The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1883-12-12
GENERAL STEEDMAN'S TITLE.
How lie Came to DC GATED sold chIckn
mnuan.D

As we sat, oiiiS night in 1875, in the
editorial rooms of the Toledo Democrat
of which Steedman was "leader" writer
| asked him for the story of Chicka.
mauga, where he won his stars and the |
soldier title Of "Old Chickamauga," OF
which he was Al proud. He told 1t as
coolly as # il was dream to him:
"Why, my boy, there wasn't much to
it. was in charge OF the First Division
Of the Reserved Corps of the Army Of
the Cumberland, and had been stationed
at Ringgold, or Redhouse Bridge over
the Chickamauga. My ofdcrr were ex.
plicit, 10 hold the bridge at all hazard,
and prevent the enemy from thanking
General Thomas. The enemy disap-
pcarei from orr front. The sound Of
cannonadng aid battle to thcnorhward
told me that the eiiomy had massed
against our centre, and great battle
was oil. From the noise oi conflict ]
Judged, and figl,,ly, rhat Thomas was
sorely pressed. | felt tIint my command
was needed, and yet could not under.
stand the absence Of new orders.
waited ltpatiently enough from daylight
till near noon, hoping for some word
from my commanding officer.
FINALLY | decided to risk my neck
rather than see the Union army destroyed
through inactivity on my part. Calling
II council of officers and men, explained
the situation, rend my orders, told them
my decision, and that ON my shoulders
l.. r,n ,,,l,.t.y.,r Of Faut.nh.tl, MI 4 -
attached to the disobcdience Of ordcrn.
You know the memorable military law Is
to ask no questions, obey all orders,
and accept consequences. knew that
il my movement was n failure, my judg-
thtnt mistaken, nothing less than court
martial and death awaited me. But the
battle was on, and every fibre in me said
was wanted. We burned the bridge,
and marched by the cannon's sound to
Thomass mid. Through corn fields,
thickcts, and oak woods we made II fear
full tramp for no man in the command
knew the county, and our only guide
was tine cannon's boom.
"When reported to Thomas he was
in despair Mt the loss Of the key TO his
position, which had just been captured
by General Hindm,n's rebel corps. The
place was indicated to nc by n flash OF
guns and the rattle Of canister on the
dry leaves Of the tree under which
Thomas and | stood. 1t was q steep
ascent, with densely-peopled crescent
ridge, that lay before lis, There was O
forbidling thicket and IN 0ah forest lie
tween us and the belt of rocks thn'
marked the edge Of the broad plateat
on which the enemy was jubilant will
victory. 'rhere, there, said Thomas
as the guns flashed again. Now, yol
see their exact position. You must TAXI
that ridge My reply wns; III do it.
In thirty minutes after we reached TIN
field we were storming the rock o
Chickamnuga, II was M awful contes
up that slope, every foot of which wa
planted with death.
, "Wc went in with seven thousand fiv,
hundred men, and only four thousanC
reported for duty at the next muster
) We went up, up, till we reached tn,
summit, and planted ourselves there t.
stay. II was a terrible hot place, an(
we made the plateau lake Of blood be
fore we drove Hindmau back. | rod,
back and reported to Thomas. wa
. bloody from head to foot. He claspet
9 my hand, and said with great emo
t ton: General Steedman, you hav
7 saved my army. / got my stars nc
!, long afterward, and that's about n
Q there was to it. Yes, it was ing ris
l. / ran, but was right, and / knew it.
= As he rode to battle thnt day, he mt
General Granger, who said frequeutl.
"Sted, old boy, it's going to be hot
D there. II anything should harper
have you any requests to make OF me
, The vein of sentiment was running dee
in the questioner's heart, but the pract
cal soldier responded in words that hav
: since been memorable:
Eyes, General Granger; if | fall in tn
fight please see my body decent.
buried ind my name correctly spelled II
The newspapers" and dehberatel.
spelled it.