Nov 63

Undated: B – The company was engaged in the assault on Missionary Ridge. One man killed and one missing. Also in pursuit of enemy as far as Ringgold, Georgia.

25: A – The company was engaged in the assault on Missionary Ridge. One man was wounded. Was also in the pursuit of the enemy as far as Ringgold, Georgia. C – Engaged in battle at Missionary Ridge, after which the regiment marched to Ringgold, Georgia. D – Had three men wounded. F – Was in the battle of Missionary Ridge. G – Was in the battle of Missionary Ridge. H – Distance marched about eighteen miles.

26: F – Marched to Ringgold, a distance of seventeen miles. Casualties of company was three wounded, one of which has since died. G – Marched to Ringgold, distance about seventeen miles. Returned to camp on --. Casualties of company, -- wounded and one killed.

27: C - Arrived at Ringgold on Friday, distance about seventeen miles. H – Arrived near Ringgold about noon Friday. I – We marched to Ringgold, Georgia, where we arrived about noon on Friday.

29: A – Returned to camp and have remained in same camp since. B – Returned to our present camp. C – Arrived at our camp. Loss of regiment at battle at Missionary Ridge slight. Loss of company slight. H – Returned to camp near Chattanooga on Sunday. I – Left Ringgold on Sunday and arrived at our camp near Chattanooga same date; distance about eighteen miles.

Dec 63

No entries.

The Highland News of 10 Dec 63, Private N. T. Ayres Letter from Chattanooga

Headquarters 89th O.V.I.

Chattanooga, Tenn., Nov. 28, ‘63.

Mr. Boardman:- The past week has been the one of great excitement in this department. "United States," or "Unconditional Surrender," Grant has been fooling around for a week or two, and on Monday he shoved out. Monday morning, Hooker with two corps was North-west of Lookout Mountain. Thomas was in and around Chattanooga with the old Army of the Cumberland, and Sherman was crossing the Tennessee river 6 to 8 miles above town. About noon the center moved out and drove in the rebel pickets, and first lines, and then took possession of a range of hills parallel to Missionary Ridge, where some batteries were put into position and "opened out," assisted by Forts Wood and Negley. For one or two hours, the fighting was severe, but nothing further was done that night, except moving troops from place to place, and preparing for further operations.

Tuesday morning all was quiet except an occasional shot from some of the Forts, until near 10 o'clock, when Hooker started up Lookout Mountain. He fought his way up, step by step. Cheering and charging, up he went.

The batteries on Moccasin Point assisted him by throwing shell into the rebel camp and works. About 2 o'clock the rebels came double quick around the point of the mountain, followed by Hooker. Their "big guns" on the top of the mountain did but little damage to our troops. Light musketry fighting was kept up until after night, the rebels losing and Hooker gaining all the time. Thus ended the second day’s fighting.

Sherman was busy all day Wednesday, but I know but little of his operations. The rebels could be seen moving by columns to our left (their right) and our columns moved in the same direction.

About 4 P.M. our lines lying parallel to and over one mile from Missionary Ridge moved forward, but found no enemy. When within a half mile of the foot of the Ridge, the order was given to "charge bayonets," and away they went, passing a ditch full of rebels, and on up the Ridge. The rebels appeared to have batteries nearly every hundred yards, and the shot and shell fell fast around the advancing lines, but on, on, and up they go. Here falls a man, there another; but the lines do not break, and now they are near the top. Musketry, artillery and cheering all blended together. Now our men leap over the "last ditch," and in a few minutes the Ridge is in possession of the victorious Army of the Cumberland.

Never was a charge made that would beat it. Charging for about a half-mile through the valley, and been up a long, steep hill, in the face of 30 or 40 cannon, with shell exploding all around, and filling the air with broken pieces, the ditches filled with men pouring their balls into the advancing lines. The top of the Ridge was the point aimed for and there the first halt was made. A great many of the rebels were taken, and nearly, if not all their artillery was left in position. Our brigade (Turchin's) took six pieces and two flags, with a good many rebels.

Thursday, the rebels were retreating, and our troops following. The "chivalry" are still "fleeing from the wrath to come" and well they pray, for Grant will show them no quarter.

Our brigade, when last heard from, was 18 miles out, and still going on--They had not been in a fight since Wednesday.

I have thus given a brief sketch of the operations of this week, as far as I can learn. I will now give the result. Our regiment was in the charge, and lost 2 killed, and 8 or 10 wounded. One of the wounded has since died. But two or three of them are dangerous. Co. "A" escaped with one wounded. John A. Dicks was slightly wounded in the face. Lt. Vickers was grazed by a ball, but he is still with the Regiment. Lts. Vickers and Foraker were not here when the fight commenced, but they joined the regiment in time to take part in the charge up Missionary Ridge.

I cannot give our loss, nor the number of prisoners we have taken, but I know that this has been one of the greatest victories, if not the greatest, ever gained by our army, and will go far towards the destruction of the "Southern Confederacy." Sherman was in the hottest of the battle, and his loss is the heaviest.

The 24th Ohio was not in the fight.

I believe no one from Highland county was killed, at least I can not hear of any.

Longstreet is striking for East Tennessee and it is reported that our troops are falling back, but perhaps it is like most rumors, not correct. I think he will soon fall back, or if he don't Grant will give him a thrashing. A good many prisoners are coming in today.

Yours, &c.

N.T. AYRES,

Co. A, 89th O.V.I.

Private S. Weaver Letter to his Sister from Chattanooga

Chattanooga Tenn. Nov. 29th. 1863.

Miss Sarah J. Weaver.

Dear Sister.

I seat myself to write you a few lines. I am well at present and hope these few lines may find you all enjoying the same blessing. I received your letter (dated Nov. 22.), last night we have been absent from camp four days. I am very sorry to hear that Kate is sick, I hope she will be well by the time this letter reaches you. I will try and give you a history of the last five days, on the morning of the twenty-fifth our regiment was ordered out on fatigue duty to work in the ditches in front of one of the forts, we worked till about three in the afternoon when we was ordered to camp and to get ready to march immediately which we did in a very few minutes then we marched out in front of our fortifications and stacked arms where the rest of our brigade was laying, during this time Hooker had advanced on lookout mountain and attacked the rebels and were still fighting, we could see them advancing and the rebels retreating, the rebels fell back into their breastworks where they made a stand, they kept on firing till half past eleven that night, the next morning (the 25) there could not be a rebel to be seen, they having left in the night, how many was killed and wounded I do not know, the next movement that was made was Sherman attacked them on Mission Ridge (Missionary Ridge is on the left of Chattanooga and lookout mountain is on the right) about eleven o’clock we were ordered to fall into line, we marched down toward the left end of the ridge where we formed in line of battle, then we moved forward, when we were in about half a mile of the ridge, we fixed bayonets, and charged on the rebels, we had to run through a strip of woods that was thickly matted with underbrush, and then over a line of breast works, the rebels running in every direction, we captured about ten pieces of artillery (that is our brigade) we drove them clear off the ridge, and then threw up a line of breast works out of logs, then we got our suppers, then our brigade fell back over the hill and stayed all night, in the morning we were ordered to get four days rations and be ready to march, we recrossed the ridge and scouted over the hills till near twelve o’clock when we started for Ringgold in the afternoon, I took a very severe pain in my stomach, I fell out of ranks and got in our regimental ambulance and road till night, we were then about two miles behind the brigade, the horses are very poor and had not had anything to eat for 36 hours and the road was so bad that they give out, so the driver and myself camped in a rebel hut, we had very comfortable quarters, the ambulance driver had procured a chicken which we fried for supper, I felt a great deal better in the morning so I concluded to walk, I got to Ringgold about dark, as I did not know where the regiment was I and two more of our regiment camped in an old house and went to our regiment in the morning, there was considerable of a fighting there, but our brigade was not in it, we drove the rebels and destroyed the rail road, we left there yesterday at half past twelve and arrived here in camp about eight, the distance is 20 miles. I tell you I was very tired, we brough 17 prisoners in with us, there was one wounded in our company when we charged on Mission Ridge, it was James Bricker, he has since died, he was wounded in the shoulder, there was none killed in our company. Tell Kate that John is well and hearty and did not get hurt. Tell Lizzie I want a piece of the wedding cake when she gets married. Tell mother not to fret herself about me for I look out for number one. I have not went without a meals vituals [victuals] yet, there is plenty here now, so no more at present, but write soon.

Samuel Weaver.

2d Lieut D. King Letter to his Mother from Chattanooga

Chattanooga Tenn Dec [Unknown Day] 1863

Dear Mother

I received your letter some time ago. I thought I would write to Ella first for I have not written to her for some time. I answeared her letter a few days ago. I am well. Charlie has gone up the river with the 59th on a scout. they have not moved the camp. alex Crum and Frank Marshall is here yet alex has just come up to the Regiment. he is well. Major Hays has not come up yet. he is in Nashville sick. alfred Souden is here with the Regt. I do not know what business he is on. he came here just before the fight. tell Mary and sister to write to me if they will.

I sent $100 dolls home to Mr Phillips and John. when you write let me know if it got through safe. if you or pap needs it or Ella use it. I think our Regt will stay here this winter. I wish we would go in some better place. I would like to have that box you sent by Major Hays. it is verry cold here. Mr Beard started home yesterday. he has just got through paying off some of the troops. it is foggy until 10 oclock in the morning. you can hardly see your hand before you. the small pox are in town. the Rebs that are wounded are dying verry fast. tell Mr Syda that James has come up to the Regt. he was over to see me this morning. he look well and hearty. if you hear any word from our Boys in Richmond let me know. I would like to hear from them. I think they will all be starved to death before they get home. tell John and Mr Phillips to write to me if they please. it does me so much good to get letters from home. tell pap to write. wood is verry hard to get here. it is raining here to day and verry near as cold here as it is in ohio. I will close for I can not think of any news. I have been two days writeing this letter. write soon and tell me every thing you and Ella can think of.

My Love to all

From Dudley

OR, I, Series 55, Vol 31/2, pp. 517-518. Extract. Hunter (2nd Line Commander – included 89th) Report

FROM: MORTON C. HUNTER, Colonel Eighty-second Regiment Indiana Vol. Infantry, Hdqrs. Eighty-Second Regiment Indiana Vols., December 1, 1863.

TO Captain CURTIS, Assistant Adjutant-General.

CAPTAIN: In compliance with orders, I herewith submit a statement of the part taken by my regiment in the late action before Chattanooga.

At 2 p.m. of Monday, the 23d day of November, 1863, my regiment moved out with the First Brigade, Third Division, Fourteenth Army Corps, Department of the Cumberland, of which it forms part, and took position in front of Chattanooga some half mile beyond the breastworks, where it remained with the division until Wednesday, the 25th. General Hooker's forces having stormed and taken Lookout Mountain, and General Sherman having crossed his corps over the river some 6 miles above Chattanooga, and on that morning (the 25th) had attacked the enemy on Missionary Ridge, our division was moved to the left and took position about midway between Fort Wood and the ridge for the purpose of co-operating with Sherman, where we remained until about 2 p.m., when we were ordered to advance and take the ridge by storm. The brigade was formed in two lines. The Eleventh, Thirty-sixth, and Ninety-second Ohio Regiments formed the first, and the Seventeenth, Thirty-first, and Eighty-ninth Ohio and Eighty-second Indiana the second line (the Eighty-second Indiana and Eighty-ninth Ohio acting as one regiment, under my command). We were about 1¼ miles from the foot of the ridge, and when we started to advance the rebels opened upon us one of the most terrific artillery fires from the top of the ridge that has ever been experienced by any troops during the present war; yet it did but little injury, as we advanced so rapidly that they could not get proper range upon us. Before arriving at the foot of the ridge we came upon some rebel breastworks, which were held by a strong force, but such was the impetuosity of our charge that the enemy abandoned them and fled to the hill for safety. When we arrived at the bottom of the ridge the men were almost worried down. Some were compelled to rest, others pressed on, while others fell from exhaustion. Here the fire of the enemy was severe and told with wonderful effect, as we were now in full range of their muskets, yet notwithstanding the exhaustion of the men, the severity of the fire, and the steepness of the hill, our brave boys of the different regiments advanced steadily and firmly until at length the breastworks at the top of the hill were reached, when the flag bearer of my regiment, the first of our brigade, and I think the first of the whole line, crossed them, amid cheers and shouts of the true and brave boys of the First Brigade who followed. The enemy gave back in perfect confusion before our advancing columns, and in a few moments the ridge with its artillery and most of its garrison was ours.

Thus ended a most gallant charge and the achievement of a great victory, a charge that will live in history and be crowned as the most brilliant feat ever performed by American arms. Every officer and man of my regiment and the Eighty-ninth Ohio that was not wounded (and be it said to his praise) went up the hill during the action and nobly did his part.

In the engagement my regiment lost 4 killed and 16 wounded. The Eighty-ninth Ohio lost 3 killed and 14 wounded. …

On the morning of the 26th, at 7 a.m., after drawing four days' rations and filling up our supply of ammunition to 100 rounds per man, our brigade started on a reconnaissance in the direction of Chickamauga Station. After proceeding some 3 miles we discovered that the enemy had left, and burned all the bridges in his rear. We immediately faced about and started for Ringgold, rejoining our division on our arrival back upon the ridge. We arrived at Ringgold on the morning of the 27th, just in time to see the rear guard of the enemy retreating from that place. Here we remained until the evening of the 29th, when we returned to our old camps in Chattanooga.

My regiment was out just seven days, exposed to severe weather of cold and rain without tents or shelter of any kind, yet they bore their hardships and privations with cheerfulness, feeling that their sacrifices were made for the good of their country.

In closing this report, I beg leave to be permitted to express to General Turchin and staff the great satisfaction of myself and command at the ability manifested by them in the handling of the troops during the seven-days' campaign, and especially to express our admiration of the gallantry displayed by them in leading the brilliant charge that won Missionary Ridge. …

All of which is respectfully submitted.

OR, I, Series 55, Vol 31/2, pp. 524-525. Jolly Report on Mission Ridge

FROM: J. H. JOLLY, Captain, Comdg. Eighty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Hdqrs. Eighty-Ninth Regiment Ohio Infantry, Chattanooga, Tenn., December 2, 1863.

TO: Capt. W. B. CURTIS, Assistant Adjutant-General.

SIR: I have the honor to forward my report, in accordance with circular issued from brigade headquarters requiring a report of the operations of the regiment during the past week, and also a list of the killed, wounded, and missing.

Monday morning, November 23, 1863, I received orders for the detail of 100 men and 2 commissioned officers, for fatigue duty, to report at brigade headquarters at 7 a.m. Order complied with. Detail relieved at 2 p.m. same day. Regiment ordered to report immediately at brigade headquarters, with two days' rations and 100 rounds of ammunition; order complied with, and were ordered to join our brigade at the front. Joined the brigade at 3.30 p.m.: took position in front of Fort Negley. Lay in that position until 11 o'clock Wednesday morning, November 25, 1863, when we were moved with brigade to the left of Forts Palmer and Wood. We rested there until 2 o'clock, then moved a short distance to the right, then changed direction, and moved directly to the front until we arrived at a narrow piece of woods--which lay between us and the enemy--which partly hid us from their view. Here we halted and preparations were made for an assault on the enemy's works. The regiment was consolidated with the Eighty-second Indiana during the fight. We were ordered to advance at 3.30 p.m. The regiment was formed in closed column by division. We charged the enemy's works, drove them from their position, passing through a terrific fire from the enemy's batteries, of which they had two, that were playing directly upon us. Their infantry were in two lines of intrenchments. We drove them from them, and gained the heights just at sunset. The men and officers of the regiment did good fighting; showed great courage and gallantry. We met seven pieces of artillery, which were captured and sent to the rear. We rested on the ridge until after dark, then moved with brigade to west side of the ridge. Bivouacked for the night.

Thursday a.m., November 26, went with brigade on a reconnaissance east of Missionary Ridge. Returned with brigade to ridge. Went with it to Ringgold. Lay at Ringgold with brigade until Sunday, November 29. Returned in afternoon of same day to Chattanooga, Tenn., in charge of prisoners.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant.

Private S. Smith Letter to his Parents from Chattanooga

Chattanooga Tenn

Dc. 16th 1863

Dear Parents

It is with much pleasure that I write you a few lines to let you know that I am well and I hope that I write you a few lines will find you in the condition. we are still in our old camp in good health but not much to eat but still as good as could be expected. we have fairly good what we have but not much of it. the army is in the best health that ever known. I supose that you have got some letters from me since the battle. I have wrote several. I wrote you all the particulars of the great battle of lookout mt + Mission Rige. Deserters is still comeing in + reports Brags army demoralized and will not stand a fight. there is a great many wounded rebs in the hospital here. Some of them is sick of this war + then one came to me and was talking and he had his hand on my shoulder and said that if he could get well and at home he would never take up arms against the old flag but he thinks that he will never get well. he is shot in the head. he is in a bad fix. there is some of the hottest kind of rebs here but feew [few]. the most of them is as clever as any boddy. there was some of them gave me crackers and I was glad of that. we have had a nice time here nothing to do but eat + drink. we have not got our knap sacks yet but the teams has gone after them and we will get them soon. I have not had a letter for 10 days and I am tired of waiting. I want you to send me some stamps and paper, small shets [sheets] and some yellow envelopes for we can not get them here. I did not send any money home for rations is scarse and we can get bread once in a while and I have thot [thought] that you do not want me to starve. I will save all the money that I can with out suffering my self for I know how it is at home + I want to buy a home.

Private J. Dunseth Letter to his Mother from Nashville

U. S. General Hospital No. 19 Nashville Tenn

Dec 21st 1863.

Oh Dear Mother

I received your kinde and long expected letter this morning. Oh it made my hart leap for joy too read it and to get that five dollars that you sent too me. But I was a heap glader too hear of you all enjoying good helth all except a bad cold. I was very sorow too hear off you having a cold and all the rest of the family. Oh Dear Mother pleas do take good care of your self and dont expose your self too the bad cold weather. Just let the things go befor you kill your poor self. Your kinde and welcom letter found me a grate deal better and still improving. I can get up and put all of my cloths on and walk about a little while every day. I have got the direa [diarrhea] stoped now and I think that I am a gaining as fast as possibel. So dont fret your self about me for I will get a long very well. And if I get eny wors I shal let you know of it right a way. and I want you too let me know when you ore [or] eny of the family is sick for I wont not feel haf so bad as to be a thinking of them how they are getting whether they are ded ore a live ore no. dont keep it back for if you do it will come out some time and then I will feel a heap wors of it. And an other thing I want you to do that is too never send a sheet of paper half rote for I have got a plenty of paper and envelops and can get them prety easy here so pleas right all off your sheets full for I like too read long letters from hom. I always rite a big letter too you when I have time and I know you can take as much time as I can to rite to me. so pleas fill your sheets full of some thing ore others. and hed your letters like I do it is easier. your kind letter was rote the 18 of this month and I want you to tell me what date mine is that you receive so as I can see if you get all I rite. I dont believe you get them all. And I want to know what you ment by you was going to stay this winter and did not say eny more. what you ment of it. let me no in your next letter what you ment. I want to know what kind of bred stuff you live on and whether you have a plenty ore not of every thing and how you are of for feed for your cattle and hogs. you never said a word about your stock and chickens. pleas let me know all off the little particulars and how the fences is and all and whether you got eny wheat put in las[t] fall ore not. And you said some thing about sister Perine bing sick that she was a geting better. why did you not tell me what was the mater with hur and where she is. I supose that sister Lib is well and working at bantam. Oh Dear Mother I would like to come if I could but I think I cant get to know [now] for they dont give sick furlows know but I am a going to try too git in the invilid core with uncle if it is posybel and if I cant I am a going to try to stay in the hospital all this winter eny how if I can. and I am a going to get [to] be nurs ore cook ore something so as I can stay in the hospital all this winter.