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

Comments

Post a Comment

Most Popular Posts

Arming the Buckeyes: Longarms of the Ohio Infantry Regiments

Image
     A common question that comes up in conversation about Civil War Buckeye regiments is "What were they armed with?" We are fortunate in that the state of Ohio kept good records of how the regiments were armed when they went into service, this being especially true for those regiments which went into service in 1861 and 1862. The state adjutant general's reports for 1861 and 1862 have been heavily drawn upon to construct this article, as well as consultation with Phil Spaugy who has done extensive research on how Ohio's troops were armed during the war.      Buckeyes carried a fairly wide variety of weapons into the field, and the below article breaks this down into weapons of both domestic manufacture and imported arms. The early days of the war found the state of Ohio practically bereft of longarms; as an example, when the 1st and 2nd Ohio Volunteer Militia left the state in late April 1861, they left unarmed, being armed at Lancaster, Pennsylvania on t...
Read more

Bullets for the Union: Manufacturing Small Arms Ammunition During the Civil War

Image
       Civil War bullets are perhaps the most common item collected from the era; the two armies expended bullets by the millions during the four years’ conflict and spent or deformed bullets of all shapes and sizes have made fascinating and affordable collectibles since the guns went silent in 1865.       I recently acquired a display piece featuring 35 different types of small arms ammunition used during the Civil War, including everything from a small .28 caliber ball up to a .69 caliber three-ring Minie and it triggered some questions: how did the Federal army obtain its small arms ammunition during the war? Where did the lead come from to make the bullets, and where and how was the ammunition manufactured? This post seeks to answer those questions. A typical .58 caliber 3-ring Minie bullet   “Whenever the blasts of war blow in the ears of men who trade in the implements of destruction, they are apt to experience more joy than the true ...
Read more

Dressing the Rebels: How to Dye Butternut Jeans Cloth

Image
     In the early days of the Civil War,  the Southern states found themselves with an abundance of cotton but a shortage of cloth with which to make army uniforms. The trade in cloth prior to the war had largely been to send raw cotton or wool north to New England (or Great Britain) where it was converted into usable cloth; but now that trade was broken and the Southern states were thrown upon their own resources in their efforts to properly clothe the Confederate army.  This collection of Confederate enlisted men's frock coats and shell jackets gives some indication of the variety of shades of butternut worn during the war. All of them are shades of yellow brown, some heavier on the yellow and some heavier on the brown. The blue used around the collar or as rank insignia indicates that the soldier was in the infantry. Surviving Confederate uniforms are considered rather rare and command quite a healthy price in the collecting market. For an in-depth study of h...
Read more

The Wizard of Oz and the Civil War

Image
T he 1939 film The Wizard of Oz has delighted viewers for 85 years and ranks as a personal favorite, especially during the Halloween season. While watching it with the family the other night, I wondered if there were any connections between the film and the Civil War. Not surprisingly, the answer is yes and those connections touch both the blue and the gray.           Interestingly both “witches” in the film not only had Civil War ancestors but had connections with Civil War soldiers from Ohio. Margaret Hamilton, the “Wicked Witch of the West,” was born in Cleveland, Ohio on December 9, 1902, to attorney Walter Jones Hamilton and his wife Mary Jane Adams; Margaret’s grandfather was Judge Edwin Timothy Hamilton. Judge Hamilton had served as a private in Co. D of the 84 th Ohio Infantry during the summer of 1862. The 84 th Ohio, a three months’ regiment, served nearly the whole of its service attached to the Railroad District in western Ma...
Read more

The Vaunted Enfield Rifle Musket

Image
     The English-made Model 1853 .577 caliber Enfield Rifle Musket was widely regarded as the best infantry arm in the world at the outbreak of the Civil War in April 1861. Favorable international press describing its efficiency in the Crimean War and in suppressing the Indian rebellion led to the widespread desire of American infantrymen (both Federal and Confederate) to be armed with these accurate and well-made arms. The lock plate of this well-worn P1853 Enfield rifle musket produced in 1862 shows the typical markings of a British-made weapon that made it through the Federal blockade.  ( Army of Tennessee Relics ) Enfield-pattern weapons were imported into the states by the tens and hundreds of thousands during the war years; one estimate stated that the Federal government purchased 500,000 while the Confederates purchased another 400,000. The Confederate government dispatched Captain Caleb Huse to Europe in April 1861 to purchase weapons and Huse focused on se...
Read more

In front of Atlanta with the 68th Ohio

Image
  The arrow corps badge of the 17th Army Corps was worn by many members of the 68th Ohio in the latter days of the war.       Private Edward A. Bigelow of Co. F of the 68th Ohio Volunteer Infantry wrote this brief account of the Battle of Atlanta just two days afterwards to his father back home in Henry County, Ohio. The regiment formed a part of Colonel Robert K. Scott's three regiment all-Ohio brigade consisting of the 20th, 68th, and 78th regiments, being designated the Second Brigade of the Third Division of Frank Blair's 17th Army Corps. Bigelow's letter originally appeared in the Napoleon Press newspaper and was copied in the Toledo Daily Commercial which was providential as no known copies exist today of the wartime Napoleon Press.  
Read more

Charging Battery Robinett: An Alabama Soldier Recalls the Vicious Fighting at Corinth

Image
W riting 30 years after the Battle of Corinth, James A. McKinstry of the 42 nd Alabama recalled his experiences storming Battery Robinett with Colonel William P. Rogers of the 2 nd Texas and expressed guilt that it was perhaps his action that brought about the colonel’s demise. “On seeing a line of Federals approaching, and before giving the situation a thought, I immediately raised my gun and fired full into the breast of a Federal sergeant, who was in front of the column, and only a short distance from us.  'Twas then that Captain George Foster shouted, "Cease firing, men! cease firing!" and waved his handkerchief, then I realized the true situation. 'Twas too late! That fatal volley had been turned on our little band from the muzzles of 1,500 muskets. I was still standing just as I was when I fired my last shot, and within a few feet of Colonel Rogers, when a Minie ball went crashing through my left hip and turned me half round; another went tearing through my ...
Read more

Cook & Brother of New Orleans

Image
    The lockplate of a New Orleans-made Cook & Brother Enfield rifle produced in 1862 shows the fine craftsmanship that became the hallmark of the maker throughout the Civil War. Note the stars and bars flag at left, an emblem used on C&B's production throughout the war and the Cook & Brother, N.O. 1862 markings. Earlier production weapons at New Orleans had the flag located just above the maker's name while later weapons produced in Athens, Georgia would have a modified flag and Athens on the plate followed by the serial number.        In the spring of 1861, two English-born businessmen, Ferdinand and Francis Cook of New Orleans, perceived the need for the South to have its own domestic production of firearms and  set out to prove "that rifles could made here as well as in Yankee land or in Europe." The brothers  elected to produce copies of the British Model 1853 .577 caliber Enfield rifle as this was considered the benchmark longarm...
Read more

I Want to See a Battle: A Hoosier at Shiloh

Image
W riting in his diary, Private Manius Buchanan of the 29 th Indiana recalled the eagerness with which his regiment marched towards Savannah, Tennessee with the sounds of the battle of Shiloh ringing in their ears.           “The forced march was kept up until 2 p.m. when we were halted until 4 p.m,” he noted. “The rest was really needed, but the continual question is ‘Why are we stopped here?’ The sound of battle increased in volume and anxiety to be up and doing grows more intense. As I am weak from a late sickness, I am urged to fall to the rear; but no, in common with all, I want to see a battle and fear this will be my only chance.” The regiment would go into action the following afternoon, and of the four neighborhood boys who had enlisted together in Co. B, only Buchanan escaped unscathed. One afternoon's exposure to the horrors of battle was all it took to satisfy this Hoosier's desire to see the elephant. “I wanted to see a battl...
Read more

An Interview with Forrest in May 1864

Image
  “The noise of battle is the only music that ravishes the senses of Forrest.” I t was May 1864. Back east, the Army of Northern Virginia and the Army of the Potomac were locked in the deadly dance of the Overland Campaign while in Georgia, General William Tecumseh Sherman's army squared off against General Joseph E. Johnston and the Army of the Tennessee in the campaign for Atlanta.       Based in relatively quiet northern Mississippi, General Nathan Bedford Forrest bided his time waiting for a Federal advance from Memphis. Earlier in the month, General Samuel Sturgis led a brief campaign into Mississippi but Forrest was sure Sturgis would venture out again. In the meantime, he tried to keep his reorganized command intact despite persistent demands from his superiors that he return the absentees and deserters who inflated his ranks (nearly 1,000 in number) to their original commands.      Around this same time,  an old acquaintance from Me...
Read more