The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-10-05
Monday Morning. October S, 1863.
Incidents OF the Battle OF Chickamaue

Incidents OF the Battle OF Chickamauga.
We CLEAN from different sources the follow
incidents of the ever to be remembered battle
on the banks of the Chickamauga, which in
Indian language signifies "the river of DEATH
If the Indian chief who gave it that name
could have padded his canoe along its Wes-
tern bank on Monday eve of the 21st, as the
sun was going down-the memorable day
that terminated that terrible conflict - he
would have said, me give it right name."
The battle was evidently brought on before
Gen. Rosecrans was expecting it. The opinion
Of his subordinates wasas repeatedly expressed
that battle would not be fought on Saturday
il he could avoid it, But the rebel generals
saw the necessity of striking early and often,
and with one determined movement to ami
hilate that noble army that has been the ter
ror of the rebellious West They were right
in their plans, but mistaken in the men they
were to meet.
On Saturday morning, says correspondent
of the Cincinnati Gazette. We rode out towards
the field of operations. For a time we. asked
the news of each one we came to, and the re-
plies filed us alternately with sorrow, with in
dignation, with keen apprehension, and with
hopes.
One said the battle had been going on sew
eral hours, and our arms had met with disas-
ter along the whole line.
Another declared that, though unsuccessful
at first, our troops at length recovered their
ground and were driving the enemy.
Here comes a single soldier, covered with
dust and sweat. Let us question him.
''Where do you belong?" "To the Regular
brigade" "Has it been engaged this morn
ing?" II should think it had.' "With what
result?' at was nearly all cut to pieces"
(which regiment is youis?' "The 9th Uni
ted States Infantry" Did it suffer much P'
"Only thirty or forty OF its members are
left"
Here is a man with his arm roughly ban
daged and very bloody. The blood has dried
upon it and hangs to it in great black ciots.
who are youg "Private -, of the 3sth
Indiana" "What news have you?" "Bad
news enough" HAS your regiment been in
the fight?p IF it has not no one has" with
what result?' "One-third of its number are
killed and wounded" "Were you whipped ?n
sour brigade was left unsupported, overpow-
cred by numbers, and compelled for time to
give way" is Colonel Scribner safe ?" $50
far as know, he is"
Another, with ghastly wound in the head :,
has upon his jacket the red stripes which show
him to be an artilleryman. ''Whose battery
do you belong TOP" "Gunither's." "Why that
is the regular battery belonging to General
Kings brigade; what has it been doing?" "It
has been taken by the enemy" "Can it be
possibe?" 'It is, but L have heard since that
it has been retaken." "How came it to be
lost?" 'The infantry supports gave way, and
the horses being nearly all killed, OF course the
guns were captured"
The stream grew stronger and stronger.
Stragglers were run over by wagons dashing
haeE IN ri fba Am lal ,;.b
wounded, came in long procession from toward
where the battle was raging. Men with
wounds of every imaginable description not
affecting their locomoton, came staggering by
on foot, and scores even of those who had
been shot in their lower limbs hobbled slowly
on through binding masses of dust, which at
times concealed everything from view.
In Sundays fight tremendous onslaught
OF the enemy broke Gen. Palner's lines, and
scattered several of his regiments in wild dis
may towards the rear. Amongst these was
the 9th Ohio, which, in charge Of the fine
spirited Anderson, had, up to this moment,
nobly maintained its ground. Gen. Reynolds,
perceiving the danger, quick as lightning threw
himself amongst the brave but broken Guth-
ries.
"Boysw he shouted, 'are You the soldiers of
the 9th Ohio, who fought with me at Cheat
Mountain? You never turned your backs
upon traitors in Virginia. Will you do it
here ?"
"No! mop they screamed, almost frantical-
ly. LEAD us back! lead us back"
From every quarter came rushing up the
scattered fragments of the regiment; with
magic swiftness they reformed the ranks; with
Gen. Reynolds at their head they charged the
lnsoient enemy, and after moments struggle
every rebel in front of them, not killed or
wounded, was in confused retreat.
Inc example of the 9th Ohio was communi-
cated 10 the hying fragments OF other regi-
ments, and 1t Is fact, which will long be me-
moraDie IN the history OF this battle, that these
rallied stragglers, principally from Palmer's
division, reformed ranks almost of their own
accord, and drove back the enemy who had
been VIGOROUSLY pressing on.
Lieut.. Van Pelt, who commanded the lst
Michigan Battery, loved his pieces with the
same unseltish devotion he manifested for his
wiie In the desperate conflict which broke
around Scribner's brigade, he managed the
battery with much dexterity and GOODNESS, and
ior some moments rocked the very trees over
the heads of the rebels by the fiery blasts from
ms guns, But his horses were shot down,
many OF MS artllierists were killed and wound
eu. Inc infantry supporting him had been
connpelea 10 turn and cut their way through
the enemy, and horde of traitors rushed up
10 the muzzles OF the now harmless pieces.
Van Pelt, almost alone, stationed himself in
front of them and drew his sword. "Scoun-
drels" said he, 'dare not to touch these
gunsw The miserable barbarans, unable to
appreciate true heroism, brutally murdered
him where he stood. The history of the war
furnishes not an incident more touching or
more sublime than the death of Lieutenant IAN
pelt.
just before the storm broke, the brave and
high-souled Garfield was seen making his way
10 the headquarters of General Thomas. He
pad come TO be present at the final contest
md in order to do so had rode all the way
rom Chattanooga. passing through fiery or
Zeal ON the road. His horse was shot under
lim, and his orderly was killed by his side
,till he came through, he scarce knew how.