Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-11-10
misfellarrf0ns.
General Steednan-s title.
How HE CANE TO BE CALLED '-OLD
CHICKAMACGA" IN THE ARMY.

As we sat one night in 1875 in the ratty
old editorial rooms of the Toledo Demo-
Graf and Herald, Of which Steedman was
..Ieader" writer and managing editor.
asked him for the story OF Chickamauga.
where he won his stars and the soldier
title of ..OId Chickamauga," of which he
was so proud. He told it as coolly as If
it was dream to him:
..Whv nv boy, there wasn't much to
it. was in charge of the First Division
Of the Reserve Corps of the Army OF the
Cumberland. and had been stationed at
Ringgold, or Red House Bridge over the
Chickamauga. My orders were explicit,
to hold the bridge at all hazard, and pre-
vent the enemy from fianking General
Thomas. The enemy disappeared from
our front. The sound of commanding
and battle to the northward told me that
the enemy had massed against our centre.
and a great battle was on. From the
noise of conflict judged, and rightly
that Thomas was sorely pressed. | felt
that nv command was needed, and yet
could not understand the absence OF new
orders. WAITED impatiently enough from
daylight till nearly noon, hoping tor some
word from my commanding officer. Finally
decided to run my neck rather than see the
Union army destroyed through inactivity
on nv part. Calling council OF officers
and men, explained the situation, read
nv orders, told them my decision, and
that on nv shoulders should fall whatever
of responsibility attached to the disobedl-
ence OF orders, You know the memorable
military law is ''tO ask no questions, OBEY
all orders, and accept consequences. l
knew that if nv movement was 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 the lannon's sound to
Thomass aid. Through corn fields,
thickets, and oakwoods we made fearful
tramp, for no man in the command knew
the country, and our ouly guide was the
lannon's boom. When | reported to
Thomas he was in despair at the loss OF
the key to his position, which had Just
been captured by General Hindman's
rebel corps. The place was indicated to
me by flash of guns and rattle of can
ster on the dry leaves of the tree under
which Thomas and stood. 1t was a steep
ascent, with a densely -peopled crescent
TluHt, Illtl LAY U.s. AhSAD ""o
forbidding thicket and an oak forest be-
tween US and the belt ofrorks that marked
the edge of broad plateau on which the
enemy was jubilant with victory. There
there said Thomas. 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 uwful contest
up that slope. every foot of which was
painted with death.
I'VE went in with 1000 men. and only
1000 reported for duty at the next muster.
We went up. up. up till we reached
the summit. and planted ourselves there
to stay 1t was a terrible hot place,
and we made the plateau a lake of blood
before we drove IIindman back. | rode
back and reported to Thomas. | was
bloody from head to foot. He clasped my
hand and said with great emotion: Gen
eral Steedman, you have saved my army
got my stars not long afterward, and
that's about all there was of it. Yes, it
was big risk ran, but | was right, and
| knew it."
As he rode to battle that day he met
General Granger who said feelingly:
''Sted, old boy. it's going to be ID hot
in there. If anything should happen, have
you any request to make of me ?" The
vein of sentiment was running deep in the
questioner's heart, but the practical sol
der responded in words that have since
been memorable
Yes, General Granger; if fall in the
fight please see my body decently buried
and my name correctly spelled in the news
papers," and he deliberately spelled it
Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.