Tunnel Hill, Tennessee - November 25, 1863

Tunnel Hill, Tennessee - November 25, 1863

EDITORS APPEAL: As the accounts of the battle of Missionary Ridge on the 24th and 25th of November that have been published are very meagre and only general in their character, it may not be uninteresting to enter into specialties, and show the part that was taken by some particular brigades and regiments, as well as for the information to the public as to do justice to those engaged.

One engaged in the affair had but little means of knowing what was being done outside of his own particular command, as the line was so long and the obstructions so unfavorable to view - hence I shall only speak of the operations on the extreme right.

About 10'clock on Tuesday, the 24th, Gen Jas. A. Smith's brigade, composed of the 6th, 10th & 15th Texas regiments, Lt. Col. Young, commanding, and the 7th Texas regiment, commanded by Col. Granbury was ordered from its position in the rear of Missionary Ridge, nearly opposite to the Indian hill in front, and moved in quick time to the extreme right of our line of battle, to the hill beyond the tunnel on the Knoxville and Chattanooga railroad, toward the river. Gen. Smith led his brigade beyond the railroad in the direction of the river, and endeavored to gain the hill in front of the one he finally occupied, but, before the ascent we begun, the fire from the sharpshooters of the enemy on the summit, warned us that the enemy had possession of the hill, so the brigade took possession on the top of the his which is channeled, the left resting in the direction of the tunnel, and the right running up along the summit of the hill. It was about 10 o'clock P.M. when we were disposed in order. The battle was raging furiously down on our left, on Lookout mountain, but with what results we did not know. Three companies were thrown forward as skirmishers, who took position about half way down the hill at the upper side of an old field. We had no artillery with the brigade at this time, but fortunately, a battery of small guns came up soon after we were in line, and, as the captain commanding was anxious to get in a fight, Gen. Smith detained him until he threw some shot among the Yankees to let them know we were ready for them. Our skirmishers kept up a brisk fire until dark. In the evening the enemy fired a few shots from a battery they had planted on the top of the hill in our front. The casualties in the evening were slight. Lieut Johnson, of the ____ Texas, was killed, and fifteen or twenty men were wounded

Our men went to work briskly in the evening, and succeeded, before the morning of the 25th, in throwing up breastworks and rails on the top of the hill, extending nearly down to the tunnel. The firing gradually ceased among our skirmishers and sharpshooters as dark advanced, and we lay upon our arms listening to the rest of guns on our extreme left, which was continued with occasional cessation's until 12 o'clock at night.

At daylight on the 25th, the skirmishers commenced firing, when they could get sight of a blue coat through the fog and the Federals showed themselves well on the alert and responded promptly. The artillery, too began to awaken the mountain echoes, and the roar of small arms with the booming of the cannon, fully reminded us that the battle was dawning with the day. There was no fighting on our extreme left, nor could we distinguish guns at the center . Our men knew that Lookout mountain was in possession of the enemy, but thought that they had been defeated on our left the day before, and that to-day they would attempt the right. Never was there a more determined band of men at face to a foe. The supposed success of our left inspired them with a determination to hold the right or die in the endeavor.

Other artillery had been brought to our line during the night, and the batteries of Captain Semples and Sweat was on our right and left, one over the tunnel, sweeping the hollow, and the other near the center of the brigade. The enemy had also planted new batteries during the night before. During the night of the 24th, the brigade changed position from where it was at nightfall - its left moving nearer to the tunnel, consequently the skirmishers in front of its original position had no main line immediately in their rear. The battle continued thus between the artillery and skirmishers until near 8 A.M., when our skirmishers found they were being flanked on the right. They took position nearly perpendicular to their old line, so as to confront the enemy who was flanking them and hold them at a stand, and finally poured the fire into their ranks hotter and hotter, advancing on them and finally drove them back down the hill. In the meanwhile, the skirmishing in front of the main body was very heavy and disastrous to the enemy - it was a battle itself.

About 11 O'clock, the main lines of the enemy were plainly visible. Our artillery did not seem to injure them greatly. Occasionally a bomb would cause a regiment to scatter like a flock of frightened birds, and all efforts to rally them were in vain. One line had advanced close to the foot of the hill and held its position. The artillery on our side could not injure them, as the guns could not be sufficiently depressed to rake them. They could not be seen by our men from behind our main lines and were only exposed to the random shots from sharpshooters and skirmishers above them. Thus the battle continued until about 1 o'clock; at that hour the enemy had advanced a large body of skirmishers up the hill and drove our advance back. Gen. Smith sprang forward and ordered our men to charge them. Over the works they went, and down the hill upon the enemy, who were driven before them with great loss. The few who reached the foot of the hill went flying far in the distant fields. It was in this charge that Gen Smith was wounded; at the head of his men, he was struck by a minie ball below the right knee - passing through and lodging in his left knee - inflicting a severe and painful wound. Capt. Blackburn, of Gen Smith's staff, was struck with a shell on the right arm, which it was necessary to amputate on the field. Col. Mills was also wounded at this time. The enemy strengthened their line at the foot of the hill and again threw forward a heavy line of skirmishers - far up the hill. We expected that the main line would soon assault us with their rapidly increasing force from below, but the fight declined between the skirmishers as before, until about 4 o'clock P.M., when Gen Cleburne passed along the lines and ordered the men to charge the enemy, meeting the enemy down the hill. Again rose above the war of arms that wild, hideous yell, which is only heard in battle, when a man regains that natural savagery he seems to have lost by civilization. With fixed bayonets, down the mountain side they rushed, a human avalanche, more terrible than if the crags themselves had been loosened from their steeps. The skirmishers of the enemy had been swept down - trampled under foot - but the flood of the Texans paused not - on it swept, accumulating strength as it advanced, carrying everything before it to the foot of the hill and late the field below. They piled the ground with the dead foe - some in their haste threw aside their guns as delaying them, and hurled rocks at the retreating enemy. The bayonet did its bloody duty, and the fallen autumn leaves was the death couch of many an invader on the side of that once peaceful ridge. Several stands of colors were captured, and a large number of firearms. Our men were, after a short struggle, in complete possession of the ground - the entire line of the enemy being either killed, prisoners, or fugitives across the fields.

The enemy were evidently surprised at the charge, and perhaps expected to await until darkness at the foot of the hill and assault us in the night. This closed the fight on the evening of the 25th. As we had full possession of all the ground over which the skirmishing had been during the day, we saw how disastrous to the enemy had been our fire. There dead was on every side. Our men fell back to their position on the top of the hill and there we remained until night - no more firing going on, save from weak skirmishing parties. The men felt that they had done their duty, and knew not of our disasters in other positions until they were ordered at night to leave the post they had defended with such gallantry and success during the day. To sum up - we lost no prisoners, lost no artillery, held our position against five times our numbers, took two hundred prisoners and five stands of colors, repulsed the enemy and charged them twice from our works, driving them from the field. That night we crossed the Chickamauga, learning that every where of our disaster at other points on the line. There were other brigades of Cleburne's division, massed in our rear and thrown as it were perpendicular to our right extremity, but the particular part they played I cannot show from personal observation.

We lost but one officer killed - several were wounded. Major Sanders, Captain Shannon, Captain Houston and Lieutenant Gibson and several others - all however, slight, save Major Sanders whose right arm has been amputated.

Our loss among the enlisted men was not heavy. The enemy lost at least one thousand killed and wounded at this point, at least ten to one more than our losses. It was this brigade that so strongly held its position in the center of our line in the battle of Chickamauga subjected to a most fatal fire from the enemy - two other brigades have given up the position.

This brigade is composed entirely of Texans - they have left their homes and families, and without a murmur remain in the army of Tennessee, facing the foe, to beat him back from Georgia - to drive him from Tennesee. They clamer not for the privilege of defending their own State specially, even though large forces are threatening its invasion, but are content so long as is the Confederacy they are battling for, so long as it is ___ ___ ___ they are upholding. They are not here seeking renown, nor to _____ the country with deeds of valor. It is as soldiers and patriots we desire to be known. The ____ of brigades of other _____ find chroniclers. The Texans find none. Publish their efforts, that their friends at home may know that they are not idle or useless, but are fulfilling what their parents, wives and children expect of them. Give their friends the consolation of knowing they are doing their duty - them the justice to show the part they are acting in these dark times.

"COMAL BLUFF"

[Microfilm Department - Robert W. Woodruff Library - Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia]