Wednesday, 2oth—Thursday, 26th—Went to a dance to-night. I only danced two sets. Dr. Bob was with me. Came back about one o’clock.
November 2013
Mission Ridge, Thursday, Nov. 26. After we retired last night with horses unharnessed, a courier came in hot haste with the report “The enemy is coming down upon us in double columns”. We were ready to give them a warm reception on short notice, but they did not come, and again we laid down, but left the harness on. They will not catch us napping. It was a chilly, cold night and we suffered much from cold bed. But little rest during the night, and at 3 A. M. we were called up to feed, which was more of a relief than otherwise. But no man grumbled or complained as we thought of our wounded who lay on the field all night with no covering, and weak from the loss of blood. Their groans could be heard by our men all night, and the friends in rebellion would not permit them to carry relief to them or bring them in. The enemy occupied the contested ground. One, who had a brother lying on the field, started with the determination of relieving him or die in the attempt. True to his determination he was shot dead by the inhuman wretches who would not listen to his plea. Their punishment will be great.
A dense fog settled as the morning approached, so that it was impossible to discern objects two rods distant. Troops commenced pouring down the hill early. The 1st Section joined us. At first we thought it was maneuvering for the day’s battle, but the truth was soon known. The wounded pelican of the South had flown during the night, and all their boasts and threats of the re-occupation of East Tennessee has ended in a retreat. We were to go on the chase. The 11th Corps swung around on their rear and flanked their line of retreat, while the 15th Corps reached back to the Tennessee River, and crossed Chickamauga Creek on the pontoon. Halted on the bank two hours to give the advance time to cross. Grazed our horses. 10 A. M. we crossed the bridge in rear of the 1st Brigade. The infantry moved more still and quiet than usual. Thus they come but miss their comrades that fell in yesterday’s engagement. Our Division lost * * * killed and wounded. A marked change is to be seen in its ranks. Marched lively the rest of the day through the Chickamauga Valley. The troops were entirely out of rations, the infantry many of them having had nothing to eat but parched corn on which they fought for two days and intrenched by night with pick and spade. Halted at 5. P. M. an hour for supper. Shelled corn was got in plenty for horses from Secesh camp, but the boys many of them supped on corn and coffee. Artillery firing could be heard in the distance which told us that we were upon their rear.
Moved on till 9 P. M. through Chickamauga Station, where large piles of corn were in a blaze. Twelve thousand bushels of corn are said to be burned here, and a large quantity of cornmeal left of which we were lucky enough to get a good supply. The road for miles was white with meal, spilled as they ran. Caisson bodies left and several blown up. Took twenty-one howitzer shells from one of them into our chests. Came into camp in an open field in rear of the 11th Corps. Made our beds in the leaves and slept sweet till morning light.
Thursday, 26th—I returned from picket and all is quiet. I loaned $5.00 to Corporal Daniel E. Sweet, until next payday. All of the furloughed men are back now.
26th. I shall be glad when the suspense shall end and we can move forward or back where we can find plenty to eat. Had some hogs driven up for 9th and 2nd. Bought 5 head of cattle. Drove up 7 from near Gap. Infantry Brigade, Wilcox’s, came up, still half starved. Jackson so begged that we lent him 1,200 lb. of meal. Letter from Ella Clark. Answered it. Did me good. Hid a dispatch on a messenger.
November 26th.
Yes! It is so, if his own handwriting is any proof. Mr. Appleton has just sent Brother a letter he had received from Gibbes, asking him to let Brother know he was a prisoner, and we have heard, through some one else, that he had been sent to Sandusky. Brother has applied to have him paroled and sent here, or even imprisoned here, if he cannot be paroled.
Thursday, November 26th.—Started at daylight, after turning prisoners over to others; got to Uncle Nathan Anderson’s at 11 A. M.; stayed for dinner. Going down to bridge across creek, found Lieutenant Evans stopping all of brigade that came that way. Everything in confusion; passed through Ringgold at 4 P. M. As we were near home, George Vincent and myself went by home and spent the night.
November 26.—A bright, beautiful day, but the sunshine is forgotten on account of the bad news. We have some wounded men just brought in, members of Walthal’s brigade. They say that on the afternoon of the 25th, the brigade being on Lookout Mountain, the enemy surrounded them before they had the least idea of their being anywhere near them.
The whole brigade has been nearly killed or captured. One man told me he never had such a run in his life. He believes there must have been at least a thousand shots fired at him at one time, not one of them hitting him.
The enemy came on them from all sides, many climbing the steepest part of the mountain.
Our people never will learn watchfulness. Nothing seems to be a lesson to them.
We have lost the mountain. The troops are concentrating on Missionary Ridge.
I expect my brother is captured this time, as he was on the mountain; and he, like many others, has as great an attachment for his gun as if it was a thing of life, and would either be captured with it, or die before giving it up.
26.— Thanksgiving Day. Reports of fighting at Knoxville, Chattanooga, and with Lee. If the result is generally favorable, we shall see daylight plainer than ever; if otherwise, darkness again but not so “visible” as before.
November 26th. Yesterday to the intense disgust of all hands, orders were issued to prepare to march, and this morning at daylight the whole command fell in and marched away, leaving their cozy huts, just finished, to whoever choose to take them. The column marched via Germania Ford, crossed the Rapidan and bivouacked for the night on the south side, near Flat Run Church.
by John Beauchamp Jones
NOVEMBER 26TH.—The weather is clear and bright again; but, oh, how dark and somber the faces of the croakers I
The following dispatches have been received :
[BATTLE AT LOOKOUTMOUNTAIN.]
(OFFICIAL DISPATCH.)
“MISSION RIDGE, Nov. 24th, 1863.
“To GEN. S. COOPER.
“We have had a prolonged struggle for LookoutMountain today, and sustained considerable loss in one division. Elsewhere the enemy has only manœuvered for position.
“[Signed]BRAXTON BRAGG, General.”
The Latest—Official.
“CHICKAMAUGA, Nov. 25th, 1863.
“GEN. S. COOPER, A. AND I. GENERAL.
“After several unsuccessful assaults on our lines to-day, the enemy carried the left center about four o’clock. The whole left soon gave way in considerable disorder. The right maintained its ground, repelling every assault. I am withdrawing all to this point.
“[Signed]BRAXTON BRAGG.
“Official—JOHN WITHERS, A. A. G.”
All agree in the conviction that the enemy has been defeated—perhaps badly beaten.
Hon. H. S. Foote, just arrived from the vicinity of the field, says Bragg has only some 20,000 or 30,000 men, while Grant has 90,000, and he infers that incalculable disaster will ensue.
And Meade is steadily advancing. Gen. Pickett, at Petersburg, has been ordered to send some of his troops north of Richmond, for the defense of the railroad in HanoverCounty.
Miss Stevenson, sister of Major-Gen. Stevenson, has written the President for employment in one of the departments. He referred it to Mr. Memminger, who indorsed on it, coldly, as usual, there were no vacancies, and a hundred applications. The President sent it to the Secretary of War. He will be more polite.
Another letter to-day from Mr. Memminger, requesting that a company, commanded by a son of his friend, Trenholm, of Charleston, be stationed at Ashville, where his family is staying.
Lieut.-Gen. D. H. Hill has applied for a copy of Gen. Bragg’s letter asking his removal from his army. The President sends a copy to the Secretary, who will probably comply, and there may be a personal affair, for Bragg’s strictures on Hill as a general were pretty severe.
There are rumors of a break in the cabinet, a majority, it is said, having been in favor of Bragg’s removal.
Bragg’s disaster so shocked my son Custis that, at dinner, when asked for rice, he poured water into his sister’s plate, the pitcher being near.
