One of Sherman’s Gophers on the March to Chattanooga

William Reed and his comrades of the 8th Missouri marched into camp north of Chattanooga on November 20, 1863 full of spirit and spoiling for a fight. "We got into camp three miles above town about noon having marched 330 miles since leaving Corinth," he wrote. "We were somewhat tired and worn down, but I never saw an army in better spirits than was ours." 

    In the fall of 1863, Union armies east and west were on the move with their sights set on Chattanooga. Following the defeat of William S. Rosecrans' Army of the Cumberland at the Battle of Chickamauga, the War Department elected to send two corps from the Army of the Potomac to reinforce Chattanooga (see "The Crescent on the Move") but also dispatched four divisions from Grant's Army of the Tennessee as well. The story of the march of the Army of the Tennessee from their camps at Vicksburg to Chattanooga is not one that I've seen much written about, and it is with pleasure that I present William Reed's superb account of that march. 

    Reed's regiment is an unusual western regiment in that they were Zouaves. Formed as the American Zouaves in June 1861 under the aegis of Frank Blair to show that the Union in Missouri had support from more than just the Germans of St. Louis, the regiment was raised in St. Louis among native born American citizens (hence the name), but had a large contingent of Irish born dock workers along with companies from both Minnesota and Illinois. The men wore a Zouave short jacket throughout the war, but wore the standard blue army trousers by this point in the conflict. The regiment saw extensive action starting at Fort Donelson through Shiloh, Arkansas Post, and Vicksburg. During the Chattanooga campaign, the 8th Missouri fought as part of General Giles Smith's First Brigade of General Morgan Smith's Second Division of Blair's 15th Army Corps. The Missourians fought alongside the 55th, 116th, and 127th Illinois regiments, the 6th Missouri, the 57th Ohio, and the 1st Battalion of the 13th U.S. Infantry.

    William Reed's account of the storming of Vicksburg, an action in which he was later awarded the Medal of Honor, was recently featured on the blog as "Storming Vicksburg: Earning a Medal of Honor in the Forlorn Hope." Reed's letter describing the long march from Corinth, Mississippi to Chattanooga, Tennessee was featured in the January 1, 1864, edition of the Union County Star & Lewisburg Chronicle. To read the continuation of this story, click here to read "Ready for Breakfast or a Fight: The 8th Missouri and the Fight for Tunnel Hill." 

 

Private James Cunningham of Co. D of the 8th Missouri sports his Zouave jacket typical of those worn by his regiment. William Reed and James Cunningham both participated in the Forlorn Hope at Vicksburg on May 22, 1863 and would later be presented with the Medal of Honor for their heroism. 

Camp near Chattanooga, Tennessee

December 4, 1863

          On the 27th of September, Sherman’s Gophers as we are called left Big Black River for Vicksburg thence on transports to Memphis and by railway to Corinth where we were fitted out for a long campaign. On October 17th, we started from there on our grand march going eastward along the Memphis & Charleston Railroad. At Iuka, we heard of the glorious news of the defeat of the Copperheads in Ohio and Pennsylvania- news that was indeed cheering, and it inspired the troops with new hope and courage on the march to fight the more honorable traitors under Bragg at Chattanooga.

          On the 21st our advance under General Peter Osterhaus was attacked at Cherokee by a large body of cavalry under Wheeler and Lee laying in ambush, killing and wounding 35 of our men. They were repulsed after an hour’s sharp fighting, but we had no cavalry with us worth speaking of to pursue them, so we encamped there until the 26th when our trains all came up, The Rebels still hovered around.

          On the morning of the 26th, we again pushed on and fought them all day, driving them ten miles. As soon as driven from one position, they retreated to another, generally making a stand at a creek or in gaps of hills and mountains. On the morning of the 27th they made a last and desperate stand on Little Bear Creek six miles from Tuscumbia, but our division was sent around to cut off their retreat and hearing of this, they concluded it was better to leave. We entered the town about 12 o’clock and found quite a number of wounded Rebels, among whom was Colonel Forrest, brother to General Nathan B. Forrest, who died of his wounds the following morning. The people spoke of him as being a very valuable officer. [Reed's information appears incorrect- Colonel Aaron Forrest died in 1864 of disease not from battle wounds.] 

          Tuscumbia is, or was, a beautiful town situated about a mile from the Tennessee River, and it is said contained about 3,000 inhabitants before the war. But all of the male inhabitants capable of bearing arms are now serving Jefferson the First. It was one of the hottest Rebels holes I ever saw, and I did not see an able-bodied man in the place; the women and children are all that remained. Colonel Coleman was appointed provost marshal and our regiment provost guards. Soon the women began coming in for a guard to protect them and their property, the applicants being mostly young ladies thinking perhaps their homes would be an inducement and would more readily ensure them success in gaining a protector. At any rate, they were successful and as fast as applied for, a Yankee was furnished who they immediately marched off to duty. 

    I was very fortunate in getting with a very fine, intelligent family who treated me very well but who were Rebels of the bitterest kind, and even said they would rather Jeff Davis would sell the Confederacy to France than to have a reunion with the North. I set that down as a little superfluous gas not worth minding as we have heard that kind of talk from the South for the last few years. I think if they are kept on corn bread, pork, and water for a year or two longer it will affect a different feeling among them. From them I learned that the force against us was from 3,000-4,000. In retreating, General Roddey had called at their house and while there told them that early that morning Generals Wheeler, Lee, himself, and several colonels were holding a council when a shell lit among them but did not explode. I did not wish the gentlemen any harm but would have had no objections had the shell exploded.

Sherman's men made the "long walk" as it was sometimes called between Corinth and Chattanooga in a about a month's time. This modern image gives a great idea of what the soldier's point of view was day after day on this lengthy march; mile after mile of dirt roads through the forest following behind a snaking column of men and jostling wagons punctuated by the neighing of horses and mules. It may strike us as picturesque in the 21st century but proved a supremely trying and rather boring experience for the men in the ranks. Sherman's arrival in Chattanooga set in motion Grant's offensive that ultimately drove the Army of Tennessee into Georgia. 

          We left early next morning and marched about 30 miles to Eastport which you will find situated in the northwest corner of Alabama and there we were ferried across by steamboats and barges. On November 2nd we again started and passed through Florence to Rogersville, then north to Pulaski, Tennessee thence east to Fayetteville, thence southeast to Bridgeport, Alabama, averaging 15 miles a day without resting and that on three-quarter rations. Pretty good marching was it not? The country through which we passed was mostly rich limestone soil and very productive. It reminded me more of old Union County, Pennsylvania than any other part of the South I have yet seen, and we did not wonder why Bragg did not wish to give up this part of Tennessee.

Resting one day at Bridgeport, we set out again, crossing the pontoon bridge there, and on the morning of the 20th we got our first view of the famous Lookout Mountain. We marched along its base for two miles within range of their pickets, yet they did not fire a shot at us. We thought it strange as along the Mississippi it was bang away whenever a chance offered. We passed Fighting Joe Hooker’s headquarters about noon, but I was sorry not to get a glimpse of the hero. His corps was having a reviews and I assure you there was quite a contrast between their appearance and our just then, for you can have no idea of the appearance of troops after such marching. They were camped under the Rebel batteries but almost in safety as they could not depress their guns to do them injury. We marched to within a mile of Chattanooga and camped that night. It rained very hard all night. Early the next morning, we started and crossed the pontoons to the north side. This pontoon is in good range of the batteries on Lookout, but the morning was rainy, and a dense cloud hung over the mountain which completely obscured us from view and saved them the trouble of giving us a reception.

One of Reed's comrades in Co. H of the 8th Missouri: William H. Bates. 

We got into camp three miles above town about noon having marched 330 miles since leaving Corinth. We were somewhat tired and worn down, but I never saw an army in better spirits than was ours. We expected some rest after getting here but that evening, we got orders to have three days’ rations in our haversacks, 100 rounds of ammunitions to each man, and to take one blanket. When we get such orders, we know there is pretty big work ahead so we consoled ourselves that there was a big job to do and the sooner it was done the sooner we would get rest.

That afternoon from a high peak I had my first good view of Chattanooga and its surroundings and although you have or will have many and better than I can give, I will give you a slight description as I saw it. Lookout Mountain is an elevation of about 2,400 feet extending in a northwest direction terminating abruptly just below Chattanooga. Missionary Ridge is a low range of mountains extending from the Tennessee River six miles above town to Lookout, forming a semicircle with the town near the center. On this ridge, the Rebels are fortified, and our line of fortifications surrounded the town. It then looked as if our army was in a bad fix. Camp rumor was that Sherman’s corps was to take the left wing and turn the right flank of the Rebels.

William Reed, Co. H, 8th Missouri Infantry

 

Source:

Letter from Private William Reed, Co. H, 8th Missouri Volunteer Infantry, Union County Star and Lewisburg Chronicle (Pennsylvania), January 1, 1864, pg. 1

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