On November 24, 155 years ago, a force of Union Soldiers gained redemption they never felt they needed. The Army of the Cumberland (AOC) was an outfit comprised mostly of Ohio and Kentucky units with a smattering of other mid-westerners. It’s fellow western army, the Army of the Tennessee, was composed mostly of Soldiers from Illinois and Iowa. Both were tough outfits with capable subordinate leaders. While neither gets the same acclaim of the Army of the Potomac, they are prideful units. Never was this better demonstrated than at Lookout Mountain where the Rock of Chickamauga, just two months after devastating defeat, kicked the Confederacy in the teeth and planted Old Glory at the summit.
The AOC started as the Army of the Ohio under Don Carlos Buell. They believed they saved Grant at Shiloh on April 7, 1862. In October, 1862 they stopped Bragg’s Kentucky Invasion at Perryville. Although rarely recognized, the Confederate war strategy linked Perryville and Antietam, bringing the war to the North with Bragg’s objective being Cincinnati. The Union halted both invasions, but the Army of the Potomac received more attention and credit for their bloody battle at Antietam. This angered the western men, but not as much as events that came just five months later.
Brilliance, Savagery, and Tenacity
The Rock of Chickamauga
From December 31 to January 2, under a new commander – William Rosecrans – the AOC suffered a brutal pounding at Stones River .The Slaughter Pen and Round Forest rivaled the tenacity and savagery of Marye’s Heights, the Hornet’s Nest, and the Wheatfield. Their brilliance at Tullahoma was overshadowed by Vicksburg and Gettysburg. Their brilliant movements forced Bragg’s Army of Tennessee to concede ground and retreat to northwest Georgia.
On September 19 and 20, 1863, despite incredible bravery and hard fighting by the troops, mendacity and temerity by leadership led to defeat in northwest Georgia at Chickamauga. Out of the wreckage, a hero emerged who stood with a few on Snodgrass Hill.
The Rock
General George Thomas, a loyal Virginian, led a brilliant rear-guard at Chickamauga. The AOC pulled into Chattanooga and Rosecrans’ defeatism allowed the Confederates to lay siege to his Army. Grant, as the new Western Commander, marshaled forces for relief and appointed Thomas as the new commander. When Grant telegraphed asking if Thomas could hold Chattanooga, Thomas responded, “We will hold until we starve.” And they damn near did.
They opened a supply line with assistance from newly arriving troops sent from the Army of the Potomac (AOP), the Damned Dutch of the XI Corps, the XII Corps, as well as the Army of Tennessee’s XV Corps units. This allowed the troops, and just as importantly their horses, to regain strength.
The Assault
Grant ordered assaults to clear the rebels from Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain. On November 24, Joe Hooker led the Damn Dutch in the Battle above the Clouds and took Lookout Mountain. This gave them control of the southern flank of Bragg’s Confederate line. On November 25, Grant ordered Sherman to make the main attack with the Army of Tennessee troops assaulting southward toward Tunnel Hill and then to clear Missionary Ridge.
Grant then ordered Hooker to attack from the south and Thomas to send a supporting attack against the Confederate rifle pits at the base of Missionary Ridge as a diversion. Due to poor reconnaissance, Sherman’s attack bogged down. Thomas kicked off his demonstration across the plains of Chattanooga with flags flying. But this time the men of the AOC would not accept rescue from outsiders.
Vengeance Through Victory
After marching across the plains east of Chattanooga and coming to the base of Missionary Ridge the AOC overran the CSA rifle pits. Continuing to receive fire from the Ridge they ignored their orders to halt, and decided to climb the Ridge and get some pay back for Chickamauga.
All along the Ridge, Soldiers from the AOC climbed up the almost sheer face and clawed their way in to CSA works. They didn’t seek redemption. They sought to set the things right. Grant was nonplussed at first, but finally tipped his cap to the scarecrows of the AOC who didn’t need saving.
The Rocks That Went After
Amongst those who topped the Ridge was a young man of 18 years who planted the colors of the 24th Wisconsin VI on the CSA ramparts. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions, achieved the rank of colonel by mid-1864, and finished his Army career as a lieutenant general. His name was Arthur MacArthur. He later had three sons…one named Douglas.
Just behind them, led by a little bantam of a general, another division crested the hill. Thomas had to call them back from pursuing the Confederate forces toward Atlanta. This general impressed Grant and went on to bigger and better things. His name was Philip Sheridan.
The AOC had their day. They would go on to fight through the Atlanta Campaign and to crush Hood at Nashville. But to their dying day, the veterans of the Cumberland took pride in what they did on November 25th, 1863. They didn’t need orders or salvation. They just needed to set things right.
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