Captain Stork Official Records of the War of the Rebellion OCTOBER 26-29, 1863 HDQRS. TWENTY-NINTH REGT. PENNSYLVANIA VOLS., CAPTAIN: The following report of the part taken by this regiment in the recent engagement with the enemy at this point is respectfully submitted: Tuesday, October 27, cloudy, but cleared off in the middle of the day. Regiment was in line at sunrise, marched to depot in Bridgeport, where each man was supplied with 60 rounds of ammunition, crossed the Tennessee River on a pontoon bridge, and marched to Shellmound, where we arrived at 2 p.m.; distance about 10 miles. Lieutenant-Colonel Zulich was detailed to superintend the working parties building the pontoon bridge at Shellmound and making the roads leading to it. Wednesday, October 28, cloudy and heavy rain in morning; cleared at 12 m. Marched at 5 a.m., and reached Wauhatchie. Halted on the left of railroad and about 2 / miles from the knob of Lookout Mountain, on the road leading to Kelley's Ferry: distance about 20 miles. The regiment was ordered on picket, and 1 officer of the day. I immediately made arrangements to post them to the best advantage. General Geary thought Wauhatchie Junction the most important point, and I sent three companies, K. E, and B, to that post with orders to throw up such defenses as would protect them from the enemy's shot. Captain Rickards, Company K, had command of the post. Companies I and H, under command of Captain Stork, I sent on the Kelley's Ferry road three-quarters of a mile. Companies A and F, under Lieutenant Coursault, I sent to cover the ground between the camp and Lookout Creek, and Companies C and G on the Brown's Ferry road one-half of a mile, and Company D to our left, between Stork and Rickards. From all these posts small posts and sentinels were sent out, making a continuous line around our camp. I had made inquiries of men in the neighborhood and been informed there was no enemy between us and Lookout Mountain. General Geary also received the same information. The man most relied on for the correctness of this report was a Mr. Rowan [or Rowden], a magistrate who lived at the junction of the Kelley's Ford road and the railroad. After posting the pickets I went to his house, and, in conversation with a woman, learned that Longstreet's corps had been here yesterday, and were now lying just the other side of Lookout Creek, at the foot of the mountain. I took the man of the house to General Geary, and, after threats, succeeded in getting the information that there was a bridge across over the creek, and that Longstreet's men lay just beyond it, not more than 1 / miles from our camp. I hurried to the pickets, and found the road leading to the bridge and posted my men on it, near three-quarters of a mile from camp, with instructions to be very watchful, and directed Captain Millison, in charge of the reserve, to hold them in readiness to deploy as skirmishers on the least alarm. I then proceeded on my rounds, and had visited the post at the junction, and was returning, when I heard firing which seemed to proceed from the picket on the bridge road. I rode as fast as I could, but found the firing was beyond my pickets. The firing having ceased, I returned to General Geary to report, and found the command under arms and in line. All remained quiet, and after half an hour the men were sent to quarters. They had just turned in when firing again commenced. I rode quietly to the outpost and met my men retiring, but in good order, contesting the ground with the enemy, who were advancing in line without skirmishers. We retreated slowly toward camp, and found our troops rapidly getting into line, the One hundred and thirty-seventh New York on the extreme left, next One hundred and ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, One hundred and eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteers on right, and One hundred and forty-ninth on the railroad bank at right angles with the right of the One hundred and eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteers. Companies C and G, who had been driven in with me, I posted to support the battery, and afterward, when the enemy had made a strong demonstration on our right, I moved them to the railroad bank. The enemy were attacking us on our right, front, and left. Our men were failing rapidly, especially those of the battery. The horses also suffered severely. Lieutenant Geary, of the battery, was killed by my side, being struck over the eye. Captain Atwell was badly wounded in the hip and spine. Most of the men were wounded or killed. They all acted nobly. We had started with 60 rounds of infantry ammunition and none in the train. This was nearly expended. The enemy now made a fresh demonstration on our right, and gained possession of the railroad bank, from which they delivered a very severe fire on us. Our efforts to dislodge them by firing from our present position proved fruitless. Being unable to find General Geary or Colonel Cobham at that time, and Major Reynolds, chief of artillery, having charge of the battery, I directed him to have one piece move to the outside of the railroad bank, at a crossing in our rear, and enfilade the bank. He objected, saying the enemy would take the piece, and also he had no horses to pull it. I told him I would take the responsibility and furnish the force. I brought Companies C and G and had the piece hauled outside of the railroad, carried ammunition, and did the labor of the piece, while those men who were left with the gun unwounded, loaded and fired. After two or three shots we got the range, and swept the enemy from the bank. This seemed to have a depressing effect upon the enemy, for their fire now ceased, and we remained masters of our position. Companies A and F, under charge of Lieutenant Coursault, of Company A, held the woods on the right of the railroad, and prevented the enemy from getting in our rear and right. They behaved with great bravery and discretion. Too much praise cannot be bestowed on Companies C and G, under Captains Millison and Goldsmith, for their obstinate resistance to the enemy, checking his advance, and giving our troops time to get into line. The accident of my stopping at the house of Mr. Rowan [Rowden] when I did led to the information which showed the position of the enemy, and led to the advancing and strengthening of my pickets. The fact of the whole regiment being on picket, and many on posts away from fire, accounts for the small loss, viz, 1 man killed, 5 badly wounded, and 1 missing, who, being on the most exposed post, is no doubt a prisoner. The officers and men of Knap's battery acted nobly. Lieutenant Geary, son of our general, was killed at my side at the instant he commanded "fire." after aiming his gun. His death will be a serious loss to the service and country. The attack was made by Hood's division, of Longstreet's corps, and, having a knowledge of our numbers and position from their station on Lookout Mountain, they expected to surprise and capture our force with ease. None but White Stars were engaged, and they have shown they are capable of holding their ground against superior numbers of the best troops in the rebel army. The enemy having turned the left flank, captured our wagon train, which was recaptured by Lieutenant-Colonel Zulich, of this regiment, who, having collected and organized a number of loose men, drove off the enemy and brought it safely to the rear. Respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. RICKARDS, JR., Capt. JOHN P. GREEN, |
