ly the glory is more personal than in any battle ton, to act as flankers. Passing over a gentle I know of. My loss was heavy, but were the crest, which had been occupied by the rebel dead only living, I should esteem the triumph pickets, and into the dense undergrowth of oak cheaply purchased. The temporary absence, on in the valley beyond, the enemy's resistance beaccount of wounds received in this battle, of came suddenly obstinate. The skirmishers Captain Huston, Lieutenants Zoller and Thomas, could advance no further, but the main line went is a source of considerable embarrassment, as steadily forward for two hundred yards without they are most valuable officers. My color-bear- firing, though receiving a rapid musketry fire. er, Corporal Murphy, was killed within a few A good line of rifle-pits on a considerable crest, feet of the summit, in advance of the entire bri- a hundred yards to the front, was now distinctly gade. I had no braver man in my command. visible, and in these pits the rebel pickets had Adjutant Johnston and Surgeon Miller have my been rallied. Colonel Wiley sent notice of this thanks for the services rendered me, and I es- fact to his brigade commander, and received impecially commend Sergeants Wolf and McDer-mediately an order to take the rifle-pits and hold mont for their handsome behavior. You are the crest. Before the messenger bearing the orrespectfully referred to Major Campbell's report for those honorably mentioned in Sixth regiment Indiana volunteers. We remained on Mission Ridge till the even- Captain CROWELL, Fourth Army Corps. LIEUTENANT-COLONEL KIMBERLEY'S REPORT. HEADQUARTERS FORTY-FIRST INFANTRY, OHIO VOLS., IN CAMP NEAR KNOXVILLE, TENN., Dec. 8, 1863. CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of the battalion under my command, which includes the Fortyfirst and Ninety-third regiments infantry, Ohio volunteers, from the time of breaking camp at Chattanooga, November twenty-third, 1863, to the present date. At the commencement of the operations, Colonel Aquila Wiley, Forty-first infantry, Ohio volunteers, was in command of the battalion; but the wounding of that officer, on the evening of the twenty-fifth, devolves upon me the duty of reporting the operations before I assumed command. At noon of November twenty-third, the battalion prepared to move from its camp near Fort Wood, Chattanooga, upon a reconnoissance toward Missionary Ridge, and at two o'clock of that day marched in line of battle with the brigade upon the enemy's rifle-pits, a mile in advance of the Ridge. The position assigned this battalion was upon the right of the first line, its front being covered by the Fifth Kentucky infantry as skir mishers. The advance for eight hundred yards from Fort Wood was over open ground; beyond this was a forest, in the skirts of which the enemy's pickets were met, but gave way readily before the skirmishers. As the line advanced in support of the skirmishers, Colonel Wiley, seeing his right uncovered, sent two companies of the Forty-first regiment, under Major WillisVOL. VIII.-Doc. 15 der reached him, Cofonel Wiley had opened fire and led his battalion forward to within fifty paces of the rifle-pits. Here he met a severe fire from the front and right flank. At the latter point, the enemy's line of works bent toward his front, and enabled him to pour upon Colonel Wiley's line an enfilading fire. Near a fourth of the men were struck down here in advancing twenty-five or thirty paces, and the battalion was for a moment staggered by the withering musketry. It soon rallied, however, under the personal efforts of Colonel Wiley and his subordinates, and pressed forward over the rifle-pits. As soon as these were reached, the enemy's resistance ceased, and the men who occupied the pits generally surrendered, and were sent to the rear. A slight parapet for the defence of the position was at once constructed. The line to our right was also abandoned, almost immediately, and the battalion was left in quiet possession of the works, subject only to a cannonade of an hour from the enemy's batteries on Missionary Ridge. During the twenty-fourth and until afternoon of the twenty-fifth, the battalion remained in the position above described. At two P.M., of the twenty-fifth, the brigade was formed to carry the enemy's works at the foot of Missionary Ridge. Colonel Wiley's battalion was assigned a position on the right of the second line. The battalions of this line were deployed, having to pass for three fourths of a mile under fire of the enemy's batteries on the Ridge, before coming upon the works at the foot. Scarcely was the line in motion before the enemy commenced a furious cannonade from the Ridge, which was continued uninterruptedly until his batteries fell into our hands. The works at the foot of the Ridge were carried by the skirmish-line, and the battalion moved up and covered itself behind them as well as was possible. While lying here, Colonel Wiley, who had incautiously exposed himself, was struck by a canister-shot, which shattered his leg. A few moments afterward, I heard the order from the brigade commander to assault the enemy's line at the summit of the Ridge, and the command of the battalion having devolved upon me, I at once ordered the men forward. Owing to the noise of the cannonade, and the fact that the men were lying flat upon their faces for cover, it was impossible to make Kramer, company I, Forty-first infantry, Ohio The loss of the honored dead demands their country's mourning; but the manner of their death will be mentioned with just pride always. The following is a statement of the casualties: NINETY-THIRD OHIO. this command heard along the entire line. After ments for gallantry in action and faithful peradvancing briskly about fifty paces, perceiving formance of duty at all times. Corporal G. A. my men were not yet all up, I checked the move. ment for a moment to close up the line. The enemy's canister was thrown too thickly, however, to permit an instant's halt here, and at my command the men promptly commenced the ascent of the Ridge. This was very steep, and covered with stumps, logs, etc. The advance was made steadily, though of course slowly, and the nature of the ground prevented any attempt at the preservation of lines. When about two thirds of the ascent had been accomplished, I saw that the face of the hill where my battalion was moving was concave, and exposed to fire from the rifle-pits at the top, while a battery to the right enfiladed the line. To the left, fifty paces, the face of the hill was convex, and a part | of the left battalion was moving up well covered, To take advantage of this, I closed to the left most of my men, and with the rest, who were now within thirty paces of the enemy's rifle-pits, opened a fire upon the battery to the right, which was throwing canister very rapidly. The fire of my men was very effective, the rebel gunners firing but two shots after we opened upon November 23,. them, when they deserted their pieces and ran. Half a dozen men of the Forty-first regiment, who were farthest to the right, at once seized the battery, and, turning it upon the enemy, added materially to the panic which had now seized them. The party to my left, before alluded to as moving up the convex face of the hill, had entered the enemy's rifle-pits, and the portion of my battalion to the right of this was fast forming in them, when, going forward to look down the opposite slope, I discovered the enemy rallying just under the crest. Sending the colors of my regiment forward to the crest, the men were ordered to advance, when they dashed upon the enemy without waiting for command, and drove him entirely from the position. To the right, the enemy still held out, and my battalion, with others of the brigade, advanced along the ridge several hundred yards, when it was halted, and prepared to defend the place should the en emy attempt to retake it. No further fighting occurred, and the evening was spent in collecting the artillery which had been captured. On the night of the twenty-sixth, the battalion returned to camp at Chattanooga, and on the twenty-eighth marched with the brigade for Knoxville, reaching its present camp on the seventh instant. No praise is extravagant when applied to the officers and men whose bravery and zeal carried the enemy's works, under such heavy loss, on the twenty-third, and climbed the apparently impregnable heights of Missionary Ridge on the twenty-fifth. I have particularly to thank Major Williston, Forty-first infantry, Ohio volunteers, and Captain Bowman, Ninety-third Ohio volunteer infantry, for efficient and gallant services, and, without exception, the subordinate officers of both regi DATE. 25,. Aggregate,. KILLED. WOUNDED. MISSING. 12 3 42 2 19 15 5 61 TOTAL 57 24 81 Number engaged November twenty-thirdcommissioned officers, 9; enlisted, 194. Total, 203. Number engaged, November twenty-fifthcommissioned officers, 6; enlisted, 126. Total, 132. Aggregate engaged, November twenty-thirdcommissioned, 23; enlisted, 424. Total, 447. Aggregate engaged, November twenty-fifthcommissioned, 17; enlisted, 301. Total, 318. Aggregate casualties, November twenty-third killed, commissioned,; enlisted, 22: wounded, commissioned, 6; enlisted, 89. Aggregate casualties, November twenty-fifth-killed, commissioned, 1; enlisted, 10: wounded, commissioned, 4; enlisted, 37. Total killed, 33; total wounded, 136. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieutenant-Colonel Forty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry. On the afternoon of the twenty-third, the regiment was consolidated with the Twenty-third Kentucky, under the command of LieutenantColonel Langdon, of the First Ohio, and took its position, forming double column closed in mass, on the right and in rear of the front line. In this manner the regiment advanced until the line in front became hotly engaged with the enemy. At this moment I was ordered by Colonel Langdon to take two companies from the battalion and move to the right-oblique, for the purpose of protecting the flank. I did so, taking company B, First Ohio, and one company of the Twentythird Kentucky, and pressed forward, taking possession of the enemy's line of breastworks on the right, being opposed only by a slim line of skirmishers. A few moments after we had occupied the enemy's works, they appeared upon our extreme right, advancing for the purpose, no doubt, of turning our flank. I deployed a line of skirmishers to cover the flank. At this moment Colonel Langdon came up with the balance of his command, drove the enemy back, and held the position. In this skirmish the regiment behaved nobly, losing one man killed and three wounded. On the night of the twenty-third, the regiment was occupied in strengthening its position and doing picket-duty. Nothing worthy of note happened on the twenty-fourth. On the morning of the twenty-fifth, two companies of the regiment being on the skirmish-line were ordered to advance along with the balance of the skirmishers of the brigade. They advanced to within about three hundred yards of the enemy's works, under a sharp fire from their infantry and artillery. Soon after the two companies from the First rejoined their regiment, lines were then formed preparatory to an advance on the enemy's works. The First took position on the right in the front line deployed, the first line being under command of Colonel Langdon. About two o'clock the line advanced under a heavy fire from the enemy's artillery and infantry. Their first line of works was carried by storm, and, after a few minutes' rest, the men pressed steadily forward up Missionary Ridge. About two thirds the way up, Colonel Langdon fell severely wounded whilst bravely leading his men forward. The brave Captain Trapp fell about the same time, badly wounded. Still the men moved steadily on, under a terrible fire, to the crest of the hill, driving the enemy out of their works, taking a great number of prisoners and two pieces of artillery. The crest of the hill gained, our position became very critical, Hazen's brigade being at that time! the only one on the ridge, the enemy sweeping the ridge at every fire from his cannon on our right. Our men became considerably scattered in their advance up the ridge, and it was with a great deal of difficulty that a very great number of any one regiment could be gotten together. Hastily collecting about twenty men from my own regiment, the balance having inclined to the left and fighting nobly, and a few from other regiments, I moved to the right on the crest at a double-quick, driving the enemy away and capturing their first two pieces of artillery on our right. They retiring over the crest to the left and opening a flanking fire upon us again, I ordered a charge, and the enemy were driven from their new position. They now opened four pieces of artillery upon us about one hundred yards farther to the right, and also formed a line of infantry across the crest, for the purpose, no doubt, of driving us from the ridge. I now had fifteen men under Captain Hooker and about fifteen more from different regiments; they all seemed determined not to give a single inch, though they were opposed by four pieces of artillery and nearly a whole regiment of infantry. I gave the command" Forward," and all started at doublequick. It seemed incredible, nevertheless it is true, that our thirty men went at them with a right good will. The enemy broke and retreated in every direction, leaving their four pieces of artillery and a great number of prisoners in our hands. This last battery was captured immediately in front of General Sheridan's left regiment, they being about one half the way up the ridge. We followed the enemy up, and drove them from several pieces of artillery and caissons that they were trying to get off with. We also captured one cannon and caisson and one wagon on the opposite crest of the hill. I then returned and rejoined my battalion, now under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Foy, Twenty-third Kentucky. The regiment behaved most nobly, both officers and men. They all took example from our noble Colonel, who fell before the action was over. They vied with each other in deeds of heroism. I would respectfully recommend to your favorable consideration Captains Trapp, Hooker, Jones, and Patterson; Lieutenants Leonard, Thomas, Varian, Groves, Ward, Kuhlman, and Young; also Doctor Barr. They are efficient officers, and deserve the highest encomiums for their noble conduct. Lieutenant Wollenhaupt, who was killed while gallantly urging his men forward, was a good officer and beloved by all. His loss is severely felt in the regiment, The loss in the regiment was heavy--one offcer and eleven men killed, four officers and sixtytwo men wounded, making the loss in the regiment since the twenty-third as follows: Officerskilled, one; wounded, four: men-killed, eleven; wounded, sixty-five. Total, eighty-one. Upon the march from Chattanooga to this place nothing worthy of note occurred. Respectfully submitted. J. A. STAFFORD, Major Commanding First Ohio Volunteer Infantry. CINCINNATI "GAZETTE" ACCOUNT. EVENTS OF MONDAY, NOVEMBER TWENTY-THIRD. Although no soldiers were seen on Monday morning, scaling the acclivities of Mission Ridge, those of us who were in Chattanooga had not many hours to wait before we knew that, ere sundown, the ball was to be inaugurated, and the day made historical. The big guns, twenty, twenty-four, and thirty-two pounders, upon Fort Wood, Fort Negley, and a smaller work, began at an early hour to wake the echoes of the valley. From Moccasin Point, too, the music of Union cannon was frequently heard. The rebels replied from the top of Lookout, from their formidable line along the summit of Mission Ridge, and from their batteries at the foot of the same. A great deal of noise was made, although I could not ascertain that any body on our side was hurt. From the excellent practice of some of our own guns, however, I am not sure that the rebels escaped so easily. The truth is, the rebels had very little heavy artillery, worked inefficiently that which they had, and threw shot and shell from their smaller pieces, which, in almost every instance, fell short. whom we afterward captured, declared they did not think we were going to make an attack upon them, but had our troops out for a review or dress-parade. I was glad to see this splendid pageant, for I think that, as a general thing, we are apt to under-estimate the moral effect of military display upon our soldiers. The masses of men are strongly moved by pomp and glittering symbols; and I am sure that even the man of giant intellect feels himself more a hero when in battle if he fights with shining banners waving above his head, and the sounds of martial music ringing in his ears. On the eventful day of which I write, I saw an exultant and lofty pride, a high and patriotic hope, a firm and deep resolve expressed in the countenance of each soldier, as I had never seen them expressed before; and no one could doubt, as he looked upon them, that they would go that day wherever they were bidden, even should they be compelled to pass through surges of vindictive fire. After the troops had moved out into position, they remained in full view of the entire rebel army for half an hour before they received orders to advance against the enemy's lines. Just below the eminence on which stands Fort Wood is By eleven A.M., it was generally known that a open ground, through which runs the Western reconnoissance in force was to be made of the and Atlanta Railroad, and just upon the other enemy's position, although I feel perfectly cer- side of the latter could be plainly seen the retain that all the facts that could be ascertained bel pickets. Singular to say, these last were by the reconnoissance were known to our lead-leaning on their muskets, and quietly watching ers long ago. But the real object of the contemplated movement was to assail the enemy in the direction of his right centre, drive him from a line of rifle-pits midway between Fort Wood and Mission Ridge, and hold the knobs or series of knobs upon which the rifle-pits were dug. In case we did not succeed in effecting this object, it would do very well to call the affair a reconnoissance. But those who knew the commanders selected for this work, (Wood and Sheridan,) and the temper of their troops, had little fear with regard to our success. It is not Wood's "style" to be defeated in any thing he undertakes, and Sheridan, who directly supported him, is one of the "men" of our army. The soldiers whom they command have often heretofore spoken for themselves, by means of their great deeds, but never with a louder voice than in the battle of Chattanooga. General Howard's corps was formed in rear of line of battle as a reserve; and, at a given signal, the entire body moved forward into the plain open ground in front and to the right of Fort Wood. The day was bright and beautiful. The rays of the sun, reflected from ten thousand bayonets, dazzled the beholder's eyes; the men were dressed as if for a holiday; proud steeds, bearing gallant riders, galloped along the lines. Every eminence about the city was crowded with spectators, and, for the first time in my experience, I saw the soldiers of the Union marching to battle to the beat of the spirit-stirring drumn. This was, indeed, the "pomp and circumstance" of war; and it is no wonder that the rebels the spectacle presented by our magnificent battalions. Thinking it was a review, they did not dream of danger, and were only awakened from their fancied security by the rapid advance of our skirmishers, and the moving forward of our entire line in their support. It was nearly two o'clock when the advance began, and a dozen shots from our skirmishers served to scatter the enemy's pickets, who fled hastily through a strip of not very dense timber lying between the open ground and some secondary eminences, upon which was the first line of rebel rifle-pits. The reconnoissance was now fairly begun, and two brigades of General Wood's division, Hazen on the right and Willich on the left, moved rapidly into the woods. General Samuel Beatty's brigade marched still further to the left and a little to the rear, forming, with Sheridan's fine division, a second line of battle, which was at any moment ready to support the first. General Howard's corps, drawn up in order to the right of Fort Wood, and in rear of Sheridan, might be considered a third line. Upon a knob near the centre of Sheridan's position, was placed a battery, which, together with the heavy artillery in Fort Wood, kept up a galling fire upon the enemy, and occasionally called forth replies from his guns on Mission Ridge, as well as from a battery which he had at the foot of the same. His missiles, however, did but little damage. Hindman's old division occupied the enemy's first line of rifle-pits, and from these a heavy fire of musketry was poured upon our men, as they entered the strip of woods. Willich and Hazen, however, continued steadily to advance, nor was their progress checked until they had ascended the slope of the hills, hurled the rebels from their rifle-pits, and planted the American flag upon the summit of the ridge. The position was, however, hotly contested by the enemy, and some of our men were shot down at the very foot of the intrenchments. that day were occupied by the enemy. A grand artillery duel, in which Fort Wood vied with the rebel cannon upon Missionary Ridge, continued until nightfall, when all the tumult ceased, and we had time to count our losses and gains. One hundred men of the Union army had been killed and wounded. Among the former was Major Wm. Burch, of the Ninety-third Ohio, who is spoken of by those who knew him best as an Meantime Sam Beatty's brigade had moved as efficient officer and gallant gentleman. Captain the left of Wood's division, and, after Hazen and W. W. Munn, of the Forty-first Ohio, was also Willich had carried the heights in front of them, numbered amongst our dead. These two regibecame sharply engaged with the enemy's skir-ments, with the Fifth Kentucky, whose colonel mishers who obstinately contended for the low was slightly wounded, suffered more than any ground lying north-east of the hills we had car- others. ried. Through this low ground, indeed, a rude continuation of the line of rifle-pits upon the hill extended to a little stream called Citico Creek. Sheridan had also moved up on the right of General Wood, driving the rebel pickets before him and occupied that portion of their first line which lay in front of his division. The rebels had, perhaps, lost as many as we in killed and wounded, and, besides these, a hundred and fifty prisoners, among whom eight commissioned officers were left in our hands. One hundred and seventeen of the captives belonged to the Twenty-eighth Alabama. A number of deserters came into our lines, even during the progress of the fight; and not one of the prisoners manifested the least chagrin or disappointment at having been taken. "At three o'clock, General Howard's corps was put in motion. Wheeling to the left, it passed Fort Wood, between that work and the railroad, and took position upon the left of General Gran- Granger had not fallen short of expectations ger's corps, (Wood and Sheridan;) and while based upon his conduct at Chickamauga; SherCarl Schurz's division relieved Sam Beatty, Stein-idan had sustained his excellent reputation; wehr's halted in the open ground and waited for orders. Howard had done well; brave old Willich had won the confidence of his new brigade; and Wood had exhibited, in a highly favorable light, his great and striking abilities. EVENTS OF TUESDAY, NOVEMBER TWENTY-Fourth. At this point, I, with hundreds of others, was gazing upon the spectacle below from the battlements of Fort Wood. Generals Thomas, Granger, The result of this passage at arms cannot be and Reynolds were there, watching every move-measured by the casualties or the prisoners. The ment of the troops, with looks of intelligence and enemy had been driven from his first line of inearnestness. Wood and Sheridan were at the trenchments; his prestige was gone; his demor- head of their respective divisions. General How-alization was begun; while, on the other hand, ard was also on the parapet of Fort Wood, and, a wonderful confidence was diffused throughout standing a little apart from the rest, was gazing our army, and the men lay down upon their fixedly upon his corps below. He seemed really arms, longing for the renewal of the combat, and absorbed in reverie, and motionless as a marble for the coming day. statue. Not feeling absolutely certain as to which of the two divisions of the famous Eleventh corps it was which was then taking position upon Gran- I have stated that, according to the original ger's right, I approached General Howard to in-plan of battle, General Hooker's entire force was quire. Twice I spoke to him, but he did not to cross from Lookout valley to the north side hear. I touched him upon the elbow. "General," of the Tennessee, move up between Stringer's I said, “which of your divisions is nearest Gen- Ridge and the river, to a point opposite Chattaeral Granger's left ?" He turned sharply round, nooga, and there remain, to act with Granger or as if suddenly waked from sleep, and asked me Sherman, as occasion might require. what I had said. I repeated my question. He answered politely, and immediately added: "My line yonder does not suit me exactly; I must go and rectify it." He started off, and in a few minutes afterward Steinwehr was moving around to the left of Schurz, his skirmishers were driving the enemy's pickets before them, and dislodging such rebels as defended this part of their first line of works. Fifteen minutes afterward the rebels had abandoned the whole of their advance line; the battery at the foot of Mission Ridge was hastening up to the summit; nothing remained to them west of the ridge, except their rifle-pits at the foot; and thirty thousand men of the Union army were in line of battle, a full mile in advance of the outposts which at noon But afterward it was determined to have his forces, (except Geary's,) which now included General Osterhaus's division, recross to the Chattanooga side, in order to make a grand attack upon Lookout Mountain, in conjunction with the troops left in Lookout valley. In pursuance of this plan, Howard's corps and Osterhaus's division crossed the river upon the pontoon-bridge, on Sunday evening, in full view of the rebels, who could be seen diligently signalling the fact from their station upon the top of Lookout Mountain, to Bragg's headquarters upon the summit! of Mission Ridge. The Eleventh corps, Howard's, took such part in Monday's combat as I have related; the other portion of Hooker's force was posted upon the right of our line, ready for the |