OSHKOSH COURIER

October 16, 1863

Letter from the 21^st Wis. Regiment

Through the politeness of Mr. James Stuart, father of Lieut. Stuart, of Co. B, 21^st Wisconsin, we have been permitted to copy a few extracts from a private letter, received by him a day or two since, from Lieut. Stuart:

CAMP 21^ST REGIMENT WIS. VOLUNTEERS Chattanooga, Sept. 30^th, 1863

Father: - This was one, if not the hardest fought battles of the war. It was no doubt the intention of the rebels to completely annihilate Rosy’s army, and we knew it, and knew there was no alternative but to fight as we had never fought before. You nor I do not know our loss, and probably never will know. But I am confident of this, that the rebels lost two to our one in killed. On the night of the 18ty, we were at the foot of Lookout Mountain, in the valley, about 27 miles south of Chattanooga, (that is, Thomas corps) the rest of our forces were at different places between us and Chattanooga. The rebels had stopped retreating as they were receiving reinforcements, and were concentrating to crush us. We marched all that night, some 20 miles, and went into the battle in the morning, about 7 miles from Chattanooga. Our boys fought hard all that day; the cannonading and musketry was terrific. – The rebels would charge right up to our columns, but were most generally repulsed. – They advanced on our lines in this way: they would form four and six liens behind one another; the first two ranks would fire and drop on the ground, and load, and the next two ranks would rush over them, and fire and drop down, and then the next two, and so on, making a steady advance, and making a continual roar of musketry, yelling like demons all the time. But our brave boys knew everything was at stake, and they did not falter, but would stand their ground until the rebels was near them, and then they would charge on them and send them reeling back to their places; then our artillery would sweep through their massed columns. In this way the fight continued for two days. But the rebels had such a large force, that they kept rushing fresh troops upon us, and trying to flank us by throwing massed forces on our flanks. Consequently we had to extend our lines until we formed a circle like a horse shoe and only two ranks deep; but about sundown our flanks gave way; the center maintained its position; but we had to fall back when our flanks gave way, as we had only a small space to get out to get to Chattanooga. After our flanks gave way, Thomas’ corps had to go the whole length of the battlefield to escape: and this is the reason why so many of our men are missing. They had taken too far to the right or left. I had presence of mind enough o watch through the day the directions of our lines, which helped me to escape. I never in my life witnessed such a sight as I did crossing the field on our retreat. The rebels were just pouring upon us grape and canister, shot and shell, from the front, and from both sides of us, and it is a wonder to me how any of us got across the field without being hit.

Longstreet’s prisoners that we took, say they were sadly disappointed in the army of the Cumber-land. They say that on the Potomac, the officers came on the battle field with white kid gloves, and all they had to do was to charge bayonets and yell, and the Potomac troops would break every time. But it is not so with the western boys; the more they yelled the more steadfast we stood; they say they never done such fighting before. In the first of the fight, Longstreet’s men would come upon us at a charge, yelling like demons, but as the prisoners say, it was no use, and they stopped it. The second day they charged without yelling, but acted more wisely, and saved their breath.

Loss of Co. B. – Lieut. Russell wounded in the thigh, and prisoner; private George C. Worden, killed; James Pillar, wounded in the body, and prisoner. Missing – Col. Hobart; Lieut. Jackson; Wilson H. Harding; Adjutant Jengins; Thos. E. Hayter; Francis Johnes; John A. Jordon; John B. Kellett; Jas. Clark; Amos E. Estey; A. Grignon; N.H. Scott; H.C. Scott.

The only information in regard to any of the above is this: I had a note today from Lieut Russell, stating that he was in the hospital in the hands of the rebels, and was doing well, and he expected to get into our lines in a day or two. I also heard that Col. Hobart and Adjutant Jenkins were prisoners, and all right. I also receive information that Henry C. Scott, was a prisoner, and all right. I have heard nothing concerning any of the others, but I hope that I may soon hear that they are all right. We have lost in wounded and missing, fifteen officers. I will write more soon.

From your son, J.E. STUART,

Lieut. Commanding Co’s "A" "B" & "C".