Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-09-24
Garfield at Chickamauga.

1t was curious coincidence that the brave
soldier should have given up his life so near
the anniversary of his most famous battle.
He died on the evening of September 49, and
the battle in which he won his highest honor
as a soldier was fought eighteen years before,
beginning on September 10. and ending on
the evening of the following day. General
Garfields most important share in it was rem
dered on the second day. He himself has
described the issues of the battle, in his ora
ton on General Thomas 'ROsecrans had
crossed the Tennessee, and had successfully
manRuvred the enemy out of Chattanooga.
The greater work remained-to march his
own army into that place, in the face Of
Bragg's army, heavily reinforced and great
ly outnumberIng his own. The Rossville
road-the road to Chattanooga-was the
great prize to be won or lost at Chickamauga.
II the enemy failed to gain it, their cam
paign would be an unmitigated disaster,
for the gateway of the mountains would be
rretrievably lost. If our army failed to
hold it not only would our campaign be a
a failure, but almost inevitable destruction
awaited the army itself The first days
battle which lasted far into the night, left
US in possession Of the road, but all knew
that next day would bring the final de.
cision."
fully four miles in length, stretching through
a broken country, part forest and part cot
ton field, from no one point of which was it
possible to take in the movements of the en-
tire force. General Garfield as chief OF
staff, remained with General Rosecrans, who
had established his headquarters for the day
in the rear of the right wing and centre.
General Thomas had command of the left
wing which was across the road to Chatta-
nooga. Generals McCook and Crittenden
commanded the other two corps. General
Rosecrans's orders to Thomas on the morn
ing of the Goth were: ''Your line lies across
the road to Chattanooga. That is the pivot
of the battle. Hold it at all hazards, and
will reinforce you, if necessary, with the
whole army All through the morning a
fog had enveloped the field and made ma
nGuvrng impossible. 1t lifted about noon,
and at that moment the rebels. under Long
street. who had come up to aid Bragg in this
important fight. made grand assault on the
right and centre. A hastily written order,
issued by Rosecrans himself and the only or
der which Garfield did not write that day,
opened gap in the Union line at the very
point of Longstreet's attack. Into this gap
the rebels poured, penetrating into the rear
of the Union forces, breaking the right centre
and sweeping the whole mass in p demOraliz-
ed route toward Chattanooga. General Rose
Grams and his stah were borne along with the
retreatiny and panic-stricken soldiers. Gen.
Thoma, held his ground firmly, merely with
drawing his right a little. General Garfield
accompanied his chief about half way to
Chattanooga, when he requested permission
to join General Thomas, saying he knew by
the sound of the firing that Thomas still held
his ground. ROsecrans consented, and Gar
field, taking Captain Cav, who was familiar
With the country, and two Orderlies, started,
in the language Of Napoleon, sin the direction
of the heaviest firing" Thomas was at least
three miles away. To avoid the Con-
federates a wide detour was necessary.
making a ride of eight miles
through tangled forests, cotton fields
and open roads, filled with the enemy's
sharp-shooters. Every moment was a peril.
Garfield's horse was shot twice, but not fatal
ly, and both orderlies we're killed Captain
Gaw's horse was also wounded. Once while
speeding along an open road they plunged
into a rebel ambuseade where the bullets
fell like hail around them. This drove them
to the fields and mountain side, but still
Garfield pressed on in the direction Of the
firing, finally reachig Thomas entirely alone.
His information about the disaster and his
counsel were reinforcement as important
as whole division of men.
Soon after his arrival, Longstreet attacked
Thomas with great fury, but Garfeld's in.
formation, coupled with the timely arrival OF
reinforcements under General Gordon Gran.
ger, enabled Thomas to repulse him, and
ssye he day. Longssreet's fire was kept ur
furiously for half an hour, and during all Of il