Whitaker’s Brigade.

On September 20, 1863, from 2 to 6 P.M., Whitaker’s Brigade of Steedman’s Division in Granger’s Corps, commanded by Brig. Gen. Walter C. Whitaker, included the 96th Illinois under Col. Thomas E. Champion, the 115th Illinois under Col. Jesse H. Moore, the 84th Indiana under Col. Nelson Trusler, the 22nd Michigan under Col. Heber LeFavour, Lieut. Col. William Sanborn, and Capt. Alonzo Keeler, the 40th Ohio under Lieut. Col. William Jones, the 89th Ohio under Col. Caleb H. Carlton and Capt. Isaac C. Nelson, and Ohio Light Artillery, 18th Battery, under Capt. Charles C. Aleshire. As the advance of Steedman’s Division, the brigade reached the Snodgrass House at about 1:30 P.M. After passing Brannan’s right, it faced the ridge and drove the Confederates from it. Its battery, upon arrival at the Snodgrass House, was sent to the left of Harker’s line and was engaged there until night. The 22nd Michigan and 89th Ohio were temporarily attached, and when the brigade withdrew at sunset to the ridge in the rear, these regiments were not notified and, with the 21st Ohio, were mostly captured at dusk by Trigg’s and Kelly’s Confederate Brigades of Preston’s Division. At 7 P.M. the brigade withdrew to Rossville. Its strength in action was 2677 officers and men, and its casualties were 154 killed, 654 wounded, and 518 captured or missing, for a total of 1326, a loss of 49.5 percent.

Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia · United States