Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-12-12

to draw his sword against it. All the
proud memories Of early days pro-
tested. A loyalty that had been bap
tised with FIRE at Monterey and Cerro
Gordo cried out against il. But be
did not hesitate-though, like Lee, he
deeply regretted the necessity that
iorceo upon him . choice OF evils.
At the beginning Of the late civil
war. 10 April, 1861, he was appointed
BY Governor Isham G. Harris Brig,
adler General in the provisional army
Of Teesessee. After the transfer OF
the State forces to the Cenfederscy he
was appointed by President Davis to
the same position in the Confederate
States army. On the 9Th of March,
1852, he was promoted to the rank Of
Major General.
In the organization OF the Proyi-
sionAl Army OF Tennessee, he was &C
tive, and established the camp OF
instruction at Union City, where he
trained, disciplined, and equipped one
Of the finest bodies of troops, Of all
arms Of the services, engaged in the
war. While in command Of this
camp, General Cheatham exhibited
other great qualities outside of those
Of the mere technical soldier. The
public mind was in q state of ferment,
liberal men became violent and intol.
Grant. Appeals we're made to him
daily, for the arrest Of citizens sus.
pected Of disloyality to the South.
These appeals we're frequent aud psr
sistent, but be had one answer to all:
This is free country. Men must
not be disturbed because Of their
opinions. II they are not 10 accord
with US, ell We csa ask Of them is to
do no act Of hostility during their res
idence inside 0f our lines. But will
DOT permit arrests for opinions sake,
and when the government ofmy choics
requires il OF me, will abandon her
service.
Ths district commanded bv him
contained lirge per cent o! Union
men, aud this policy won many Of
them to our ranks aud secured the
GOOD wiltoi all.
GsnerslCheatham was one Of the most
proVideut soldiers. BE was always on
the lnok-oat for elo,hiog. for shoes,
and for all possible comforts for his
command. The result was, that bis
division wes The best equipped one Of
the Army Of Tennessee. Ii surplus
Of any material was assigned to him.
it was sent TO the rear In charge Of a
disabled man until it was needed, his
hospital stores were The subjected bis
gfeatest Watchfulness, and we're al
ways in readiness At Chickamauga,
when the army began TO maneuver for
position, his field hospital was located,
and it was the emily one on the Con-
tederatc side approaching completeness
II was 80 extensive and well arranc-
ed that complaint was made At army
headquarters that Chatham h d ap
proprlated the stores of the army when
the fact was he had simply taken care
o. what had been allotted him from
time to time. The list Of KILLED aud
wounded at Chickamauga numbered
nineteen hundred; there vas a place
for every one Of the wounded at the
field hospital; not one was sent to the
rear. They were cared for on The
field. sud the per cent Of deaths was
insignificant.
Cheathsm commanded his own d..
vision in the fullest sense. He had an
eye to the quartermasteF, eommissary,
and medical departments, and was
thoroughly cOnverssnt with the details
and wants Of each, and regulated them
all. The men observed this, and very
soon were 80 identified with him 10
feelisg and sympathy, that they knew
no organization but bis division, and
to this day the veterans Of his com.
mand will tell you that they belonged
to Cheatham's division, never men
ito ing brigade or regiment. In action
he fought them as one organization,
aud always had their trust and conf.
dence. They learned at the outset Of
the war that he had no ambition TO
crafty beyond the discharge Of duty,
and that he would never sacrifice the
life Of a single soldier to advance
himself. rr... t
General Cheatham moved his com,
N nd to New Madrid, Mo-, in August,
aud; after a few weeks, under orders
from General Polk, he took possession
Of Hickman, KY, and, in a few days
hereafter, occupied Columbus, KY
che autumn Of 1861 aud the following
winter we're spent in certifying Colum:
bus and in the drill and discipline Of
the troops. The battle of Belmont
was fought in November, 1861. Gen
erh Pillow was Ia active command OIL
the troops. General Grant captured
Pillows artillery aud forced him Ia
fall back. Cheathsm was ordered
across the river without a command
lie reformed seversl regiments and
led them forward to the attack. and
gave the Federal troops the impulse IA
retreat and abandon the fieid. The
Tennessee Legislature gave him a vote
Of thanks for services at Belmont. He
commanded . division Eith.great dis
tlnction A. Shiloh; aud at Perryville
he was particularly distinguished: also
at Murlrcosboro, ChicSamauRa and
Missionary Ridge.
Alta fho battle Of OhickamAupa
I General Bragg dissolved Cheatham' 4
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