New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-10-21
THE Battle OF CNICEAMAUGA.
GEN. sTEEDMAN'S DIVISION.
THE RECORD 1T MADE ON TIE 2OTH'
ssos Our Special Correspondent
In The VIErp, OIrosrrE CBAiaAS ,oes

Among tho many divisions of tho Army o. Inc
c,u,.,,and which acquitted themselves nohy In the
h.,,,. n, Tho 18th ard 20h the LIST DIVISION OF 'e ne
.s-ve Corns commanded by Brig James b. S'eeH'
man. deserves some MENTION
o,bs 18th the lst brigade o. the division commanded
=, Rris Gen. W. C. Whitaker sent from Ross
.il,e TO the Little Chokainauga on the road to Ring
GOLD. Here after SHUTDOWN brief sklrniish WAS had
With the enemy IL which neither party suffered any
considerable loss.
On the afternoon Of the l9h the tide Of battle which
had been running heavily on our right during tie day
reached this brigade, and engagement of some fierce
ness was had with the enemy The position held by the
brigade was tie extreme leir OF our Ines ana inc
key to Rosecraus's line of retreat The poslnoH was
much coveted BY tie enemy and they made repeated
assaults to obtain it, but were handsomely repnseU anu
suffered cutie severely especially from our artillery
During the night o. tie 10Th the I'd Brigade eoin
papaed BY Col J. II Mitchell Of the lsth Ohio was
.an, 60 ,,o aid Of Whitaker, also Col Dan. MeCooks
Rrir.de of the cd Division Of tire Reserve and the d
aDchicsu and s9th Ohio, which two regiments were at
tschod 10 Whittake,s command.
Daring the forenoon OF tire 2oh. these forces under
the command Of Gen. Steecman. held their position
a, that point IN ns of battle awaiting more iormia
Bile effort which it was supposed the enemy would make
4, turn orr left But 10 assault made for the en-
emy had Withdrawn lis troops from that point TO mass
them against Thomas.
While waiting there pursuant 10 orders nom Gen
Eoseoraus tie troops listened with anxious mpaiienee
70 tho heavy cannonading and sharp muske'ry Wmen
resounded along the lire on the right, and WheA "p'
preaching nearer and nearer begat fearful suspicious
that it was not Rosecrans but the enemy, who were
driving the opposing forces Our suspense was broken
md ourfears confirmed when. about noon urgent or
ders we're received 10 hasten 10 the relief OF ihoaas
who in great danger
The troops did not then know in how critical con
ditou the Army Of tho Cumberland was compelled 70
meet nnasssed tie flower Of three large armies Wheh
,be Rebels had assembled, intending to oyerwheln it,
They did no. then know that. while they were hasten
ing to turn the tide Of battle If possible portions oil
Crittendens and McCooks corrs were retiring rom the
field But they did know Ire tine lad come when
the Reserve mist be tested. and tie qvesli9a aeieT
Inined whether o. 10 IL weTe worthy Of its honorable
position in the great Army Of the Cumberland.
Steedmans Division followed BY McCooks Brigade.
was speedily put in motion and the columns moved Tor
ward at rapid pace sometimes breaking into double
ouick The san shoIe hot and the dus, ia the narrow
road rose in dense suHoc&taG Clouds BIT ell thought
OF heat and dust. end i5agle was lost in the eager
spxetyto relieve our brave comrades Who were IN peril
After thus marching some three NILE the head II The
column reached potion G. the battle field iIoM AeA
our forces had ro.irl and which tic enemy occupied
with MS mounted infantry Formed hastily in line Of
battle Whitaker Brigade advanced upon them Tie!
did await approach, bu, gaze Up tie ground re-
treating in G diiectior which had we followed would
have diverted iTol tie main purpose. In passing
over tus portion Of the field the dead ind dying OF both
prnies were seen IL considerable numbers. aid sorc
Rebels separated from their commands. were encoun-
- ,,T - ttr 10 f,
Illinois
Soon point was reached, directly opposite 10 aHl
about ,hreefourths Of mile distant from Gen 1Aoaas,
and the whole division turned square TO the right.
Here they were formed into close columns b. rgi-
r.cnts with division front; and with a uc Of skirmsh
ers THROWN forward and along the leit flank the diy
sion resumed its march L through IN extensive
s..ctch of meadow land. Oycrgown with weeds aaOst
breast high that our coarse lay. Heavy batteries Of
tie encmy's artillery were posted in lie woods our
leh and adv .IeCd through the meadow to form
ajanetlon with ThCnas, they opened upon q fear.
10 fire. But few ;Ioops the dlysion Lad ever
Of var thani encountered in brisk skirIshins,
and homo had ever been under such fire. But Whitaker
with his staff and Col. Mitchell and ltaf rode steadily
;n 'front.' Of their brsodes and cI troops ehoagh tie
bhcs and shot iel fast and thick around and among
them wsyered not in their march, bet kept hight on
leaving many Of their comrades dead ard wounded On
tie iod. At that moment, the spectacle, 10 one not
INJURED TO an the pagea.Ty Of way intensely grand
rle brigade and re- mental coors foated gayly in tic
light OF the midday 81. Tic iar-stIetcne columns Of
troops. with gs,ening weapons. moved forward with
uniform motion presenting at distance the epPeor
auee Of one compact mass. On the lei dense maSses
OF iphurogs smoke hung just above the irees ana ~
front and along the lines tie sLe were bunting IN the
nv fhe lenat ucoru MIX
emery powed the ground Bombing and plnngiDg oTer
tbs Goid. leaving oil over the meadow lttc coucs o.
dust MARI thei- courEe. That march through 'hS'
storm u shell and shot fit introduction 10 the
spon which that division Was abOu. 10 enter
b., little time occupied in reading TAonas.
where Gen. Granger commanding the reserve. and
Gen sseedlnan. wels already holding consultation with
lin. Az We approached Gen. Whitaker. whoSs
s'.. 49, in the advance, was told that it ALSO
= ..oessary flat ne should drive TIE enemy from
-. a.. n, our right where heavy forces had been
- "a 10 for To purpose Of fanAEg Thonlos In
e., a.. occuoat,on Of that ridge waa 30 threat hiDg
-. q, ,hs euorov continued 10 hold H. Thomas must
-, ..e,ed Vlittaso. said he world take TO f'oee'
ard he did IT. ...;-uo,,, ~ ,he
s - ,he wsy Il vas done: The six regiments o. Inc
s.. p;csde were formed in two lines-ihe iret CONS
80, the Goth Illinois Col Thomas T. Champion Oh
Int ll5th Illinois Col j. IL Moore, IN ,ne eeiI'ei'
a ,he ODD Michigan Col lie fevIe, on tic iet, men
- an. order 10 auvaDee With 3el inc hF4. iih'
s-ndod forward OIL tie doubleqaiek, Up and down
a.. little hills and through tho naiaow 'aN'!'
ahieh interviewed, they Pfessea Na''ny :"
until they came within short range oi 20 800
,nr..o,rv which opened upon them iu'ioo''!'
-vL,e the grape and canister fcm iie battery "n t"'
- 800 nrrclv through Jeir ranks. AliaoSt f1