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pieces of artillery which had been abandoned by the enemy； though I
did not leave any one in charge of them。〃
REPORT OF MAJOR C； M。 HAMMOND； ONE HUNDREDTH ILLINOIS：
。。。。〃I immediately organized my regiment； and while so doing
discovered a number of pieces of artillery in a ravine on my left。 I
sent Lieutenant Stewart； of Company A； to see if these guns which the
enemy had abandoned could not be turned upon them。 He returned and
reported them to be four ten…pound Parrotts and two brass Napoleons；
also that it would require a number of men to place them in position。
I ordered him to report the same to General Wagner； and ask
permission； but before receiving a reply was ordered by you to move
forward my regiment on the left of the Fifty…Eighth Indiana
Volunteers。〃
REPORT OF COLONEL CHARLES G。 HARKER； THIRD BRIGADE：
。。。。〃My right and Colonel Sherman's left interlocked； so to speak； as
we approached the summit； and it was near this point that I saw the
first part of my line gain the crest。 This was done by a few brave
men of my own and Colonel Sherman's command driving the enemy from
his intrenchments。 The gap thus opened； our men rushed rapidly in；
and the enemy； loth to give up their position； still remained； firing
at my command toward the left； and the battery in front of the house
known as General Bragg's headquarters was still firing at the troops；
and was captured by our men while the gunners were still at their
posts。。。。
。。。。〃We captured and sent to division and corps headquarters 503
prisoners and a large number of small…arms。 In regard to the number
of pieces of artillery； it will probably be difficult to reconcile
the reports of my regimental commanders with the reports of other
regiments and brigades who fought so nobly with my own command； and
who alike are entitled to share the honors and glories of the day。
More anxious to follow the enemy than to appropriate trophies already
secured； we pushed to the front； while the place we occupied on
ascending the hill was soon occupied by other troops； who； I have
learned； claim the artillery as having fallen into their own hands。
It must therefore remain with the division and corps commanders； who
knew the relative position of each brigade and division； to accord to
each the trophies to which they are due。
。。。。〃From my personal observation I can claim a battery of six guns
captured by a portion of my brigade。〃
REPORT OF COLONEL EMERSON OPDYKE； FIRST DEMI…BRIGADE：
。。。。〃My command captured Bragg's headquarters； house； and the six
guns which were near there； one of these I ordered turned upon the
enemy； which was done with effect。〃
REPORT OF COLONEL H。 C。 DUNLAP； THIRD KENTUCKY：
。。。。〃The point at which the centre of my regiment reached the crest
was at the stable to the left of the house said to be Bragg's
headquarters； and immediately in front of the road which leads down
the southern slope of the ridge。 One piece of the abandoned battery；
was to the left of this point； the remainder to the right； near by。〃
REPORT OF LIEUTENANT…COLONEL W。 A。 BULLITT； SIXTY…FIFTH OHIO：
。。。。〃The position in which my regiment found itself was immediately
in front of a battery； which belched forth a stream of canister upon
us with terrible rapidity。 In addition to this； the enemy； whenever
driven from other points； rallied around this battery； and defended
it with desperation。 It cost a struggle to take it； but we finally
succeeded； and the colors of the Sixty…fifth Ohio were the first
planted upon the yet smoking guns。 Captain Smith； of my regiment；
was placed in charge of the captured battery； which consisted of 5
guns； 3 caissons； and 17 horses。〃
REPORT OF CAPTAIN E。 P。 BATES； ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY…FIFTH OHIO：
。。。。〃Perceiving that the ridge across which my regiment extended was
commanded to the very crest by a battery in front； also by those to
right and left； I directed the men to pass up the gorges on either
side。 About forty men； with Captain Parks and Lieutenant Stinger；
passed to the left； the balance to the right； and boldly charged on；
till； foremost with those of other regiments； they stood on the
strongest point of the enemy's works； masters alike of his guns and
position。。。。 Captain Parks reports his skirmish…line to have charged
upon and captured one gun； that otherwise would have been hauled
off。〃
REPORT OF COLONEL ALLEN BUCKNER； SEVENTY…NINTH ILLINOIS：
。。。。〃The right of the regiment rested on the left of the road； where
it crossed the rebel fortification； leading up the hill toward
Bragg's headquarters。 We took a right oblique direction through a
peach orchard until arriving at the woods and logs on the side of the
ridge； when I ordered the men to commence firing； which they did with
good effect； and continued it all the way up until the heights were
gained。 At this point the left of the regiment was near the right of
the house； and I claim that my officers and men captured two large
brass pieces； literally punching the cannoniers from their guns。
Privates John Fregan and Jasper Patterson； from Company 〃A；〃 rushed
down the hill； captured one caisson； with a cannonier and six horses；
and brought them back。〃
REPORT OF COLONEL J。 R。 MILES； TWENTY…SEVENTH ILLINOIS：
。。。。〃The regiment； without faltering； finally； at about 4。30 P。M。；
gained the enemy's works in conjunction with a party of the Thirty…
sixth Illinois； who were immediately on our right。 The regiment； or
a portion of it； proceeded to the left； down the ridge； for nearly or
quite a quarter of a mile capturing three or four pieces of cannon；
driving the gunners from them。〃
CHAPTER XVII。
ORDERED TO RETURN TO CHATTANOOGAMARCH TO KNOXVILLECOLLECTING
SUBSISTENCE STORESA CLEVER STRATAGEMA BRIDGE OF WAGONSLOOKING
OUT FOR THE PERSONAL COMFORT OF THE SOLDIERS…A LEAVE OF ABSENCE
ORDERED TO WASHINGTONPARTING WITH SHERIDAN'S DIVISION。
The day after the battle of Missionary Ridge I was ordered in the
evening to return to Chattanooga； and from the limited supply of
stores to be had there outfit my command to march to the relief of
Knoxville； where General Burnside was still holding out against the
besieging forces of General Longstreet。 When we left Murfreesboro'
in the preceding June； the men's knapsacks and extra clothing； as
well as all our camp equipage； had been left behind； and these
articles had not yet reached us； so we were poorly prepared for a
winter campaign in the mountains of East Tennessee。 There was but
little clothing to be obtained in Chattanooga； and my command
received only a few overcoats and a small supply of India…rubber
ponchos。 We could get no shoes； although we stood in great need of
them； for the extra pair with which each man had started out from
Murfreesboro' was now much the worse for wear。 The necessity for
succoring Knoxville was urgent； however； so we speedily refitted as
thoroughly as was possible with the limited