The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-10-30
General Steedman's Title.
How He Came to be Called "old Chicka-
mauga."

AS we sat, one night in 1875, in the ratty old
Herald, of which Steedman was leader"
writer and managing editor, asked him for
The story of Chickamauga, whore he won his
stars and the soldier title Of "Old Chickamau-
ga" of which he was so proud. He told it as
coolly as if it was a dream to him.
"Why, my boy, there wasn't much to it. /
was in charge of the First Division OF the Re-
serve Corps of the Army of the Cumberland,
and had been stationed at Ringgold, or Red
house Bridge over the Chickamauga. Ny or
ders were explicit 'to hold the bridge at all
hazard and prevent the enemy from thanking
General Thomas. The enemy disappeared
from our front. TheEsound of cannonading
and battle to the northward told me that the
enemy had massed against our centre, and q
great battle was on. From the noise of con-
flict judged, and rightly, that Thomas was
sorely pressed. felt that my command was
needed, and yet could not understand the abb
sence of new orders. / waited impatiently
enough from daylight till nearly noon, hoping
for some word from my commanding officer.
Finally l decided TO risk my neck rather than
see the Union army destroyed through inactiv-
ity on my part. Calling council of officers
orders, told them my decision, and that on nv
shoulders should fall whatever responsibility
attached to the disobedience of orders. You
know the inexorable military law is to ask no
questions, obey all orders. and accept eonse-
queDc O. knew that if my movement was a
failure, my judgment 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 thecannon' sound to Thomss's aid
Through corn fields, thickets, and oak woods
we made fearful tramp, for no man in the
command knew the country aud our guide was
the cannon's boom. When / reported to
Thomas he 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 a flash of guns
and rattle of canister on the dry leaves of the
tree under which Thomas and stood. 1t was
steep ascent, with deDsely peopled crescent
ridge, that lay before us. There was for
bidding thicket and an oak forest between us
and the belt of rocks that marked the edge of
a broad plateau on which the enemy was jubi
liant with victory. There, there said Thorn
as, as the guns flashed again. Now, you see
their exact position. You must take that
ridge My reply was: III do it, In thirty
minutes after we reached the field we were
storming the rock of Chickamauga. 1t was an
awful contest up that slope, every foot of
which was planted with death.
"We went in with 1900 men, and onlv 4. .OOO
reported 1Or uuty at bne next muster. We
went up, till we reached the summit. and
planted ourselves there to stay. 1t was terri
bly, hot place, and we made the plateau lake
OF blood before we drove Hindman back. l
rode back and reported to homas. l was
bloody from head to foot. He clasped INV
hand, and said with great emotion: General
Steedman, you have saved my army 1 got
my stars not long aflerward ana that's abont
all there was of it. Yes, il was a bip risL 7
ran, but was right, and knew It,"
AS he rode to battle that day, he met Gem
ersl Granger, who said feelinely, tSted. old
noy, it's going to be d--d hot in there, II any-
thing should happen, have you any requests 70