Correcting a Slight Mistake: The 100th Illinois Saves the 8th Indiana Battery at Chickamauga

After losing a third of his command in the short span of 15 minutes on the first day of Chickamauga, Major Charles M. Hammond of the 100th Illinois was eager that the homefolks got the story right. 

    "I noticed in your issue of September 23rd a slight account of the fight of Saturday afternoon the 19th and in relation to Davis’s division rescuing the 8th Indiana Battery and discovered a slight mistake," he commented to the editors of the Wilmington Independent. After describing how the brigade arrived on the field, he wrote " At that moment, troops from Davis’s division came rushing through our lines and a battery from the same division, I think (though have not been able to ascertain positively) ran over us, killing one man and wounding several others. In the meantime, the Rebels were pouring in upon us a raking fire which was returned with interest. At this moment, General [Thomas J.] Wood rode up and ordered the 100th to charge, which was responded to with a shout and a rush, but our left being heavily pressed, began to give way, and the order was given to fall back and after retreating about 250 yards was again rallied and moved up to the crest of the knoll. We sent the enemy back kiting and recapturing that 8th Indiana Battery spoken of in yours of the 23rd, hauling it off by hand, the horses being mostly shot down. We drove the enemy back into the woods and held the ground fought over until darkness closed over the scene of action."

    Major Hammond's account of Chickamauga first appeared in the October 28, 1863, edition of the Wilmington Independent published in Wilmington, Illinois.

Major (later Colonel) Charles M. Hammond, 100th Illinois Volunteer Infantry


Camp of 100th Regt. Illinois Vols., Chattanooga, Tennessee

October 8, 1863

 

Friend Steele,

          I noticed in your issue of September 23rd a slight account of the fight of Saturday afternoon the 19th and in relation to Davis’s division rescuing the 8th Indiana Battery and discovered a slight mistake. There was the spot and that the time, full one-third of the 100th was cut down in the short space of 15 minutes.

          About 3 p.m. of that day, orders came to the First Brigade consisting of the 58th Indiana, 26th Ohio, 13th Michigan, 100th Illinois, and 8th Indiana Battery, then stationed at Gordon’s Mills, holding the ford to move on a double quick about two miles to our left to the support of Davis’s division who were then being heavily pressed. On arriving at that point which was an open field skirted with timber on the right, left, and front, we were immediately formed in two lines with the 26th Ohio and 100th Illinois in front, and the 58th Indiana and 13th Michigan in the rear supporting us while the 8th Indiana Battery took a position between and a little in the rear of the 26th Ohio and 100th Illinois.

          At that moment, troops from Davis’s division came rushing through our lines and a battery from the same division, I think (though have not been able to ascertain positively) ran over us, killing one man and wounding several others. In the meantime, the Rebels were pouring in upon us a raking fire which was returned with interest. At this moment, General [Thomas J.] Wood rode up and ordered the 100th to charge, which was responded to with a shout and a rush, but our left being heavily pressed, began to give way, and the order was given to fall back and after retreating about 250 yards was again rallied and moved up to the crest of the knoll. We sent the enemy back kiting and recapturing that 8th Indiana Battery spoken of in yours of the 23rd, hauling it off by hand, the horses being mostly shot down. We drove the enemy back into the woods and held the ground fought over until darkness closed over the scene of action.

          Our regiment immediately commenced looking over the field after our killed and wounded, but were fired upon by the enemy, probably to afford them an opportunity for plundering. They succeeded, however, in bringing off most of the wounded, who were conveyed in ambulances to the field hospital. Those are the facts, written not to boast of the 100th (for that is unnecessary) but to set the matter right before friends at home.

          A Tennessee major with 48 deserters came into our lines yesterday morning. The major states that on the evening of the 4th, when they attacked and attempted to carry our whole line by storm, the Tennessee troops did not come up to the work, which so enraged Longstreet’s troops that a pitched battle grew out of it wherein some 500-600 were killed and wounded. This is a Rebel account and I give it for what is worth.

          Captain Bradley opened on them today with a 32-lb Parrott, stirring them up on a hill estimated to be three miles from us. They returned the fire; but the shots fell amongst their own pickets, falling short nearly one mile which does not look much like shelling Rosy out of Chattanooga.

          Before I close, let me add a word for Chaplain Crews and Dr. Bowen who came to look after our wounded. On arriving at Stevenson and finding no conveyance to take them any farther, each immediately cut a good hickory and charged over the mountains, a distance of 40 miles, on foot. On arriving at the camp of the 100th, notwithstanding they walked like old stage horses, they immediately repaired to the hospital, took off their coats, rolled up their sleeves, and waded in, dressing the wounded, and sticking to their work while here like men mowing by the acre. Long will they be remembered by the 100th and particularly by those whose sufferings they relieved.

          Trusting everything is all quiet on the Potomac now that no fears are entertained from an attack by Longstreet and Washington is safe, I remain very respectfully yours,

C.M. Hammond,

Major, 100th Ill. Vol.

To learn more about the actions of the First Brigade which fought under the command of Colonel George P. Buell at Chickamauga, please check out these posts:

In the Center at Chickamauga (58th Indiana) 

The Chances of War: Captured Surgeons After Chickamauga (13th Michigan)

It is the Fate of War: The 26th Ohio at Chickamauga

Source:

Letter from Major Charles Morrel Hammond, 100th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Wilmington Independent (Illinois), October 28, 1863, pg. 2

 

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