The National tribune., 1884-01-31
STEEDMAN'S GENEROSITY.
Why the Soldiers Loved Old Chickamauga ''-A
Characteristic Sketch.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:

To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
General ]. c. Smith, State treasurer of Hi
nois, who served on the staff of Gen. James b..
Steedman, has promised a series of reminls-
cellces of the old hero for The NATIONAL
TRIBUNE, illustrative of his bluff frankness
and hearty generosity. The fidelity of the
following highly characteristic sketch, which
introduces the series, will be apparent at a
glance to every one who knew the great yolun-
teer soldier:
Seated around campfire few days before
the battle of Chickamanga, were Gen. James
b. Steedman, Major J. G. Smith, Capt. S. b.
Moe, Capt Marshall Davis, Of the 18th Ohio
then ON his way to reioin his regiment); Lieut..
J. B. Hays, 10th q. S. infantry; Lieut.. L. S.
Windle, 18th Ohio; Lieut.. Geo. w. Blandin,
18th Illinois; Lieut.. Frank Long, 4th Ken
lucky, and other members of the generals staff.
The conversation had been upon the iuci-
dents of the day, and as each officer would re-
late the part he had taken or been witness to,
Steedman would advise or comment thereon.
Speaking up suddenly and with much indigna-
ton, General Steedman told how he had been
sorely disappointed in the failure of Lieut.. Hal
sey w. Richardson, of the 96th Illinois, to per-
form a special duty assigned him.
The general had taken liking to Lieuten-
ant Richardson for his soldierIy bearing and
the promptness with which he had performed
other duties, aud to have to reprimand him as
he had done in this instance, for a supposed
failure to carry out his orders panied Steed-
man very much and he SO expressed himself
and very freely to his staff
Major Smith, who had been silent listener
and was fully cognizant of the facts in this
case, having had his attention called to them
and investigated the same, said General
| pardon me, but there is some mistake here
| and you have not learned all the facts as to
7 1,n1
| TO relate what had been done by the Lieutenant
and how fully the generals orders had been
carried out.
The generals face Frightened up, his mind
seemed relieved, and he SO expressed himself
saying: Then / am wrong and / owe tht
lieutenant an apology"
The subject was then dropped and. perhaps
would have been forgotten, but for what tool
| place three days later ON the line in front Of
McAfee church, and on the first day of the bat
! tie of Chickamauga.
General Wllittaker's brigade being in line o.
battle on the left of the Ringgold road, Gen
/ erai Steedman and staff were passing alons
when, coming to the position held by the 96ti
Illinois, the general halted and called for Lieu.
tenat Richardson. Colonel Champion being il
command, informed the lieutenant that Gen
eral Steedman wished to see him. Upon thu
| Eeutcnant's walking out to where the genera
| sat, on that powerful chestnut horse of his
| which he had captured at Mil Springs, and
| which was killed in battle the next day, tht
eyes of the men followed him, expecting t,
hear another burst of anger from the general
for they had been witness to the reprimand o
but three days before but how glad they
| were TO be disappointed. As the heutenan
came up to Steedpan the general said: Lieu
| tenant, have made inquiries as to your suppos
ed failure to carry out my orders Of few day
age, and learn from Major Smith, of my staff
that they were fulfilled to the letter. j supposed
you had failed and not being fully inf0rinct
| on the subject administered severe reprinanf
TO you and in the presence of your company
Now that | know | was wrong, / desire Il
make due acknowledgment to yon, and | Tisl
my apology 10 be rs public as nay reprimand,
! and, taking off his hat. he said Lieutenant
apologize to you for the unintentional wron;
then did you, and beg you to forget it,
! Need | say that one long, loud cheer RAJ
| along the line from the threats Of the men win
had witnessed this generous, this manly act OF
I the part OF their commander, and being takeI
/ up By the others was echoed by the whole com
nand can tell you thatit gave neryeand con
filence to those brave men and strengthened
/ them for the coming conflict far more than th
addition Of one thousand bayonets would HAYS
done. For acts like this the soldiers OF thai
command viii see that the widow and chiidrcl
of Old Chiekamauga" are cared for and
monument erected TO his memory.
TOLEDO, o. K. B. s.