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Ringold, Georgia November 28, 1863 Dear Parents; I take this opportunity to write to you and let you know that I am alive and well after being through two battles. Last Tuesday our division took Lookout Mountain and yesterday we fought a battle once again at this place. I suppose you have heard the particulars of both battles before you get this letter. Last tuesday morning our division was ordered out with a days rations. We expected to go on reconnaissance and come back the same day. We marched back about two miles and took a road that lead us across the Wahatchee Creek and took a path up Lookout Mountain. We knew then, that is, began to think that it was something more than a reconnaissance. We marched up the mountain and formed a line of battle with the right of our line going nearly to the top of the mountain with the left nearly at the foot. Our brigade and the second brigade of our division formed the first line. Back of us was a division in support of us. After moving about a mile we came upon some Rebel Skirmishers. We drove them back until we came to their line of battle which was formed behind a lot of rocks and trees. As soon as we came into sight of them we were ordered to charge, so we gave a big yell and went in. As soon as we got to them they ran except the ones that we took prisoner. From there we drove them about two miles, both sides running, loading and firing on the run. The mountain is covered with large rocks which gave the Rebs a good chance to fire on us, but the rocks didn't do them any good for ever rock we came to we found Rebs behind it. We chased them clear around the point of Lookout Mountain where we drove them out of their breastworks and captured two pieces of cannon. As we were nearly out of ammo we were relieved by the reserve and so ended my part of this fight. Our two brigades didn't number over 2500 men and we captured more than that number of prisoners. Our regiment took three battle flags. I suppose you will hear of the names of the people killed and wounded before this letter reaches you. We lost 7 killed and 40 wounded. Our company lost one killed and 7 wounded. James Hines was killed while charging the Rebel Breastworks. He was shot through the breast and must have died instantly. We didn't know he was killed until after the fight when we found that he was among the missing. We didn't have a chance to look for him until the next morning when we found him. We buried him with the rest of the men killed in our regiment. We buried him close to Lookout Mountain . Some one had picked his pockets during the night. All they had left as his housewife which I will send to Mrs. Dighton as soon as I can. His knapsack is in the camp that we left. If there is anything in it that I can send home I will do so. William Smith was wounded in the leg but we hadn't seen him since the fight. The next day after the fight we left the Mt. at noon and marched across the Chattanooga Valley to Mission Ridge. Here our division was ordered to support a portion of the 24th corps who were to charge the Heights. Our troops were formed in two lines at the foot of the Mountain. They first charged the Rebs and drove them out of their breastworks at the foot of the mountain. From there they charged up the mountain and carried it at the point of the bayonet, taking a lot of prisoners and nearly all of their cannons. Oliver |
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