VanDerveer’s Brigade.

On September 20, 1863, from 2:30 to 7:30 P.M., Colonel Ferdinand VanDerveer’s brigade of Brannan’s Division, Thomas’ Corps, including the 87th Indiana, 2nd Minnesota, 9th Ohio, 35th Ohio, and 4th U.S. Battery 1, arrived from its engagement at Kelly Field and advanced to this crest, strengthening the Union line from near the present observation tower nearly to the right of Stanley’s Brigade. It partially relieved the 21st Ohio, which after replenishing ammunition moved farther to the right where its monument now stands. The brigade’s battery was engaged throughout the afternoon at the Snodgrass House. Its lines were unsuccessfully assaulted at 3 o’clock by Kershaw’s and Anderson’s brigades, and at 4:30 o’clock by the left of Gracie’s Brigade. At dusk, the 35th Ohio was thrown across the ridge to protect the brigade’s right flank, and soon afterward fired a volley into troops that had approached both its front and right within fifty paces, causing their withdrawal. The brigade was withdrawn at 7:30 P.M. Its strength in action on September 19 was 1,788 officers and men, and its casualties during the battle were 145 killed, 600 wounded, and 65 captured or missing, for a total of 810, a loss of 45.30 percent.

Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia · United States