Eye Whitness Accounts

Eye - Witness Accounts

Horse Shoe Ridge today

19th Alabama collection

There are certain moments in history when you need to sit up and take notice, what happened on September 20, 1863 was one of them. Two great armies had continuously thrown themselves against each other for two days. Both the "Army of the Cumberland" and the "Army of Tennessee" were exhausted. They fought on. Finally a Confederate breakthrough. Would the Federals stem the tide or would the Army of the Cumberland cease to exist? The 22nd Michigan & 89th Ohio were called upon to stop the Confederate advance, so the Army of the Cumberland could retreat and fight another day. Rushing to Hill# 3 of the Horse Shoe Ridge they awaited the Confederate advance. In that advance were the men of the 7th Texas Infantry. They had fought valiantly over these two days. They would eventually take hill #3 capturing many of the brave soldiers of the 22nd and the 89th. This is the events, as seen through their eyes. and in their words.

Horse Shoe Ridge (Center) Union positions located at center top of picture

(As seen from Confederate eyes)

Virtual Battlefield Tour collection

Horse Shoe Ridge as it appears today - Chickamauga National Battle Park

various collections 19th Alabama, Virtual battlefield Tours, etc.

Virtual Battlefield collection

22nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry

Colonel Heber La Favour

commander of the 22nd Michigan infantry

(Commanded the combined regiments of the 22nd Mi. & 89th Ohio at Chickamauga)

State archives of Michigan collection

Letter to the Governor of the State of Michigan

"My command was then moved by the flank in two lines at the double-quick time up the valley for nearly a mile, under a heavy fire of shell from a Rebel battery. Several were killed and wounded in this charge. Arriving at the point occupied by General Thomas, we found him sorely pressed and yielding stubbornly to superior numbers. I was directed to drive the enemy from the ridge on which he had concentrated his forces in great numbers, supported strongly by artillery, and was imminently threatening destruction of the right by flank movement. Forming my command in two lines, 96th Illinois on the right, 22nd Mi. on the left, and 115th Illinois in the center of the first line, both lines advance at a double-quick against the enemy. the conflict was terrific; the enemy was driven nearly a half of mile; rallying, he drove my command a short distance, when he in turn was driven again with great loss. Both lines had been thrown into the conflict on the second charge, and the whole line kept up a deadly and well-directed fire upon the enemy, who fought with great determination and vigor. The 22nd Michigan, after fighting for nearly three hours, having exhausted their ammunition, boldly charged into the midst of overwhelming numbers with the bayonet, driving them until overcome by superior numbers."

official report of;

W. C. Whittaker

Brigadier General

4th Division

Army of the Cumberland

( From Michigan in the War by JNO. Robertson)

" The second charge the Rebels drove the brigade to the bottom of the hill. It was reformed, marched up, and again took the crest. The regiment was out of ammunition, and word was sent to General Whittaker to that effect. 'You must use your steel' was the reply. The regiment rushed forward with fixed bayonets and empty muskets, under a terrific fire of grape and musketry received the counter charge of the enemy, repulsed and drove them at every point."

Colonel Heber La Favour

22nd Mi. / 89th Ohio combined

Whittaker's Brigade

4th Division

Army of the Cumberland

General Whittaker was ordered to the work and advanced in two lines, the first composed of the 96th Illinois on the right, the 115th Illinois in the center, and the 22nd Michigan on the left, the 2nd____ and 40th Ohio on the right, 84th Indiana center, and the 89th Ohio on the left and in rear of the 22nd Michigan both under Colonel La Favour. Charging on the enemy's lines they drove him from the hill full half a mile. Here the Rebels rallied and Longstreet's corps came rushing down in masses eight lines deep. The gallant brigade received and repulsed them with terrible loss. Lieutenant Colonel Sanborn was wounded while in front of the regiment. The noise making it impossible for him to make himself heard from his place in the rear and desiring to halt the line, he rushed in front, and just as he had succeeded in restoring order and halting his regiment he received the wound. The color sergeant, Philo G. Durkee was shot through the breast and face, and fell dead the first round. Corporal Stancell, of the color guard, from Company H grasped the colors, but had scarcely raised them when a ball passed through his head killing him instantly. Corporal Vincent Company C lifted the colors, and a moment after received a ball in the thigh, wounding him severely. He was carried to the rear. First Sergeant William F. Atkinson took the colors handing them to Sergeant Kendall, Company C, who carried them the rest of the day and had them when the regiment went into the last charge."

John Atkinson

Captain Company C

22nd Michigan Infantry

Whittaker's Brigade

Army of the Cumberland