Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-03-30
A FAMOUS RIDE.
Garfield's Successful Effort to Find
Thomas at Chickamauga.

Thomas at Chickamauga.
In graphic description of the rout at
Chicamauga which appeared in the To-
ledo Journal, the following account is
given of the celebrated ride of General
Garfield to ascertain the whereabouts of
General Thomas:
The squad rode on, almost in silence.
The pace maintained was not rapid, be-
ing now a fast walk and now smart
trot. An orderly rode just ahead of the
General and his chief-of-staff. As the
three rode through a thread of creek
that crossed the road. which creek is, as
found this fall, exactly a mile from
Rossville cross roads-for Rossyille con-
sisted then, as now, of one single house
at the junction of the Lafayette and Dry
Valley roads-a squad of half dozen
cavalrymen came into the road from the
right hand side. This was "a few rods
from the creek. They drew rein as they
observed Gen. Rosecrahs, who question
ed them whence they had come. They
replied, From over the Ridge, and from
the front" "What part of the field ?"
was asked. yesterday" one replied,
I'VE were on vidette duty at the Mill
Q.ee & Gordon's), on the creek (Chicka
mauga.) We left there in the night"
General Rosecrans asked if they came
upon the Lafayette road. I'VE left the
main road soon after passing the point
now held by our troops" was the reply.
Some one asked if they had come any
distance on a road to McFaTland's Gap.
They said they had turned off the other
road by dim one leading in westerly
direction, which they followed until
striking another leading due north, by
which they came about two miles, then
striking into the one which brought
themto the place where they now were.
Thus was it revealed to the question
eEs and eager listeners that there was a
read to Thomas position, not so far east
as the Lafayette road, which must be
largely in the enemy's possession. As a
matter of fact it was, for fully two miles
forth of Thomas, and had been from the
time Steedman was attacked at the hos
pital.
A moment General Garfield and his
chief spoke together, then the former,
with two OF the staff and one orderly
following him, turned into the right
hand road leading to the east, and dis
appeared in what was little more than
bridle path. General Rosecrans, with
the remainder of staff and guard. struck
into rapid pace to the north. This was
assI had heard the story. This fall l
Isyefified it so far as Typographical and
geographical testimony could do it. AT
Ia title over mile from RossYille is the
house of John McCIurg, who was in the
battle, a private soldier in the Tenth
Georgia Confederate Regiment. At the
south side of his place, is the road in
question, now almost completely oblit-
Grated; but Mr.. McClurg, whom found
just coming from field with scythe
on his sh0ulder-who has lived there
ever since the battle-said it was very
plain up to few years ago. Following
this road General Garfield crossed the
main spur of Mission Ridge, within one
mile, and then, turning south into road
running along the Ridge, two miles fur
ther brought him into the east and west
road trough Netherlands Gap. Here he
turned to the left and rode past the
Brooks place, and on to Mullis'. a little
further, whose house is not now stand
ing. At Mullis' he was exactly north
of Brannan's right or Steadman's left,
and distant from Snodgrass' place-or
the spot where Thomas was found-nOt
over 1000 yards. But not knowing
where Thomas was, and expecting him
further to the east, they rode on, and
were fired upon soon afterward by Con
federate cavalry. 1t was the advance of
Forests command, overlapping the
Confederate right wing. The horsemen
then turned to the right-the south-as
only remained for them to do, to file
around and beyond this extended flank.
They were now in the open fields, and a
short distance further encountered the
| fire of the musketry, one of the officers,
believe, being hit, and General Gar
fields own horse. But the balls, in all
probability, were not the enemy's, nor
yet aimed at this little company of
three, but were from the guns of the ex-
treme left of Beatty's line, and intended
for Breckenridge, who persistently press
ed farther and still farther to our left.
Again obliquing to the right, Gen. Gar
field pushed on, and was now faced di-
rectly toward Thomas, to whom he rode
as straight as an arrows fight from the
last turning point, the last half mile be-
ing almost exactly in the path that Gen.
Steadman column had taken.
He reached Gen. Thomas little after
o'clock, and remained with him till
dark, and came from the field with him
to Rossville that night.
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