I took into the action an effective force of 6,000, and lost 123 officers and 1,181 men killed and wounded.  These casualties speak louder than words of the character of the fight, and plainly tell where the enemy struggled most stubbornly for these figures comprise one-third the casualties of the entire body of Union troops —­Sherman’s and all included.  My division captured 1,762 prisoners and, in all, seventeen pieces of artillery.  Six of these guns I turned over with caissons complete; eleven were hauled off the field and appropriated by an officer of high rank—­General Hazen.  I have no disposition to renew the controversy which grew out of this matter.  At the time the occurrence took place I made the charge in a plain official report, which was accepted as correct by the corps and army commanders, from General Granger up to General Grant.  General Hazen took no notice of this report then, though well aware of its existence.  Nearly a quarter of a century later, however, he endeavored to justify his retention of the guns by trying to show that his brigade was the first to reach the crest of Missionary Ridge, and that he was therefore entitled to them.  This claim of being the first to mount the ridge is made by other brigades than Hazen’s, with equal if not greater force, so the absurdity of his deduction is apparent: 

Note:  In a book published by General Hazen in 1885, he endeavored to show, by a number of letters from subordinate officers of his command, written at his solicitation from fifteen to twenty years after the occurrence, that his brigade was the first to mount Missionary Ridge, and that it was entitled to possess these guns.  The doubtful character of testimony dimmed by the lapse of many years has long been conceded, and I am content to let the controversy stand the test of history, based on the conclusions of General Grant, as he drew them from official reports made when the circumstances were fresh in the minds of all.

General Grant says:  “To Sheridan’s prompt movement, the Army of the Cumberland and the nation are indebted for the bulk of the capture of prisoners, artillery, and small-arms that day.  Except for his prompt pursuit, so much in this way would not have been accomplished.”

General Thomas says:  “We captured all their cannon and ammunition before they could be removed or destroyed.  After halting a few moments to reorganize the troops, who had become somewhat scattered in the assault of the hill, General Sheridan pushed forward in pursuit, and drove those in his front who had escaped capture across Chickamauga Creek.”

Report of colonel Francis T. Sherman, commanding first brigade:  “When within ten yards of the crest, our men seemed to be thrown forward as if by some powerful engine, and the old flag was planted firmly and surely on the last line of works of the enemy, followed by the men, taking one battery of artillery.”