Ready for Breakfast or a Fight: The 8th Missouri and the Fight for Tunnel Hill

Nighttime operations proved far and few between during the Civil War, but Grant's offensive at Chattanooga in the fall of 1863 featured a pair of nighttime amphibious operations that involved making a lodgment on one bank or the other of the Tennessee River. The Brown's Ferry operation is perhaps better known, but the river crossing of the 15th Army Corps on the night of November 23-24 is well worth remembering. 

    William Reed of the 8th Missouri (the American Zouaves) was in the forefront of that effort as he recalls in this extraordinary letter detailing the operations around Tunnel Hill in those fateful days of late November 1863. "At 11 o’clock, we fell in line and marched to the boats and from 12-15 men were put in each boat," he wrote. "Two companies of our regiment were to be used as skirmishers under Major Kinly and those were the only ones that loaded guns; the remainder were instructed to use the bayonet if the Rebs disputed our landing. At 1 o’clock, all were ready, and the boats pulled out into the stream and at a given signal began to move down the creek. As soon as we entered the river, we expected a salute from the Rebel pickets whose fires we could see along the banks of the river while to the rear along Missionary Ridge the campfires of the Rebels flashed and sent up a fitful glare against the clouds, the sleepers around all unconscious that a brigade of Yankees was about to invade the little piece of sacred soil they prized so highly."

    Reed's account originally saw publication in two parts, featured on the first page of the January 1st and 5th editions of the Union County Star and Lewisburg Chronicle in his native Pennsylvania. 

The 8th Missouri took the lead in crossing over the Tennessee River in the early morning hours of November 24, 1863. "Nothing could be heard but the dip of the oars in the water," William Reed recalled. "The Rebel pickets could be seen poking up their fires, throwing on fresh wood, and I suppose thinking they were fulfilling their duty to the mark. The night was cold and chilly and as we floated down the river, I could not help thinking of the night that Washington crossed the Delaware." 

Camp near Chattanooga, Tennessee

December 4, 1863

Early the next morning, our five regiments of infantry marched some eight or nine miles above here and halted at Little Chickamauga Creek, a half mile above where it empties into the Tennessee. This creek is on the north side of the Tennessee River while the Chickamauga is on the south side and empties into the Tennessee about two miles below the mouth of the creek. All the oarsmen in the brigade were then called upon to report themselves and as soon as a sufficient number had reported they were put in charge of the 125 pontoons lying in the creek. These pontoons were hauled up from below in secret, but the Rebels must have found it out by some other means as all that afternoon their pickets along the river would shout defiantly at us to come on with the pontoons as they were ready for us. These pontoons are about 25 feet long 6 feet wide, and capable of carrying 24-30 men. Four oarsmen are put into each boat and were ordered to muffle the oars. We were ordered to make coffee and get all the rest we could as we were to cross the river in these boats at 3 o’clock in the morning of Monday November 23. We knew this to be a hazardous undertaking and the rumor was that the Rebels had artillery planted above the banks and were guarding against such a move, but men that have gone through Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Arkansas Post, and Vicksburg were not the men to flinch at such an undertaking. We consoled ourselves with the remark that if it was to be done, we were the men that could do it, and if you never saw a set of determined men, you might have seen a brigade of them that night.

          About 50 pieces of our artillery were planted on the banks of the river three miles below to cover our crossing. The night was clear and moonlit, and the booming of cannon from Lookout told us that Hooker was stirring them up below. We were sitting around our campfires sipping our coffee and speculating as to our hazardous undertaking when an orderly came around 7 o’clock and told us to go to sleep; the project was postponed until tomorrow night, so we felt more sure of having one more day to live. Next morning was cloudy, and in the afternoon, we got orders to be ready to move by 11 o’clock that night. A drizzling rain commenced falling and the night was pretty dark which greatly favored us. We were all instructed what our duty was and to be as quiet as possible. Our regiment was to take the advance followed by the 116th Illinois. General Giles A. Smith, our second colonel and new brigade commander, was with us.

General Giles A. Smith

          At 11 o’clock, we fell in line and marched to the boats and from 12-15 men were put in each boat. Two companies of our regiment were to be used as skirmishers under Major Kinly and those were the only ones that loaded guns; the remainder were instructed to use the bayonet if the Rebs disputed our landing. At 1 o’clock, all were ready, and the boats pulled out into the stream and at a given signal began to move down the creek. As soon as we entered the river, we expected a salute from the Rebel pickets whose fires we could see along the banks of the river while to the rear along Missionary Ridge the campfires of the Rebels flashed and sent up a fitful glare against the clouds, the sleepers around all unconscious that a brigade of Yankees was about to invade the little piece of sacred soil they prized so highly. We kept near the north bank of the river under the shadow of the bank and trees, and nothing could be heard but the dip of the oars in the water. The Rebel pickets could be seen poking up their fires, throwing on fresh wood, and I suppose thinking they were fulfilling their duty to the mark. The night was cold and chilly and as we floated down the river, I could not help thinking of the night that Washington crossed the Delaware.

          When nearly opposite the mouth of Chickamauga River, we turned, ran our boats across and as soon as the first boat touched shore the skirmishers hopped ashore, ran up the bank, captured the pickets, and in less than five minutes our regiment and the 116th Illinois were in line with the other regiments following as fast as possible. The skirmishers ran up the river and captured about 25 prisoners without firing a shot. As soon as the boats were emptied, they shoved across the river for the Second Brigade which was soon over while our brigade advanced about 200 yards and began throwing up rifle pits. At daylight, the Third Division was across, and Mr. Bragg had the pleasure of seeing a long line of bluecoats standing behind rifle pits ready for breakfast or a fight, it did not matter much which, but of the latter we expected a pretty good share.

          An old steamboat that had been repaired at Chattanooga came up and began crossing artillery. The pontoon bridge was immediately commenced and was completed by 10 o’clock and by noon the Fourth Division and Davis’s division with the artillery had crossed. We then began to advance, and skirmishing commenced, but we drove them and by dark carried the first hill and began fortifying it, planting our batteries to be ready for tomorrow’s work. The Rebels retreated to their works on the next hill. About sunset, our brigade commander Giles Smith was severely wounded while in the advance. That evening, as we were eating supper, Major General Francis P. Blair, our corps commander, rode along our line and said he “wanted to see the men that stole Bragg’s pickets.” Heavy cannonading was heard to the right all day and as we went to sleep late at night they were still thundering away.

General Frank P. Blair

          Next morning, November 25th, we formed in line and began advancing, our brigade occupying the extreme left of the line with our left resting on Chickamauga River, crossing the Cleveland & Chattanooga Railway. The morning was clear and bright, and our Springfield rifles glittered in the sun. Our skirmishers soon became engaged with the Rebels, but they fell back, and we succeeded in getting the ridge without much trouble and were ordered to hold it. About 10 o’clock, the Second Brigade to our right became hotly engaged and we were ordered to its support. The cannonading now became terrific while the roar of musketry was awful. The hill where our batteries were sloped off gradually for over half a mile and over this we had to go in plain view of their batteries. As soon as we made our appearance, they quit firing at our battery, turned their attention to us, and flung shell and solid shot at us the whole distance down the hill, but they aimed badly as their shots either plunged into the ground before us or crashed through the trees overhead. We marched almost as orderly as on parade and only two men were wounded. The hill or mountain on which they had fortified was broad and level on the top, and their works rank along 300-400 yards from the top so that if our men charged, they would have full sweep.

          About 2 o’clock, the Third and Fourth Divisions attempted to storm their works to the right and after an hour’s hard fighting were compelled to fall back. It was as heavy musketry firing as I ever heard. The Rebels it is said massed their forces here with the intention of crushing our corps, but they failed as they were driven into the breastworks and held them till night. Our brigade was held as a reserve and did not get called into action, but we were under fire all day. That night, the Rebels withdrew, and, in the morning, I walked over part of the battleground. Our dead were stripped of all but their underclothing, and some of the Rebel dead wore some of the clothing which they had got at Chickamauga. It was an awful-looking battlefield. Our dead and the Rebels lay together. Some of our dead lay on the breastworks from which you may judge the character of the fighting.

          We had not much time to look around as the bugle blew and we fell in, marched back to the mouth of the Chickamauga, crossed, and began the pursuit. Stragglers began coming in and are still coming. About 9 o’clock that night we got to Chickamauga Station two miles east of Chattanooga; it was in flames, together with an immense amount of supplies. Cornmeal lay around a foot thick and thousands of bushels of corn were left there along with several caissons, a carload of ammunition, etc. We pushed on several miles further and camped that night. All along the road, caissons and wagons were sticking in the mud with spokes out.

          Early the next morning [November 27th] heavy firing began in front towards Ringgold, lasting all day and prisoners kept coming in continually. We advanced to within six miles of that place and camped on the railroad. That night it rained and all next day it poured down which prevented our moving so the Rebels had the rest of it themselves. We lay there until next morning then destroyed the railroad and started toward Cleveland. Our rations became short, and we lived two days on parched corn and fresh beef which we  broiled over the fire on sticks and ate without salt, from the effects of which some of us became too unwell to march. I happened to be of the unlucky ones and on the morning of the 30th when near Cleveland, we were ordered back to camp.

          We have since learned that Sherman has gone to Knoxville to assist Burnside. I am sorry that I could not have been along, but perhaps it is better as it is. So ends my part in the battle of Chattanooga. It is said that Bragg and Jeff Davis have both said that the first battle of Chickamauga had to be fought over again. It has been fought, and we hope they are satisfied. The people here are disgusted with the Confederacy and the Rebels are beginning to get enough. You have often heard of the Unionists of east Tennessee, Well, if you want to see people truly devoted to the Union, you can see them here. They waved the old flag as we passed along, and I heard men and women say that they were willing to sacrifice all they had for the Union.

          The weather has been very cold for the past few days, but we have pretty good health. I hope we may remain in Tennessee this winter as I greatly prefer this climate to the miasmas of the swamps of Mississippi. At first there was considerable discontent among the Army of the Cumberland regarding the removal of Rosecrans, but this is dying away as they are beginning to know that a greater military genius is over them and that the man that was able to open the Mississippi River is able to find a way to the Gulf through the center of the Confederacy. The usual allowance of hardtack, bacon, and coffee with rest and comfortable sleeping are gradually bringing me around all right and in a few days, I hope to be ready for duty again.

 William Reed, Co. H, 8th Missouri Infantry


 To read more about William Reed's experiences in the Chattanooga campaign, click here to read "One of Sherman's Gophers on the March to Chattanooga." 

To learn how William Reed earned the Medal of Honor, click here to read "Storming Vicksburg: Earning a Medal of Honor in the Forlorn Hope."

         

Source:

Letter from Private William Reed, Co. H, 8th Missouri Volunteer Infantry, Union County Star and Lewisburg Chronicle (Pennsylvania), January 1 and 5, 1864, pg. 1

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