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 COMMANDERY OF M DISTRICT OF COLUMBIi 
 
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 WAR PAPER 64. 
 
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 dOMMAWDEKV OF THE DI^TI(ICT DF COLUpA. 
 
 WAR PAPE RS. 
 
 54 
 
 "Iperserial I^ecoUectioRS of CLKallanooga and "Vicinity. 
 
 PREPARED BY COMPANION 
 
 First Lieutenant 
 
 JEFFERSON H. JENINGS, 
 
 U. S. Volunteers, 
 
 AND 
 
 READ AT THE STATED MEETING OF MAY 4, 1 9C4. 
 
V.-O. b.U.L'US. 
 
 E 41^ 
 
>^, 
 
 ktmx^l §txolUx\'m\^ of tflutttanooga 
 and ilmuitj(» 
 
 The battle f)l" Chickaniauga was fought on September 19 and 
 20, 1863. The Union Army (Army of the Cumberland) was 
 commanded by Gen. W. vS. Rosecrans, and the Confederate 
 forces, Army of Tennessee, Longstreet Corps, Army of Virginia, 
 and other troops, were commanded by Gen. Braxton Bragg. 
 During the night of vSeptember 20, and on September 21. the 
 Army of the Cumberland fell back on Chattanooga quietly, 
 leisurely, without demoralization, to form a new line and con- 
 tinue the battle for the possession of Chattanooga, for which 
 the battle of Chickaniauga had been fought, and which we held 
 until the war closed. The Army of the Cumberland was 
 never defeated during the war. 
 
 I had the honor at that time to be a first heutenant of the 1 jlh 
 Kentucky \'olunteer Infantry of General Sam Beatty's brigade, 
 which was composed of the 79th and 86th Indiana, the 9th and 
 17th Kentucky, and the 13th, 19th, and 59th Ohio, 26th Penn- 
 sylvania, and Bridges Illinois batteries — all veteran organiza- 
 tions with splendid records; the 3d brigade of Wood's Division, 
 4th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland. 
 
 It was about September 25th before the enemy appeared in 
 much force on Missionary Ridge or in Chattanooga Valley. 
 Spades were trumps, and in a few days we were surrounded by 
 strong breastworks around the town, and I believe we could have 
 repulsed any attack. The enemy, however, seemed to have no 
 desire to attack us. relying on the slower but surer way of starv- 
 ing us out, and during the siege many a meal was made by tight- 
 
ening the waist belt. Guards were placed over the mules while 
 they were fed, and invariably the guard would invite himself to 
 dine with his long-eared friend. A beef's liead would sell for 
 $1.50, hardtack 23 cents apiece, and I have seen men fight like 
 dogs over a dirty cracker that had dropped out of a wagon. In 
 fact, there was much more suffering from scanty rations than 
 was ever complained about. 
 
 Bv mutual consent firing at each other on the picket line was 
 prohibited, and at one time dozens of soldiers from both sides 
 were on the railroad fill between the picket lines, trading news- 
 papers, tobacco, etc., while at the same time both forces were 
 firing artillery over their heads. Shortly after the siege began I 
 was sent in charge of some 300 axmen for the ])urpose of chop- 
 ping down the timber in our front, at that time quite heavv. 
 Commencing at our picket line, we worked toward the camp. 
 It was a beautiful moonlight night. There was a little field in 
 our front, and I stepped out in the held cnjoving the moonlight. 
 Suddenly a voice remarked from the other side of the field : "Get 
 out of there, Yank." I asked: "Whom have I the honor of 
 addressing?" "Lieutenant Brown, — th Georgia. You need not 
 take any time talking; get out of the field or I will fire you out 
 damned quick." 1 took his hint and retired to the shade. 
 There was a little frame shanty in the middle of the field ; one of 
 our pickets went over to it and commenced knocking (jff a 
 board with his gun. "Leave that board alone, Yank," came a 
 voice from across the field. C)ur picket stopped long enough 
 to request the rebel to go to a warmer place than Chattanooga, 
 and also proceeded to give him genealogical information 
 especially relative to the female side of his family. The reply to 
 this was a rifle shot, and the rebel lieutenant ordered a charge, 
 and here they came across the field, veiling and firing. 1 had 
 a lively time for a few minutes getting nn- men back. All we 
 
5 
 
 luul to t^.^'lil with wt-re axes, and while straighteniiij^ out the 
 picket line the long roll sounded. Cien. vSam Beattv sent down a 
 regiment to reinforce us. The enemy returned back over the 
 field and quiet reigned. 1 learned afterward that the lieutenant 
 who interviewed me was loaded with bad whiskey and started 
 ii: with the intention of capturing Chattanooga. 
 
 The timber was finally cut down within our lines, and with 
 the reckless prodigality of soldiers it was soon all gone, and the 
 boys proceeded to dig up the stumps for fire wood to cook our 
 scanty rations; then the rebels helped us out. There was a 
 little island in the Tennessee river just north of our east line of 
 . w^orks and just below it was our pontoon bridge, our onlv means 
 of communication w4th our supplies. Almost everv night the 
 Confederates would send down heavy rafts of logs for the purpose 
 of destroying our pontoon bridge ; we had several men in skiffs 
 who would meet the rafts and secure them to the island, fur- 
 nishing the greater portion of our fuel during the latter part of 
 the siege. 
 
 The great question that confronted us was whether we could 
 secure enough rations to support the army. From Chattanooga 
 to our base of supplies at Stevenson, Alabama, was about 40 
 miles by the river road. Crossing the pontoon at Chatta- 
 nooga and passing back of Moccasin Point, about seven miles 
 out, the road approached the eastern bank of the river. From 
 Lookout Mountain the river takes an abrupt turn to the north, 
 cutting through the mountains, \\'aldren's Ridge on the east 
 and Raccoon Mountain on the west, each about 2,200 feet high. 
 The road for about three miles was along the river, with precipi- 
 tous clifTs on both sides of the river. The road was onlv wide 
 enough for two wagons to pass, and elevated on an average 
 about 30 feet above the river's edge. \\'hat we desired was 
 something to eat, and to this the rebels objected, and to carrv 
 
out their designs they had Raccoon Mountain swarming with 
 Confederate sharpshooters. They would wait until our wagon . 
 train was in the center of the road along the cliff, shoot down 
 the mules at the head and rear of the train, and then amuse 
 themselves bv shooting at everything in sight. About October 
 15th General Beatty ordered me with 75 picked men to take a 
 wagon train to Stevenson, Alabama. Fortunately, when we 
 reached the river road a section of our artillery and a detach- 
 ment of our sharpshooters had been entertaining the Confeder- 
 ates on Raccoon Mountain all the morning, which enabled us to 
 pass through the gap without molestation. As my train passed 
 out of danger I started after it. Just then a couple of bullets 
 struck the rock near me ; the only shots fired at us. On the 
 return to Chattanooga the weather was stormv, the roads were 
 horrible, and no other train passed over the river road after 
 mine; we were obliged to go up the Sequatchie Valley via Jasper. 
 It was the second day after leaving Stevenson before we reached 
 the foot of Waldren's Ridge. There was nothing but a mere 
 trail up the mountain. The road was improved by placing logs 
 against the projecting ledges, the mess pork barrels had the brine 
 emptied out and wagons lightened every possible way. vSix- 
 teen mules were hitched to each wagon as it was taken up the 
 mountain, a stalwart soldier with a big black-snake whip to 
 each mule, and as many men as could catch hold of the 
 wheels and wagon pushing and lifting thereon. The unregener- 
 ate mule paid penance for all his sins that dav and worked as 
 mules never worked before. Bv night we had the train all on 
 the mountain top. and to-day I look back to the ascent of the 
 wagon train up Waldren's Ridge as one of the most potent of my 
 army experiences. The distance from Stevenson, Alabama, to 
 Chattanooga via Jasper was about 75 miles. After my return to 
 Chattanooga, (icn. vSam Beatty ordered ine with the same 
 
7 
 
 guard to continue in cluiri^c of the train most of the time during 
 the siege. 
 
 After the "cracker Hue" was opened I made frequent trips 
 to Kelly's via Brown's Ferrv. The Confederates on Lookout 
 Mountain, whenever a train would cross the pontoon bridge at 
 Brown's Ferry and crossing Wanhatchie Vallev, would shell us 
 furiously, but never injured anyone as far as I know, but it was 
 interesting to see the shells bursting far up in the air, or bursting 
 just as they struck the river. On one trip I noticed a number of 
 general officers approaching a narrow cut in the road. I drew the 
 men up on the top of the bank and had my wagons take the side 
 of the road. The party paused in the road a moment immedi- 
 ately in my front. Grant, Thomas, vSherman and several corps 
 commanders were in the party. Just as4:hev slacked up General 
 Grant asked General Sherman, "Can a movement of troops 
 back of the ridge (pointing to one to the right) on the north side 
 of the river be seen from either Missionary Ridge or Lookout 
 Mountain!^". To which vSherman replied it could not. On return 
 to camp, talking to the of^cers, I pointed to Missionary Ridge 
 and said: "Gentlemen, we will have the pleasure of going up 
 there in the near future." Then I related the conversation 
 between Grant and Sherman. 
 
 A day or two afterward I passed the most miserable day of my 
 life. I was on picket ; the ground was a dead level, and all day 
 and night long the rain poured in torrents ; the shallowest place 
 was over the shoe-top in depth. In a short time both shoes 
 felt as if they were full of scalding water. Just before dark 
 I sent a note to General Beatty requesting twenty canteens of 
 whiskey, and, to mv great satisfaction, the men I sent returned 
 with the canteens filled, (reneral Beatty would always take 
 good care of his men, and I believe the whiskey saved several 
 lives. 
 
About I P. M., November 23, 1S67,, Wood's Division was 
 ordered out of our works. vSam Beally's Brigade forming on 
 the slope that extended nearly to the rebel pieket lines a little to 
 the north and in front of I'ort Wood, with Orchard Knob and 
 the rebel rifle pits about three-fourths of a mile to the southeast 
 of us. Regiment after regiment, brigade after brigade, formed 
 on the grassv slope, without hurry or excitement, but apparently 
 as though forming for a grand review. Our picket line was 
 doubled in number and a regiment sent to strengthen the 
 reserves. The enemy seemed to be wondering at our manceu- 
 vres, and as everv man on the plain outside of our works could 
 be seen bv all on both sides they duplicated every move we 
 made. It was like a gigantic game of chess, our skirmish line 
 representing the pawns. About 1.40 P. M. the skirmish line 
 was ordered forward, with trailed arms and without firing a shot 
 they advanced on the enemy. A big rebel near a little shanty 
 fired on our line and hastily retreated behind the shanty, and 
 thus the first shot in the battles around Chattanooga was fired. 
 At this time we were ordered to double quick for Orchard Knob, 
 carrving it with a rush, and at 2.30 had full possession of the 
 same and connecting rifle pits to the south. So quick and unex- 
 pected was our charge that we captured several unopened boxes 
 of new Enfield rifles with the name of the blockade runner 
 thereon, which evidently had been sent to the Knob to be 
 issued to the troops stationed there. 
 
 The 17th Kentucky, as usual, started in as a reserve to the 
 other six regiments of Sam Beatty's Brigade. \\'e remained 
 on the Knob, doing nothing until after dark, when the enemy 
 made an attack in force on our lines north of Orchard Knob. 
 Until about 12 M. we were run up and down the line or wher- 
 ever the firing appeared the heaviest, but about 12 M. every- 
 thing quieted down and we returned to the Knob. The morn- 
 
ing of the 24th of X..v.nibcT was bright and clear, and Sam 
 Brattv's Brigade had nothing to do except await developments. 
 The enemv had established and thrown light intrenchments 
 about 200 yards in front of their heav^• hne of works, near the 
 base of Missionary Ridge. 
 
 During the night of the 24th Sherman's armv had crossed the 
 Tennessee river, attackmg the enemv near the north end of 
 Missionarv Ridge. The battle al this point continued ah day, 
 on November 25th, without any particular advantage on either 
 side twoof Sherman's army brigades being badlv repulsed. We 
 all supposed that the Confederate troops were being massed to 
 crush Sherman's force, all the troops from Lookout Mountain 
 and Chattanooga VaUev having been transferred to Missionarv 
 Ridge during the night of the 24th. Sam Beattv's Brigade 
 stiU continued to occupv Orchard Knob. The enemv shelled 
 us all dav. It seemed to amuse them and did not hurt us. Our 
 corps commander. Gen. Gordon Granger, was with us on the 
 Knob • he secured a 6-pound gun somewhere and, assisted by one 
 soldier for an hour or more, made "pot shots" at the enemv on 
 the summit and the base of the Ridge. The execution he did 
 probablv was as barren of results as was that of the rebels. 
 About \ ,0 P. M. 1 was talking to our Colonel (Stout), when 
 the following order was delivered to him verballv: "Colonel, 
 when six guns are hred from the batterv on Orchard Knob, 
 advance vour regiment, charge, capture and hold the lower line 
 of works'to make a diversion in Sherman's favor." ^^hthln ten 
 minutes afterward the six guns were fired by the 26th Pennsvh 
 vania Batterv of Sam Beatty's brigade. The brigade at once 
 started on quick time, going a little north of east from the Knob. 
 The skirmish line and light works in the valley and their defen- 
 ders did not cause a second's delay. The prisoners were dis- 
 armed and ordered into Chattanooga, and, going m with a rush 
 
lO 
 
 and a yell, in a few niinules we were in full possession of the 
 heavy works at the base of Missionary Ridge. There was a 
 regiment about half way between us and Chattanooga, and it 
 was amusing to see squads of the same charging on the poor 
 surprised disarmed Confederates we had sent to the rear and 
 marching them to the regiment as prisoners. One of the claims of 
 this regiment is that it captured 600 prisoners. Under the 
 circumstances a most heroic deed ! After we had captured the 
 lower line of works the brigade sheltered itself as well as it could 
 from the fire on the summit of the Ridge by keeping close to 
 the outside of the captured breastworks. The 17th Ken- 
 tucky, still a reserve regiment for the brigade, occupied the 
 open ground about lO'^ feet to the rear. The enemy had all 
 their batteries posted on the summit of the ridge. From the 
 position of the lytli Kentucky I could see about all of our line 
 on either side of us for over a mile. 
 
 In our immediate front was the highest and steepest portion 
 of Missionary Ridge (about 500 feet, at an angle of 45 degrees), 
 strongly fortified on the summit, and with 42 pieces of artillery 
 in position. The Ridge had been denuded of trees and had a 
 rough, broken surface, seamed by gullies and ravines, an appar- 
 ently impregnable position. My attention was drawn to a 
 movement in the 9th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry immediately 
 to our right and front. Just then a little corporal of that regi- 
 ment (I never knew his name) rose and shouted, "By God, boys, 
 let's go up," and, suiting the action to the word, sprang over the 
 lower line of breastworks, the whole regiment after him and 
 the whole brigade following at once. A ravine extended up the 
 Ridge near the right of Sam Beatty's brigade, and all started for 
 it. The 79th Indiana, being nearest, started up in the lead and 
 all the regiments in the brigade kept about the same relative 
 position as the\' did when they entered the ravine. In fact, the 
 
 ^ 
 
II 
 
 whole brigade was in a bunch with the 17th Kenluckx' still as a 
 reserve regiment. The ravine was steep and roekv; the rebels 
 firing down it o\-ershot us as a rule, and the artillery could hardly 
 reach down to us. We pushed ahead until nearly half way up, 
 when, by common consent apparently, we all sat or lay down in 
 the ravine, and just then, to our great surprise, the enemv ceased 
 firing. What the others thought while resting I do not know, 
 but my thoughts were: We cannot remain here, they will roll 
 stones down on us soon. We cannot go ahead without rein- 
 forcements ; while we can carrv the works we will be fianked and 
 captured and we can't retreat. It is decidedly a serious situa- 
 tion for us. 
 
 In Fort Wood we had a 32-p(^und 4-gtm battery, and on 
 the morning of November 25th vSergeant "Jimmie" Brown, in 
 charge of one of the guns, fired at the summit of Missionary 
 Ridge, two miles distant, and with a single shot fortunatelv 
 dismounted a 12-pound Napoleon gun and blew up a caisson. 
 
 That little sergeant is now Companion J. Edwin Brown, of 
 this Commandery. 
 
 When .Sam Beattv's brigade started up the ravine the four 
 ,^2 -pound guns in Fort Wood commenced firing over our heads. 
 The firing was magnificent. Fvach gun seemed to send an end- 
 less procession of shells to the summit of the Ridge. About the 
 same time the enemv quit tiring the ,^2 -pound guns also ceased, 
 as there was great danger they would strike us. While we could 
 excuse the enemy from firing, but when our shells quit passing 
 over our heads, I never felt so lonesome in my life. 
 
 lust then a big bugler of Turchin's brigade at the base of the 
 Ridge sounded the charge, and, as far as I could see, on either 
 side the regiments and brigades were starting up the steep 
 acclivity. At once we started up the Ridge, and as we neared 
 the summit our brigade in front would deploy to the right and 
 
12 
 
 left of the ravine outside of the enemy's breastworks, charging 
 and carrying them with a rush. Although having to go some 
 distance farther east than the rest of the Hne, we were inside of 
 the enemy's works almost as soon as the other regiments of the 
 brigade. After our brief rest, and we had started up, the rebels 
 commenced firing again, and a Napoleon gun in the Confederate 
 battery on our left was particularly energetic and could get 
 clear down to us. As our boys moved to the left outside of the 
 ravine I noticed a rebel officer waving a Confederate battle flag 
 in the battery. I had an old French navy revolver and 1 
 wanted to get him so badly that I rested it on one hand as I 
 aimed at him. just then the Napoleon gun went off, covering 
 me with dust and clay, and the officer disappeared. Rushing 
 on over the Confederate works, I found one rebel evidently 
 striking for his native land. I picked up a musket and in the 
 courteous manner usual on such occasions requested him to 
 come back to me. He was the sorriest looking mortal I ever 
 saw. He remarked: "I am glad you Yankees have got me." 
 "Well," I remarked, "you may be, but you don't look it. 
 Vou seem to have a happy faculty of concealing your emo- 
 tions that would prove a fortune to you in some other avoca 
 tion. Who was that rebel officer waving the battle flag?" 
 "That, sir, was General Hardee." 
 
 As soon as we captured the summit of the Ridge the ijtli 
 Kentucky was detailed to handle the Confederate captured 
 artillery, while the rest of the brigade pursued the enemy down 
 the east side of the Ridge. Two long drawn lines of rebel rein- 
 forcements were coming from the east, but a few well-directed 
 shots from our balter\' sent them disorganized and Ihing. We 
 had just succeeded in shelling all of the enemy within range when 
 General Grant appeared entirely alone, his hores white with 
 foam. He rode up, and hailing, he asked, "What regiment is 
 
13 
 
 this-" "The 17th Kentucky, sir." Removins; his hat, he sriid, 
 "vSoldiers, I return ^on my sincere thanks; you liave not only 
 done what I asked you to do, but a great deal more." Replacing 
 his hat, and removing it again, he continued, "Again allow me 
 to retin-n you my most sincere thanks," and galloped awav. 
 
 The Army of the Cumberland, in a line extending two and one- 
 half miles, composed of eleven brigades and four batteries, were 
 confronted by eleven and one-half brigades and sixteen batteries. 
 In one hour the Army of the Cumberland charged over a plain 
 about (ine mile; it charged up a steep moimtain ridge abt)ut 500 
 feet high, captured three lines of breastworks, thirtv-two pieces 
 of artillery, and about 2,000 prisoners. 1 belie\'ed at that time 
 that the 79th Indiana of Gen. Sam Beatty's brigade was the 
 first regiment on the summit of Missionarv Ridge, and believe 
 so now. It is generally stated that the Ridge was carried simul- 
 taneously at six different points. This is undoubtedlv so, but 
 Sam Beatty's brigade was the first United States troops on 
 the summit of the Ridge and before any other point was carried. 
 I would briefl\' refer to an extract from the official report of 
 Major-General Bate, commanding the forces in our front, Vol. 
 ;, r, page 741, Rebellion Records — Report of Gen. Wm. B. Bate, 
 C. S. A., commanding Breckenridge's Division (November 25, 
 Missionary Ridge) : 
 
 * * * "During this charge my attention was called to 
 some scattered troops a few hundred yards to mv right making 
 their w^ay apparently without resistance to the top of the hill. 
 Believing them to be Confederates falling back from the trenches, 
 I forbade mv right firing upon them, and sent a staff ofhcer to 
 ascertain. Upon receiving the answer, I directed upon them a 
 right oblique fire from infantry and artillery from the right of 
 Tyler's command. It drove him to his left, but did not check 
 his ascent of the Ridge. In a few minutes I saw a flag waving 
 
H 
 
 at a point in the line of General Anderson's Division beyond the 
 depression in the Ridge where a section of artillery of Dent's 
 battery had been firing and was then located. I thought it a 
 Confederate flag, but on a nearer approach and a more minute 
 inspection I soon delected the United .States colors. 
 
 " It was but a few moments until the second and third flags 
 were on the Ridge near the same sjjot and the enemy in such 
 numbers as to drive away the command under Major Weaver. 
 The enemv turned our guns upon us and oyjened a fire of mus- 
 ketry on our right and rear. This advantage forced my right 
 to fall back." * * * 
 
 While the incidents of the Civil War are as vivid as if they had 
 occurred vesterdav, vet over forty years have passed since we 
 climbed the rocky sides of Missionary Ridge. The whistle of 
 bullets and shriek of shells, the agonizing groans of the wounded, 
 are replaced by peace and quietude. We have all of us crossed 
 over the grand divide and with rapid steps are passing down 
 the slope to the great ocean of eternity. Our greatest pleasure 
 is to think of the days of our youth, and it is a pride to say I 
 was a soldier in the Army of the Union, and, no matter how 
 humble was mv military position, I was one of the many that 
 helped to preserve the Union.