Journal History of the Twenty-Ninth Ohio Veteran Volunteers, 1861-1865 / Its Victories and its Reverses. And the campaigns and battles of Winchester, Port Republic, Cedar Mountain, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, Atlanta, the March to the Sea, and the campaign of the Carolinas, in which it bore an honorable part

by J. Hamp SeCheverell

CHAPTER XIII.

Shelmound—Wauhatchie Valley—Ringgold—Battle of Dug or Mill Creek Gap or Buzzard’s Roost—On the Move.

On the morning of May 3, 1864, at 10 o’clock, we broke camp, crossed the Tennessee river, and moved eastward along its south bank to Shelmound, where we encamped for the night. On the following day the march was resumed, the column halting for dinner in Wauhatchie valley. Crossing Lookout Creek and mountain, we encamped for the night on its east side and two miles distant from Chattanooga. The column resumed its line of march at 7 A. M., on the 5th. Moving cautiously during the day, in the advance, it halted for the night a short distance west of Ringgold, Georgia. At daybreak on the following morning we moved forward, and about 9 o’clock formed line of battle, remaining here during the day and subsequent night. The beat of the “long roll” on the following morning called us to arms, and we immediately advanced in line of battle. When near Gordon’s Springs General Kilpatrick passed to our right with his command. Our column came to a halt for the night near Tunnel hill.

At about 11 A. M., on May 8th, we pushed forward in order of columns right in front, and at 3 o’clock arrived in front of John’s Mountain at Rocky Face Ridge, on the summit of which the enemy were entrenched in force. The Twenty-ninth Ohio regiment and Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania of the First brigade, Colonel Candy commanding, with three regiments of Buschbeck’s Second brigade, formed in line, the latter on the right, and in this order at once moved forward to storm the ridge. The position of the Twenty-ninth regiment in the assaulting column was on the extreme left, the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania next on its right, connecting with the Second brigade. Our instructions were to make a strong demonstration, and to carry, if possible, the rebel position. While advancing to the assault, the brass bands in our rear indiscreetly commenced playing National airs, which attracted the attention of the rebel commander, who rapidly concentrated reinforcements in our front. The advance up the declivity was nearly as difficult as Lookout Mountain, and more completely fortified. Its summit was steep, precipitous, and covered with scraggy rocks and immense boulders. From our position we commanded a fine view of Dug Gap, a narrow, artificial cut through the rocky summit, connecting with a road extending almost parallel with the ridge to the gap beyond, and by a zigzag course reaching the mountain’s base. The rebels had so completely fortified themselves that it was next to impossible for our assaulting force to get nearer than their base. As we approached the rebel line, a regiment was moved by left flank across our front. At this moment the rebel line opened a fire so deadly in effect that the regiment in our front became disordered and broke through our ranks to the rear, causing a momentary confusion in the ranks of the Twenty-ninth regiment. At this moment the order was given to advance, which was executed with a rush despite the deadly volleys that were cutting through our ranks. Up! up! we go to death or victory! and commenced to scale the obstructions close to their works; and now a storm of deadly missiles are hurled against us. Rocks, boulders, and even cart-wheels come crashing down upon us. Yet we moved steadily in the deadly advance until ordered back by our officers, when we retired a few paces to reform our line, the fallen trees only separating us from the enemy.

Here we made a determined and bloody fight, but having no support to cover our flank we were subjected to a deadly cross-fire from the left, yet the regiment stubbornly stood its ground, returning shot for shot until its ammunition was exhausted. More was secured from the cartridge-boxes of the dead and wounded, and with this we fought on, determined to hold the position until reinforcements should reach us. Just before dusk an order came from the commanding general for the Twenty-ninth regiment to retire, all the other regiments having done so some time previous. To cover our retreat a line of skirmishers was thrown out, composed of men from each company who volunteered for this dangerous duty, and right nobly did they perform this work, firing with deadly precision as they retired from the field into the valley below, where the Twenty-ninth were already in bivouac, and comrades cheered lustily as the skirmishers came in, happy to know they had not met the fate of others.

John Davis, of company B, a Scotchman by birth and one of the best shots in the regiment, fired the last shot in this day’s action, and was the last to leave the field.

The Twenty-ninth regiment in this fight distinguished itself by brave conduct, though at last compelled to retire from lack of support. Our losses in killed and wounded was more than double that of any other regiment engaged: Killed, 26; wounded, 67; captured 1; total 94.

General Geary highly complimented the regiment for its gallantry, remarking that he never saw men advance under such murderous fire, especially when unsupported and where the chances of success were so desperate. The Twenty-ninth regiment lost nearly one-third its numbers during this three hours’ engagement, and many were the individual acts of heroism displayed, which it would give the writer pleasure to record. As but few are now remembered, the remainder would suffer an injustice were these given. It is, however, but simple justice to state that the regiment fully sustained its previous reputation as a fighting organization, each individual doing his full share in the terrible work. Subsequent events proved that this assault was made to draw the enemy to this point, thus giving McPherson’s corps and Kilpatrick’s cavalry an opportunity to possess Snake Creek Gap, a desirable situation several miles in our right rear, opening a flank movement directly on the enemy’s rear.

On May 9th we encamp at Mill Creek, near Johns Mountain, where we remain until 12 o’clock, midnight. We then move to the right and throw up earthworks. May 10th we are still at work. We receive the news of General Grant’s victory over General Lee at the Wilderness, near Chancellorsville, Virginia, where our regiment received such a baptism of blood a little more than a year since. Alas! how many of our brave boys have gone down to death since then.

May 11th. Still in the same position, hourly expecting orders to move; quartermasters remove all extra baggage to the rear; all men unable for active service sent to hospital, and everything possible put into perfect fighting order, and by the way it’s ever so much nicer penning these lines here in our cosy room in the far away Western Reserve of the Buckeye State than was the actual experience in Secessia during those early May days of 1864.

On the 12th instant we moved forward to Snake Creek Gap, forming a junction with the Fifteenth and Sixteenth corps (McPherson’s), where we remained during the night. At 2 o’clock P. M. on the following day we advanced toward Resaca, fully occupying Snake Creek Gap. Our cavalry are sharply engaged with the enemy. Here brave General Kilpatrick is wounded. At 4 o’clock P. M. the battle is still raging fiercely, and the enemy are being slowly driven back. At last a hill is captured which covers the entire rebel line. Here we fortify and rest for the night.

May 14th a severe engagement opens near Resaca; we advance by a circuitous route to the left; the Fourteenth corps is engaged; during the afternoon we joined our Twentieth corps and moving rapidly to the left; succeeded in rescuing a portion of the Fourth corps from disaster and defeat, and one of its batteries from certain capture, the infantry support having been driven back, leaving the battery at the mercy of the rebels. Robinson’s brigade, of Williams’ division, Twentieth corps, who were in the advance, fortunately reached the scene of action in time to prevent the capture of another battery by making a counter-charge on the advancing rebel legions. We came up soon after this support, which soon ended in the complete repulse of the rebels, driving them beyond their fortifications. The Twentieth army corps received the compliments of the commanding general, Hooker, for their gallant work, which resulted in a loss to the enemy of some four hundred men killed and wounded.