The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-12
THE BATTLE or CHICKAMAU0A.
Army Of the Cumberland Saved BY the
Fourth Indiana CAVALRY.


Fourth Indiana Cavalry.
In its issue OF September Is. 1892. the Posr.
lNrELLIo1NCER has an editorial proving ChicE.
amauga the ''crisis Of the civil war" and the
article contains facts only.
There IL one interesting fact connected with
this battle that has never been published. All
the great men of the war agree that Bragg.
through lack Of moral courage. failed to attack
kOsecrans. and that N attack would have re.
suited In the complete destruction OF the Union
army.
On the 10th or 18th McCook's corps was in Al.
pine valley and greatly scattered. The Conied.
crates had this corps at their mercy aud at the
hour when AcCook nrst learned OF the advance
there conld have been no ESCAPE because the
whole corps must retreat BY . single narrow
road aready made almost impassable) up and
over the mountain,
When McCook learned what q hopeless posi-.
ton he occupied no ordered the Fourth Indi-
ana cavalry to cross the bridge over . deep creek
and advance on the road toward Rome Col.
Leslie asked for orders in case he found the
enemy too strong for his men. He was
told to keep advancing-that supports
would b s@nt at the proper time, ana that he
must. under any and all circumstances, keep up
the advance. and that he must not retreat even
II he met Bragg's whole force. Not far from the
bridge We met the enemy's advance. and stead
lily drove them back. The colonel had gone
through the Vicksburg campaign with
part OF his regiment, and had been quite
. time with Banks and had Joined the maiu part
OF the regiment during the advance from MUIR
freesboro to Chattanooga He was therefore .
veteran of1icer. In this advance of his regiment
he took ever advantage offered BY the natural
face OF tho country and 90 handled the regiment
% to make the enemy believe Il was the real
head OF AcCook's whole force. After many
hours OF hard skirmshing the regiment met
aA
vance Along stand was here made. From the
start courisrs had been sent back with reports
OF the fight aud requests for help. but these men
all returned with orders to keep advancing and
help would come at the proper time. Late in
the day strong column was seen advancing in
front and another column behind the hills
to our left had already gained our
LETT nank. The regiment was ordered back at
gallop short distance ana at this moment .
scout came to W with the news that
McCook's whole corps was gone up
the mountain road. Col. Leslie knew at
once that We had been selected TO
save the corps BY the sacrifice OF our whole
regiment, and he told his officers he would do
his duty and save his regiment also. slow
retreat was made until near the bridge, and
then BY rush No crossed under heavy fire of
infantry that had gained the bank near us, but
We held them back until the bridge was partly
destroyed.
We got to the foot Of the mountain after
night. and It Vas an awful dark night We
found the road had been filled with trees and
rocks to prevent pursuit, thus proving that We
were not expected to escape death or capture
At last . dangerous path was found and
one BY one the tired and worn out men
and horses gained the summit The advance
was 30 slow that IL was daylight when the rear
guard got up the path. As fast - the men
gained the road they hurried forward This
caused q struggling, scattered advance reaching
for mites. At n IN. the head OF the column
caught up with the rear of McCook's corps and
kept on to McCook's headquarters. When he
was reused from sleep by an orderly and
told that some oficers wished to report
news from the rear, he asked Col. Leslie what
troops he commanded. The colonel told him No
was colonel Of the Fourth Indiana cavalry, aud
had CALLED to report the latest newa Gen. Nc.
Cook replied: II an glad. indeed, to see you.
for never expected 70 see any OF you again."
He then explained the necessity that led to the
order for our advance.
During that dark night many men aud horses
went to sleep and were left in the woods Some
were hurt among the rocks. and many sick and
worn out men were left by the way. Ono
poor fellow while riding fast in the
dark ran into . fallen pine and
a dry. strong limb ran into his body. hss horse
passed on leaving him there in horrible torture.
Ii was 80 dark that we could not tell what allied
him until man rode up who had matches and
. FIRE " ns started. We did ali We could for him
aud lett man with him and sent an ambulance
back for him a. soon as We caught up with the
infantry.
During the hardest Of the fight tina, dsy one
OF the men was shot In the back of the head
and the bail passed on. at his mouth. carrying
away his front teeth. lie fell close
to house and was supposed to
be dead We were greatly surprised six
months after this TO have him repor. for duty.
He had been nursed 10 health by a widow and
her daughter and had been paroled and sent
north. and at the close Of the war he won't down
there and married the young lady.
The result OF our days work was very hard on
the Fourth cavalry, but the stand We made had
deceived Bragg and caused the whole plan
for destroying McCook 10 fail. Hill and
Longstrset were not deceived, but Bragg
was and would not allow hasty AL
vance. II McCook had been DESTROYED, the
corps OF Thomas ana crittenden would have
been too weak 10 defend themselves against
Bragg's army. Before the plans could be made
by Bragg 70 attack one of the other corps. Gen
Rosecrars had got his army in better position,
though stsn in critical situation.
have always though. that the Fourth in-
diana cavalry saved the Army OF the Gum ber!aad
from destruction.
No official repo., was ever made of our DAYS
work. Ia fact the cavalry officers of the Army
OF the Cumberland never permitted war CORE
Sponden,s a. their heada uartef and they seemed
To have a horror OF writing reports. On one oc-
cssioa our regiment, when reduced 20 20
men, charged d battery o: ak guas that
were supported ty three Texas cavalry
reg !ment.. and We captured the guns
and csissons with the eaEnoleers and horses,
ana more csyslrymen than We had in The
chargc. We got safely awsy with the spoiIs and
felt rr,ogi of our work Vet saere Was 40 official
report made OF the nght
What al interesting history We could have II
the enlisted men o. the war would wri;e the
facts about their Companies aud resincnts
J. ~ VAN HOOK
Fort Meade, Polk County. Fla
The Union Pacific 10 the orty trsnsean.. nsa:A
Lire mining two lArnuxc trail ,isily irn-, TIA