Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-11-27
gave true history of the affair. In that


by the invention that Steedman had re-
ceived an order direct from Rosecrans,
over Granger's head, to remove his COM
mand to Ringgold bridge and ''hold it at
all hazards" and that thus he was taken
out of Granger's command.
The tale goes on to narrate how on the
forenoon Of the Goth, Steedman's head was
racked with anxiety between Rosecrans'
positive orders and his desire to go and
help Thomas; how at II O'Clock he called
the officers together in McAffee church,
1.-The privetes joining to swell the num-
bers," and made them a speech, laying
Rosecrans' orders before them, and ex-
patiating on the liabilities of an officer
who disobeys orders, but declaring his re
solve to march to the help of Thomas;
how the advance had just passed McAfee
church, when up rode Gordon Granger,
just arrived from Rossville, and inquired
with fearful decoration of adjeetives,
what he was doing" Then thus:
''seednan, with great urbanity General
Granger, l am going over to the fight thai Gen
eral Thomas is having with the rebels.
''Granger--General, you have been Ordered,
in writing, by General Rosecrans to hold Ring
gold bridge at ali hazards and it is fearful
thing for an officer to disobey an order Of the
commanding general in the face of the enemy"
The argument is given verbatim, and
goes on. The result was that Granger was
convinced. Steedmsn declared. srhis
is my movement, and take the whole re-
sponsibility," whereupon Granger SAID:
you are right, general; carry out your
purpose and will sustain you"
So Granger went along, but only as
follower Of Steedman. The tale tells of
the peris of the march; how Steedman
reported his arrival to Thomas II person;
how Thomas looked; his calm but warm
words to Steedman; Steedman's answer;
how Thomas unused what to do with Steed-
man, and at first ordered him to his left,
and then suddenly discovering that Negley
had abandoned a vital point he called him
back, and pointing out the desperate stu
alton he said: ''You must take that RIDGE"
to which Steedman, with parting salute,
'Ill do it. general"
When all was ready for the charge, Seen
eral Granger, an interested spectator, saw
his friend Steedman on the verge of des-
perate venture, from which he could scarce
hope for his return" Perhaps thirty five
thousand men and many officers we're tax
ing the same desperate venture, the pri-
vate soldiers in the front line. Granger,
the spectator" with feeling, thus address
ed Steedman: 'Sted., my old boy, It's GO
ing to be ID hot in there" 'Yes, Gen
eral Granger, it looks So" "Sted., if
anything should happen in the attack you
are about to make on the enemy, have you
got any requests to make of me?' eyes,
General Granger; if 1 fall in the fight,
please see my body decently buried and
my name correctly spelled in the newspa-
pers."
SIS that all?' "Yes, General, ALL" ~.
Granger, chagrined that his tenderness
met no reciprocal feeling, squirting his
horse impetuously, rode away, muttering.
'He's ID cool, anyhow" while the stem
torian voice, of Steedman solved every
doubt and drowned every fancy in the
stern command-"Forwar The fight
ing was terrific, but Steedman was every
where at once, performing heroic exploits.
His aid found skulking Ohio colonel, and
marched him, covered by a cooked pistol,
into Steedman's presence, who ordered
him off the field.
An Illinois regiment was marching
down the SLOPE" their colonel following.
Steedman dashed along, and ordered it to
halt and turn about to the front. The
colonel pleaded that the regiment had suf-
fered terribly. Steedman took the colors
from the hands of the color bearer, saying
in stentorian tones: "You can go off the
field and disgrace yourselves, but as God
reigus, you shall not disgrace this flag"
The men, stung by his words, cried: "Gen-
ersl, We will defend that flag if somebody
will command u.s." Said Steedman:
Brave boys, FL command your and rails
ing the flag above his head. SrIl bear the
flag if you'll defend it."
He gave the commands, and amid ga
stream of balls" "spurred his horse up the
slope at gallop, the men following close
~, rending the air with their cheers" This
has been commemorated by picture in
which General Steedmen is riding on full
run at the enemy, followed by the soldiers
in exact line, keeping up with his running
horse.
The tale has much more that is equally
interesting and heroic and alike anthem
tic, all being General Steedman's own
account. Thus he grew to be sold Chick
amsuga," and the Hero of Chickamauea,"
and the man who saved the army.
few days ago he was buried, with ali these
honors out of his own mouth piled upon
him.
Thus was the dead Gordon Granger
thrust out OF his command and timely ser
vices. Thus we're Branuau AID Wood made
10 disappear, and all their intelligent
changes OF position and the brave lighting
which had so far repulsed Longstreet's
command in its flush Of victory, Thus did
Whitaker AMI Mitchell shrink 10 nothing
ness, and the brave volunteers of the fight
ing line, who left one-third of their number
on that slope. Thus were Rosecrans and
Thomas and the heroic divisions which
repulsed every attack along that thinning
line for two long days almost eliminated
from the history by the one man who had
swallowed all for his own glory.
What must such generals as BraDnan,
Wood, Baird, r. w. Johnson, Palmer, Rey-
nolds. Granger, Thomas, Rosscrans and
the rest-including the dead and the liv-
ing, and the thousands of private soldiers
who fought on that day as heroically as
any general commanded; what must all
that care for justice or truth, think of
military history which helps one man to
appropriate the services and honors of his
comrades to himself, and to belittle al
others to make himself great,
This paper will in nowiss disparage
General Steedman's soldierly quail
tics or services; it speaks for
Gordon Granger and The other
soldiers Of that ACKNOWLEDGMENT