In The Night Fight at Wauhatchie with the 136th New York

    It was nearly midnight on October 28th 1863 when the long roll beat in the camps of the two divisions of the 11th Army Corps near Wauhatchie, Tennessee. The men had that day completed a long march from Bridgeport, Tennessee with the aims of opening a land-based supply line for the besieged Army of the Cumberland at Chattanooga. The sounds of gunfire and cannonading to their south came as a great surprise; night attacks during the war were almost unheard of. 

    "Late that night an attack was made on Geary's division, of the Twelfth Corps, who had encamped about three miles in our rear," recalled an officer of the 136th New York. "General Howard ordered the Eleventh Corps to return to the aid of General Geary. The men turned out promptly and the brigade was soon on the road. When within one and one-half miles of Geary's camp, it was found that the Rebels had taken possession of a hill, at the base of which the road passed on which our troops were marching. It was considered important that the Rebels should be immediately driven from that position, and General Von Steinwehr assigned the task to the Second Brigade. The hill is near 200 feet high, and ascends sharply from the road at an angle of more than 45 degrees; the crest is six yards wide. You may believe it was no easy job to charge up this hill at 2 o'clock in the morning and dislodge a large force at the top. The courage and gallantry of our men was equal to the task, however, and accomplished it in a manner that won the commendation of our commanders."

    Colonel Orland Smith formed his four regiment brigade into line- two regiments forward with two in support. The 33rd Massachusetts and 73rd Ohio charged up first but were repulsed which gave Colonel James Woods and his New Yorkers a chance to fire their first shots in anger in the western theater. "Colonel Wood, who displayed the utmost coolness and courage, and has won the respect and admiration of the regiment, ordered his men to reserve their fire; the Rebels thus failed to get a range upon the men, and their bullets harmed only the trees and branches above the heads of the steadily advancing line. On reaching the crest the 136th poured in their volley, and advancing with a tremendous yell drove the miserable subjects of King Jeff from their position, and scattered them in all directions. The frightened enemy in their flight left the hillside behind them strewn with hats, caps haversacks, guns and other articles of equipment. Prisoners taken say that the hill was occupied by Laws' brigade of Longstreet's Corps. "

    The following account of Wauhatchie, written by an unknown soldier in the 136th New York who signed his name as "M.," was originally published in the November 26, 1863 edition of the Geneseo Republican newspaper. 


Major General Joseph Hooker transferred west in September 1863 and was given command of the 11th and 12th Army Corps from the Army of the Potomac. Fighting Joe was determined to redeem his sullied reputation and the success of his troops in their first engagement in theater at Wauhatchie proved to be a tremendous morale booster for the eastern troops. Hooker would later be given command of the 20th Army Corps which consisted of the consolidated 11th and 12th Corps and would lead the corps through much of the Atlanta campaign. After being passed over for promotion to command of the Army of the Tennessee in favor of his former subordinate Oliver O. Howard, Hooker asked to be relieved of command, a request that William T. Sherman was only too happy to oblige. 


Lookout Valley, Tennessee,

November 4, 1863

 Mr. Editor,

In a recent issue of the Republican you remarked that the regiment had left the Army of the Potomac and would now probably see some active service. We are quite disposed to agree with you in this, but at the same time think we have already seen some "active service." Our brigade accomplished a nice little bit of service last Friday morning, of which your readers may be glad to hear.

On Monday, the 26th ultimo, the regiment being stationed at Anderson, guarding the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad, was relieved and ordered to rejoin the brigade at Bridgeport. On arriving there the brigade had marched across the river, so the regiment camped at Bridgeport that night, and proceeding across the pontoons next morning rejoined the brigade at Shellmound. The force under General Joseph Hooker, composed of one division of the Twelfth Corps and two divisions of the Eleventh Corps, then commenced its work of establishing communication on this side of the river between Bridgeport and Chattanooga—a measure highly necessary to the welfare of the troops at Chattanooga, as their supplies were very scanty, and the only way of conveying rations to them was by wagons and pack mules over bad roads on the north side of the river. The distance from Bridgeport to Chattanooga on the north side of the river is 60 miles; on the south side but 25 miles.

Two brigades of the 11th Army Corps were actively engaged at the Battle of Wauhatchie: General G. Hector Tyndale's and Colonel Orland Smith's which included the 136th New York. Awakened by the sounds of the night attack of the Confederates on General John Geary's division a few miles to the south, the troops of the 11th Corps quickly fell into line and marched to the sound of the guns but soon were fired upon by Confederates who had taken commanding positions atop two hills along their march route. Both brigades deployed from the road and in a confused melee eventually drove the Confederates off the hills and across Lookout Creek. 

Leaving Shellmound the force reached Brown's Ferry about three miles from Lookout Mountain, at sunset of 28th October. The advance had some skirmishing with the enemy near Wauhatchie, but no force was met large enough to dispute our progress. Late that night an attack was made on Geary's division, of the Twelfth Corps, who had encamped about three miles in our rear. General Howard ordered the Eleventh Corps to return to the aid of General Geary. The men turned out promptly and the brigade was soon on the road. When within one and one-half miles of Geary's camp, it was found that the Rebels had taken possession of a hill, at the base of which the road passed on which our troops were marching. It was considered important that the Rebels should be immediately driven from that position, and General Von Steinwehr assigned the task to the Second Brigade. The hill is near 200 feet high, and ascends sharply from the road at an angle of more than 45 degrees; the crest is six yards wide. You may believe it was no easy job to charge up this hill at 2 o'clock in the morning and dislodge a large force at the top. The courage and gallantry of our men was equal to the task, however, and accomplished it in a manner that won the commendation of our commanders.

Colonel James Wood, 136th New York Volunteer Infantry
"Colonel Wood displayed the utmost coolness and courage and has won the respect and admiration of the regiment," the correspondent noted. Wood would later receive brevet promotions to both brigadier general and major general for his distinguished services during the war. 


Arrived at the base of the hill the regiments were formed in battalion lines and started up the ascent. The 33rd Massachusetts and 73rd Ohio, returning the fire of the enemy were repulsed with considerable loss; but rallying, they again essayed the task and succeeded in reaching the crest. Colonel Wood, who displayed the utmost coolness and courage, and has won the respect and admiration of the regiment, ordered his men to reserve their fire; the Rebels thus failed to get a range upon the men, and their bullets harmed only the trees and branches above the heads of the steadily advancing line. On reaching the crest the 136th poured in their volley, and advancing with a tremendous yell drove the miserable subjects of King Jeff from their position, and scattered them in all directions. The frightened enemy in their flight left the hillside behind them strewn with hats, caps haversacks, guns and other articles of equipment. Prisoners taken say that the hill was occupied by Laws' brigade of Longstreet's Corps. Five regiments were on the crest and one regiment held in reserve. Six hundred will cover the number of the dislodging force. Our loss was two killed: Nicholas Gurgen, Co. B, and Herman C. Gardner, Co. A. Four wounded: Private Ruel C. Albro and Sergeant V. Bemus Coleman, Co. A, Private Alexander R. Russell and Corporal William Q. Huggins, Co. F, wounded. [Russell would die of his wounds on November 11, 1863.]

Colonel Orland Smith, 73rd O.V.I.
Commanded brigade at Wauhatchie

Our men feel very proud of this victory which if the dislodgement had been attempted in the daytime they would not have won so easily. In their ascent in the dark, through tangled underbrush and over fallen trees, they did not notice the height and steepness of the hill and reached the crest in good wind and free from fatigue. The possession of this hill is essential to uninterrupted communication between Bridgeport and Chattanooga. Our brigade has thrown up breastworks on the crest and are encamped behind them.

The enemy occupy Lookout Mountain, contrary to the newspapers, from which they amuse themselves by throwing shot and shell at our trains, camps, and fortifying parties. Their missiles have done us no harm yet, though occasionally striking in disagreeable proximity. Men and officers are quite satisfied with each other. “Old Hooker” has won our confidence by his evident ability and his perfect fearlessness and coolness when in danger. I enclose a copy of the General Order of Colonel Orland Smith, Brigade Commander.

Rejoicing, as you probably do, that the regiment has done so well, and escaped so fortunately, I remain, Yours truly, 

M.

Headquarters Second Brigade, Second Division, 11th Corps,

Lookout Valley, near Chattanooga, October 31, 1863

GENERAL ORDERS.

The Colonel Commanding in adding to the testimony of others to the valor of his troops, renews his thanks to the officers and men under his command for their heroic conduct on the afternoon of Oct. 28th, and the morning of the 29th.

    The splendid deeds of that memorable morning need not to be recounted. The glory of the living and the dead is complete, and sufficient for the most ambitious. To those brave comrades of all grades who so gallantly responded when called to breast the wall of fire from two thousand muskets he cannot be too grateful. Yours is the credit—yours the fame. Let its brilliant luster never be tarnished, either upon the field of battle or in the more quiet routine of duty.

You are above jealousy of others or sinister discussions about the appropriation of praise. Your greatest satisfaction will be derived from the consciousness of a perilous duty heroically done. You have won the title of Gallant Soldiers, add to it that of honorable and upright men and your fame shall be perfect, and the most precious legacy you can bequeath to your loved ones at home. Let us sympathize with the suffering wounded and cherish the memory of our fallen comrades.

Colonel Orland Smith

 

Source:

Letter from M., 136th New York Volunteer Infantry, The Geneseo Republican (New York), November 26, 1863

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