The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-03-13
CHICKAMAUGA.
Another Account of General Stecdmans Gallantry
on that Bloody Field.

Being reader of your highly priced paper,
have been good deal interested since the death
OF Gen. James B. Steednan in the various ac-
counts published in regard to the general and
that flag business on the field of Chickamauga,
the ever memorable goth day of September, 1868.
Taking all the circumstances connected with
it into consideration, j think it was the blood
lest and hardest contested battle of the war for
the Union As is well known, Gen. Steedman
commanded division of Changers reserve corps
of the Army of the Cumberland. Gen. Walter
c. Whitaker commanded brigade of Steed-
mans division, known as the Iron Brigade, OF
which that truly loyal Kentuckian was very
proud, as well he might be, since 1t never failed
to do its whole duty. 1t never turned its back
to the enemy. 1t was composed of the 10th
Ohio, 64th Indiana, 96th and 115th Illinois
led company G of the 115th Illinois into the
fight that day, and led out what was lett OF 1t
the night of the goth. Thirty-six of us went
in that day on the right of Pap Thomas; we
left nineteen killed and wounded en- the field.
Out of three hundred and sixty-eight men, as [
now remember, that went into the fight of the
18TH Illinois, one hundred and seyenty-two
were killed or wounded, of which number
Lieutenant Colonel Kinsman was one. A
Drawer soldier never faced an enemy. Now,
dear editor, i hope you viii bear with me IN
recounting those details. My reason for so doing
is, it has been said that the flag that Gen. Steed
man took was that of regiment that was
wavering, which / propose to dispute to the last
ditch, and even after we get on the other side.
1t viii be remembered that the reserve corps,
on the 18th of September, left its camps at
ROssville, Ga, and moved out to what we then
understood to be the left of the army, not far
from Ringgold, Ga. where we had brush with
the enemy. On the 10Th we fought the rebS at
what was called McAffee Church. Early in
the morning Of the Goth, not finding the enemy
in our front, we were marched around to what
we then understood TO be the right-center OF the
line, passing en- route just in rear Of Gen. Thomas
line of battle. While passing we had to run the
gauntlet of quite number of the rebel batteries
which made it about as hot work as / ever saw.
and there we lost some of our boys. AS we
passed what l thought was the extreme right
OF Thomas line, we fled out of an old field
and halted Just in the edge of a heavy piece OF
woods covering high ridge We had double
quieked for long distance and were pretty
we'll blown. We were hardly given time to
adjust our lines when I saw General Steedman
riding-yery fast towards US. He passed the
left OF the regiment and rode on to the center
sTEEDMAN's GALLANT EXAMPLE.
The regiment was standing at parade rest at
the time, III perfect line. We had not been IN
this position to exceed one minute, when the
general came up and asked the color sergeant
for the regimental flag; he took hold of the flag,
shook out the folds in a very dramatic man
ner; rode few PAGES to the front the color
bearer by his side, as l now remeuber) and
lifting the flag high in air. rose as high as pos
sible III his stirrnps, and gave the command,
Attention followed Immediately by the or
der, Forward, donble-quiek, march, and
that in the loudest voice | ever heard before or
since. At least, so it sounded to me and
think to others; for it appeared TO lift the en-
tire brigade bodily into the air. 1t was one Of
the grandest dramatic effects that / ever wit
messed, and enough of itself to make hero of
the most groyeling coward.
did not comprehend, nor do think any Of
US did at the time the situation and circurn-
stances that called out such an effort on the
part of our gallant commander: but he did,
and we were not long in finding out all about
il, for up the hill we went as one man, intent
only to get there. Just as the line reached the
crest of the hill we comprehended or could
have done so, if time had been allowed to
think, for we met the then victorious legions
Of Longstreet coming up the hill on the other
side. We met face to face but no army could
have stopped our advance after so grand q
send OF, and the enemy reeled, fell back, raj
lied again, and again was forced to retreat.
/ The fighting here was terrific the remainder of
the day. We held the ridge in spite of Long
streets veterans till night closed In on the
bloody scene. General Steedman's division front
was understood by Us to be the key to the bat
SiE&lCAly anu itDhlIlS DdEh over INC SCENES Oh
that day and the heroic conduct of Steedman,
j can see that he well understood the impor-
tance of his position, and no man could have
filed it better than he did, nor any troops that
ever lived done nobleT work than his division
did that day, and especially Whitaker's Iron
Brigade. Youwili please excuse my vanity, for
! am proud as old Lucifer himself that / had the
| honor Of being one of the Iron Brigade Of the
Army of the Cumberland
General -Steef4aa,, a.yna-ad b.r {j,o4 5a,~
continually, as well to the fire Of his own men
as that of his enemies. He was just where
most needed at all times and how he escaped
with life the God of battle alone knows. / am
inlpelled TO recount one more of his heroic acts
that day. After the sun had set, our regiment
was deploycd very much as q skirmisb- line,
the reason being that we were out Of ammuni-
ton and the boys know just what that means
and had been for some time using what could
be gathered from the cartridge boxes Of the
dead and wounded. The boys would find q
box OF cartridges, and then would hunt gun
of the same caliber as the cartridge. 1t viii
| be remembered that the 10th Illinois was
armed with the old Remington muskets f69
| caliber), while the most of the army were
armed with guns Of 5--caliber The result was
that We were fighting Indian fashion-every
one doing the best he could under the circum-
! stances, without regard to tactics or alignment
| At this juncture General Steedman rode up
and ordered us forward to repel the rebel adj
vance. The cry went up, We are out of am
munitioni' but he dashed to the front and
ordered us TO fix bayonets and charge double
quick! And right royalty the boys obeyed
| that order. The bayoDets were fixed quickly,
| and forward we went with one of our charac-
teristic hurrahs and cleared our front once
more, which made it possible for the army to
make an orderly retreat back to Rossyille and
Chattanooga that night. General Whitaker
| lost all but one of his staff that day, as now
remember, and was wounded himself Colonel
| ]. ii. Moore had his horse shot through in
three different places, yet that noble animal
kept its feet and carried its rider back to Ross
vile that night before it died. Lieutenant
| Colonel Kinsman was killed in the first on
slaught of the regiment His horse escaped to
the enemy, but was recaptured at the battle OF
| Missionary Ridge by our boys. He was a very
| large black stallion. J. w. DOVE
Capt, Co. G, 115th Illinois Y. T
WINTHROP, OAK. TER.
THE 22d Michigan served with whitaker's
brigade that day. The casualties among off.
| GERS was unusually large-six killed and forty.
six wounded. The brigade went into action
2,674 strong and came out with 1859, losing
955 IN killed, wounded and Inissing.-ED.l
The Pennsylvania Reserves.
Ttr% IT.