The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-11-21
CHICKAMAUGA.
Whist Command Repulsed HIndman's Divisions

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Seeing an
article in THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE of Oct IL
from Geo. Il. Dalton, 1S South Main street, ST.
Louis, Mo-, will reply to it. ! participated
in the three-days' fight of Chickamauga-1Sth,
10th and Goth of September, 1663-and will
give my version of 1T, and If make any mis-
representation l hope some comrade will cor
rect me.
On the evening of the 18th our brigade, with
a section of the 18th Ohio battery, were order
ed forward on the Ringgold road and about
four miles out. As we were marching in four
ranks the head of the column was fired into by
the rebel skirmishers One man was killed of the
96th Ill., as it was in the advance. The Adju-
tant of our regiment came running back, and
ordered our company to the front and to deploy
as skirmshers. | remember very well that our
guns were not loaded, and we loaded rs we
double-quicSed to the front. We deployed and
drove in their skrmish- line, they falling back
through an old field which had grown up with
tall weeds. Ii becoming dark we ceased firing.
aud all became quiet, except occasionally the
rebs would let loose with their artillery but
we lay close TO the ground and they did us no
harm.
About o'clock in the morning we were Or
dered to fall back quietly, which we did. We
fell back about mile, made our coffee, and
waited for further orders. 1t was about noon
when We were ordered to the front again. This
time the rebels seemed to apprehend our COM
ing, as they had got range on us with their
artillery and their shells would burst near and
all around us; but we succeeded in reaching an
old fence, where we stopped, and commenced
pouring it into their line, as they wero in this
old field about midway. think they had lain
down aud were awaiting us.
Presently we noticed that their bullets were
coming lenGthwise down the fence Forests
cavalry was thanking us, and because of their
great numbers we fell back again to the posi-
4; id Ia,, hafor n,,rI naa
was about so killed and wounded. That night
cur brigade lay on their arms, without blank
cts and were not permitted to make fires; and
as the night was cold, with quite frost, the
men suffered considerably. On the morning of
the Goth we expected to renew the fight, but rs
the sun came up everything in our front
was quiet. TO understand this quiet it will be
necessary 10 glance for moment at what had
happened in our front and right on the 10Th.
The Surgeon of the doth Ohio says. in his
History of the Battle of Chickamauga," that
on the 18th our army was at Crawiish Springs,
the left being Mt Lees Mills. On the 18th, 1t
being evident that the enemy would attempt a
crossing lower down, our army was extended to
the left. Up 10 the 18th we still held the cross
ing of the Chickamauga on the roads leading
back to Rossvlle, but on the night of the 18th
the infantry of the enemy effected crossing at
Reds Bridge; but after single brigade had
crossed, Col. Dan McCook with brigade OF our
corps succeeded in burning the bridge. During
the night threo.fonrtbs OF the rebel army had
crossed TO the west bank of the Chiekamauga,
fact entirely unknown to Gen. Thomas On
the morning Of the 10Th Col. McCook, suppos-
ing the brigade which had crossed at Reds
Bridge was isolated suggested movement for
its capture, suggestion which Gen. Thomas
followed by sending Gen. Brannan with two
brigades TO recounoiter the road to the burnt
bridge, ard if practicable TO capture the
brigade supposed to DO separated from any
support by the Chickamauga This movement
brought on the battle of the 18th. Instead of
a single brigade the whole rebel army was
found on the west bank of the ChiekamauRa.
The heaviest fighting Oh the 10Th was on
our center and left. and the result of the days
work was favorable TO US, but not decisive
During the night Gen Thomas in anticipation
OF an attack from largely superior force the
next morning drew back and shortened his line,
the same movement was made by Gen. Bragg
with his right shortening that part of his line
and massing his forces for determined attack
| on Gen. Thomas's left on Sunday morning
| This condition of affairs explains the quietudo
In our front on Sunday morning, the GOTH
| But away 10 our right We could hear the roar
Of battle, aud about ii a. N. we had orders
from Gen. Gordon Granger 20 move 10 the
right, marching through the woods gnided by
the sound of cannon. Near Clouds Springs
we found the road in possession OF Forests
cavalry, which we brushed away. At this point
was sad sight. The grounds about the Springs
had been the site Of our hospitals on Saturday
and Sunday forenoon. The place had been run
over by the enemy. and hundreds Of wounded
were lying there without attention Now, IL
Mr.. George f. Dalton viii observe closely he
will soon learn what regiments we're fred upon
by the rebels. Our brigade marched ont Of
the woods into this old stumpy field rs he says,
which i remember very well. Al this critical
| time Gen. Whitaker formed our brigade into q
| square, marching so as 10 repel any charge
/ from the enemy, either from our right or LEFT.
We found that our line Was In the shape OF n
| horseshoe and the rebels had battery on our
| left aud one on our right. which had a cross.
| fire on us. As we marched through that field
| thought IL was one Of the grandest sights
had ever seen IN the movements Of troops.
There was fine military tactics used At this
| critical moment, when all hope Of reinforce
ments with which 10 beat back the new
| danger must have fed, Gen. Thomas saw
a body of troops approaching from the north
through the fields. The clouds of dust so
obscured the column that IL was impossible
10 distinguish whether IL was friend or
foe. Sending staff officer 10 meet it, with In.
struction TO wave his hat IL IL was reinforce.
ments. he waited In suspense until the signal
was given that help was approaching when
| he rode down the hill from the Snodgrass House
70 meet Gen. Granger, aud hastily explaining
10 him the situation, he sent him with his two
| brigades 70 the point Of danger, not 300 yards
distant Our brigade. led by Gen. Steedman,
charged the advancing foe. There il was that
Gen. steedman took the colors of the 1l5th III.
and dashed forward, and In 90 minutes the
rebel host had melted away, aud both gorge
and hill were held by our brigade.
| This brigade consisted OF the following regi-
ments: 10th Ohio, 54th Ind, 96th and ii5th
Ill. These regiments were the ones that Mr..
| Dalton wishes 10 know. The rebel troops we
| charged were the division OF Gen. Hndman; rs
| he declared afteTward he never saw Federais
fight so we'll and that he never saw Confederate
troops fight better"
In conclusion, i will say that in all the his.
| tory and accounts of that dreadful three DAYS
battle, / have failed to see Whitaker's Brigade
mentioned. With less than 1000 men we lost
between o'clock p. N. aud shutdown ,732 kill.
ed and wounded. Therefore we claim the
honor for the Second Brigade, First Division
Fourth Corps.-W. H. YoE, Co. b, 10th Ohio
| Richmond, Ind.
Send 2-cent. stamp TO DIR. ]. c. Aver & Co.
| Lowell, Mass, for a set Of their album cards