Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-07-05
GEN. CLAIBORNE.
An Old Soldier on His Record n,
ClllCkamauga.

JEFFERSON, TEX, Jul y ], 1884.
To The Editor OF the Gazette.
| would no. ask to intrude upon
your valuable space were | not a regu-
lar subscriber TO your paper, for what
wish to communicate is rather com.
monplace and embarrassing to the
great mass of your readers; but as
pleasant "reminiscences are reviving
afresh relative 10 the "late unpleasant :
ness" (being the subject to which
| refer, will proceed. In
his late history of the United
states, Gov. Stephens, in that portion
aiiuding to the late war, does deep in
justice towards one OF the most gallant
officers, Gen. Claiborne. In enumer-
ating the principal generals on both
sides, participating in the battle of
Chlckamauga, Missionary Ridge, etc,
ne failed to allude to Gen. Claiborne.
iiavlng been an eyewitness and par
ticipant in this campaign, | can say
with pride for my distinguished com
mander that none bore a more proui.
nent part nor bore the brunt of battle
more than he and his omm.nd.
Most always held in reserve
IN battles of magnitude. Claiborne's
division-"Heli Hounds"-(an appel
latlon given by the Yanks) never fall
Tered nor failed in its duty to render
refer 70 our weakened lines, and most
especially so in the great battle of
Chlckamauga. Well do | remember
our orders to ''fall inn and move to the
'front.', Saturday evening of that men,
orable fight. The small arms were re.
sounding all day, apparently but few
hundred yards off, but when we ar
rived there we estimated that We had
uouble-quicked the ttUo miles in about
thirty minutes. We waded Chick
amauga creek, and immediately
formed li'.e of battle, In which
maneuver we espied our comrades In
iull retreat almost rout), with the
hnshed Nationals in close pursuit. The
appearance OF our line cooled the ardor
OF the latter, aud gave our retreatinp
boys time to reform; who, by the wav-
vowed they We're out OF ammunition
and willingly laid down on the ground
tnat we might pass over them, and
giving that characteristic war-whoop.
| Clalborne's Division ~ we charged
that semi-victorious National corps
and ran them into their holes
ana so ardently endeavored to dislodoe
them from their breastworks that we
CAME near being cut OIL by Others of
thelr troops, but desperate counter.
march and hand.to-hand conflict ra-
lieved us from this perilous position
and we returned TO receive the plaudits
OF our comrades, who witnessed onr
Imminent danger. wa
Another circumstance i'm This can
nectlon L wish to refer to, Transmitted
on sunday evening, the last day nj
the battle. There was an nydar
received to detach one brigad..
from one division for some INK nown
purpose. The Alabama brigade went
10 li.i The mission. Directly il returned
soreiy mangled and in disorder. An
Arkansas brigade was then detailed
ana forwarded on same mission hut
u was not long before they with
.neir line war record, were routed from
the position they went to occuny and
returned considerably decimated
lhen II was found that Deshler,s brin'
aue was The favorite of our Chief
enci'ed by casual remarks
AZ this juncture-for !,
Went, II saw and it CONQUERED IN
ooedience to the orders and pronbac,,
OF the old 'war-horse.n tvsp a1IoS
ooiiqueiy to the left and to the frnnt
anu We We're then not long In reslj,ina
Whst We were there for.U for in tls
lace OF a most murderous fire we .snr
warued to the top of the hill to taL.
position, through that ever-welcnnne
oruer' lie down. but the unfort1nai 10
uealh OF Gen. Deshler at this crisis o.
sasloned confusion in the ranks-en-
ae,avorihg to ascertain the ranking
aoiohei delaying the weleons
order referred to render ulne
US standing and prominent Objects ,nss
NY, ,he orisIiihg artillery and infantry of
h tne enemy, well fortified. three or four
nuharea yards down the slant from
ns, Col. II; q. Mills OF The sir,h
aehth and Fifteenth consolidated rs,,,
.hents proved to be the senior sSt
TOOK command OF the brigade W.
Jay down In line. 1t proved 10 ba =
s'anu strategic movement, drawins 90
II dld the attention OF the enan a.
weakening other portions Of ,hy,
Then, , ,.at our troops might flank
rneaa, which they did; aud there com.
mncea that memorable rout of ths
army OF the Cumberland Thae
nragg's army had achieved a srand
victory, But Bragg did not seam
eal]e the value Of time, or he womb
iavs pressed his retreatiug Zoe In
noidinR the position referred IN onr
,rigade lost nearly one-fourtb mns III
Killed. Our gallant colonel nostIy
dIall