Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-11-22
Old Ohioamauga
General .Steedman's Charge that Saved h'
DAY for Thomas.


managing editor, asked him Tor the
story of Chickamauga, where he won
his stars and the soldier title OF "OId
Chicksmauga," of which he VS. so
proud. He told it as coolly rs II it wa
dream to him:
"Why, my boy, there wasn't much to
tell. WAS in charge OF the FIRST ID
vision of the Reserve Corps OF the Army
of the Cumberland. and had been sta
toned at RrnRgnld, or Red hous'
Bridge, over the CaicEamauRa. NJ
orders were explicit, TO hold the brdg
at all hazards, aud prevent the enem,
from finking General Thomas Th'
enemy disappeared from our front. The
sound OF canRonlding and battle TO th'
northward told me tho enemy hao
massed against our centre, and greA
battle was on. From the noise OF con
hct judged, and rightly, that Thoma'
was sorely pressed. felt that my com.
mand was needed, and yet could not
understand the absence OF new orders,
waited patiently enough from uylighl
until nearly noon, hoping ior some word
:, from my commanding officer. Finally
l decided TO risk my neck, rather than
II see the Union army destroyed through
; my inactivity. Calling a council Of
officers ant men, explained the siius.
tion, read my order, told them my de.
cision, and that on my shoulders should
fall whatever OF responsibility attached
to disobedience of orders. You know
the memorable military law il to ask no
questions, obey sll orders, and accep'
consequence know that If m,
movement was failure, my judgmen
mistaken, nothing less than court.m maj.
tial and death awaited me. But tn,
battle was on. and every fibre in m.
said was wanted. We burned tn,
bridge, and marched by the canno.,,
pound TO Thomas aid. Through corn
fields. thickets, oak woods, We made =
fearful tramp for no man in the cum.
mand knew the country, and our onl,
guide was the csnnon's boom. When
reported TO Thomas he was in despair
At the loss OF the key OF his position
which had just been captured by Gen.
\ Hindmsn's rebel corps. The place va.
indicated 20 me by the fash OF cannon
and the rattle OF cannister on the DIR,
leaves Of the tree under which Thoma,
And stood. II was a steep ascent, with
densely peopled crescent ridge that
lay before US. There was forbiddinl
thicket and an osk forest between Us
and the belt OF rocks that marked tn.
|. edge OF large plateau on which th.
Nenemy was juhilAnt with victory. There
bere, said Thomas as the guns dashed
! again. Now you see their exact po-i.
tion. You must take that ridge. NJ,
reply was, III do it, In thirty minutes
after We reached the field We wer,
SUI Miub 'hs ioNh VI @ulCNhlnhuBA. II
WAS an awful contest up that slope
every loot Of which was planted with
death.
ave went 10 wi b seven thousand
i've hundred men, and only four thou.
sand reported Tor duty at the next mus
I ter. We went up. up, till we reached
the summit, and planted ourselves ther.
to stay. 1t wss terrible hot place, and
We made the plateau lake Of blood
before We drove Hindman hack. rode
back and reported TO Gen. Thomas.
was blood from head to foot. lie clasped
my hand and said with great emotion,
General Sleedman, you have saved my
army Ii got my stars not long after.
wards, and that's about all there WAS al
il. Yes, it was a tig risk I ran, but
was right, and knew it,"
Could hero have told simpler tale nj
seli7 But heard Richard Rralf tell
the story Of Cbickamauga in 1876
Reali, the poet orator, who was I.rovis.
ional Vice President OF John Browns
oveFnment-and as he pictured the
ght on the rock of Chickamauga, 1t
Was heFoism personiird in 3 grand
leader, followed by grand men. At one
critical period in the struggle. when an
Illinois regiment was moving back. uu.
I der command Of Colonel, who slander.
ed bic men by saying that they would
advance no longer. Steedman seized
the regimsntal ooloFs, and then sbamed
> shem by saying, You may leave the
feld and shame yourselves. but. as God
still reiens, you shall not disgrace this
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