The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-04-20
RreckinridRe in Battle.

Chickamauga. in the language Of the Chero-
KEGS, who once owned and lived in that coun-
try, means the river of blood" If this be So
says a writer in the New York Advertiser.
II IS certainly very appropriate, for. no mat
ter the reason for the aboriginal name. 1t Is
no longer a misnOmer. he last great battle
because. no doubt, IL is the most vivid IN the
memory of the soldier, always lmpresseS him
as the hardest fought and most desperate,
but think Chickamauga is an exception. and
to those who participated in it must always
stand out as the bloodeSt and hercest contest
In all their experience
1t was Sunday, Sept. 20, 1858. and the Union
army was represented on the held by the
+ Ourteenth Corps and the broken fragments
Of regiments brigades and even divisions Of
the wrecked corps OF Crittenden and Nc
Cook. under the command of that splendid
soldier. whose ability on this trying occasion
saved our cause from irreparable disaster
and won for himself the proud name Of the
Rock Of Chickamauga.
The irregular elevations the tortuous
course OF the shallow river. with Its red, pre-
clpitous banks, and the jungle of black Jack
and stunted cedars, besides forests Of larger
grown. made IL dlfncult Tor moving troops 10
maintain direction. while order in advance or
retreat was simply out of the question. To
these difficulties should be added the condi-
ton OF the atmosphere which kept the mist
from the water and the smoke from the burn
ing timber and guns hanging low over the
field, and which often brought friend and foe
into unexpected collision.
l was with some Wisconsin troops behind
eXtemporiZed breaStworss in a dense under
growth on the left. Twice the enemy under
Breckenridge, and again, as we understood
from prisoners under Polk. also charged on
our thin lines and twice were flung back to-
ward the river
1t was still early in the afternoon and the
/ firing IN our front ceased but increased in
the dire ;tiCn of the hill to the right We
were beginning to feel that we were to have a
rest when suddenly the men lying down in
my vicinity opened again, but 1 could see no
enemy. While [ was wondering as to the
cause. voice called out angrily from the
clOuded woods:
You id fools Don't you know you are
firing on your own men,
Accompanying this a gray horse leaped into
sight from the direction of the enemy, and
on his back was handsome young officer,
with gray eyes and the shadow of a coming
mustache on his upper lip. L shouted to the
men about me not TO fire, and then invited
the handsome cavalier to come and be cared
for
Instead of complying with my request he
! hand, waved his hat in his right and called
| back:
You're mighty kind, but I'll see you dead
| first
The next instant, he had wheeled leaped
| out of sight, and we could hear his horse
crashing through the timber.
AS soon as our men could recover from
| their amaZement, they fired in the direction
| taken by the young confederate. But even
| till this day it delights me to think that he
| was not hit. for conduct more daring and
| audaeious 1 had never witnessed before OF
| since, and doubt il it will ever 10 repeated