"Among the many inexpressibly sad days of our military career, no member of the regiment will, I am sure, fail to recognize this, the 29th day of November, 1863, as one of the most sad. All through that dismal day the words were ever recurring—'These are they who have passed through great tribulation.'"—pp. [24]-27.
Our only loss in the Thirty-sixth Massachusetts was private Haven, of Company G, who died of wounds received from a shell.
Longstreet had promised his men that they should dine that day in Knoxville. But, in order that he might bury his dead, General Burnside now tendered him an armistice until five o'clock P.M. It was accepted, and our ambulances were sent to assist the rebels in removing the bodies to the enemy's lines. At five o'clock two additional hours were asked, as the work was not yet completed. At seven o'clock a gun was fired from Fort Sanders, the rebels responded from an earthwork opposite, and the truce was at an end.
General Longstreet, in his official report, says: "On the 26th and 27th we had various rumors of a battle having been fought at Chattanooga, the most authentic being from telegraph operators. There seemed to be so many reports leading to the same conclusion that I determined that I must attack, and, if possible, get possession of Knoxville. The attack upon the fort was ordered on the 28th, but, in order to get our troops nearer the works, the assault was postponed until daylight of the 29th. The line of sharp-shooters along our entire front were ordered to be advanced at dark to within good rifle-range of the enemy's lines, and to sink rifle-pits during the night in their advanced positions, so that the sharp-shooters along our whole line might engage the enemy upon an equal footing, whilst our columns made the assault against the fort. Our advance at night was very successful, capturing sixty or seventy prisoners without any loss. The assault was ordered to be made by three of General McLaws' brigades, his fourth being held in readiness for further operations. General Jenkins was ordered to advance a brigade a little later than the assaulting columns, and to pass the enemy's lines east of the fort, and to continue the attack along the enemy's rear and flank. Two brigades of Major-General Buckner's division, under Brigadier-General B. R. Johnson, having arrived the day before, were ordered to move in rear of General McLaws, and, at a convenient distance, to be thrown in, as circumstances might require. On the night of the 28th General McLaws' letter of that date was received. General McLaws' letter was shown to General Leadbetter, and my answer was read to him. General Leadbetter then suggested the postscript which I added to the answer. The assault was made, at the appointed time, by Generals Wofford's, Humphrey's, and Byron's brigades. The troops were not formed as well to the front as they should have been. Their lines should have been formed close upon our line of rifle-pits, which would have given them about two hundred yards to advance under fire. Instead of this, the lines were formed several hundred yards in rear of the pits. My orders were that the advance should be made quietly until they entered the works, which was to be announced by a shout. The troops moved up in gallant style. As I approached the troops they seemed to be in good order at the edge of the ditch, and some of the colors appeared to be on the works. When in about five hundred yards of the fort I saw some of our men straggling back, and heard that the troops could not pass the ditch for want of ladders or other means. Almost at the same moment I saw that the men were beginning to retire in considerable numbers, and very soon the column broke up entirely and fell back in confusion. I ordered Buckner's brigades halted and retired, and sent the order for Anderson's brigade, of Hood's division, to be halted and retired; but the troops of the latter brigade had become excited, and rushed up to the same point from which the others had been repulsed, and were soon driven back. Officers were sent to rally the men, and good order was soon restored."[8]
[8] Rev. J. William Jones, D.D., Secretary of the Southern Historical Society, kindly permitted the writer, when in Richmond, Va., in April, 1880, to copy from General Longstreet's letter-book two letters, which are of interest in this connection. The first is as follows:—
"Head-quarters, Nov. 28, 1863.
"General,—Your letter is received. I am not at all confident that General Bragg has had a serious battle at Chattanooga; but there is a report that he has, and fallen back to Tunnel Hill. Under this report I am entirely convinced that our only safety is in making the assault upon the enemy's position to-morrow at daylight; and it is the more important that I should have the entire support, and all the force that you may be possessed of, in the execution of my views. It is a great mistake to suppose that there is any safety for us in going to Virginia, if General Bragg has been defeated, for we leave him at the mercy of his victors; and with his army destroyed, our own had better be also, for we must not only be destroyed, but disgraced. There is neither safety nor honor in any other course than the one that I have already chosen and ordered.
"Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
"J. LONGSTREET, Lieutenant-General.
"Major-General McLaws, Commanding.