To attempt to tell about a battle one must of necessity have some personal knowledge of the subject. I have chosen this battle or this charge as my subject for two reasons. The first is because it is one of the most noted battles of the late war. Second because I was a participant and eye witness and I shall now try to tell how is appeared to me, a private soldier in the ranks.

Missionary Ridge is a spur or broken chain of mountains running from Northeast to Southwest and is several hundred feet high and 3 or 4 miles long. Viewed from the valley a few miles away it appears like a dark cloud covering about one fourth of the horizon. Its slope is very rugged and steep. Deep gullies run almost to the very top forming an almost impregnable position. With the hand of man to complete it into forts and breastworks, it would be just such a position that an enemy occupying might well feel secure. This is what confronted General Thomas' 4th and 14th Army Corps at Chattanooga.

It was 3 O'clock in the afternoon of November 25 1863. We were occupying one line of what had been the Rebel works at Orchard Knob. Hooker had captured Lookout Mountain. One battle above the clouds had been fought and won and his troops were now marching to the right, or south end, of Missionary Ridge. General Sherman, on our left and at north end of the ridge, had encountered too stubborn a resistance for his soldiers to advance further. So all eyes and thoughts were turned towards General Thomas' two army corps in the center. With us everything was quiet, except a brisk skirmish on the picket line. Orders had been given to be ready to advance. The signal would be six guns fired in quick succession by Bridges' Illinois battery from Fort Wood one mile or more in our rear.

Two divisions of the 4th corps, the 2nd General Sheridan and the 3rd under General T.J. Wood, were to advance on the ridge. Sheridan in command of the two divisions and to lead the charge. I belonged to the 3rd Division under General Wood but we all knew Sheridan. He had been our division commander on a previous campaign. We knew that he would lead his men where ever it was possible for men to go and just then his men were ready to go wherever Sheridan dared to lead. Ammunition had been dealt out to us. Our guns to be loaded and ready but not to be fired until so ordered. Well, we had nothing to do but to dodge the shells that were hurled at us from the top of the ridge and wait for the signal to advance. This waiting is the most tiresome and trying ordeal in a soldiers life. It is worse than a charge on the enemies' works. The suspense, anxiety, and dread of what may be in store ahead. If we could run either way, it would be a relief to our nerves but here we must wait. We had witnessed the consultation of officers at General Grant's headquarters close by and by their agitation we knew that something unusual was about to take place and the result was only conjecture.

At 3:45 the signal guns were fired. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. The gunner had hardly touched the lanyard of the last gun when a line of blue coats might be seen rushing out and forming in line in front of the works, and the fun commences. All feelings of suspense is gone. A more determined look has taken the place of dread. Hats are pulled down more firmly on the head. Cartridge boxes are adjusted, pulled around to the side to be easier of access. A firmer grip on the gun is taken.

The line is hardly formed when the order is given - "Forward march" and the line moves forward at a brisk walk. The first line of the enemies' works are less than a quarter of a mile away. When about half of the distance is reached the order is given to fix bayonets and double quick which is soon changed to a run. We interpret the last order that the works are to be carried with the bayonet in a hand to hand struggle if the resistance required it. But before we got to their works they began to leave and we gave then a parting salute from the top of their works.

We had lost several men from our regiment. Killed and wounded, the ranks of our company was visibly thinned, but we had no time to think about the dead or to help those who were wounded. Our position was still hazardous. Solid shot plowed the ground around us. Shells were bursting over our head or were buried in the ground to explode and cover us with dirt and debris.

Sheridan with some other officers rode along the line to encourage the men. He stops close behind us, looks up at General Bragg's headquarters in plain sight on the ridge. Takes his flask out, holds it up and says "Here is to you General Bragg." Just then a shell burst directly over his head. Another and another in quick succession fired from a battery near Bragg's headquarters. General Sheridan remarked that for that impoliteness he would take that battery before sundown.

Our position was getting too dangerous to remain longer. The next line of works to be taken was at the base of the ridge about the same distance that we had come. To reach them through the leaden hail from the one hundred cannon on the ridge and face a line of infantry behind the breastwork at the foot of the ridge was a problem to be solved in the next few minutes. To retreat was to surrender all the we had gained at such fearful cost to us and that thought could not be entertained for a moment. So, taking the hint from our General, we started for the foot of the ridge.

It was like facing a hail storm. The ground was clear from timber and brush and it was a race against lead. When they saw us coming they began to scramble out of their works and climb the ridge. When we reached their works they were all gone. We were too tired to continue after them. They had reached the top before we started up.

While at the foot of the ridge, I with several others sheltered ourselves from the bullets, in a little shanty that had been put up of slabs and boards daubed up with mud, but soon a shell was dropped so close to us that when it exploded, our shelter disappeared. We crawled out of the wreck in a hurry. I thought the whole Rebel army was after me and I started to run back. I did not run but a few steps until I saw that I was the only one running that way. The line was moving up the hill, so I turned and followed. It was slow traveling this time but the shower of lead was over until we reached the top of the ridge. Then a short fierce struggle and it was all over. Our flag was planted on their works. Their lines were broken and they were routed. General Sheridan had the guns that he said he would have and the sun was not down.

The Flags of the 8th Kansas and 25th Illinois were the first Union Flags floating from the top of Missionary ridge. The fighting was continued on both sides of us for fifteen or twenty minutes but, as their lines were broken in the center, they had to give way in other places and soon they were in full retreat. The whole air had been resounding with the continuous roar of exploding artillery. Now just as the sun is sinking from sight the whole air is resounding with cheers. The victory is won. The siege of Chattanooga was ended.


Moses McCleary (Junior)
Company "F"
8th Kansas Volunteer Infantry

(See his story of his Involvement in the Civil War and his record of Honors Received.)

Family Pedigrees

Cousin Connections

Family Annals

Contact Information