History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, by Samuel P. Bates.

1080 SEVENTY-NINTH REGIMENT. 1863
sent for duty. One hundred and forty-eight were sick, of whom seventy-six
were wounded. The remainder were on detached duty. Of the one hundred
and three men discharged for disabilty, thirty-five were for wounds.
After the battle the regiment went into camp at Murfreesboro, where supplies of clothing, and a beautiful flag, the gift of citizens of Lancaster, were
received. Foraging expeditions were frequently sent out, occasionally meeting
parties of the enemy. On the 19th of April the Third Brigade, in company
with other troops under command of General Reynolds, was ordered to
M3Minnville. Two cotton mills, several grist mills, and large amount of stores,
including twenty-five thousand pounds of bacon, were destroyed, and sixty
prisoners taken. The command moved to Liberty, where a large steam flouring
mill was destroyed and a large amount of forage and provisions collected, and
dispatched to the army.
On the 1st of June the division was reviewed by General Rousseau, and on
the 24th the summer campaign opened. By skillful manoeuvring the enemy
was turned out of his position, and sent flying across the monitains to Chattanooga., which he was determined to hold. Rosecrans followed on, crossed the
Tennessee River at Bridgeport, struck boldly out across the mountains, and
arrived on the 17th upon the Chickamauga Creek, in rear of the rebel army.
Bragg, taking the alarm, evacuated Chattanooga, and moved out to, and beyond
Ringgold, where, having been heavily reinforced, he faced about, assumed the
offensive, and gathered in his forces for a decisive battle. Negley had been
sent on the 12th to Dug Gap, to cut off Bragg's way of retreat by the valley beyond, but encountered obstinate resistance, and it now became fully evident that he intended to fight. The Third Brigade, now changed to the Second,
was sent to Negley's relief, who was thereby barely enabled to get off in safety.
On the 18th the army was massed in the valley beyond Crawfish Spring, across
the Rossville Road, covering Chattanooga. The First Division, now commanded by General Baird, marched during the entire night to reach its position. At eight o'clock on Saturday, the 19th, a dull heavy sound was heard
away to the left. Deepening in intensity, it crept nearer and nearer, and at
ten the battle was in full progress. Bragg had massed his forces, and having
crossed Chickamauga Creek was hurling them upon the Union left, intent to
reach the Rossville Road and break the Union line of retreat. In the early
part of the battle the Second acted as a support to Scribner's Brigade. It
was not long, however, before the impetuosity of the rebel attack caused
Scribner to waver and finally to give way. The enemy eagerly followed up
the advantage, and pushed through the break to the right, screening his movement by the woods. The Second Brigade was now ordered forward. As it
moved by the flank the enemy suddenly sprang up from his lurking place and
poured in a galling fire, causing fearful havoc. Taking advantage of the confusion produced by this sudden attack, he charged upon the brigade battery,
and captured it, before the pieces could be unlimbered or a gun fired. Having
suffered severely, the division was moved half a mile to the rear where the
line was re-formed, and late in the afternoon, favored by the heavy fighting on the extreme right, advanced and retrieved much of the ground that
had been lost in the early part of the day. Just before dusk the enemy made
a determined assault,, when the Union lines were again forced back. In the
darkness Lieutenant Colonel Miles and about twenty enlisted men became
seperated from the regiment, and were taken prisoners. A new line was finally