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AUGUST 16-SEPTEMBER 22, 1863.--The Chickamauga Campaign.
No. 44. --Reports of Maj. Arnold McMahan and Capt. Charles H. Vantine,
Twenty-first Ohio Infantry. HDQRS. TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT OHIO VOL.
INFTY., Chattanooga, Tenn., September 27, 1863.
I added paragraphing to make it more readable on the web. I
don't know if the original was paragraphed or not. cvy
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SIR:
In obedience to orders just received, I have the honor to submit
the following as a report of the proceedings of my command since
leaving Cave Spring, Ala.: On September 1, l863, the regiment left
Cave Spring, Ala.. taking up the line of march at about 7 p.m.,
Lieut. Col. D. M. Stoughton being in command. Passing through Stevenson
we crossed the Tennessee River the same evening, bivouacked on south
side of the river until morning, going into bivouac at 1a.m. of
2d instant.
Took up line of march on morning of 2d instant at 7 o'clock; went
into bivouac evening of 2d at 4 o'clock, near Bridgeport, Ala.,
and near foot of Big Raccoon Mountain. On 3d we crossed Big Raccoon,
the companies being scattered along the mountain to help the teams
up. At about 3 p.m., the teams being over, took up line of march
and marched 6 miles, going into bivouac at about sundown. On the
4th instant we marched to foot of the mountain and went into bivouac
about 4 p.m. On the 5th a reconnaissance was made some 2 or 3 miles
into the valley to the iron-works, capturing some salt and some
tobacco.
The troops composing the reconnoitering force were Seventy-eighth
Pennsylvania Volunteers, Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and
one section of Battery G, First Ohio Volunteer Artillery. No enemy
was discovered during the day. The regiment went into bivouac at
5 p.m. Company D being detached on picket, did not rejoin the command
until next day. At daylight on the 6th the command was marched back
to foot of Big Raccoon for knapsacks.
After getting knapsacks started back and marched until about 6 p.m.,
when we went into bivouac. On 7th we marched about 4 miles and reached
the foot of Lookout Mountain. On 8th we crossed Lookout; the companies
were scattered along the mountain to assist the train up. The train
was got over at 10 p.m., when we marched to the top and went into
bivouac. On the 9th we marched to the foot of the mountain and went
into bivouac about 4 p.m.
On the 10th we moved from our position at the foot of Lookout and
advanced slowly toward Pigeon Gap, Twenty-first being in advance,
Companies F and C being deployed as skirmishers, light skirmishing
being the order of the day. We reached a hill that evening within
a mile or mile and one-half of the Gap. At 3 a.m. we changed position
going about three-quarters of a mile to the rear of the hill occupied
the evening before, the regiment being formed in the edge of a dense
wood, completely concealing it from the enemy. At 6 a.m. of the
11th we changed position a short distance to the left. We lay there
until 10 a.m., when we were moved to the rear to protect the wagon
train from some rebel cavalry who were reported about to attack
it.
While lying here we threw up a slight breastwork of rails, logs,
&c. At 3 p.m. we were ordered back still farther, the corps being
compelled to fall back. We marched about 2 miles to the rear and
took up position in a wood on the left as support to Battery G,
in double column on the center closed en masse. The artillery were
firing quite rapidly, and in about half an hour we were moved still
farther to the rear, marching by the left flank. Shortly after we
were deployed in line of battle. After a short time we again commenced
the retrograde movement, marching by the right of companies about
4 miles. At 9 p.m. we took position on the brow of a hill and went
into bivouac.
Moved our position slightly on morning of 12th and formed line of
battle; stacked arms. On 12th and 13th we lay in the same position
taken up the morning of the 12th. On 14th changed position to the
right about three-quarters of a mile. We lay in that position until
the l7th, when we took up the line of march at 7 a.m. We marched
to Chickamauga Creek and went into bivouac on its banks that night
about dark. On 18th took up line of march at 3 p.m., marched 5 miles
to the front and got into bivouac after dark. We lay there about
three hours, when we were ordered back to the Chickamauga again.
We reached the creek, threw out pickets, and went into bivouac by
4 a.m. of 19th.
At daylight we threw out pickets and marched back a mile, where
we took position as support for Battery G; threw up breastworks
of logs and stones. Lay there until 3 p.m., when we were again marched
up to the front about 5 miles. Heavy fighting had been going on
all day on our left. About 6 p.m. reached the battlefield, formed
line of battle, and marched forward in a strip of woods about a
mile. Just after entering the woods we were saluted by a volley
of about ten or twelve guns. We returned the fire, when the enemy
threw down their arms and fled. Lay in line of battle all night,
every man on the alert. We lost 3 men wounded and 2 killed on 19th.
Next morning (20th) we were moved from our position about 9 a.m.
over to the left, the enemy having made a spirited attack on that
point. After changing position several times we were finally put
in position on the brow of a hill as support to a battery belonging
to General Brannan's division. At about 11.30 a.m. the enemy advanced
on us in heavy force. We, however, held our ground until 3 p.m.,
when some of the Reserve Corps came up and relieved us, charging
down the hill and driving the enemy in gallant style. They kept
the enemy at bay for about one hour, when they fell back and we
were again engaged with the enemy.
In the meantime we had thrown up a slight breastwork of logs and
stone, behind which we fought until about 5 p.m., when we were relieved
by some of General Brannan's division. Our ammunition was exhausted,
and we could not procure any more. At about half past 5 p.m. the
enemy sent up messengers to Brannan's men stating that some of them
were waiting for them (our men) to cease firing in order to give
themselves (i.e., the enemy) up. The firing ceased and the enemy
came up, but instead of giving themselves up they fired a volley
and charged up the hill, gaining possession of it entirely. The
commanding officer of Brannan's troops asked that the Twenty-first
should charge up and retake the hill.
After some delay one round of ammunition was procured per man from
the dead and wounded. With this one round in our guns, we charged
up the hill. We delivered our volley, but the enemy was in too large
force, and we were forced back. Twice again, with no ammunition,
we charged, with the vain hope of retaking the hill. But we were
repulsed. In the meantime Brannan's men were reforming and we lay
down to wait until they reorganized, intending to make one grand
charge, and if possible retake the hill. While we were waiting a
column was observed filing in a small ravine on our right flank.
Supposing they were our men (they being dressed in blue jeans) we
took no notice of them until they formed line of battle facing toward
us. They formed and commenced advancing on us; when asked who they
were, said they were "Jeff. Davis' men;" supposed they were some
of J. C. Davis' division. When they were within a few rods of us
they called upon us to "surrender," "lay down," &c. A portion of
the men jumped up to retreat toward General Brannan's division,
when they poured in a heavy volley, wounding and killing a great
many. A few of the men of the Twenty-first who escaped formed, and
were led to Rossville by Colonel Walker, of the Thirty-first Ohio
Volunteer Infantry.
On the morning of the 21st we collected all that could be found,
reported to Colonel Sirwell, our brigade commander, and took position
on the left of the Seventy-eighth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers.
On the 21st, together with the rest of the brigade, we took up position
on a hill near Rossville, where we lay until about 12 m., when we
were withdrawn and marched to Chattanooga, reaching our present
camp on the 22d. Since then we have done nothing but work on the
fort, &c.
Of the officers and men of this command I have only to say that
they have done their duty. We ask no higher praise than that. Every
man fought as if the fate of the nation rested on his individual
efforts. Lieut. Col. D. M. Stoughton was wounded about 3.30 p.m.
on the 20th. A cooler, braver, or more patriotic officer than he
never drew sword. You will see by the official report of killed,
wounded, and missing that we lost some 272 officers and men.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
CHARLES H. VANTINE, Captain Co. I, Comdg. 21st Ohio Vol. Infantry.
Capt. CHAS. B. GILLESPIE, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Third
Brigade.
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