broke and fled in all directions to points of shelter, leaving their dead and wounded on the field. A great many - knowing that to run across that field - exposed to the dreadful hail of bullets was certain death - gave themselves up, and came into our lines. The ground was covered with dead, and wounded. They lost fully 1/3 of their number in this charge. <br> <br> The "Spencer Rifles" saved the day. Learned from prisoners that we were fighting the whole of Stewart's Division including two batteries (Darden and McKenzie's). About half-past three, the Infantry of our Division (Reynolds') began to arrive and moved into position on the right of our line. Harris's Battery - the 19th Indiana - took position across the road on a hill (C) in our rear-firing over our heads. The distance was too great for his guns and after firing about half an hour he retired and succeeded in getting one gun up on top of the high conical hill.