OPERATIONS IN GEORGIA—BATTLE OF TUNNEL HILL.
February 22, 1864.
While Sherman’s expedition was marching on Meridian, a force of rebels detached from the army of Johnston—who had superseded Bragg—near Dalton, was sent out to reinforce Polk, in Alabama. This caused General Grant to direct a forward movement upon Dalton, which commenced February 22d, and led to severe fighting. On the day specified, a strong column of infantry, preceded by Colonel Harrison’s cavalry, set out from Chattanooga on the road to Tunnel Hill and Dalton. The expedition was under the direction of General Palmer, whose able coadjutors were Generals Johnson, Davis, Baird and Carlin. No opposition was encountered east of the Chickamauga. Colonel Harrison, however, caught sight of some rebel cavalry and chased them through Ringgold’s Gap and Taylor’s Ridge. The enemy’s mounted force, consisting of Tennessee cavalry, had at first fled in confusion, but finally took heart and skirmished with considerable spirit.
About four o’clock, P. M., the Union troops came in sight of Tunnel Hill, and here the enemy made a determined stand. Colonel Harrison, who, as was his wont, had kept close upon the heels of the foe, now found himself confronted by vastly superior numbers; but no sooner did he perceive the infantry advancing to his support, than he dashed at the rebels and drove them in wild dismay out of the town of Tunnel Hill. The rebel General Wheeler, with an entire brigade of cavalry and four pieces of artillery, now checked the career of the daring patriot Colonel. Their cannon opened furiously and effectively upon the assailants, to which the Union artillery replied with resonant thunder, compelling Colonel Brown’s rebel cavalry, who were assailing Colonel Harrison’s right, to shrink from the contest. The fight continued, however, till night descended upon the field of battle, and parted the combatants.
The Union forces, for the purpose of procuring supplies, had retired about four miles in the direction of Dalton. General Stanley’s command, with the Fourth Ohio cavalry under Colonel Long, had, in the mean time, approached from the neighborhood of Cleveland; and, on the following morning, the advance of the whole expedition was resumed at ten o’clock. It arrived at half-past eleven in immediate proximity to the town of Tunnel Hill. The skirmishing became very brisk, and the cavalry were compelled to await the support of the infantry, which they no sooner received than they advanced in column upon the enemy’s position. The rebels, who had hitherto remained concealed, now disclosed a battery, planted on a hill to the right of the tunnel, from which shell were thrown with fatal accuracy into the midst of the Union ranks. This occasioned a precipitate but orderly withdrawal. Captain Hotchkiss now trained two ten-pound Parrotts of the Second Minnesota battery upon this noisy rebel eyrie, but his shells failed to explode, and Captain Harris, of the Nineteenth Indiana battery, was obliged to send his compliments to the rebels from two pieces on the left of the road, before they would vacate their commanding position.
General Morgan, with equal wisdom and daring, now marched his troops along the crest of Tunnel Hill, caught the enemy on the right flank, and turned his works without opposition. General Wainwright was, at the same time, advancing with the view of performing the same feat on the enemy’s left. The rebels fled without firing a gun, and Tunnel Hill was captured.