The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-06-09
"Reminiscences of the Army O
Tennessee.
The hast Charge at chiokaniauga
BY COUSIN NoUHMA.

1 re-
! The battle had ragged during tn
three preceding days with variable sue
cess, and though the Confederate los
ses had been very great, yet the rem
nant of the ariiiy was elated with thei
constant advance and general victori
Gus results. Thus buoyant and conf
dent of final victory, on the evening O
September 90, 1863, the right of thu
Confederate line was alinged at tn,
base of the range of hills OH Which TIL
enemy held a strong and formidabl,
position.
On Snodgrass Hill central battery
of fourteen guns was made the strong
point on which the safety of the Fed
eral army depended, whether for bat
tie or retreat. Three hundred yards
below this line was ranged the Ken.
lucky brigade, commanded by Genera
Preston. Between this line and the
battery were two strong lines of FEEDER
al infantry. The first was placed be-
hind barrier, which had beef hastily
constructed of rails and stones. The
second line was much stronger and
lodged behind a thicker and stronger
defence, and large part of the force
was hidden in the thicket of an inter-
vening peach orchard.
Snodgrass's house, strong log cabin
was the headquarters of q Federal
general, and from It's position, was
comparatively secure from the shot of
the Confederate rifles. Before this
house small flag flapped idly in the
sultry autumn evening air. On the
top OF the hill, to the Federal right of
the quarters, was stationed the battery
referred to, and from it continuous
sheet of fame eeaselessly ilasl.ed; and
the bowling of broken shells aud the
seething, whistling whispers of Slot
came constantly tearing through the
Confederate ranks.
The sun was just setting behind the
broken range of hills that make pc
culiarly strangs framework to the pic-
tnresque scene thereabouts. Through
the thin; blue, black and suffocating
clouds of smoke, the sun seemed like a
hinge ball of red and balefni fire. A
dull, sickening yellow light streamed
through tile trees, and the long, weird
shadows in the forest were as ghostly
as the dreariest dreams that Dante
ever saw in his vision of hell. ~
On all Sides. the crash and roar of
cannon, guns, musketry, missiles and
falling branches Of broken trees, were
with the groans and shouts of
torn, bleeding and victorious soldiers.
The terrible rain of rafting shot thinn-
ed the ranks of the Kentuckians with
terrible effect, not only ON our strength
but also in tho demoralizing influence
the comparative inaction of
the line. This became so uncomforta-
BILE at last, that we well remember one
who was in the non com
bative department., cast wistfnl eyes
at a certain deep we'll, which is at the
foot of the hill, and from its compare
lively sheltered position on the left
of the. Kentuckians' line had been
chosen as hospital ground. However
it was not wholly safe, as the innumer-
able scars of shot and shells ON tho
trees Whereabouts indicate. But con-
ceived that in the depths of that we'll
there was safety, and the fact that we
found live Yankee soldier in it after
the battle was over, is good and con-
yincing evidence of the fact.
The line kept up dcsultory yet
rapid fire at the Federal lines on the
Slope of the line, but the effect was not
1T all flattering, or sufficiently exciting
% detfact attention from the fearful
effects of the euemy's guns which were
olunging shell and grape at MS from
sncdgrass Hill. Anxiously the SOL
Tiers waited for Bragg's bugle sound
If charge, and more than thousand |
brave hearts were silently interpreting
n their hearts the battle verse Of
Scott
Oh! for a blast from that wild horn,
On Fontarabian echoes borne{
The daring hero's cali,
Which told imperial Charlemagne
How swarthy sons of Paynim Spain,
Had wrought his champions fall.
These Paladins with brave Roland |
I. the sepulchral pass of Roncesvalles, |
never felt more martial fire, than was
hat which stirred the blood of those
orave Kentuekians, yet the bugle was
silent. The slow movements of Long |
treet seemed to be made almost with !
purpose as it delayed the charge un-
il doubt and uncertainty, and worse
han death was seen in our faces.
At last, as the twilight was setting /
n the misty atmosphere and, tho air
vas CHASTITY and ghostfy with weird
fitting shadows, when that moment OF |
he evening had come wherein certain |