The National tribune., 1888-07-19
TURCHIN'S CHARGE.
How the Brilliant Dash was Made at
Chickamauga Sunday Afternoon.
BY JNo. T. BOOTH, NJ. D.. STATION C, cINc1N-
MATT, o.


cumstances attendant upon the famous charge
of Turchin's Brigade at Chickamauga, on Sun
day afternoon, Sept. 90 is one of a number
of communications furnished through courtesy
by comrades, as aids in preparing an account of
that battle. The accompanying extracts from
letters from Mr.. Burlingame, subsequent to re-
ceipt of this paper, together with Gen. Tur-
chins comments, will explain themselves.
will be pleased to hear direct from any comrade
who can give me any further information.
Capt. J. P. Willard was one of Gen Thorn
ass Aids Camp. | think that he and l are
the only ones living who have q personal
knowledge of the particular events which
brought Turchins Brigade into position from
which it made
ITS FAMOUS CHARGE
at Chickamauga on the evening of Sept 90,
1863. The opportunity for this brilliant and
effective dash did not come to these troops by
Encouragement or design on the part of the
Commanding General or any of his subordi-
mates. The charge was precipitated suddenly,
and begun before any one knew it was to be
made. don't know that Capt Willard has
ever written about it, and ] have never seen a
statement of the facts published.
Company l., Ist Ohio Cav, was the escort
of Maj Gen. Thomas; consequently, on the bat
tlefield we were in his immediate presence;
we carried orders, accompanied staff officers
upon their errauds and executed such missions
as the General assigned u.s. Ats o'clock on the
morning of Sept 10 we left Crawfsh Springs,
and shortly after daylight arrived at the battle
ground. The General took road TO the rear
of our line of battle to dispose the troops as
they continued to come up and to direct their
movements on the field | was detailed to con-
tinue on with the headquarters train, which
was parked near Rossville. | returned to the
front about noon, and remained there until
the next morning, when / was relieved and
went back to the train.
Here, about noon, Capt. J. d. Barker, of the
staff, arrived, seeking way over the ridge by
which he might reach the General. In the
disastrous rout of the right wing he had been
cut off from direct route, and was obliged to
make detour He was alone, and at his re-
quest / accompanied him. We rode up the
steep ridge to the east side, and entered the
Lafayette road mile or so from R0ssvlle.
When we reached point opposite the open
fields east of this road, we were fired upon by
the rebels, who were approaching from that
direction, and who, an hour or two later, fired
upon Gen. Garfield as he was making his way
to the front over this same road We immedi-
ately turned into the fields on our right and
soon got beyond reach of the bullets of our as
sailants. These were the rebels who, continu-
ing their advance and wheeling in upon our
rear, were getting into the position from which
they were driven late in the evening by Tur-
chin's Brigade. We found the General near
the Snodgrass house. He was dismounted and
close up TO the lines. A battery was on the
elevation before US, and fragments of companies
of infantry were trying to form regiment for
its support. A Lieutenant was in command.
He said, Company A boys, fall in line" and
six or eight men responded and so with the
other companies, until his regiment was COM
plete in companies, but its numbers seemed less
than hundred.
we understood then that this point was the
key to the position, and that the enemy was
about to charge it. However, it was held until
night, in spite all attempts to carry it. About
3 o'clock / was sent with Capt. Kellogg Aid
de-Camp, to guide an ammunition wagon to
the troops on the left. We crossed an open field
about One-lOurth of mile in width, then came
to strip of woods about as wide, which termi-
mated at the Lafayette road. Across the road
an open field extended a full quarter of mile
farther east and its length along the road was
about half mile This field was bordered by
dense woods, along the margin of which our
line of battle was formed and protected by
HAsTILY-coNsTRUcT BREAsTwoRKs
of logs and rails. Gen. Bairds Division was
on the left, his left resting on the Lafayette
road and his line facing nearly due north.
Then came Johnson and Palmer, and on the
right Reynolds, whose right brigade (Turchin's)
rested its right on the Lafayette road a half
mile from Baird's left. and faced nearly south
west.
TIE Union line from Baird's left to Rey-
nolds's right was semiciTcular or horseshoe
shape. Having conducted the load OF ammu-
milton to these troops, we returned TO field head
quarters. Gen. Thomas observing the approach
OF troops IN our rear, along the eastern base OF
Mission Ridge, and not being able TO distin-
guish them clearly, directed Lieut. Reppert,
commanding the escort. 10 send man to see
what troops they were Benz. S. Turner was
dispatched accordingly, and riding rapidly he
soon returned, followed closely by Gen. Gran
ger. The rebels now had full possession OF the
Lafayette road opposite the Cloud house, and
were swinging south en the west side OF that
road. They could not be seen from the point
occupied by Gen. Thomas, because Of the strip
oil WOODS mentioned, which ran back nearly Ia
the Mcdaniel house.
This much OF general nature Now ! will
narTate the events which led Turchins Bri-
gade TO this charge. Garfield had come with
word from ROsecrans. The assaults on the
right had been TepuIsed. Granger had taken
posi- tion, and would hold it until ordered to re.
tire. Thomas had declined to retire until
night, and the sun sinking low in the west gave
notice That TIE time Tor beginning the move
ment was near at hand.
4" 1t was nearly shutdown when I was sent
with Capt. Willard, Abe, TO whom Gen
Thomas had given the order to direct the troops
east of the Lafayette road to retire from the
field upon ROssyille. lie was to begin with
Gen. Baird aud proceed around the line, giving
the order 10 each division commander to follow
the division on his right when il had with.
drawn, and that Gen. Reynolds would move
out first. We crossed the open field, passed
through the strip of woods, crossed the road
and delivered the order from left to right com
ing last To Gen. Reynolds, who at once directed
Turchn to proceed toward Rossville on the
Lafayette road. The troops moved promptly il
column. Capt Willard and 1 rode leisurel1
along, and crossed the road to the west JUS
ahead of them and before the head of column
had arrived opposite Baird's left. We proceed
ed about 100 yards through the strip of woods
on our return to the General, when we met
him on his way TO the left. AS be was abou
to meet Gen. Turchin a
TERRoR-sTRICKEN SOLDIER
came rushing out Of the brush from the north
and seeing the General said, I" Don't go il
there. The rebels are there; they fired on me-
| Immediately Gen. Thomas, indicating the di
rection by q motion with his hand, directed
Gen. Turchin to flo his brigade To the left.
The head of the column was now nearl,
! opposite Baird's left, and the new direction
/ would place them upon the prolongation 0
| Baird's line, but with regard TO that line i
would be left in front; that is, when facin
/ in the same direction, with Baird's troops to
ward the north, the rear would be in front