There was indeed a battle there. My great-grandfather Henry Finke of the Mo. 31st Vol. Regt. lost an arm in the carnage. Copied below is one of the unit reports of that day which you correctly cite. It was part of the campaign for Atlanta, after Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. I got the battle report via this list a half-dozen years ago. There's also a description at this link: http://www.ngeorgia.com/history/ringgold.html I commend Gary Scheel's book to you, "Rain, Mud and Swamps" about the 31st Regiment, in which both he and I had ancestors. Perhaps he still reads this list and could say more. Finally, I draw this to everyone's attention (with the warning that once you start browsing it, you can write off the next 4 or 5 hours!) [quote] Date: Fri, 8 Oct 1999 02:30:54 EDT From: Marykell@aol.com To: USCW-SHILOH-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [USCW-SHILOH-L] War of the Rebellion Cornell University has put the ENTIRE "War of the Rebellion" on the Internet!!! It is in chronological order but there is no online index. Many libraries have the index. Find the volume and page number for your subject in the index at the library. It includes scanned images of reports, correspondence, seizures of Southern property, etc. sent to the War Dept. during the Civil War. It includes both Union and Confederate accounts. Go to this website: http://moa.cit.cornell.edu/MOA/MOA-JOURNALS2/WARO.html and you're in business. marykell [end-quote] ============== David Hadley Finke Quaker: Columbia (Missouri) Friends Meeting [Member, 57th St. Meeting in Chicago (Hyde Park, Southside) Illinois and Western Yearly Meetings (FGC, FUM) ] Voice-phone: 573-499-0178. Postal: 1106 Maplewood Drive Columbia, MO 65203 "Christ has come to teach his people himself." --Geo. Fox =============== Date: Sun, 10 Oct 1999 23:17:17 -0700 From: Jared Billings <jaredbillings@jcn1.com> To: dfinke@mail.coin.missouri.edu O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXXI/2 [S# 55] NOVEMBER 23-27, 1863.--The Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign. No. 192.--Report of Brig. Gen. Charles R. Woods, U.S. Army, commanding First Brigade. HDQRS. FIRST BRIG., FIRST DIV., 15TH ARMY CORPS, Ringgold, Ga., November 28, 1863. Capt. W. A. GORDON, A. A. G., First Division, Fifteenth Army Corps. CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that, on the morning of the 24th instant, this brigade, consisting of the Twelfth Missouri Volunteers, Col. Hugo Wangelin commanding; Thirteenth Illinois Volunteers, Lieut. Col. Frederick W. Partridge commanding; Third Missouri Volunteers, Lieut. Col. Theodore Meumann commanding; Seventy-sixth Ohio Volunteers, Maj. Willard Warner commanding; Twenty-seventh Missouri Volunteers, Col. Thomas Curly commanding; Thirty-second Missouri Volunteers, Lieut. Col. H. C. War-moth commanding: Twenty-ninth Missouri Volunteers, Col. James Peckham commanding (until about 3 p.m., when, being wounded, he was succeeded by Maj. P. H. Murphy); Seventeenth Missouri Volunteers, Lieut. Col. John F. Cramer commanding; Thirty-first Missouri Volunteers, Lieut. Col. Samuel P. Simpson commanding, was ordered to cross Lookout Creek, and, in connection with the other brigade of this division and troops of the Twelfth and Fourteenth ArmyCorps, to assault Lookout Mountain. It was necessary for this purpose to throw a bridge across the creek. This was done by the pioneers of the First Division, Fifteenth Army Corps, who were protected while at the work by the Third Missouri Volunteers. The bridge was soon finished, and the troops moved across the creek by the right flank up the hill, covered by the Third Missouri Volunteers as skirmishers. As soon as the brigade was across the creek it faced by the left flank and moved along the slope of the mountain in line of battle, the left resting on the Chattanooga road. Owing to the broken and rough nature of the ground near the Chattanooga road, I took two regiments, the Twelfth Missouri and Seventy-sixth Ohio, and moved by the left flank up the road to a point near where the railroad debouches into the Chattanooga Valley, where I formed them in line of battle. I afterward placed other regiments on the same line, which I was directed by Major-General Hooker to hold. On the right of my line the fighting was stubborn. The Twenty-seventh Missouri was ordered forward to relieve some regiment of General Whitaker's brigade reported to be out of ammunition, and took possession of rifle-pits from which the enemy had been driven. The Third Missouri, the Twenty-ninth Missouri, and the Thirty-second Missouri were placed on the same line. The latter two regiments were in the extreme front, and took possession of some rifle-pits from which they drove the enemy, taking a few prisoners. This disposition placed the brigade in two lines en chelon, the right thrown forward, and this was the situation during the night. I cannot speak too highly of the conduct of the officers and men under my command during the engagement. They moved forward to the attack with an energy that overcame allopposition, and they held every inch of ground gained with a tenacity which foiled the enemy in every attempt to dislodge them. On the morning of the 25th, this brigade led the advance of Major-General Hooker's column, taking the road to Rossville. When near that place we found the gap through Missionary Ridge strongly occupied by the enemy with infantry and artillery. The Twenty-seventh Missouri formed the advance guard. The skirmishers attacked with vigor and occupied the attention of the enemy, while the remainder of the brigade moved off to the right, under fire of the enemy's artillery, and advanced up, and without further opposition gained the summit of the ridge, along which it moved to the gap, but upon arriving there found that the enemy had fallen back, and that it had been followed by theTwenty- seventh Missouri through the gap. The brigade then moved forward, taking a road about 1,000 yards in rear of Missionary Ridge and running nearly parallel to it. Having gone about a mile to some fields, we discovered the enemy in force on Missionary Ridge moving toward the gap through which we had passed. They soon met the head of General Cruft's division, which engaged them sharply, and was driving them back. They endeavored to escape in the direction in which my brigade was stationed. I was ordered by General P. J. Osterhaus to move up the hill on their flank, which was done in the most gallant style, completely surprising the enemy, killing and wounding a number and capturing the remainder. During this charge the Thirteenth Illinois captured the battle-flag of the Eighteenth Alabama Regiment, and the battalion of my brigade, composed of the Thirty-second and Twenty-ninth Missouri Volunteers, captured one piece of artillery, with horses and cannoneers. The number of small-arms captured will probably be over 1,000. During this day every officer and man did his duty. On the 26th, my brigade had the rear of Major-General Hooker's column. One regiment, the Thirty-second Missouri, was left on Missionary Ridge to collect and turn over to the ordnance officer the small-arms captured. The Twenty-seventh Missouri was left at the crossing of the Chickamauga to protect the bridge. Nothing of note occurred during this day's march. On the 27th, this brigade had the advance of Major-General Hooker's column and moved on Ringgold, Ga. We found the enemy strongly posted in a gap on the mountain and occupying the slopes and summits on either side in our front. As soon as the proper dispositions could be made, I sent forward the Seventeenth and Thirty-first Missouri as skirmishers. They moved forward across the open fields to the timber at the foot of the slope of the mountains, but were soon severely pressed by the enemy's skirmishers. I sent immediately forward the Twenty-ninth Missouri to support them, but the whole line of skirmishers and support was driven back upon the main line in confusion, and were not again entirely rallied until after the enemy retired. Shortly after forming the line, I pressed forward the Thirteenth Illinois on the extreme right to some houses within 100 yards of the enemy's artillery. Before this the Seventy-sixth Ohio was sent up the slope of the mountain well on the left. The Twelfth and Third Missouri occupied the center. The fighting on the extreme right was severe, the Thirteenth Illinois firing 100 rounds of cartridges per man, besides taking all the ammunition from their killed and wounded in order to hold their position. The Twelfth Missouri, although exposed to a severe fire, held its position with undaunted courage. The Seventy-sixth Ohio, after gaining the crest of the hill, held it against superior numbers, who poured in a withering fire from the front and both flanks. The regiment held the crest until 8 color bearers were either killed or wounded, when it fell back, fighting and in good order, to a sheltered position under the crest of the hill, where it remained, holding the enemy in check, until the fighting was over. I inclose the report of Col. J. A. Williamson, commanding the Second Brigade, of First Division, Fifteenth Army Corps, in reference to the action of the Seventy-sixth Ohio, he being near with a part of his command; also the report of Maj. Willard Warner, commanding the Seventy-sixth Ohio Volunteers, concerning the part taken in this action by that regiment. I am glad to be able to speak most approvingly of the conduct of the officers generally of my command during the operations of the 24th, 25th, and 27th of November. They evinced the greatest alacrity in carrying out all orders, frequently in circumstances of great exposure and danger. The mention of the names of some is proper, and I designate the following as conspicuous in bravery, viz: Col. Hugo Wangelin, wounded in arm at Ringgold (since amputated); Lieut. Col. J. Kaercher, Maj. Frederick T. Ledergerber, wounded at Ringgold--all of the Twelfth Missouri; Lieut. Col. F. W. Partridge, commanding Thirteenth Illinois Volunteers, wounded at Ringgold; Maj. Willard Warner, commanding Seventy-sixth Ohio Volunteers; Lieut. Col. Theodore Meumann, Third Missouri Volunteers. Maj. James F. How, Twenty-seventh Missouri Volunteers, with 10 men, attacked and took prisoners 65 armed rebels. I have to regret the loss of Maj. D. R. Bushnell, ThirteenthIllinois Volunteers; Capt. J. A. Ledergerber and Actg. Adjt. F. Kessler, both of Twelfth Missouri Volunteers; Capt. Ira P. French and First Lieut. John R. Miller, Seventy-sixth Ohio, who fell gallantly fighting at Ringgold for the country to which they gave their services and their lives; also First Lieut. S. B. Wall and Second Lieut. John A. Lemert, Seventy-sixth Ohio Volunteers, who were mortally wounded at Ringgold, and are since dead. Capt. H. A. Kircher, Twelfth Missouri, wounded at Ringgold, and Actg. Adjt. John Wellmeyer, Twenty-seventh Missouri, wounded at Lookout Mountain, received their wounds while gallantly doing their duty. To the members of my staff--Capt. C. H. Kibler, assistant adjutant-general; Lieut. Fred. H. Wilson, aide-de-camp, and Lieut. W. E. Ware, acting assistant inspector-general--my warmest thanks are due for the gallant and fearless manner in which all orders were executed. The number of killed, wounded, and missing during the actions of the three days is 277, as will be seen by the inclosed list. The number of prisoners reported captured by the different regiments of this brigade is 57 officers and 1,942 men, as appears by the inclosed list. I have the honor, captain, to be your obedient servant, CHAS. R. WOODS, Brigadier-General, Commanding. [end]