REMINISCENCES
OF THE
Chattanooga Campaign.
A Paper Read at the Reunion of Company B,
Fortieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, at
Xenia, O., August 22, 1894,
BY
SERGEANT ISAAC C. DOAN.
RICHMOND, IND.:
PRINTED AT J. M. COE’S PRINTERY,
1894.
REMINISCENCES.
THE CHATTANOOGA CAMPAIGN.
ON a balmy autumn day—September 18th, 1863, while the ChattanoogaValley lay nestled within its rugged mountain borders, bathedin the mellow rays of the Southern sun, the First Brigade, First Divisionof the Reserve Corps, broke camp near Crawfish Springs, and movedout along the Ringgold road.
This brigade was composed of the Fortieth Ohio, Eighty-fourthIndiana, Ninety-sixth and One Hundred-and-fifteenth Illinois Infantry.
Late in the afternoon, just as the head of the column reached ChickamaugaRiver, the sharp crack of a rebel picket gun rang out upon theair. The column halted, and almost immediately we saw a mountedofficer riding rapidly toward us from the front, the ranks opening at hisapproach. As he reached our company (B, Fortieth O. V. I.) he spoketo our Captain who at once gave the order: “Company B, forward—doublequick—march!”
Upon reaching the head of the column we saw the dead body of aUnion soldier, lying upon his face, his life-blood mingling with the dustof the road.
We crossed the stream and deployed as skirmishers, while on ourright was deployed a company of the Ninety-sixth Illinois. We movedcautiously through the thicket until we reached a fence beyond whichwas an open field with stumps every few minutes, from behind which theJohnnies were firing salutes in honor of our arrival. We halted awhile atthe fence and returned their compliments, when we were ordered toadvance.
We cleared the low fence at a bound, and made a rush for the rebelline of skirmishers, who gave a parting volley and showed us their graybacks, while we gave them every encouragement to go. We were thenhalted and lay down while one of our batteries played over our heads,shelling the opposite woods.
As it was nearly dark the firing soon ceased. I lay, for severalhours, by the stump which formed my temporary fortress, occasionallyhearing faint noises, as of some one moving stealthily.
[4]I kept awake! About midnight it grew still and I began to bedecidedly lonesome and crept over to a stump where I had seen acomrade before it became dark—he was gone. The skirmishers hadbeen withdrawn silently, and I had been missed in the darkness, andwas out in the enemy’s country all alone.
I went back for reinforcements—cautiously, however, being fully aliveto the danger of being taken for a rebel, and of falling a victim tomistaken identity. I had only gone a few steps when I heard the cockingof a gun and the words “Haldt, who gooms dere.” I sung out“Fortieth Ohio,” without delay, for those Dutchmen of the Ninety-sixthIllinois had the reputation of shooting and then saying halt.
I am glad they reversed the order in this instance. I was directedto advance, and told that I would find Company B on their left: thecompanies having been retired a few paces and closed upon the left,which brought the Ninety-sixth boys in rear of my position.
About daylight we were ordered back to the brigade, then