We Wish to Settle This by Fighting: On the Road to Chickamauga with Battery G

After crossing the Tennessee River on September 1, 1863, one of the first obstacles that the 14th Army Corps had to overcome was climbing Sand Mountain. The real challenge lay in getting the army's artillery and wagons over the steep slopes, and as remembered by one soldier in Battery G of the 1st Ohio Light Artillery, everyone, even the divisional commanders, put their shoulders to the wheel. 

    "It being a hard mountain to climb, we doubled teams, putting 12 horses to a piece and then, with only the aide of the brave Third Brigade posted along up the hillside and the sweet music, with the immediate presence of General Negley with coat off and sleeves rolled up, could we have gained the top," he wrote. "To descend is not so difficult, but much worse on our gun carriages. Passing down over steep rocks with wheels locked, it is a very easy matter to crush them to pieces which is often done."

    This account, written by a member of Battery G under the nom-de-plume of Thomas Major, provides a detailed description of the approach march of the 14th Army Corps to Chickamauga with particular attention paid to the action at Davis's Crossroads. Its first appeared in the October 7, 1863, edition of the Perrysburg Journal. 

Major General James Scott Negley commanded the Second Division of the 14th Army Corps through the Stones River, Tullahoma, and Chickamauga campaigns. Well-regarded by his men, the former horticulturalist from Pennsylvania was relieved after Chickamauga, accused by Generals John Brannan and Thomas Wood of cowardice and desertion. A board of inquiry cleared Negley of the charges but he never again held field command. He resigned in January 1865 convinced that a West Point cabal had ruined his reputation and deprived him of command of his division. 


In front of the enemy, 22 miles from Chattanooga, Tennessee

September 18, 1863

          On the 1st instant, Battery G had orders to move; where, we knew not, bur rather thought we would cross the Tennessee River which proved true. In the stillness of the night, we crept across the beautiful stream which was bridged over by 59 pontoon boats. Where we crossed the river was 1,400 feet in width and the water on average from one trussle at one end of the bridge to the opposite side of the river was about 14 feet in depth. This magnificent structure, in form of a bridge, was constructed and made ready for the passage of artillery in perfect safety in two-and-a-half hours.

          After going about three miles from the river, the Third Brigade under Colonel William Sirwell bivouacked for the night, somewhat worn out. Your correspondent turned in for a good sound sleep with nothing to cover his head but the broad canopy of heaven. I heard nothing till the sun had risen high amid the lofty mountain tops which towered toward the heavens far in our front. The morning of September 3rd found us at the foot of Sand Mountain, the first battery ready to move up. It being a hard mountain to climb, we doubled teams, putting 12 horses to a piece and then, with only the aide of the brave Third Brigade posted along up the hillside and the sweet music, with the immediate presence of General Negley with coat off and sleeves rolled up, could we have gained the top. To descend is not so difficult, but much worse on our gun carriages. Passing down over steep rocks with wheels locked, it is a very easy matter to crush them to pieces which is often done.

Sand Mountain with the Tennessee River in the background. 


          We at last reached the valley which proved to be rather poor but with pretty good water, however, but not much of it. We spent all day of the 4th in this valley. Quite early the next morning, we were ready to move up the steep ascent of Lookout Mountain. Here we found that the Rebels had been very busy stopping up the road with fallen trees and rolling stones down into the narrow pass in which we were compelled to go. Here, as in many other instances, we found men that had just returned home from Vicksburg with paroles given by General Grant. There men are glad that we have now a good line between them and danger, for if we had not come, ere long they would have been marching back to Dixie which they are pleased now to let take care of itself. We descended the mountain and reached the foot of it at 3 o’clock on the 7th and came to an action in front. This began to make us open our eyes once more. Captain Marshall said there had been a Rebel somewhere seen and we must get ready to shoot his head off.

          The First Brigade was in front and we were in the reserve. Negley’s whole division had now reached the foot of the mountain and a part of Rousseau’s division was coming down, Reynolds’ division taking to the right and coming down another roar. General Brannan’s division was in the rear coming up slowly; thus, the whole 14th Corps was scattered and McCook had all the cavalry as he was making the longest marches. General Crittenden took his position in front of Chattanooga which was no sooner done than Mr. Bragg began his retreat. He had not discovered Rosecrans’ flank movement till nearly one week had transpired and then we would have had the Gap if McCook would have been a little faster.

          We moved toward the Gap, driving the small band of Rebels before us. Sometimes they took the advantage of fences and one in particular, a stone fence crossing a small ravine, in which they wounded one man. General Thomas told Negley to get the Gap as the Rebels were moving and perhaps had it already, and sure enough, they did have it.

          On of the morning of the 11th, the pickets discovered they took better aim than common. The Rebels opened upon them within range of our battery, killing one man in the 78th Pennsylvania. Again, Captain Marshall masked his battery, our line was formed, and pretty soon the Stones River performance commenced again. Our pickets were being driven in and, by this time, we could see them coming in on our left. General Negley ordered a retreat, as it was plain to be seen that Bragg’s whole force was making for our little division and that our help was too far off to render us aid.

Private Franklin Spooner, Battery G, 1st Ohio Volunteer Light Artillery

We could see that our wagon train was gone if we did not go back in time. They made a furious attack directly in front. We fell back one brigade at a time until at last we were hurried a little too fast and then got one more sight at them in a good place. They opened on us with blank cartridges, then we fell back again. This time they gave a few shots to the 4th Indiana Battery. As soon as we saw them, we opened on them, giving them 100 rounds from Battery G. By this time, one company of the 19th Illinois secured themselves behind the stone wall previously spoken of, and now came our turn to use it. They made a charge upon our boys, but here they ceased their yelping and some few ceased living. They came no further. We fell back and took a position on a high hile. Here night came upon us and we slept by our guns, with the expectation of renewing the conflict in the morning.

 

Nine miles from Chattanooga, Tennessee

Night, September 18, 1863

          Since I have written the above, we have changed camp. We have learned the casualties on the Rebel side to be 30 killed in one grave and 100 wounded in a house near where the conflict took place while on our side we lost 60 killed, wounded and missing. We have now the pleasure of knowing that all of the 14th Corps is here; McCook has moved to the left and now Crittenden joins us again on the left. It has been sometime since we’ve seen the boys of the 21st Corps. I guess another Stones River battle is about to come off as heavy firing is heard at the left.

          I will close my letter hoping for the best. I would be glad to have some news from home but don’t look for any very soon. The boys of the battery are mostly well. We wish to settle this by fighting.

Source:

Letter from Thomas Major, Battery G, 1st Ohio Volunteer Light Artillery, Perrysburg Journal (Ohio), October 7, 1863, pg. 3

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