Hallowed So Much My Throat was Sore: Victory Atop Missionary Ridge with the 2nd Ohio

Positioned on the far right of the Union assault on Missionary Ridge, Private William Van Horne of the 2nd Ohio described the elation of victory as the men of his brigade overwhelmed the Confederate line with but slight loss.

    "I do not think that I ever heard as much noise in my life as there was that night," Van Horne wrote to his parents. "We cheered every general and everybody else. I do not believe I felt in better spirits that I ever did before and hallowed so much that my throat was sore and I believe everyone else’s was the same. Our regiment only lost one or two men wounded. I do not know how so many of us escaped for the bullets were flying so thick that you could almost see them. There was almost no end of shells flying all around us but striking very few."

    During the Chattanooga campaign, the 2nd Ohio was Under General William P. Carlin's command of the First Brigade, First Division, 14th Army Corps. Following the losses at Chickamauga, the 14th Corps was organized down to a three division structure with the men of Colonel John Beatty's and Colonel Frank Scribner's commands being consolidated and placed under the command of Carlin, a veteran of long standing with McCook's old 20th Corps. 

    Private Van Horne's account of the Federal victory at Chattanooga first saw publication in the December 11, 1863, edition of the Zanesville Daily Courier. Van Horne would serve in with the 2nd Ohio until it was mustered out in June 1864, then accepted a commission in the 184th then 195th Ohio regiments, mustering out as a captain in June 1865. He joined the Regular army and would serve until 1901 seeing action in the Indian Wars and the Spanish American War. Van Horne received a brigadier's star in recognition of his distinguished services after leaving the service. 


"About 1 or 2 o'clock, the army was found in front of Chattanooga and began to advance in line of battle towards the ridge," Van Horne wrote. "When we were within a mile or two of it, we started off on the double quick and ran to the foot where the Rebels opened on the whole line." 

Chattanooga, Tennessee

November 30, 1863

My dear parents,

          I presume ere this time you have heard of our great week of victories but still I may be able to tell you something that you may not hear otherwise.

          One week ago today, I had gone to the 19th Ohio on business and while there heard the bugles call over the army sounding the assembly. I started and when I arrived at the regiment I found it in line. I soon joined it, and we moved to the fortifications about noon and stayed there until about noon the next day when we heard considerable fighting on the edge of Lookout Mountain. It was not long after that we could just see the line of the retreating Rebs moving around the mountain and then came Hooker’s line pushing them fast. This did not last long for the Rebs soon reached their fortifications and there they made a stand.

Our brigade was then ordered to cross the creek and move up the mountain to support Hooker which was promptly done. We arrived about 9 p.m. and instead of being a support, we were rushed to the front and in a few minutes engaged the Rebs. The fight lasted about two hours when all was quiet again. We lost on our right four killed and four wounded, none from our company. We were then ordered to picket or rather thrown out a skirmish line which was soon done and everything rested so for the night.

All were expecting a heavy fight the next day but to our surprise at daylight Wednesday morning, the enemy had slid out, leaving everything that they could not born on top of the mountain. We stayed there until about 10 o’clock when we were ordered off the mountain to take our old place on the right of the Army of the Cumberland. Hooker moved down into the valley on our right and we could still see the Rebs on Missionary Ridge but they would not stay there long for we had started and we knew we could keep them on the move.

About 1 or 2 o’clock, the army was found in front of Chattanooga and began to advance in line of battle towards the ridge. When we were within a mile or two of it, we started off on the double quick and ran to the foot where the Rebs opened on the whole line with musketry and artillery. We did not heed it but on we pushed towards the top but when within a hundred yards of the top our brigade was forced to fall back behind the Rebs’ first line of works. Oh, what a sight! We could see the whole line from where we were, pressing on towards the top and at last they reached it.

General Van Horne at the end of his army career in 1901. He experienced three years of war as a private in the ranks of Co. E, 2nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, seeing action with the Army of the Cumberland in its hardest campaigns through Atlanta. 

We were not lying idle all this time but were on the move, too, and at last, gained the top and poured volley after volley after the retreating Rebs. All their artillery was captured and turned on them. Hooker had swung around on their left and cut off a brigade which he ran into us and we gobbled them in with a great many others who wanted to be captured.

I do not think that I ever heard as much noise in my life as there was that night. We cheered every general and everybody else. I do not believe I felt in better spirits that I ever did before and hallowed so much that my throat was sore and I believe everyone else’s was the same. Our regiment only lost one or two men wounded. I do not know how so many of us escaped for the bullets were flying so thick that you could almost see them. There was almost no end of shells flying all around us but striking very few. At dark, we were told to make fires and to make ourselves as comfortable as we could for the night. We soon ate our suppers and went to bed. This brings us up to Wednesday night.

On Thursday morning, we were aroused very early and told that we were to move at 7 o’clock. We drew two days’ rations but 7 o’clock came and we did not move. Presently an orderly came round with a complimentary order from General Hooker complimenting our brigade for their gallant conduct on Lookout Mountain. This was cheered by all. Such a noise I never heard; there was a continual yell for an hour.

At 11 o’clock, we started on after Bragg, our brigade in the advance with a heavy support. We marched until about dark when we formed in line of battle. Our brigade was on the left of the road and the Second Brigade of our division was on the right with Hooker and the rest of our force as the reserve. We did not stay long for presently we heard the Rebels on ahead trying to get their artillery and wagons along out of the mud. Our whole line was ordered forward as soon as they heard us, they broke and left everything, four pieces of artillery and several wagons. We then pressed forward and captured about 500 prisoners near Graysville, Georgia where we stayed for the night, being about midnight when we stopped. We soon cooked our suppers and laid down for the night.

Friday morning came and we were started on again after the retreating Rebels in the direction of Ringgold, a distance of 15 miles. The program was somewhat changed. Hooker had the advance and we were the reserve; this suited us, as we were pretty well tired out. At 11 o’clock when our advance was within a mile or two of Ringgold, they were attacked by a force of Rebels who soon gave way and ran pell-mell through the town and on to a ridge beyond it where they made stand and fought our men for some time until the Rebels saw they were about to be flanked and then broke in worse disorder than ever. Our infantry force did not pursue them further, but our cavalry took it up and after them capturing them at every point. We then went into camp in town where we stayed until Sunday morning. Then we started for our old camp at Chattanooga and arrived here about 9 o’clock on Sunday evening.

While at Ringgold, we tore up a mile of railroad and destroyed all of the mills and bridges in the country. This looked badly, but anything to end this rebellion. This has been one of the liveliest campaigns of the war and I think a few more like it would wind up Mr. Bragg or, as the Rebels call him, Corporal Bragg.

Remember me to all of my friends and tell them I am still alive. I did not try to tell you of our loss and gain of last week for I knew nothing about it excepting what we lost in our brigade. Give my love to all of the family and accept a large share for yourselves, from your affectionate son, Will Van Horne

For further reading on the Battle of Missionary Ridge, please check out these posts:

Matters Looked Terrible: A Confederate Atop Missionary Ridge 

A Perfect Storm of Bullets: The 104th Illinois and the Taking of Missionary Ridge

With the 1st Ohio at Missionary Ridge 

Bearing the Colors at Missionary Ridge

It was Deucedly Hot Here: A Buckeye on Missionary Ridge

Avenging Chickamauga: The 49th Ohio Storms Missionary Ridge

Source:

Letter from Private William McCadden Van Horne, Co. E, 2nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Zanesville Daily Courier (Ohio), December 11, 1863, pg. 2




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