Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-18
THE CHARGE At cHIcKAMAUGA.
A Statement of What the Soldiers Did
80 for Themselves Without Orders.

a statement OF what the Soldiers D1O
for Themselves without Orders.
One of the splendid battles of the war
was that Of Chattanooga. In The Century
Gen. Fullerton tells the story of the firing
Of the signal guns to take the rifle pits at
the base of the ridge occupied by Bragg,
and the rush of 90, 700 men. The general
says: "The enemy were thrown into con-
fusion and took precipitate fight up the
ridge" He adds: MANY prisoners and a
large number of small arms were cap
tured.'' And now follows clear state
ment of what the soldiers did for them
selves-a most instructive and brilliant
passage:
1.-The order of the commanding general
had now been fully and most successfully
carried out. But it did not 60 far enough
to satisfy these brave men, who thought
the time mad come to finish the battle of
Chickamauga. There was q halt Of but
a few minutes. to take breath and to re-
form the lines: then, with a sudden i'm
pulse, all started up the side of the ridge.
Not a commanding officer had given the
order to advance The men who carried
the muskets had taken the matter into
their own hands, had moved of their own
accord Officers. catching their spirit,
first followed then led. There was no
thought of protecting tanks, though the
enemy's line could be seen stretching be-
yoDd OIL either side; there was no thought
Of support or reserves.
'sAs soon as this movement was seen
from Orchard Knob Grant quickly turned
to Thomas, who stood by his side, and /
heard him angrily say: Thomas, who or
HoroH fhnSo tho ri6OQsf ThnInq9
replied in his usual slow, quiet manner:
Il don't know; did not. Then, address
ing Gen Gordon Granger, he said: Did
you order them up, Granger No. said
Granger; they started up without orders.
When those fellows get started all hell
can't stop them Gen. Grant said some
thing TO the effect that somebody would
suffer if it did not turn out well, and then,
turning round, stoicaly watched the
ridge. He gave no further orders.
''As soon as Granger had replied to
Thomas he turned to me, his chief OF
staff. and said: Ride at once to " ood and
then to Sheridan and ask them If they or
dered their men up the ridge, and tell
them, if they can take it, to push ahead ,
AS | was mounting Granger added; 1T IL
hot over there, and you may not get
through. l shall send Capt. Avery to
Sheridan, and other officers after both OF
you.' AS fast as my horse could carry
me rode first to Gen. Wood and delivered
the message 4 didn't order them up,
said Wood: they started up on their own
account, and they are going up, too Tell
Granger, if we are supported, we will take
and hold the ridge As soon as reached
Gen. Wood, Capt Avery got to Gen:
Sheridan and delivered his message i
didn't, order them up, said - >ridan-
but we are going to take the ridge. tie
then asked Avery for his flask and waved
II at group Of Confederate officers stand
ing just IN front of Braggs headquarters
with the salu,ation- Here's at your At
once two guns-the Lady Breckenridge
and the Lady Buckner-in front Of
Bragg's headquarters were fired at sheri-
dan and the group OF officers about him
One shell struck SO near IS TO throw dlrt
over Sheridan and Avery. Al sand the
general. that is ungcnerous: L shall take
those guns for that, and he did, and
good many more
The three signs Of counterieit com are
not often needed by careless public
bad piece Of silver has a hollow ring or
light weight or an imperfect riun- III