The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-11-29
Old 0hickamauga.

As we sat, one night in 1875, in the
ratty old editorial rooms of the Toledo
Democrat and Herald. of which Steed-
man was leader writer and | managing
editor, [ asked him for the story of
Chickamauga, where he won his stars
and the soldier title of Old Chicka-
mauga, of which he was so proud. He
told it as coolly as if it had been dream
to him:
"Why. my boy. there wasn't much
to it. / was in charge of the First Di-
vision of the Reserve Corps of the Army
of the Cumberland, and had been sta
tioued at Ringgold, or Redhouse Bridge,
over the Chickamauga. My orders
were explicit, TO hold the bridge ut
all hazard, and to prevent the enemy
from fianking General Thomas The
enemy disappeared from our front. The
sound of cannonading and battle to the
northward told me that the enemy had
maSsed against our center, and a great
battle was going on, From the noise
of the conflict L 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 impatiently
enough from daylight until nearly noon,
hoping for some word from my COM
manding officer. Finally decided to
risk my neck rather than see the Un-
ion army destroyed through inactivity
on my part. Calling a council of Off
GERS and men explained the situation,
read my orders, told them my decis-
lou, and that on my shoulders should
fall whatever of responsibility attached
to the disobedience of orders. You
know the ineXorable military law is 'to
ask no questions, obey all orders and
accept consequences / knew that if
my movement was failure, my judg-
ment mistaken, nothing less than court
martial 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 can
mons sound to Thomas aid. Through
corn fields, thickets and oak woods we
made fearful tramp, for no man in
the command knew the country, and
our only guide was the cannons' boom.
When | reported to Thomas he was in
despair at the loss of the key to his po-
sition, which had been captured by
I4luuiHdu ICDCI COIpS Il lit
place was indicated to me by flash of
guns and rattle of canister on the
dry leaves of the tree under which
Thomas and stood. 1t was a steep
ascent, with densely peopled crescent
ridge, that lay before Us. There was a
forbidding thicket and an Cak forest
between us and the belt of rocks that
marked the edge of broad plateau on
which the enemy was jubilant with vie
tory. There, there, said Thomas as
the guns flashed again. Now, you see
their exact position. You must take
that ridge. My reply was: IN do it. ,
In thirty minutes after we reached the
field we were storming the rock of
Chickamauga. 1t was an awful con-
test up that slope, every foot of which
was planted with death
We went in with 1900 men, and on
ly 1900 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 terribly
hot place, and we made the plateau a
lake of blood before we drove Hindman
back. | rode back and reported to
Thomas. was bloody from head to
foot. He clasped my hand and said
with great emotion, General Steedman,
you have saved my army | got my
stars not long afterward, and that S
about all there was of it, Yes, it was
a big risk | ran; but | was right, and |
knew it. -
As he rode to battle that day he met
General Granger, who said feelingly,
tsStpd old how it, ooi0o 10 ba Il ri
hot in there. If anything should hap
pen, have you any requests to make of
me?" The vein of sentiment was run
ming deep in the questioner' heart, but
the practical soldier 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 spelled correctly
in the newspapers, y and deliberately
spelled it.-Cua. Com. Gazette.