The Grandest Array of Blue Ever Witnessed: The 24th Alabama at Missionary Ridge

Standing atop Missionary Ridge on the afternoon of November 25, 1863, Lieutenant William M. Boroughs of the 24th Alabama described the approaching Federal attack as "the grandest array of blue ever witnessed by the veterans on the ridge. As soon as the Federal lines appeared about midway through the plain, shells and shots went screaming over our heads and we could see by the white puffs that they exploded right in the midst of the enemy. When the Federals arrived within 200-300 yards of the base of the ridge, they moved at a double quick which soon broke into a run and as line after line came up, they lay down at the foot of the ridge and now the work of death began. They had now gotten within range of our small arms, but our artillery could not be sufficiently depressed to reach them." Later, in “one of those incomprehensible things happened which so frequently turned the tide of success to one side or the other during our civil war,” a Union regiment surged over the crest, cracking the Confederate line. 

Lieutenant Borough’s description of Missionary Ridge appeared in the August 31, 1882, edition of the Macomb Journal.

 

Company flag belonging to Borough's company, Co. E of the 24th Alabama Infantry who styled themselves as the James S. Dickinson Guards with the motto of "Victory or Death." 

          In antebellum days we frequently saw pictures of grand charges made by an assaulting army in columns or single line. The artist, who probably drew more upon his imagination than actual observation or experience, arranged his soldiers with perfect alignment and they were apparently moving upon the enemy prompted by the monotonous left of the drill officer.

          Actual war dissipated all such pictures from the minds of the veterans North and South. A line or column might be formed and start out all right, but when the shells, grape, and Minie balls began to pour into their ranks, all order was soon broken and by the time the assaulting column reached the objective point, companies, regiments, and brigades would be mixed in a manner never contemplated in any military tactics. The charge of Grant’s columns at Missionary Ridge, however, seemed to be an exception to the pell-mell style.

          I occupied a position on the ridge from which I had an unobstructed view of mile or more in front and to the right and left. Anderson’s division of which I was a member occupied the center of Bragg’s line. Manigault’s brigade occupied the center of the division with Anderson’s old brigade of Mississippians [7th, 9th, 10th, 41st, 44th MS and the 9th MS Battalion of Sharpshooters] to the left of Manigault.

          The Confederate lines had been stretched and extended until it was not much better than a strong skirmish line without support. Yet we had good breastworks topped off with head logs and we felt confident that our deficiency in numbers was compensated for by the strength of our position. The 24th Alabama had its breastworks far enough over the brow of the ridge to admit the safe discharge of artillery overhead. The battery known as the “Continental” was posted just above us in the rear. This battery was made up principally in Mobile and many of the members had been steamboat men. I was well acquainted with several of them; they had done gallant service in several battles and felt confident that could hurl death and destruction into the enemy’s lines whenever he appeared in the plain below.



          The morning was clear and beautiful; all forenoon was occupied by the Federals getting their troops into position. Far to our left between the ridge and Lookout Mountain a heavy column could be seen moving. This was the Federal flanking column and we did not have an adequate force to meet it. About 3 p.m., the grand charge in our front began. It will be remembered that the plain between Missionary Ridge and Chattanooga is about two miles in breadth.

          As soon as the Federal lines appeared about midway through the plain, shells and shots went screaming over our heads and we could see by the white puffs that they exploded right in the midst of the enemy. But on they came, the grandest array of blue ever witnessed by the veterans on the ridge. When the Federals arrived within 200-300 yards of the base of the ridge, they moved at a double quick which soon broke into a run and as line after line came up, they lay down at the foot of the ridge and now the work of death began. They had now gotten within range of our small arms, but our artillery could not be sufficiently depressed to reach them.

          I noticed when the Federal lines dashed up to the ridge there was an officer riding a sorrel horse. When he reached the base, he dismounted and his horse went scampering to the rear. He walked up and down the line, waving his sword and seemed to be urging the men forward, but they lay like a blue ribbon as far as I could see with no exception. But to the right of the position occupied by this officer one regiment was slowly and steadily advancing up the ridge directly in front of Anderson’s brigade. A shell from a Federal battery about this time exploded 20 feet to the right of my position, killing two men of the 10th South Carolina. I procured one of their guns, and put down my sword which I left on the ridge when I concluded to go to the rear a few minutes afterwards.

Alabama Volunteer Corps belt buckle 

          Several of us amused ourselves by firing at that officer as he marched up and down the front. We doubtless struck some of those lying all around him. Major Julius Porcher of the 10th South Carolina, who I believe was acting on General Manigault’s staff that day, came up to our part of the line and remarked to me that the enemy did not appear to be advancing on our part of the line. I called his attention to the regiment on our left which had not reached halfway up the ridge. He directed us to fire on them.

          Just at that moment, Captain [John P.] Hazard came up behind Major Porcher and asked him where he could send a detail for ammunition. The major turned to answer and for a moment his back was turned to the enemy. A dull, heavy thud, and the exclamation of “Oh!” as the gallant South Carolinian fell full length on his face. I never heard of him afterwards. All this time, the Federal regiment continued to advance slowly but surely in front of Anderson’s brigade. The battery in our rear beat upon them an enfilading fire and with every discharge some would fall but still others would cluster around their colors.

 

“Several valuable officers were killed in this engagement but no one was more universally lamented and whose loss was a more serious one to the service than that of Lieutenant Colonel Julius Porcher of the 10th S.C. He was wounded a few moments before the line broke and unfortunately no litter was nearby at the time on which to remove him. During the confusion which soon after took place, he was lost sight of and fell into the hands of the enemy. Nothing more was ever heard of him or of his fate, I do not doubt that his wound was mortal and that died within an hour after receiving it.” ~Brigadier General Arthur M. Manigault, commanding Manigault’s brigade

 

          By some bad management or engineering, Anderson’s brigade had their works constructed so far behind the crest of the ridge that they could not see the enemy approaching in their front until they would be within 20 feet of their line. But, knowing the material of which that brigade was composed, I remember remarking to one near me that whenever that Yankee regiment reached the crest of the ridge, they would be swept out of existence in the flash of a gun.

          However, one of those incomprehensible things happened which so frequently turned the tide of success to one side or the other during our civil war. When this gallant regiment reached the crest of the ridge, there did not appear to be more than 50 or 60 men huddled around their flag. Yet this gallant band summoned all their energies, hurled themselves with a yell upon the line of Anderson’s old brigade of Mississippians, veterans of many a hard-fought battle, who had never before flinched from the enemy.

          But now they fired not one shot but with one impulse were swept out of their works and the little band of Federals took possession of their battery stationed there, waved their flags over it, and trained the guns so as to rake our lines. Their comrades then began swarming up the ridge to their support. The Confederate line gave way to the right and left and the battle was won for the Union more through the gallantry of that single regiment than the effort of the best division in Grant’s army.

 

Source:

“A Rebel Account of the Battle of Missionary Ridge,” Second Lieutenant William Morris Boroughs, Co. E, 24th Alabama Infantry, Macomb Journal (Illinois), August 31, 1882, pg. 6

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