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first onset our men recoiled。 A staff…officer from Colonel Wood's
demi…brigade informing me at this juncture that that command was too
weak to carry the position in its front； I ordered the Fifteenth
Indiana and the Twenty…Sixth Ohio to advance to Wood's aid； and then
hastening to the front I found his men clinging to the face of the
ridge； contending stubbornly with the rear…guard of the enemy。
Directing Harker to put Opdyke's demi…brigade in on the right； I
informed Wagner that it was necessary to flank the enemy by carrying
the high bluff on our left where the ridge terminated； that I had
designated the Twenty…Sixth Ohio and Fifteenth Indiana for the work；
and that I wished him to join them。
It was now dusk； but the two regiments engaged in the flanking
movement pushed on to gain the bluff。 Just as they reached the crest
of the ridge the moon rose from behind； enlarged by the refraction of
the atmosphere； and as the attacking column passed along the summit
it crossed the moon's disk and disclosed to us below a most
interesting panorama； every figure nearly being thrown out in full
relief。 The enemy； now outflanked on left and right； abandoned his
ground； leaving us two pieces of artillery and a number of wagons。
After this ridge was captured I found that no other troops than mine
were pursuing the enemy； so I called a halt lest I might become too
much isolated。 Having previously studied the topography of the
country thoroughly； I knew that if I pressed on my line of march
would carry me back to Chickamauga station； where we would be in rear
of the Confederates that had been fighting General Sherman； and that
there was a possibility of capturing them by such action； but I did
not feel warranted in marching there alone； so I rode back to
Missionary Ridge to ask for more troops； and upon arriving there I
found Granger in command； General Thomas having gone back to
Chattanooga。
Granger was at Braggy's late headquarters in bed。 I informed him of
my situation and implored him to follow me up with the Army of the
Cumberland； but he declined； saying that he thought we had done well
enough。 I still insisting； he told me finally to push on to the
crossing of Chickamauga Creek； and if I； encountered the enemy he
would order troops to my support。 I returned to my division about
12 o'clock at night； got it under way； and reached the crossing；
about half a mile from the station； at 2 o'clock on the morning of
the 26th； and there found the bridge destroyed； but that the creek
was fordable。 I did not encounter the enemy in any force； but feared
to go farther without assistance。 This I thought I might bring up by
practicing a little deception； so I caused two regiments to simulate
an engagement by opening fire； hoping that this would alarm Granger
and oblige him to respond with troops； but my scheme failed。 General
Granger afterward told me that he had heard the volleys； but
suspected their purpose； knowing that they were not occasioned by a
fight； since they were too regular in their delivery。
I was much disappointed that my pursuit had not been supported； for I
felt that great results were in store for us should the enemy be
vigorously followed。 Had the troops under Granger's command been
pushed out with mine when Missionary Ridge was gained； we could have
reached Chickamauga Station by 12 o'clock the night of the 25th； or
had they been sent even later； when I called for them； we could have
got there by daylight and worked incalculable danger to the
Confederates； for the force that had confronted Sherman did not pass
Chickamauga Station in their retreat till after daylight on the
morning of the 26th。
My course in following so close was dictated by a thorough knowledge
of the topography of the country and a familiarity with its roads；
bypaths； and farm…houses； gained with the assistance of Mr。
Crutchfield； and sure my column was heading in the right direction；
though night had fallen I thought that an active pursuit would almost
certainly complete the destruction of Bragg's army。 When General
Grant came by my bivouac at the crossing of Chickamauga Creek on the
26th； he realized what might have been accomplished had the
successful assault on Missionary Ridge been supplemented by vigorous
efforts on the part of some high officers； who were more interested
in gleaning that portion of the battle…field over which my command
had passed than in destroying a panic…stricken enemy。
Although it cannot be said that the result of the two days'
operations was reached by the methods which General Grant had
indicated in his instructions preceding the battle； yet the general
outcome was unquestionably due to his genius； for the manoeuvring of
Sherman's and Hooker's commands created the opportunity for Thomas's
corps of the Army of the Cumberland to carry the ridge at the centre。
In directing Sherman to attack the north end of the ridge； Grant
disconcerted Braggwho was thus made to fear the loss of his depot
of supplies at Chickamauga Stationand compelled him to resist
stoutly； and stout resistance to Sherman meant the withdrawal of the
Confederates from Lookout Mountain。 While this attack was in process
of execution advantage was taken of it by Hooker in a well…planned
and well…fought battle； but to my mind an unnecessary one； for our
possession of Lookout was the inevitable result that must follow from
Sherman's threatening attitude。 The assault on Missionary Ridge by
Granger's and Palmer's corps was not premeditated by Grant； he
directing only the line at its base to be carried； but when this fell
into our hands the situation demanded our getting the one at the top
also。
I took into the action an effective force of 6；000； and lost 123
officers and 1；181 men killed and wounded。 These casualties speak
louder than words of the character of the fight； and plainly tell
where the enemy struggled most stubbornly for these figures comprise
one…third the casualties of the entire body of Union troops
Sherman's and all included。 My division captured 1；762 prisoners
and； in all； seventeen pieces of artillery。 Six of these guns I
turned over with caissons complete； eleven were hauled off the field
and appropriated by an officer of high rankGeneral Hazen。 I have
no disposition to renew the controversy which grew out of this
matter。 At the time the occurrence took place I made the charge in a
plain official report； which was accepted as correct by the corps and
army commanders； from General Granger up to General Grant。 General
Hazen took no notice of this report then； though well aware of its
existence。 Nearly a quarter of a century later； however； he
endeavored to justify his retention of the guns by trying to show
that his brigade was the first to reach the crest of Missionary
Ridge； and that he was therefore entitled to them。 This claim of
being the first to mount the ridge is made by other brigades than
Hazen's； with equal if not greater force； so the absurdity of his
deduction is apparent：
NOTE： In a book published by General Hazen in 1885； he endeavored to
show； by a number of letters from subordinate officers of his
command； written at his solicitation from fifteen to twenty years
after the occurrence； that his brigade was the first to mount
Missionary Ridge； and that it was entitled to possess these guns。
The doubtful character of testimony dimmed by the lapse of many years
has long been conceded； and I am content to let the controversy stand
the test of history； based on the conclusions of General Grant； as he
drew them from official reports made when the circumstances were
fresh in the minds of all。
General Grant says： 〃To Sheridan's prompt movement； the Army of the
Cumberland and the nation are indebted for the bulk of the capture of
prisoners； artillery； and small…arms that day。 Except for his prompt
pursuit； so much in this way would not have been accomplished。〃
General Thomas says： 〃We captured all their cannon and ammunition
before they could be removed or destroyed。 After halting a few
moments to reorganize the troops； who had become somewhat scattered
in the assault of the hill； General Sheridan pushed forward in
pursuit； and drove those in his front who had escaped capture across
Chickamauga Creek。〃
REPORT OF COLONEL FRANCIS T。 SHERMAN； COMMANDING FIRST BRIGADE：
〃When within ten yards of the crest； our men seemed to be thrown
forward as if by some powerful engine； and the old flag was planted
firmly and surely on the last line of works of the enemy； followed by
the men； taking one battery of artillery。〃
REPORT OF COLONEL MICHAEL GOODING； TWENTY…SECOND INDIANA：
。。。。〃I pushed men up to the second line of works as fast as possible；
on and on； clear to the top； and over the ridge they went； to the
hollow beyond； killing and wounding numbers of the enemy as we
advanced； and leaving the rebel b