Monday, November 24, 2008

On this date in 1863...

... Granger's XIV Corps, of the Army of the Cumberland, with no help whatsoever from the Army of the Tennessee, or XI or XII Corps, ran the Rebs off of Missionary Ridge in a thoroughly unauthorized action.

Well, OK, the Army of the Tennessee and XI and XII Corps were distracting the Rebs a bit. But they were supposed to be the main thrust, on the flanks, while the Army of the Cumberland, still smarting from the Battle of Chickamauga, was merely supposed to hold the center of the line. In the afternoon they were ordered to clear some rifle pits at the base of the ridge; having done so, they found that they were coming under heavy fire from Rebel artillery at the top of the ridge, so, in the absence of orders to withdraw, they attacked.

Why the attack succeeded is a mystery to this day; author (and fellow Wolverine) Bruce Catton hypothesized that each Reb at the top of the ridge could see only the one or two guys to either side of him, but they could each see what appeared to be every Federal in the world, coming straight for them. Certainly, lending credence to Catton's theory, the Rebs were in line, that is, no depth, no reserves. Possibly they also recognized Federal Regimental banners from previous battles, and realized those guys were pissed, out for blood and revenge.

The Order of Battle for the Union in the Third Battle of Chattanooga, which inlcuded the Battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, indicates that my Great Great Grandfather's regiment--what was left of it after Chickamauga and Snodgrass Hill--served as part of the Engineer Brigade.

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