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

1.863 BATTLE OF MISSIONARTY IDGGE. 867
General Rosecrans. The three regiments, under command of Colonel Moore,
left Alexandria on the 26th of September, and on the 2d of October arrived at
Bridgeport, Alabama, where they re-joined the corps. Here they remained
doing picket and guard duty and repairing roads. They also made several
very successful foraging expeditions into the enemy's country, receiving the
thanks of General Howard in very flattering terms; for at this time man and
beast were suffering greatly for want of food. On the 27th of October ~hey
moved on through Lookout Valley towards Chattanooga. As they passed
the neighborhood of Wauhatchie'the brigade encountered a body of the enemy,
and after a sharp skirmish drove him across the creek, and burned the bridge.
The loss in the Seventy-third was two killed and seven wounded. As the column moved along the valley the enemy fired upon it from the heights of Lookout with his artillery, but did little damage. Shortly after midnight of the
29th Geary's Division was attacked at Wauhatchie, and the regiment, with
other forces, was ordered back to its support. On the way his forces were
encountered and after determined resistance was driven from the heights on
which he had intrenched himself. "The attack," says General Grant in his
official report, "on Geary failed, and Howard's Corps which was moving to the
assistance of Geary, finding that it was not required by him, carried the remaining heights held by the enemy west of Lookout Creek."
On the 22d of November the brigade marched to Chattanooga. Colonel
Moore, who was still suffering from his wounds, was obliged again to retire, and
as the regiment had no field officers, Lieutenant Colonel Joseph B. Taft, of the
One Hundred and Forty-third New York, was assigned to its command. The
Thirty-third New Jersey had recently been added to the brigade. On the 24th
three regiments, the Seventy-third and Twenty-seventh Pennsylvania, and the
Thirty-third New Jersey, under the personal direction of General Howard,
moved some four or five miles up the Tennessee River, where a junction was
formed with the army of General Sherman. On the following morning the
battle opened at an early hour, and at midday the regiment was ordered
into line for the advance. The enemy, three-fourths of a mile away., occupied the summits of Missionary Ridge with artillery and infantry in breastworks, with a line of infantry in rifle-pits at its base. In front was an open
plane with no obstruction, except a slight fence and a dry ditch. The regiment
advanced at double-quick, and soon upon the run, the shells from the enemy's
artillery, and the steady fire from his rifle-pits sweeping the ranks with terrible
effect. When within fifty yards of the rifle-pits his infantry behind them broke
and fled up the hill. The abandoned works were soon occupied and a rapid
fire opened. A house and out-buildings just in rear of this line was still occupied by the enemy; but from these he was driven, firing the buildings as he
left them. This position the regiment held against every attempt to dislodge
it. The ammunition was finally exhausted, and Colonel Taft, who had thrice
sent for a fresh supply, started himself to secure it and to ask for supports. He
had scarcely moved from the works when he received a mortal wound. His
last words were, "'Hold this position at all hazards.' "He pressed my hand,"
says Captain Kennedy, "and kept repeating the words, 4Hold the position at
all hazards."' A small quantity of ammunition was obtained from the bodies
of the dead and wounded. At half-past four P. M. a brigade from the Western
army came to its support. In the most gallant manner it advanced, the brigade
*Moore's Rebellzon Record, Vol. VIII, page, 193.