CASUALTIES AT MISSION RIDGE.

535

the more as he who led the devotions in less than one month had laid down his life. While the people of the North were in the midst of their rejoicings; while Fort Wood thundered a salute of thirty-four guns; while the dead were being buried near the ridge, and the sufferings of the wounded were being assuaged, French Brownlee, Sergeant Company B, Sergt. McCoy, J. R. Henderson, and some others of Company C, met in a small tent, and after singing the XXIII Psalm and reading the xc Psalm, were led in prayer and thanksgiving by Brownlee.

CASUALTIES IN THIRTY-SIXTH AT MISSION RIDGE.
COMPANY A.

Lieut Leroy Salisbury, wounded in leg.

COMPANY B.

Thomas S. Bowen, arm amputated; Lewis Olson, face; Edward Strait, arm; Chris. Zimmer, nose.

COMPANY C.

Sergt. J. A. Pierce, killed; L. M. Pike, killed; Sergt. J. W. McCoy, shoulder; Sam. Paxton, foot; Warren Kinzie, arm; E. E. Munson, thigh; W. V. Reeder, thigh, died Dec. 12th; E. Sholtz, leg broken.

COMPANY D.

Lieut. S. M. Abbott, killed; Sergt. C. H. Thompson, wrist, W. C. Knox, heel.

COMPANY E.

Ed. Zellar, wounded six times, left arm amputated; J. E. Moss, leg broken; L. Shaffer, left arm; C. M. Baker, nose.

COMPANY H.

Benj. Allen foot; L. Stanton, foot; S. Gates, head

COMPANY I.

George Beck, hand; Chris. Mall, head; William Freeze, leg.

COMPANY K.

James Severance, hand.

CHAPTER XXXI.

EAST TENNESSEE.

FIGHT closing in very soon after the ridge was captured, a vigorous and organized pursuit was impossible. The force which held the north end against Sherman, was the only part of Bragg's army that was not routed. This was drawn off in good order after night, but the rest fled precipitately, and the roads were found strewn with broken wagons, caissons, accoutrements and arms. A portion of Sheridan's Division followed in pursuit that night, but the 36th went into bivouac on the ridge. They were delighted to fill up their boxes with English cartridges, of which they found abundance, so that when Sheridan ordered eighty rounds to a man to be served out, they were found supplied.

At one o'clock A. M. they marched in pursuit, halting about two miles out until near eleven o'clock, when they went on and formed line on Chickamauga Creek. All the way out they met bands of prisoners and deserters coming in, as many as one hundred at a time. Some hurrahed for "Coffee and sugar," some for "Chicago;" others said, "Boys, we have got through with our fighting; here goes for home." One straggler came in during the night to enquire for the 5th Georgia, and was astonished

TROPHIES OF THE BATTLE.

537

to find himself surrounded by blue coats and asked to surrender. Cannons were occasionally fired by the troops ahead, and thick clouds of smoke rising betokened the burning of trains and supplies. At three o'clock the division was relieved by Baird's and ordered back to Chattanooga. Arriving at the ridge before sunset they saw the town from that point for the first time by daylight. How changed the condition of things as they returned to the old camp, from what it was when they left it on Monday! Besides all other advantages the material gains had been very great. There were captured six thousand one hundred and fortytwo prisoners, forty-two guns, sixty-nine gun carriages, seven thousand stand of small arms, beside the large amount of supplies which were not destroyed by the enemy in its flight.

All the night after the battle and all next day, the ambulances plied back and forth between the ridge and the hospitals, bearing their loads of wounded and suffering men. Surgeon Lytle and his assistants, who had four hundred and thirty-six wounded men in charge, were indefatigable in their labors-remaining at work all night, and even till one o'clock the next night, before rest could be taken. Their fidelity was acknowledged afterward in a complimentary order by Medical Director Hewitt. Many of the wounds were very bad, and the reduced condition of the men in consequence of their privations, increased the unfavorable symptoms. Not a few lingered awhile, only to die at last.

Sheridan's Division had returned to camp to prepare for the necessary march to Knoxville. Longstreet had already gained some advantages over Burnside, whose rations would hold out only to Dec. 3rd, and Grant felt the urgent necessity of relieving him. Granger's Corps was ordered to move at once, and subsequently Gen. Sherman was put in command of all the forces nec

essary to make the expedition a success; in all, more than eight divisions of infantry, besides cavalry.

The 36th, with Sheridan's Division, left Chattanooga on Saturday, Nov. 28th, about one o'clock, after a heavy rain, which made the mud ankle deep. They marched about ten miles to the east of Chickamauga Creek, crossing on Sherman's bridge, and went into camp at dark. Next day they reached Harrison, and on the 30th, after marching over twenty miles, came to the Hiawassee, over which they were ferried. Here they found the steamer from Chattanooga, loaded with rations. All through their march they found the people friendly, devoted to the flag, and although it was so cold that ice, one and three-quarters inches thick, stood in the sun all day, women and children remained out of doors until their faces were the hue of the damask rose.

Next day, as the enemy was near, three companies were thrown out as advance guard. On approaching Decatur, a strongly rebellious place, Gen. Sheridan and his staff charged into town. The 36th was made provost guard. Their camp was formed on the court house square, and the men stationed as guard in different houses about town. There was but one Union family there. The next day Gen. Sheridan expressed himself as much pleased with the regiment in the performance of their guard duty, and Lieut. Col. Olson was ordered to have one wagon for each brigade loaded with salt meat taken from the people. That day they marched seventeen miles, and the next, eighteen, camping near Morgantown. On the 4th it was necessary to grind corn to supply food. Some of the boys in their ramblings fell in with a young woman, who, among other things, had to tell them about her sweetheart, to whom she gave the endearing name of "June Bug." On the 5th, the troops drew rations of flour and middlings, of which they made pancakes, and about noon crossed

GENERAL BURNSIDE'S SITUATION.

539

the Little Tennessee on a trestle bridge built by Sherman's troops. On the 6th, they passed through Marysville at noon, while Gen. Sherman and Gen. Granger went into Knoxville to meet Gen. Burnside. Longstreet, having learned of Bragg's defeat, and realizing that his time was short, made an assault on Fort Sanders, the main protection of Knoxville, on Sunday, November 29th, but was repulsed with great slaughter. Knowing that Sherman was near, he raised the siege on the night of the 4th, and retreated towards Virginia.

On Gen. Sherman's arrival at Knoxville, he found a large drove of cattle in a pen; Gen. Burnside comfortably quartered in a mansion, and a fine dinner, including roast turkey, was set upon the table. It was found that at no time had Longstreet completely invested the place or cut off all communication with the Union farmers south of the river-so that the hardships. endured to relieve them were not so much needed as was supposed. Sherman, having accomplished his task, left Granger's Corps to aid Burnside, while the rest of the troops began their return to Chattanooga.

The 36th, after a tedious march, and some counter-marching, went into camp near Knoxville, at nine o'clock P. M., on the 7th. Here they remained until the 12th, with very limited rations. On the 9th, the boys drew a half slice of bread apiece; went without dinner, and just at dark had a pint of corn-meal and a little pork for each man. There were some, however, who evidently did not rely exclusively on the army ration, for on the same day one boy wrote, "for breakfast this morning, we had sausage, bacon, potatoes, honey, molasses, short-cake, biscuit, corn bread, graham bread, wheat bread, etc., etc. Bought four chickens, two pies and a pone." Deserters from Longstreet came in, spreading wild stories about the dispersion of his troops. The