Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-11-18
OLD CHICEAMAEGA.
TCsmmerciaI Gazette. !


As We sat, one night in 1875, in the
ratty old editorial rooms OF the Toledo
Democrat dnd Herald. of which Steed-
editor, I asked him for the story of
Chickamauga. where he won his stars
and the soldier title of Old Chicka-
told it "a coolly as II il was dream TO
him:
"Why, my boy. there wasn't much to
it. / was in charge of the First Division
of the Reserve Corps of the Army OF the
RinRQ0id, or Redhouse bridge over the
Chickamauga. Ny orders we're explicit,
$ to hold the bridge at all hazard and
to prevent the enemy from hanking Gen.
Thomas. The enemy disappeared from
our front. The souLd of cannonading
and battle to the northward told me
that the enemy had massed against our
center and Q great battle was going on.
From the noise of the coaf1ict / judged,
and rightly. that Thomas was sorsly
pressed. l felt that my command was
needed, and yet could not under
stand the absence of new orders.
/ waited impatiently enough from
some word from my commanding officer.
Finally decided to risk my neck rather
than see the Union army destroyed
drought inaotivy on my part. Calling
a council of officers and men, ex-
planned the situation, read my orders,
told them my decision, and that on my
shoulders should fall whatever of re-
spOnsibility attached to the disobedience
Of orders. You know the inexsrable
military Law is to ask no questions, obey
all orders, and accept consequences. /
knew that II my movement was q fail
ure, my judgment mistaken, nothing
less than q oourt-martial and death
awaited me. But tho battle was on, and
every fiber in me said was wanted. We
burned the bridge and marched by the
sound to Thomas's aid.
Through corn fields, thickets and oak
woods We made fearful tramp, for no
man in the command knew tho country,
and our only guide was the cannons'
boom. When reported to Thomas be
was in despair at the loss of the key to
his position, which had Just been cap
tured by General Hindman's rebel
corps. The place was indicated to me
by fash of guns and q rattle of oaDis-
ter on the dry leaves of the tree under
which Thomas and I stood. II was a
steep ascent, with a densely-peopled
crescent ridge that lay before Us. There
was forbidding thicket and an oak
forest between rs and the belt of rocks
that marked the edge of broad plateau
on which the enemy was iubilsnt with
victory. There, there said Thomas,
as the guns flashed again. Now you
see their exact position. You must take
that RIDGE Ny reply was: 'Ph do it,
In thirty inmates after We reached the
field. We wers storming the rock of
Chioksmauga. It was an awful contest
mp that slope, every foot Of which was
planted with death.
We went in with 800 men, and only
4 900 reported for duty at the next mus
ter. We went up, up. up till we reached
the summit, and planted ourselves there
to stay. It was o terribly hot place, and
We made the plateau p lake of blood be-
fore We drove Hindhau back. rode
back and reported to ThoNas. I was
bloody from head to foot. He olasped
my hand, and said with great emotion,
General Steedman. you have saved my
army got my stars not long after
ward. and that's about all there WAS OF
it. Yes, il was big risk ran but
was right, and knew it."
As he rode to battle that day, he met
Granger, who said feeiingly, "Stsd, old
boy, it's going to be id hot in there.
II anything should happen. have you
any requests to make Of me?" The vein
Of sentiment was running deep in the
questioner's heart, but the practical
soldier responded in words that have
since been memorable:
Yes, General Granger; if I fall in
tho fight. please see my body decently
buried and my name correctly spelled
in the newspapers" and he deliberately
spelled it.