At the Battle of Chickamauga, 18 – 20 September 1863, the second bloodiest battle of the Civil War, LTC Bishop and the 2nd Minnesota face CPL Carter and the 27th Mississippi in vicinity of the Reed’s Bridge Road on 19 September. As the reserve for the XIV Corps on 20 September, they plug a hole in the line made by LTC Ray and the 60th North Carolina’s Division around noon. After the Army of the Cumberland is split in two by LTG Longstreet’s Corps, LTC Bishop and the 2nd Minnesota rush to Horseshoe Ridge where they hold the line against repeated Confederate assaults which include CPT Bailey and the 58th North Carolina.
Sources used for this episode:
Bishop, Judson W. The Story of a Regiment; Being a Narrative of the Service of the Second Regiment, Minnesota Veteran Volunteer Infantry, in the Civil War of 1861 – 1865. St. Paul, 1890. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=loc.ark:/13960/t59c75p89&seq=9.
Sykes, E. T. ed. “Walthall’s Brigade; A Cursory Sketch, With Personal Experiences of Walthall’s Brigade, Army of Tennessee C.S.A., 1862 – 1865.” in Publications in the Mississippi Historical Society. Centenary Ser., Vol. 1. edited by Dunbar Rowland. Jackson: Mississippi Historical Society, 1916. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433081900411&seq=9.
CPT Bailey, Isaac H. “Additional Sketch Fifty-Eighth Regiment.” in Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861-’65, vol. 3, edited by Walter Clark. Raliegh: E. M. Uzzell, 1901. https://digital.ncdcr.gov/Documents/Detail/histories-of-the-several-regiments-and-battalions-from-north-carolina-in-the-great-war-1861-65-v.3/3931256?item=3931512.
LTC Ray, James M. “Sixtieth Regiment.” in Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861-’65, vol. 3, edited by Walter Clark. Raliegh: E. M. Uzzell, 1901. https://digital.ncdcr.gov/Documents/Detail/histories-of-the-several-regiments-and-battalions-from-north-carolina-in-the-great-war-1861-65-v.3/3931256?item=3931512.
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(00:04):
This was all repeated again andagain until the slope was so
covered with dead and woundedmen that looking from our
position, we could hardly seethe ground.
The cartridges were quicklybrought to the line and
distributed just in time to meetthe next attack.
(00:45):
Hi, my name is Bill Coghlan andhost the first person Civil War
podcast.
While the generals of both sidesget most of the recognition, the
Civil War was fought by the menin the ranks, and they told
their stories during and afterthe war.
Follow me as I reveal what thesemen witnessed in the battles of
(01:05):
the Civil War.
To celebrate the 50th episode ofthe podcast, I have decided to
give you another special episodeentitled Lieutenant Colonel
Bishop and the second Minnesotaface on 19th September, corporal
(01:27):
Carter and the 27th Mississippi.
And on 20 September, LieutenantColonel Ray of the 60th, North
Carolina.
And Captain Bailey of the 58thNorth Carolina at the Battle of
Chickamauga.
(01:48):
This episode relies on fourseparate sources from the men
who fought at Chickamauga.
First, the story of a regiment.
Being a narrative of the serviceof the second regiment,
Minnesota Veteran VolunteerInfantry in the Civil War of
1861 to 1865, published byLieutenant Colonel Judson w
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Bishop in 1890.
The next source is Wall FallsBrigade, a cursory sketch with
personal experiences of WallFalls Brigade, army of
Tennessee, CSA 1862 to 1865,which Corporal Thomas C.
Carter co-authored as a threeMan Committee and ET Sykes
(02:32):
edited and published withinpublications in the Mississippi
Historical Society.
In 1916, captain Isaac h Baileypublished the Third Source
entitled Additional Sketch 58thRegiment.
And finally, Lieutenant ColonelJames M.
Ray, who wrote 60th Regiment,both North Carolina sources were
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published in 1901.
Within.
Histories of the severalregiments and battalions from
North Carolina in the Great War1861 to 65 volume three.
If you would like a mapreference for the Battle of
Chickmauga, i recommendbattlefields.org.
(03:18):
The maps available on theirwebsite are divided by time of
day for 19 September.
Look for the 10:00 AM throughnoon map and for 20 September
the 11:00 AM through noon, aswell as the three through 6:00
PM maps.
Judson Wade Bishop was born on24 June, 1831 in Leray, New
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York, and grew up across thestate in the mid 1850s, he
worked as a draftsman for arailroad company and eventually
moved out to the Minnesotaterritory in 1857, where he
worked for a separate railroadand finally wrote and published
a newspaper in Chatfield,Minnesota from 1859 to the start
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of the war.
Judson Bishop organized theChatfield guards in April, 1861
and received a commission as acaptain.
He claims that due to a mishapin the mail, which was a letter
that stated the false strengthof his company, they were unable
to form within the firstMinnesota and instead became
company A of the secondMinnesota.
(04:24):
The regiment saw its firstaction at the Battle of Mill
Springs.
Following the Battle ofPerryville, Judson w Bishop,
promoted to Lieutenant Coloneland the regiment saw further
service in the Tahoma campaign.
Thomas Clay Carter was born onsix April, 1845 in Perry County,
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Mississippi, but there is littleinformation of his early life.
On 10 August, 1861, ThomasCarter enlisted as a corporal in
company B of the 27th,Mississippi.
And saw service in the siege ofPensacola, the Battle of
Perryville and Stones River.
James Mitchell Ray was born on15 November, 1838 in Asheville,
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North Carolina, and according tocensus records had by 1860 moved
to Henry County, Tennessee,where he worked as a farmer with
his family.
James Ray wanted to fight in aNorth Carolina regiment and
return to Asheville, where on 16May, 1862.
He enlisted in company F of the60th North Carolina.
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Though initially a firstLieutenant James Ray eventually
promoted to captain andcommanded company F at the
Battle of Stones River.
Following the battle, he waspromoted to Lieutenant Colonel
of the 60th North Carolina.
Isaac Hutzel Bailey was born onthree March, 1843 in Mitchell
(05:52):
County, North Carolina, and by17 May, 1862, enlisted as a
private and company B of the58th North Carolina, also known
as the Partisan Rangers.
The 58th North Carolina was sentto Tennessee where it performed
Garrison duty in the state andmarched with General Bragg into
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Kentucky.
But by the summer of 1863 hadnot fought in any battles.
In the summer of 1863, majorGeneral William Rosecrans had
successfully marched his army ofthe Cumberland out of Nashville
with the intention of capturingthe logistics hub of
Chattanooga, Tennessee.
(06:34):
His advance relied on maneuvermore than set peace battles
against the Confederates.
On nine September.
General Bragg and his army ofthe Tennessee vacated
Chattanooga and retreated intoGeorgia.
With the city of Atlanta nowunder direct threat, Confederate
reinforcements from across thesouth began converging on
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Georgia to properly meet thisunion advance, which eventually
included Lieutenant GeneralJames Long Street's Corps from
the army of Northern Virginia.
Now established in Chattanooga,major general Rosecrans believed
the Confederates to bedemoralized and was unaware of
this buildup of reinforcements.
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He sent his army into Georgiaacross a wide front, which
stretched his supply lines totheir limits as a division of
the union.
14th Corps maneuvered aroundDavis's crossroads and
encountered an aggressiveconfederate force that attempted
to flank and destroy it, but wasunsuccessful.
Major General Rosecrans nowaware of his precarious
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situation, recalled his armytoward Chattanooga.
Now with enough troops to go onthe offensive, general Bragg
wanted to isolate the 21st Corpsaround Chattanooga and
eventually retake the city.
By mid-September.
Both armies were concentrated inthe northwest corner of Georgia.
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With a Union army on the WesternBank of Chickamauga Creek, and
the Confederates on the EasternBank.
On 18 September, 1863, generalBragg sent troops toward Reed's
Bridge and Alexander's Bridge tosecure crossings for the army.
Marching toward Alexander'sbridge was Corporal Carter in
the 27th, Mississippi.
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Brigadier General Edward cWallfall Brigade of Brigadier
General's, St.
John r Liddell's, division ofMajor General William HT
Walker's Reserve Corps.
As the all Mississippi brigademarched upon the bridge, they
met a union brigade of infantry.
The battle of Chickamauga hadbegun.
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By the end of the day, theConfederates had secured
crossings over the creek andCorporal Carter and the 27th
Mississippi spent the nightcamped on the Western Bank after
Corporal Carter and his regimentmarched further into position on
the morning of the 19th, theywitnessed the arrival of more
reinforcements.
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Whilst resting there, some ofthe troops of Long Streets Corps
marched past and feeling theirsupposed superior keeping as
members of the army of NorthernVirginia.
We're disposed good naturedly totwist us, the army of Tennessee
as not knowing what it was tofight and win battles.
And they had come all the wayfrom Virginia to show us.
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To the north of theMississippians, not even a mile
away, and along the Reeds BridgeRoad was Lieutenant Colonel
Bishop and the second Minnesotawho marched in Colonel Ferdinand
Vander's third Brigade inBrigadier General.
John Milton, Brandon's thirddivision of Major General George
Henry Thomas's.
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14th Core.
Lieutenant Colonel Bishop andhis brigade sent to find an
engaged and isolated brigade ofConfederate infantry, instead
found a brigade of cavalry.
After proceeding along the road,which seemed to follow a ridge
of small elevation, and whileyet to the left and rear of
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Baird's division of whosedivision, we had no knowledge.
We heard musketry to our rightand front.
Changing our direction to faceit to the southward.
We moved off the ridge and downthe easy slope, and soon met the
enemy in force.
Now supposed to be HEC andWilson's brigades, and the
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firing began at once.
In a few minutes, the enemyretired, then rallied and
attacked again.
And where again, repulsed thistime retiring out of sight.
As Lieutenant Colonel Bishop andthe second Minnesota held their
ground against this cavalry, theConfederates made a call for
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reinforcements and Walthallbrigade received orders to march
to their aid.
What Corporal Carter and the27th Mississippi didn't know as
they began.
Their advance was that theywould have to fight through two
separate union brigades beforearriving at the Reeds Bridge
Road.
At or about 11:00 AM Heavyfiring was heard to our right
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and Walthall was ordered to puthis brigade in motion and
advance in line of battle tosupport actors and Wilson's
brigades, then engaged with theenemy and being largely
outnumbered.
Were sorely in need ofreinforcements.
Walth All's brigade with Govan'sbrigade on the left.
Moved rapidly forward in line ofbattle and soon encountered the
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enemy in strong force.
This advance was made under aheavy artillery and musketry
fire, but pushing rapidlyforward with a shout, it broke
the first and then a second lineof the enemy, and passing over
two full batteries.
These two lines were fromBrigadier General Baird's
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division, just to the south ofVander Vere's Brigade, though
unable to see through the treesand undergrowth.
Lieutenant Colonel Bishop andthe second Minnesota did hear
the advance of Wall Falls.
Mississippians coming from thesouth.
The firing approached and thebig guns joined in for a few
rounds, then a burst of cheers.
(12:23):
The rebel yell, the artilleryceased, and the rattling, a
musket tree came nearer and thebullets thicker.
Our men were getting nervous andwere ordered to lie down and
hold their fire until they couldsee the enemy.
Presently, to our astonishment,a straggling line of men in our
own uniform appeared then moreof them running directly toward
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us.
Their speed accelerated everymoment by the yelling and firing
of the exultant enemy behindthem.
Our men got ready and waitedwhile the Stampeded brigade
officers and men passed over ourlines to the rear.
And then as the pursuing enemycame in view.
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Gave them a volley thatextinguished their yelling and
stopped their advance.
They rallied, however, and stoodfor a few minutes receiving and
returning our fire.
Wavered broke and ran out ofsight.
While a portion of the 34thMississippi attempted to carry
off the captured unionartillery.
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Corporal Carter, the 27thMississippi and the right of
Wall Falls Brigade continued itsadvance directly toward
Lieutenant Colonel Bishop andthe second Minnesota.
But unfortunately for us, itresulted that after we had
passed over, the enemy's secondline reinforcements came up from
his reserve.
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thereby enabling him to turn ourbrigades right flank and forcing
us to withdraw and take positionunder orders from the division
commander.
To the right of the positionwhere Major General Chetham's
division was preparing toadvance in the daring dash last
referred to, and which continuedfor at least an hour.
The brigades suffered heavily.
(14:12):
As the Mississippians departed,the field Lieutenant Colonel
Bishop and the second Minnesotahad to change front as a brigade
of cavalry advanced upon themfrom the north.
After successfully repulsingthem, their brigade was ordered
to march toward the Kelly Housewhere it vivo whacked for the
night.
For both armies, the second dayof fighting did not go according
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to plan.
As major general Rosecrans andGeneral Bragg fed fresh troops
into the fighting on thenorthern and central parts of
the battlefield, rather thanmaneuvering their forces
according to their battle plans.
On the night of 19 September,major General Rosecrans convened
a Council of War and placed hisarmy on a defensive footing for
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General Bragg, who continued toreceive fresh troops into the
evening, stuck to his plan.
He would assault the Union Armyon the morning of 20 September.
Held in reserve on the secondday of fighting.
Were both the 58th and 60thNorth Carolina regiments.
Lieutenant Colonel Ray in the60th North Carolina marched in
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Brigadier General Marcellus aStoval Brigade, a major general
John c Breckenridge's divisionof Lieutenant General Daniel h
Hill's core, and had by themorning of 20 September, marched
from the southern end of thebattlefield to the northern end
and was arrayed against majorGeneral Thomas's 14th core.
(15:42):
Captain Bailey in the 58th NorthCarolina were assigned to
Colonel John h Kelly's thirdBrigade of Brigadier General
William Preston's, division ofMajor General Simon Bolivar,
Buckner's Core, and on themorning of the 20th, remained in
the South facing the Union 20thCorps.
(16:02):
Lieutenant Colonel Bishop IIMinnesota, and the rest of their
brigade were assigned as the14th Corps Reserve for the
entire day.
Designating a reserve is acommon military practice in that
a unit is intentionally placedbehind the line of troops and
could be used in an offensivemanner, such as exploiting a
breach in an enemy's line, or inthe case of the second
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Minnesota, plugging a hole in adefensive line.
By nine o'clock, the battle hadresumed.
Marching toward the northern endof the 14th Coors line was
Lieutenant Colonel Ray in the60th North Carolina.
The federal line of battle wasof an unheard of shape running
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east and west through Kelly'sfield, then bending round due
north, and extending probably500 yards.
Bending around again in awestward direction, some
distance parallel to the linethrough Kelly's field, but
stopping short before reachingLafayette Pike or touching the
line west of said pike.
Thus leaving an opening or gapin their line.
(17:11):
What Lieutenant Colonel Ray justdescribed was the northern end
of the 14th core with onedivision anchored on the
Lafayette Road and the nextdivision in line arrayed in
roughly a semicircle.
It was where these two divisionsmet that Lieutenant Colonel Ray
identified a gap in the line.
(17:31):
And it was here.
The 60th got in its nice work,passing the right of this west
line, it forced its way intothis gap, receiving an inflating
fire for a short time inpassing, said line and drove the
opposing forces back to Kelly'sfield into their press works.
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Though the battle ragedLieutenant Colonel Bishop and
the second Minnesota could donothing but listen to the sounds
of battle.
See the wounded streaming backfrom the lines and view
artillery impacting in the fielduntil they were finally called
to rush North.
At this point, we passed througha thicket of small pines and
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other trees, which hadobstructed our view to the north
and east.
Emerging.
From this, we crossed the roadin line of battle.
To take position on the left ofa battery already there.
Our brigade was in two lines,the second Minnesota being on
the right of the front line,nearest the battery, the 87th
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Indiana on its left, and the35th and ninth Ohio in the
second line.
It was now about noon and theUnion 14th Corps was in crisis
as two Confederate brigades hadsuccessfully breached their
line.
But lieutenant Colonel raiseddescription of the semi-circular
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line, was only known to themafter the battle as.
The terrain was mostly wooded.
According to Captain James T.
Weaver, who wrote the officialreport of the 60th North
Carolina, the Confederates thenhad to maneuver through the
union rear lines to exploittheir success.
We here captured a prisoner whostated that we were in the rear
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of their original line, about250 yards, heavy firing being
heard to the left.
We were ordered to that point.
We change front by filing to theright and facing by the rear
rank.
Were hurriedly marched in thedirection of said fire having
approached within 400 yards ofthe enemy's line, we received a
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heavy fire from the front andfrom there advanced through a
brisk fire to within 200 yardsof the enemy's line we were
halted and returned the enemy'sfire.
The infantry that appeared infront of Lieutenant Colonel Ray
and the 60th North Carolina wasLieutenant Colonel Bishop in the
second Minnesota.
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As we halted on the east side ofthe road and began looking for
the enemy whose appearance weexpected in our front, the air
was suddenly filled with bulletsand a line of gray smoke
appeared along the edge of thewoods on our left at right
angles with our lines.
A change of front to the leftwas instantly ordered and
executed by the left wheel ofthe brigade.
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Pending this movement, which wasmade on the run.
We could not return the enemy'sfire and we lost a good many
men.
The wheel completed.
Our line commenced firing atonce, but finding ourselves at
disadvantage and the open field,we charged up to the edge of the
woods driving the enemy back.
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And then again opened fire onthem at short range.
They were stubborn and slow togive way.
And after a few minutes firingby our frontline, colonel
Vanderveer ordered the secondline to pass the first and
charge them.
This was done the first linejoining the charge, and the
enemy's front was thus brokenup, and soon they retired,
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leaving the field and they'rewounded in our possession.
The two brigades ofBreckenridge's division, though
poised to flank the 14th core hecould not exploit their success.
And Lieutenant Colonel Ray notesthe toll that both sides paid in
the clash.
The casualties in the last hourof the charge were heavy.
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Lieutenant Colonel Ray wasseverely wounded and forced to
leave the field after callingacting Lieutenant Colonel
Weaver, notifying him of hisbeing disabled and turning over
to him, command of the regiment.
The regiment in this last actionhere was confronted by the
second Minnesota, which reporteda loss of 33% of its members
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fighting.
Two behind Breast Works.
Just as a side note to thismetric, Lieutenant Colonel
Bishop reported that of aregiment of 384 men.
162 were killed, wounded, ormissing a 42% casualty rate.
The metric of 33% casualties on20 September was indeed true, as
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reported by Colonel JamesGeorge, the second Minnesota's
commander.
But this included still morefighting for the second
Minnesota.
Though the 14th Corps left flankwas saved by the actions of
Lieutenant Colonel Bishop in thesecond Minnesota and their
entire brigade.
A catastrophe to the south wasabout to unfold.
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Throughout the battle, majorGeneral Rose Crans shifted
divisions from one part of thebattlefield to another.
And in the late morning heordered Brigadier General Thomas
J.
Woods division to shift to thenorth to close what he perceived
as a whole in his line, but inreality was not there.
Brigadier General Woodreluctantly obeyed the order and
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began moving his troops, and indoing so, created an actual hole
in the union line.
It was into this hole in theline that a Confederate assault
column from Lieutenant GeneralLong Street's Corps of
approximately 10,000 menadvanced and successfully split
the army of the Cumberland intwo.
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at the point of the breach andto the south.
The Union 20th and part to the21st course were routed and
departed the field.
The Confederates turned to thenorth to smash the 14th Corps
and what remained of the 21stCorps.
While the 14th core semicircleremained intact.
Major General Thomas directedthe formation of a new union
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line and vicinity of theSnodgras House and Horseshoe
Ridge.
One of the regiments sent tohold this new line was
Lieutenant Colonel Bishop andthe second Minnesota.
As we got into the open fieldwhere we had been in reserve in
the morning.
We were met by an aide fromGeneral Thomas, who conducted us
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to Horseshoe Ridge, so callednear the Snodgrass house.
The battle seemed to be trendingto that position from all
directions, and we could seethat we were needed there.
General Thomas rode down to meetus.
And after giving some directionsto Colonel Vanderveer sat upon
his horse and looked the menover as we marched past him and
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upped the slope of the ridge.
One of the regiments thatinitially formed upon Horseshoe
Ridge and met the Confederatesin the assault column was Major
Arnold McMahon of the 21st.
Ohio.
At 12 o'clock, our regiment wasassigned a position upon a
curved ridge.
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Our front being south.
A deep ravine was in front ofthis ridge, and on our right
heavy timber on our left.
An open field with timberbeyond.
Immediately after takingposition, the enemy Skirmishers
engaged us and in a short time,a strong force moved against us.
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A severe engagement resulted inthe repulse of the enemy.
This demonstration of the enemyfor the occupation of this
important position was madebefore the arrival of the
support here to, for Stated, andthough superior in numbers, he
was unable to endure therepeated volleys of our superior
arms.
Which were colt revolvingrifles.
(25:46):
The new line upon HorseshoeRidge was critical to the Union
Army in that it prevented theConfederates from enveloping
what remained of the army of theCumberland.
Eventually Lieutenant ColonelBishop II Minnesota, and the
rest of Colonel Vander Vere'sBrigade arrived and took their
place in line.
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Arriving on the ridge, ourregimen took the place of one
already there, the 21st, Ohio,which had exhausted its
cartridge boxes immediately hada view of the assaulting columns
of the enemy, just commencingthe ascent of the southern slope
in our front.
Ranks followed ranks in closeorder, moving briskly and
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bravely toward us.
It was theirs to advance.
Ours now to stand and repelAgain the order was passed to
aim carefully and to make everyshot count and the deadly work
began.
The front ranks melted awayunder the rapid fire of our men,
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but those following bowed theirheads to the storm of bullets
and pressed on some of themfalling at every step until the
supporting touch of elbows beinglost.
The survivors hesitate.
Halt.
Then turning start back with arush that carries everything
with them to the rear, all whoescape the bullets as deadly in
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the wild retreat as in thedesperate and orderly advance.
With only half of an army toface every available Confederate
regiment began to concentrateupon Horseshoe Ridge to replace
the spent assaulting regimentsafter marching from the southern
end of the battlefield, captainBailey and the 58th North
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Carolina finally arrived invicinity of Horseshoe Ridge.
They deployed on the right flankof their brigade, which included
the 63rd Virginia and the fifthKentucky, and advanced toward
Lieutenant Colonel Bishop andthe second Minnesota.
The approach of these ridges wasalong spurs and where ridges
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intersected ridges, and throughintervening depressions or
hollows, all more or lesswooded, but more open and
exposed on the right of thebrigade.
One of the assaults had beenmade by General Anderson's
brigade.
Before we could reach him insuch a way as to successfully
relieve, he had been repulsed.
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Upon the ridge LieutenantColonel Bishop and the second
Minnesota continued to holdtheir ground after repeated
assaults.
As the afternoon waned into theevening, the union line received
its last reinforcements from theReserve Corps as well as
ammunition.
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This was all repeated again andagain until the slope was so
covered with dead and woundedmen that looking from our
position, we could hardly seethe ground.
The cartridges were quicklybrought to the line and
distributed just in time to meetthe next attack.
Advancing up the ridge directlyin front of the second Minnesota
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was Captain bailey in the 58thNorth Carolina.
The line being formed again, the58th North Carolina, which was
on the right, moved withsteadiness through the
comparatively open space to theextreme right, arrived within 10
or 12 feet of the enemy.
After exchanging fire with theenemy for about one and three
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fourth of an hour, we attemptedto dislodge him by assault.
And for this purpose, the 58thNorth Carolina was transferred
from the right to the left ofthe line, away from the second
Minnesota, and moved forwardsomewhat swinging to the right
when we arrived at the base ofthe hill, the enemy was heard to
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cry.
We surrender! We surrender! Theattack of the 58th North
Carolina upon the secondMinnesota was noted by
Lieutenant Colonel Bishop, andhe agrees with Captain Bailey on
just how close his regiment gotto the union line.
This was made by fresh troopsand their advance was only
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broken up when their foremostmen were within 10 paces of our
line.
Some of them came on andsurrendered.
Most of them who ran back werekilled or wounded before they
got out of range.
Another attack was made justbefore dark and was repulsed in
our front as the others hadbeen.
But there seemed to be nocontest on the right where
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Steedman's Line had been.
And presently we found that histroops had been withdrawn and
that the enemy were gropingtheir way around to our right
and rear and it already captureda few detachments, which had
been with us and Steedman.
As night descended, whatremained of the Union Army
retreated from Chickamaugaleaving the Confederates, the
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victors of the second bloodiestbattle of the Civil War.
And in some regiments, the tollwas severe.
The 58th North Carolina, havingonly seen fighting on Horseshoe
Ridge suffered 50% casualtiesaccording to their brigade
commander's report, of whichCaptain Bailey was counted among
the wounded.
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On the 60th North Carolina'sreport, the regiment suffered a
total of 60 killed, wounded, andmissing.
But Lieutenant Colonel Rayrejects this number.
The hurried and brief reports ofcommanding officers make it
absolutely impossible to givethe casualties of the 60th in
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these different engagements, butthey were great.
Some of the companies havingonly five or six men to answer
to their names at Roll Call onthe night of the 20th.
Corporal Carter of the 27thMississippi.
Though we did not identifyexactly which regiment or
brigade claims to have seen thesame unit from Long Street's
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Core after the battle.
After the Battle of Chickamaugahad been fought, those same
troopers were afraid to admittheir mistaken estimate of the
fighting qualities of thesoldiers of the army of
Tennessee.
And equally free to concede thatthe federal troops from the West
under Rosecrans were morestubborn fighters than were the
(32:22):
Eastern troops with whom thearmy of Northern Virginia had
been till then fighting.
Thank you for listening to the50th episode of First Person
Civil War Podcast.
For over one and a half years, Ihave had the privilege of
finding the stories of the menwho fought in the ranks and
(32:43):
brought them to you.
And I hope you have gained agreater understanding on how
important regimental historiesand personal memoirs are.
To better understanding whathappened on the battlefield.
I'm committed to continuing thispodcast to share more stories
with you.
Links to Lieutenant ColonelBishop's.
(33:05):
Corporal Carter's.
Lieutenant Colonel Rays andCaptain Bailey's books are now
available on the podcastwebsite.
First person Civil Warpodcast.com.
If you enjoyed this episode,please consider supporting the
podcast financially.
Follow the support podcast linkat the top left of the homepage.
(33:27):
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This week you will find picturesof all four men.
While, each of my episodes areperfect companions for a
battlefield trip.
I have wanted to do even more tobring the soldier's voice back
(33:48):
to the battlefield.
On the podcast YouTube page,under the shorts tab, you'll
find regular updates ofbattlefield reports that
correspond with a unit monument,such as the 69th Pennsylvania at
Gettysburg and Brigadier GeneralThomas Stonewall Jackson at
First Bull Run.
(34:10):
For this next episode, I want tointroduce a new concept to the
podcast.
that will not only focus onsoldiers' accounts, on the
battlefield and battlefieldreports, but also highlight
terrain and just how manyregiments and brigades fought
for a particular piece of land.
To do this and to match with theanniversary of the battle, the
(34:32):
next episode will publish on 17September.
On 17 September to mark the163rd anniversary.
(34:53):
I have decided to make anotherspecial episode using personal
accounts and official reports.
Major Rufuss, R Ds of the sixthWisconsin.
Lieutenant Colonel Philip, awork of the first Texas Captain,
(35:16):
John b.
Callus of the seventh,Wisconsin.
Brigadier General Marcina, rPatrick's Third Brigade colonel
Hamilton, a Braun of the firstNorth Carolina, Colonel Alfred h
(35:37):
Colquitt of Rains Brigade andColonel Silas Colegrove of the
27th Indiana.
all vy for possession in aseries of charges and counter
attacks in the early morninghours of 17 September in the
(35:58):
cornfield at the Battle ofAntietam.
My name is Bill Coghlan, andthank you for listening to First
Person Civil War Podcast.
This was all repeated again andagain until the slope was so
covered with dead and woundedmen that looking from our
position, we could hardly seethe ground.
The cartridges were quicklybrought to the line and
distributed just in time to meetthe next attack.
(00:45):
Hi, my name is Bill Coghlan andhost the first person Civil War
podcast.
While the generals of both sidesget most of the recognition, the
Civil War was fought by the menin the ranks, and they told
their stories during and afterthe war.
Follow me as I reveal what thesemen witnessed in the battles of
(01:05):
the Civil War.
To celebrate the 50th episode ofthe podcast, I have decided to
give you another special episodeentitled Lieutenant Colonel
Bishop and the second Minnesotaface on 19th September, corporal
(01:27):
Carter and the 27th Mississippi.
And on 20 September, LieutenantColonel Ray of the 60th, North
Carolina.
And Captain Bailey of the 58thNorth Carolina at the Battle of
Chickamauga.
(01:48):
This episode relies on fourseparate sources from the men
who fought at Chickamauga.
First, the story of a regiment.
Being a narrative of the serviceof the second regiment,
Minnesota Veteran VolunteerInfantry in the Civil War of
1861 to 1865, published byLieutenant Colonel Judson w
(02:10):
Bishop in 1890.
The next source is Wall FallsBrigade, a cursory sketch with
personal experiences of WallFalls Brigade, army of
Tennessee, CSA 1862 to 1865,which Corporal Thomas C.
Carter co-authored as a threeMan Committee and ET Sykes
(02:32):
edited and published withinpublications in the Mississippi
Historical Society.
In 1916, captain Isaac h Baileypublished the Third Source
entitled Additional Sketch 58thRegiment.
And finally, Lieutenant ColonelJames M.
Ray, who wrote 60th Regiment,both North Carolina sources were
(02:57):
published in 1901.
Within.
Histories of the severalregiments and battalions from
North Carolina in the Great War1861 to 65 volume three.
If you would like a mapreference for the Battle of
Chickmauga, i recommendbattlefields.org.
(03:18):
The maps available on theirwebsite are divided by time of
day for 19 September.
Look for the 10:00 AM throughnoon map and for 20 September
the 11:00 AM through noon, aswell as the three through 6:00
PM maps.
Judson Wade Bishop was born on24 June, 1831 in Leray, New
(03:41):
York, and grew up across thestate in the mid 1850s, he
worked as a draftsman for arailroad company and eventually
moved out to the Minnesotaterritory in 1857, where he
worked for a separate railroadand finally wrote and published
a newspaper in Chatfield,Minnesota from 1859 to the start
(04:02):
of the war.
Judson Bishop organized theChatfield guards in April, 1861
and received a commission as acaptain.
He claims that due to a mishapin the mail, which was a letter
that stated the false strengthof his company, they were unable
to form within the firstMinnesota and instead became
company A of the secondMinnesota.
(04:24):
The regiment saw its firstaction at the Battle of Mill
Springs.
Following the Battle ofPerryville, Judson w Bishop,
promoted to Lieutenant Coloneland the regiment saw further
service in the Tahoma campaign.
Thomas Clay Carter was born onsix April, 1845 in Perry County,
(04:44):
Mississippi, but there is littleinformation of his early life.
On 10 August, 1861, ThomasCarter enlisted as a corporal in
company B of the 27th,Mississippi.
And saw service in the siege ofPensacola, the Battle of
Perryville and Stones River.
James Mitchell Ray was born on15 November, 1838 in Asheville,
(05:09):
North Carolina, and according tocensus records had by 1860 moved
to Henry County, Tennessee,where he worked as a farmer with
his family.
James Ray wanted to fight in aNorth Carolina regiment and
return to Asheville, where on 16May, 1862.
He enlisted in company F of the60th North Carolina.
(05:32):
Though initially a firstLieutenant James Ray eventually
promoted to captain andcommanded company F at the
Battle of Stones River.
Following the battle, he waspromoted to Lieutenant Colonel
of the 60th North Carolina.
Isaac Hutzel Bailey was born onthree March, 1843 in Mitchell
(05:52):
County, North Carolina, and by17 May, 1862, enlisted as a
private and company B of the58th North Carolina, also known
as the Partisan Rangers.
The 58th North Carolina was sentto Tennessee where it performed
Garrison duty in the state andmarched with General Bragg into
(06:13):
Kentucky.
But by the summer of 1863 hadnot fought in any battles.
In the summer of 1863, majorGeneral William Rosecrans had
successfully marched his army ofthe Cumberland out of Nashville
with the intention of capturingthe logistics hub of
Chattanooga, Tennessee.
(06:34):
His advance relied on maneuvermore than set peace battles
against the Confederates.
On nine September.
General Bragg and his army ofthe Tennessee vacated
Chattanooga and retreated intoGeorgia.
With the city of Atlanta nowunder direct threat, Confederate
reinforcements from across thesouth began converging on
(06:54):
Georgia to properly meet thisunion advance, which eventually
included Lieutenant GeneralJames Long Street's Corps from
the army of Northern Virginia.
Now established in Chattanooga,major general Rosecrans believed
the Confederates to bedemoralized and was unaware of
this buildup of reinforcements.
(07:15):
He sent his army into Georgiaacross a wide front, which
stretched his supply lines totheir limits as a division of
the union.
14th Corps maneuvered aroundDavis's crossroads and
encountered an aggressiveconfederate force that attempted
to flank and destroy it, but wasunsuccessful.
Major General Rosecrans nowaware of his precarious
(07:37):
situation, recalled his armytoward Chattanooga.
Now with enough troops to go onthe offensive, general Bragg
wanted to isolate the 21st Corpsaround Chattanooga and
eventually retake the city.
By mid-September.
Both armies were concentrated inthe northwest corner of Georgia.
(07:58):
With a Union army on the WesternBank of Chickamauga Creek, and
the Confederates on the EasternBank.
On 18 September, 1863, generalBragg sent troops toward Reed's
Bridge and Alexander's Bridge tosecure crossings for the army.
Marching toward Alexander'sbridge was Corporal Carter in
the 27th, Mississippi.
(08:20):
Brigadier General Edward cWallfall Brigade of Brigadier
General's, St.
John r Liddell's, division ofMajor General William HT
Walker's Reserve Corps.
As the all Mississippi brigademarched upon the bridge, they
met a union brigade of infantry.
The battle of Chickamauga hadbegun.
(08:42):
By the end of the day, theConfederates had secured
crossings over the creek andCorporal Carter and the 27th
Mississippi spent the nightcamped on the Western Bank after
Corporal Carter and his regimentmarched further into position on
the morning of the 19th, theywitnessed the arrival of more
reinforcements.
(09:04):
Whilst resting there, some ofthe troops of Long Streets Corps
marched past and feeling theirsupposed superior keeping as
members of the army of NorthernVirginia.
We're disposed good naturedly totwist us, the army of Tennessee
as not knowing what it was tofight and win battles.
And they had come all the wayfrom Virginia to show us.
(09:28):
To the north of theMississippians, not even a mile
away, and along the Reeds BridgeRoad was Lieutenant Colonel
Bishop and the second Minnesotawho marched in Colonel Ferdinand
Vander's third Brigade inBrigadier General.
John Milton, Brandon's thirddivision of Major General George
Henry Thomas's.
(09:48):
14th Core.
Lieutenant Colonel Bishop andhis brigade sent to find an
engaged and isolated brigade ofConfederate infantry, instead
found a brigade of cavalry.
After proceeding along the road,which seemed to follow a ridge
of small elevation, and whileyet to the left and rear of
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Baird's division of whosedivision, we had no knowledge.
We heard musketry to our rightand front.
Changing our direction to faceit to the southward.
We moved off the ridge and downthe easy slope, and soon met the
enemy in force.
Now supposed to be HEC andWilson's brigades, and the
(10:32):
firing began at once.
In a few minutes, the enemyretired, then rallied and
attacked again.
And where again, repulsed thistime retiring out of sight.
As Lieutenant Colonel Bishop andthe second Minnesota held their
ground against this cavalry, theConfederates made a call for
(10:54):
reinforcements and Walthallbrigade received orders to march
to their aid.
What Corporal Carter and the27th Mississippi didn't know as
they began.
Their advance was that theywould have to fight through two
separate union brigades beforearriving at the Reeds Bridge
Road.
At or about 11:00 AM Heavyfiring was heard to our right
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and Walthall was ordered to puthis brigade in motion and
advance in line of battle tosupport actors and Wilson's
brigades, then engaged with theenemy and being largely
outnumbered.
Were sorely in need ofreinforcements.
Walth All's brigade with Govan'sbrigade on the left.
Moved rapidly forward in line ofbattle and soon encountered the
(11:40):
enemy in strong force.
This advance was made under aheavy artillery and musketry
fire, but pushing rapidlyforward with a shout, it broke
the first and then a second lineof the enemy, and passing over
two full batteries.
These two lines were fromBrigadier General Baird's
(12:02):
division, just to the south ofVander Vere's Brigade, though
unable to see through the treesand undergrowth.
Lieutenant Colonel Bishop andthe second Minnesota did hear
the advance of Wall Falls.
Mississippians coming from thesouth.
The firing approached and thebig guns joined in for a few
rounds, then a burst of cheers.
(12:23):
The rebel yell, the artilleryceased, and the rattling, a
musket tree came nearer and thebullets thicker.
Our men were getting nervous andwere ordered to lie down and
hold their fire until they couldsee the enemy.
Presently, to our astonishment,a straggling line of men in our
own uniform appeared then moreof them running directly toward
(12:46):
us.
Their speed accelerated everymoment by the yelling and firing
of the exultant enemy behindthem.
Our men got ready and waitedwhile the Stampeded brigade
officers and men passed over ourlines to the rear.
And then as the pursuing enemycame in view.
(13:06):
Gave them a volley thatextinguished their yelling and
stopped their advance.
They rallied, however, and stoodfor a few minutes receiving and
returning our fire.
Wavered broke and ran out ofsight.
While a portion of the 34thMississippi attempted to carry
off the captured unionartillery.
(13:28):
Corporal Carter, the 27thMississippi and the right of
Wall Falls Brigade continued itsadvance directly toward
Lieutenant Colonel Bishop andthe second Minnesota.
But unfortunately for us, itresulted that after we had
passed over, the enemy's secondline reinforcements came up from
his reserve.
(13:49):
thereby enabling him to turn ourbrigades right flank and forcing
us to withdraw and take positionunder orders from the division
commander.
To the right of the positionwhere Major General Chetham's
division was preparing toadvance in the daring dash last
referred to, and which continuedfor at least an hour.
The brigades suffered heavily.
(14:12):
As the Mississippians departed,the field Lieutenant Colonel
Bishop and the second Minnesotahad to change front as a brigade
of cavalry advanced upon themfrom the north.
After successfully repulsingthem, their brigade was ordered
to march toward the Kelly Housewhere it vivo whacked for the
night.
For both armies, the second dayof fighting did not go according
(14:35):
to plan.
As major general Rosecrans andGeneral Bragg fed fresh troops
into the fighting on thenorthern and central parts of
the battlefield, rather thanmaneuvering their forces
according to their battle plans.
On the night of 19 September,major General Rosecrans convened
a Council of War and placed hisarmy on a defensive footing for
(14:58):
General Bragg, who continued toreceive fresh troops into the
evening, stuck to his plan.
He would assault the Union Armyon the morning of 20 September.
Held in reserve on the secondday of fighting.
Were both the 58th and 60thNorth Carolina regiments.
Lieutenant Colonel Ray in the60th North Carolina marched in
(15:21):
Brigadier General Marcellus aStoval Brigade, a major general
John c Breckenridge's divisionof Lieutenant General Daniel h
Hill's core, and had by themorning of 20 September, marched
from the southern end of thebattlefield to the northern end
and was arrayed against majorGeneral Thomas's 14th core.
(15:42):
Captain Bailey in the 58th NorthCarolina were assigned to
Colonel John h Kelly's thirdBrigade of Brigadier General
William Preston's, division ofMajor General Simon Bolivar,
Buckner's Core, and on themorning of the 20th, remained in
the South facing the Union 20thCorps.
(16:02):
Lieutenant Colonel Bishop IIMinnesota, and the rest of their
brigade were assigned as the14th Corps Reserve for the
entire day.
Designating a reserve is acommon military practice in that
a unit is intentionally placedbehind the line of troops and
could be used in an offensivemanner, such as exploiting a
breach in an enemy's line, or inthe case of the second
(16:25):
Minnesota, plugging a hole in adefensive line.
By nine o'clock, the battle hadresumed.
Marching toward the northern endof the 14th Coors line was
Lieutenant Colonel Ray in the60th North Carolina.
The federal line of battle wasof an unheard of shape running
(16:46):
east and west through Kelly'sfield, then bending round due
north, and extending probably500 yards.
Bending around again in awestward direction, some
distance parallel to the linethrough Kelly's field, but
stopping short before reachingLafayette Pike or touching the
line west of said pike.
Thus leaving an opening or gapin their line.
(17:11):
What Lieutenant Colonel Ray justdescribed was the northern end
of the 14th core with onedivision anchored on the
Lafayette Road and the nextdivision in line arrayed in
roughly a semicircle.
It was where these two divisionsmet that Lieutenant Colonel Ray
identified a gap in the line.
(17:31):
And it was here.
The 60th got in its nice work,passing the right of this west
line, it forced its way intothis gap, receiving an inflating
fire for a short time inpassing, said line and drove the
opposing forces back to Kelly'sfield into their press works.
(17:55):
Though the battle ragedLieutenant Colonel Bishop and
the second Minnesota could donothing but listen to the sounds
of battle.
See the wounded streaming backfrom the lines and view
artillery impacting in the fielduntil they were finally called
to rush North.
At this point, we passed througha thicket of small pines and
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other trees, which hadobstructed our view to the north
and east.
Emerging.
From this, we crossed the roadin line of battle.
To take position on the left ofa battery already there.
Our brigade was in two lines,the second Minnesota being on
the right of the front line,nearest the battery, the 87th
(18:37):
Indiana on its left, and the35th and ninth Ohio in the
second line.
It was now about noon and theUnion 14th Corps was in crisis
as two Confederate brigades hadsuccessfully breached their
line.
But lieutenant Colonel raiseddescription of the semi-circular
(18:58):
line, was only known to themafter the battle as.
The terrain was mostly wooded.
According to Captain James T.
Weaver, who wrote the officialreport of the 60th North
Carolina, the Confederates thenhad to maneuver through the
union rear lines to exploittheir success.
We here captured a prisoner whostated that we were in the rear
(19:21):
of their original line, about250 yards, heavy firing being
heard to the left.
We were ordered to that point.
We change front by filing to theright and facing by the rear
rank.
Were hurriedly marched in thedirection of said fire having
approached within 400 yards ofthe enemy's line, we received a
(19:45):
heavy fire from the front andfrom there advanced through a
brisk fire to within 200 yardsof the enemy's line we were
halted and returned the enemy'sfire.
The infantry that appeared infront of Lieutenant Colonel Ray
and the 60th North Carolina wasLieutenant Colonel Bishop in the
second Minnesota.
(20:08):
As we halted on the east side ofthe road and began looking for
the enemy whose appearance weexpected in our front, the air
was suddenly filled with bulletsand a line of gray smoke
appeared along the edge of thewoods on our left at right
angles with our lines.
A change of front to the leftwas instantly ordered and
executed by the left wheel ofthe brigade.
(20:30):
Pending this movement, which wasmade on the run.
We could not return the enemy'sfire and we lost a good many
men.
The wheel completed.
Our line commenced firing atonce, but finding ourselves at
disadvantage and the open field,we charged up to the edge of the
woods driving the enemy back.
(20:53):
And then again opened fire onthem at short range.
They were stubborn and slow togive way.
And after a few minutes firingby our frontline, colonel
Vanderveer ordered the secondline to pass the first and
charge them.
This was done the first linejoining the charge, and the
enemy's front was thus brokenup, and soon they retired,
(21:16):
leaving the field and they'rewounded in our possession.
The two brigades ofBreckenridge's division, though
poised to flank the 14th core hecould not exploit their success.
And Lieutenant Colonel Ray notesthe toll that both sides paid in
the clash.
The casualties in the last hourof the charge were heavy.
(21:40):
Lieutenant Colonel Ray wasseverely wounded and forced to
leave the field after callingacting Lieutenant Colonel
Weaver, notifying him of hisbeing disabled and turning over
to him, command of the regiment.
The regiment in this last actionhere was confronted by the
second Minnesota, which reporteda loss of 33% of its members
(22:03):
fighting.
Two behind Breast Works.
Just as a side note to thismetric, Lieutenant Colonel
Bishop reported that of aregiment of 384 men.
162 were killed, wounded, ormissing a 42% casualty rate.
The metric of 33% casualties on20 September was indeed true, as
(22:27):
reported by Colonel JamesGeorge, the second Minnesota's
commander.
But this included still morefighting for the second
Minnesota.
Though the 14th Corps left flankwas saved by the actions of
Lieutenant Colonel Bishop in thesecond Minnesota and their
entire brigade.
A catastrophe to the south wasabout to unfold.
(22:49):
Throughout the battle, majorGeneral Rose Crans shifted
divisions from one part of thebattlefield to another.
And in the late morning heordered Brigadier General Thomas
J.
Woods division to shift to thenorth to close what he perceived
as a whole in his line, but inreality was not there.
Brigadier General Woodreluctantly obeyed the order and
(23:12):
began moving his troops, and indoing so, created an actual hole
in the union line.
It was into this hole in theline that a Confederate assault
column from Lieutenant GeneralLong Street's Corps of
approximately 10,000 menadvanced and successfully split
the army of the Cumberland intwo.
(23:33):
at the point of the breach andto the south.
The Union 20th and part to the21st course were routed and
departed the field.
The Confederates turned to thenorth to smash the 14th Corps
and what remained of the 21stCorps.
While the 14th core semicircleremained intact.
Major General Thomas directedthe formation of a new union
(23:55):
line and vicinity of theSnodgras House and Horseshoe
Ridge.
One of the regiments sent tohold this new line was
Lieutenant Colonel Bishop andthe second Minnesota.
As we got into the open fieldwhere we had been in reserve in
the morning.
We were met by an aide fromGeneral Thomas, who conducted us
(24:17):
to Horseshoe Ridge, so callednear the Snodgrass house.
The battle seemed to be trendingto that position from all
directions, and we could seethat we were needed there.
General Thomas rode down to meetus.
And after giving some directionsto Colonel Vanderveer sat upon
his horse and looked the menover as we marched past him and
(24:39):
upped the slope of the ridge.
One of the regiments thatinitially formed upon Horseshoe
Ridge and met the Confederatesin the assault column was Major
Arnold McMahon of the 21st.
Ohio.
At 12 o'clock, our regiment wasassigned a position upon a
curved ridge.
(24:59):
Our front being south.
A deep ravine was in front ofthis ridge, and on our right
heavy timber on our left.
An open field with timberbeyond.
Immediately after takingposition, the enemy Skirmishers
engaged us and in a short time,a strong force moved against us.
(25:22):
A severe engagement resulted inthe repulse of the enemy.
This demonstration of the enemyfor the occupation of this
important position was madebefore the arrival of the
support here to, for Stated, andthough superior in numbers, he
was unable to endure therepeated volleys of our superior
arms.
Which were colt revolvingrifles.
(25:46):
The new line upon HorseshoeRidge was critical to the Union
Army in that it prevented theConfederates from enveloping
what remained of the army of theCumberland.
Eventually Lieutenant ColonelBishop II Minnesota, and the
rest of Colonel Vander Vere'sBrigade arrived and took their
place in line.
(26:07):
Arriving on the ridge, ourregimen took the place of one
already there, the 21st, Ohio,which had exhausted its
cartridge boxes immediately hada view of the assaulting columns
of the enemy, just commencingthe ascent of the southern slope
in our front.
Ranks followed ranks in closeorder, moving briskly and
(26:28):
bravely toward us.
It was theirs to advance.
Ours now to stand and repelAgain the order was passed to
aim carefully and to make everyshot count and the deadly work
began.
The front ranks melted awayunder the rapid fire of our men,
(26:50):
but those following bowed theirheads to the storm of bullets
and pressed on some of themfalling at every step until the
supporting touch of elbows beinglost.
The survivors hesitate.
Halt.
Then turning start back with arush that carries everything
with them to the rear, all whoescape the bullets as deadly in
(27:13):
the wild retreat as in thedesperate and orderly advance.
With only half of an army toface every available Confederate
regiment began to concentrateupon Horseshoe Ridge to replace
the spent assaulting regimentsafter marching from the southern
end of the battlefield, captainBailey and the 58th North
(27:34):
Carolina finally arrived invicinity of Horseshoe Ridge.
They deployed on the right flankof their brigade, which included
the 63rd Virginia and the fifthKentucky, and advanced toward
Lieutenant Colonel Bishop andthe second Minnesota.
The approach of these ridges wasalong spurs and where ridges
(27:55):
intersected ridges, and throughintervening depressions or
hollows, all more or lesswooded, but more open and
exposed on the right of thebrigade.
One of the assaults had beenmade by General Anderson's
brigade.
Before we could reach him insuch a way as to successfully
relieve, he had been repulsed.
(28:17):
Upon the ridge LieutenantColonel Bishop and the second
Minnesota continued to holdtheir ground after repeated
assaults.
As the afternoon waned into theevening, the union line received
its last reinforcements from theReserve Corps as well as
ammunition.
(28:37):
This was all repeated again andagain until the slope was so
covered with dead and woundedmen that looking from our
position, we could hardly seethe ground.
The cartridges were quicklybrought to the line and
distributed just in time to meetthe next attack.
Advancing up the ridge directlyin front of the second Minnesota
(29:01):
was Captain bailey in the 58thNorth Carolina.
The line being formed again, the58th North Carolina, which was
on the right, moved withsteadiness through the
comparatively open space to theextreme right, arrived within 10
or 12 feet of the enemy.
After exchanging fire with theenemy for about one and three
(29:24):
fourth of an hour, we attemptedto dislodge him by assault.
And for this purpose, the 58thNorth Carolina was transferred
from the right to the left ofthe line, away from the second
Minnesota, and moved forwardsomewhat swinging to the right
when we arrived at the base ofthe hill, the enemy was heard to
(29:45):
cry.
We surrender! We surrender! Theattack of the 58th North
Carolina upon the secondMinnesota was noted by
Lieutenant Colonel Bishop, andhe agrees with Captain Bailey on
just how close his regiment gotto the union line.
This was made by fresh troopsand their advance was only
(30:08):
broken up when their foremostmen were within 10 paces of our
line.
Some of them came on andsurrendered.
Most of them who ran back werekilled or wounded before they
got out of range.
Another attack was made justbefore dark and was repulsed in
our front as the others hadbeen.
But there seemed to be nocontest on the right where
(30:31):
Steedman's Line had been.
And presently we found that histroops had been withdrawn and
that the enemy were gropingtheir way around to our right
and rear and it already captureda few detachments, which had
been with us and Steedman.
As night descended, whatremained of the Union Army
retreated from Chickamaugaleaving the Confederates, the
(30:54):
victors of the second bloodiestbattle of the Civil War.
And in some regiments, the tollwas severe.
The 58th North Carolina, havingonly seen fighting on Horseshoe
Ridge suffered 50% casualtiesaccording to their brigade
commander's report, of whichCaptain Bailey was counted among
the wounded.
(31:14):
On the 60th North Carolina'sreport, the regiment suffered a
total of 60 killed, wounded, andmissing.
But Lieutenant Colonel Rayrejects this number.
The hurried and brief reports ofcommanding officers make it
absolutely impossible to givethe casualties of the 60th in
(31:35):
these different engagements, butthey were great.
Some of the companies havingonly five or six men to answer
to their names at Roll Call onthe night of the 20th.
Corporal Carter of the 27thMississippi.
Though we did not identifyexactly which regiment or
brigade claims to have seen thesame unit from Long Street's
(31:59):
Core after the battle.
After the Battle of Chickamaugahad been fought, those same
troopers were afraid to admittheir mistaken estimate of the
fighting qualities of thesoldiers of the army of
Tennessee.
And equally free to concede thatthe federal troops from the West
under Rosecrans were morestubborn fighters than were the
(32:22):
Eastern troops with whom thearmy of Northern Virginia had
been till then fighting.
Thank you for listening to the50th episode of First Person
Civil War Podcast.
For over one and a half years, Ihave had the privilege of
finding the stories of the menwho fought in the ranks and
(32:43):
brought them to you.
And I hope you have gained agreater understanding on how
important regimental historiesand personal memoirs are.
To better understanding whathappened on the battlefield.
I'm committed to continuing thispodcast to share more stories
with you.
Links to Lieutenant ColonelBishop's.
(33:05):
Corporal Carter's.
Lieutenant Colonel Rays andCaptain Bailey's books are now
available on the podcastwebsite.
First person Civil Warpodcast.com.
If you enjoyed this episode,please consider supporting the
podcast financially.
Follow the support podcast linkat the top left of the homepage.
(33:27):
Payment secured by the CloverNetwork.
On Facebook, Instagram, x andLinkedIn.
This week you will find picturesof all four men.
While, each of my episodes areperfect companions for a
battlefield trip.
I have wanted to do even more tobring the soldier's voice back
(33:48):
to the battlefield.
On the podcast YouTube page,under the shorts tab, you'll
find regular updates ofbattlefield reports that
correspond with a unit monument,such as the 69th Pennsylvania at
Gettysburg and Brigadier GeneralThomas Stonewall Jackson at
First Bull Run.
(34:10):
For this next episode, I want tointroduce a new concept to the
podcast.
that will not only focus onsoldiers' accounts, on the
battlefield and battlefieldreports, but also highlight
terrain and just how manyregiments and brigades fought
for a particular piece of land.
To do this and to match with theanniversary of the battle, the
(34:32):
next episode will publish on 17September.
On 17 September to mark the163rd anniversary.
(34:53):
I have decided to make anotherspecial episode using personal
accounts and official reports.
Major Rufuss, R Ds of the sixthWisconsin.
Lieutenant Colonel Philip, awork of the first Texas Captain,
(35:16):
John b.
Callus of the seventh,Wisconsin.
Brigadier General Marcina, rPatrick's Third Brigade colonel
Hamilton, a Braun of the firstNorth Carolina, Colonel Alfred h
(35:37):
Colquitt of Rains Brigade andColonel Silas Colegrove of the
27th Indiana.
all vy for possession in aseries of charges and counter
attacks in the early morninghours of 17 September in the
(35:58):
cornfield at the Battle ofAntietam.
My name is Bill Coghlan, andthank you for listening to First
Person Civil War Podcast.
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