The National tribune., 1889-05-09
CHICKAMAUGA.
What a 18th Ky. Comrade Has to Say.

CHICk A M AOGA.
What a 18th Ky. Comrade Has to Say.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The history
Of important campaigns and decisive battles OF
our war having been written by able pens the
high privatcs Of the rear rank are beginning to
have their say, and minor incidents of the
great campaigns and battles are about all that
can now be related. The history of the Chicka-
manga campaign has probably been as ably and
as completely written as any other and Criti-
cisms have been INDUCED In probably as freely
touching the management and conduct of that
campaign as any during the war. That cam
paign aud that battle made and unmade several
important pers0nages, and without stopping to
specify, have always believed il unmade some
commanders who were brave. gallant men, with
an equal executive military ability as some
whom ii made.
The Third Brigade Gen. Sam Beatty Third
Division, Twenty-frst Corps was an important
factor in that s2nguine engagement, and rem
dered as efficient service as any one brigade
engaged. In the tortuous windings up the
tennessee River previous to the evacuation of
Chattanooga, the historians have already told
Us that TO the Twenty first Corps, commanded
by Gen. L. Il. Crittenden, was assigned that
arduOus part Of the campaign Gen Beatty,
on the morning of the evacuation, was COM
manded to take his brigade and ascend Look
out Mountain, several miles west of Lookout
Point, or Summeryille, rs it was then called.
This duty he accomplished. The morning was
very dark, but having pressed guide that
lived near, the ascent was made and by day
light the brigade was top j signal station
was established. but before communication was
opened up with corps headquarters in the val
ley below, Gen. Beatty gathered from some
deserters that Chattanooga was evacuated. Put
ting the command in tine direction of Chatta-
nooga, We made quick time to Summerville;
but, looking over the summit, long lines of
blue were seen streaming through Chattanooga
and ont towards Mission Ridge. We were dis
appointed. Others of the army were in Chat
tanooga first. But few days after the evacua-
ton and we were at Lee & Gordons Mill, and
historians again tell US that Crittenden con-
cluded to develop the force that was annoying
his 'front.' and in that development Gen. Beatty's
Brigade occupied the right Of the main road
leading towards Lafayette.
About 3 O'Clock, after having driven the rebel
sklrmIshers for several miles | remember that
quite stand was made, and it was only after
spirited skiTmish that they were dislodged,
and 1t was here the wonderful amount of dust
was observed TO rise in the direction of Lafay-
cite. Cos. and G, 18th Ky, We're on the
skirmish-line on the extreme right OF the de-
veloping party, and across a field these two
companies Kept up lively FIRE for some time,
but the two companies charged into the field,
N4tNA hAtC AEJGAS AGlIGdlCd stu5b AuGIi luC
bugieTs sounded a retreat Of the Federal forces,
but the two companies failing to hear it, re-
NAMED on the ground until the Federal forces
had fallen back two miles. An Aid galloping
up, told Capts. Surgis and Fruit they were
isolated from the command and would likely
be captured; TO keep their small forces de-
pioyed, make as big display as possible, and
retreat as rapidly rs they could. The Aid did
not impress the two Captains with very great
amount Of fear, for they very leisurely re-
turned to camp and were not captured.
We privates knew but little of the workings
OF the armies but we ali seemed to feel that we
were IN for fight, and were fearful that the odds
We're against US. Oae day tie corps marched
cut from CraWtish Springs, and depoyed across
a rocky ridge. Gen. Crittenden passing along
the lines told his men We would perhaps have
light that day. and / remember his words:
Boys, we viii likely have to fight to-day, and
il so, we viii have TO fight hard" But that was
aOne Of the days when Bragg was letting golden
opportunities slip, and We returned again to
camp.
When the day before the fight opened if
found Us shivering on the banks of the creek
below the mill. say shivering, for il was cold
aud frosty, with a drilling rain, and during
the night while cur pickets cautiously dipped
water from one side Of the creek they could
hear the gentle splashes oil the rebels on the
other. Signs. were getting more and more
oIs4hots, ana the next day the ball opened in
earnest. Two o'clock. and we went in: 18th
Ohio and 18th Ind. in front. 9Th KY and 18th
KY 90 yards in rear; Gen. Beatty between.
1 remember it all.
volley; before the smoke clears up, charge
capture battery-fail back few PAGES, and
with the battery between the contending forces
can see the horses Of that battery now as they
were one after another killed, wounded, strug-
CLING, and were finally cut loose, and two pieces
OF that battery rolled back by the men of the
brigade Was that fighting? Lieut. Millman,
Sam. White and Nat Grace, of the l7th Ky. and
hundreds Of others sealed their patriotism with
their ile-blOod right over that battery.
A flank movement to our right, within plain
view, not over 100 yards IL seemed, and we had
TO fall hack. Where was the support that ought
TO have been on the right flank of Beatty's
Brigade at that moment? Historians are prob-
ably silent on that point
Boys Of the old Third Brigade. do Won all
remember, or did we ever know, what battery
that WASP Did We ever know what troops did
that fighting and iapking under such murder
Gus FIRE as was poured into them? History
does Us justice, for while McCook and Critten.
den are generally accredited with falling back
the first day, Greeley's history has the 18th XIV.
right with Thomas the second day. and there
they stayed, and fell back to RossvilIe only
when they were Ordered.-C. AsBRAsHER. Co
C. 18th KY, Crofton, KY.