Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-10-24
"OLD STEADY.
General Sseedman ut Chickamauga.

Correspondence of the Cincinnati Commercial Gazette
AS we sat one night in 1879 in the ratty old
editorial rooms of the Toledo Morning Democrat
and Herald, of which he was leader writer,
and managing editor, asked him for the story
of Chickamauga. where he won his stars and the
soldier title of "Old Chickamauga," of which he
was so proud. He told it as coolly as if it was
o dream to him:
why, nv 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 Ringgod or Red
House Bridge. over the Chickamauga Nv 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. The sound of cannOnadiny and
battle to the nOrthwaTd told me that the enemy
had massed against our center, and great
battle was on. From the noise of conflict /
Judged. and rightly. that Thomas was sorely
pressed. felt that my command was needed,
and yet could not understand the absence of
new orders. waited impatienty enough from
daylight till nearly 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. Cali
ing council of officers and men. explained
the situation. read my orders, told them my
decision. and that on my shoulders should fall
whatever OF responsibility attached to the dis
obedience of orders
You know the memorable military law is 80
ask questions. obey all orders and accent
consequences. i knew that if my movement
was failure. my Judgment mistaken nothing
less than court-rnartial and death awaited me-
But the battle was on. and every fiber in me
said was wanted. We burned the bridge and
marched by the lannon's sound to Thomas aid
through corn field thickets, oak woods we
made fearful tramp. for no man i'm the COM
mand knew the country, and our only guide
was the lannon'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 Hndman's rebel corps. The place was
Indicated to me by the flash of guns and a rat
tie OF canister Oil the dry leaves of the tree
under which Thomas and / stood. 1t was a
steep ascent. with a densclv peOpled crescent
ridge. that lay before There was a forbid
ding thlcket and an oak forest between us and
the belt Of rocks that marked the edge of a
broad plateau on which the enemy was jubilant
with victory. There. there said Thomas us
the guns flashed again. Now you see their
exact position. You must take that ridge
My reply was. I'll DO it In thirty minutes
after We reached the field we were storming the
rock or Chickamauga- 1t was an awful con-
test up that slope, every foot of which was
planted with death.
1--WE went in with seven thousand five hun
dred men, and only four thousand reported for
duty at the next muster. We went up. up up
Till We reached the summit and planted our
selves there to stay. 1t was a terribly hot place,
and we made the plateau a lake of blood before
we drove Hind!nan back. i rode back and re-
ported to Thomas. I was bloody from head to
foot. He clasped my hand. and said, with great
eInOtron: Gen. Steedman. you have saved nv
army. got my stars not long afterwards and
that's about all there was of it. Yes. it was a |
big risk ran in but was right, and knew it."
Could hero have told a simpler tale of self?
But heard Richard Realf tell the story of Chick
anauga in 1S16-Reaf. the poet orator, who was
provisional vice president of John Browns gov
ernment-anO as he pictured that fight on the
rock oil ChIckainauGa 1t was herOiSm persona
lied I'm grand leader followed by grand men,
At one critical period in the struggle when an
Illinois regiment was moving back. under COM
mand of u colonel who Slandered his men by
saying they would advance no longer Steedman
seized the reginental color, and slammed them !
Dy saying, =" You may leave the field and dis |
grace yourselves. but, as God rci2ns YOU !
shall not disgrace this flag" When the SOL |
dlers, stung by his words. cried out. 81 Gen |
us" Steedman shouted, with that voice OF his |
which thrilled mems souls. my brave |
boys, III command you. I'll bear your |
nag myself if You'll defend it.. 'Tention. Bout |
face Forward. double quick. march," And |
though his horse was shot under him and he |
stunned by fall; though the flag was shot in |
tatters. the staff half gone, his right hand fur
rowed by bullets, and himself the target he |
carried the flag to the summit and to victory. / |
have seen Steedman. while writing. stop time
anu again TO rub the cramp out OF that wounded
Eight hand.
AZ he rode to battle that day. he met Gen.
Granger who said, IeeliDgly '.Sted old boy, it's
going to be id hot i'm there. If anything
should happen. have you any requests to make
of me-. The vein of sentiment was running
deep in the questioners heart. but the practical
soldier responded in words that have since been
Yes, Cen Granger; if fall in the fight please
see my body decently buried and my name cor
reetly spelled in the newspapers" and he DELHI
erately spelled it.