Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-08-04

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Of Woods division. under Thomas. Al
Chickamauga Thomas held the left, so
history says, while the center and right
were swept back in wild disorder
Woods division joined on to the broken
line at the center Thomas saw the dissis
ter creeping toward him as the Confeder'
ates walked over the brigades and di-
visions beyond. To Opdyeke he said. indi
eating ridge where the Ohioans lay. This
point must be heldp' "We'll hold it or go
to heaven from it," was the reply
Opdycke then told his men TO fix bayonets,
made a speech of six words and started
in to clear the ground Of the encroaching
enemy.
A second Confederate column bounded
forward, seeming TO want the position as
badly as did Thomas. Opdycke made an
other speech, longer than the first by ten
words, and coolly rode up and down the
line, the only mounted officer in sight. The
charge was repealed and in the midst of It
the old Forty-frst Ohio reached the scene
at double quick. The men recognized
their Shiloh hero and set up wild cheer.
The newcomers took their place on the
left of the One Hundred and Twenty-flfth
and the two regiments stuck together like
twins during the rest Of the fight, IA chink
at least in the rock that butfeted disaster
that day along the River of Death"
A modern army does not travel on en-
thusiasm, so the emotion is extra powerful
when a streak of it lights upon a favored
company of soldiers Opdycke aroused en-
thusiasm, not by being a camp fire favor
lite, for be was just the contrary-a rigid
stern ascetic-but By the such decried quail
ity of earnestness I'll speeches skipped
in this story, II pri Z. I'd type, would
read as fat rs n last yeaIi- Sermon bur On
the lips OF lion hearted soldier. standing
at the lannon's mouth. they moved the
heart as fiery eloquence.
In the next battle Col. Opdycke led a
demibrigade of five regiments. 1t WAS AZ
Mission Ridge, and he told his officers that
when the word came to ''go" lie purposed
taking his men up the heights whether
the rest of the army got there or not
True to his word, he led on up the noun
tain, took the first crest without halt
and pushed ON to the second, capturing
the headquarters of the Confederate gen
eral and seven cannon. His superior Off
GERS asked for his promotion, but it did not
come until the Atlanta campaign was half
over. In the meantime he figured In a
daring exploit with his own Ohio boys
1t was at Rocky Face Ridge, Georgia, May
10, 1864.
The enemy held spur of the mountain
that jutled out into the valley, forming an
abrupt angle The crest was 800 feet above
the base, the slopes precipitous and rocky
Opdycke was ordered to scale It with his
500 men. The details were left to him.
The valley around the ridge was neutral
ground, and he led his little column to the
foot of the eastern slope, opened fire and
threw out skirmishers as make believe.
Then withdrawing the bulk of his forlorn
band, he hurried around the point to the
western slope mounted the steep and rocky
side, his very boldness paralyzing the Con
federates, who were rallying TO drive him
back.
To the enemy it looked like an attack
front and rear, and the narrow ridge wasn't
good place to be in that case, so they
skedaddled along the crest to the main
land, leaving the Ohioans clean sweep to
crow over.
Four days after the mountain exploit
Opdycke was wounded and carried to the
rear. Recovering self control he instantly
rode back to his place in the line. After