The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-13

s A BATTLE OF Thu GIANTS. {
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The celebration of the thirty-second an
nlversary of the battle of Chickamauga a
few evenings ago at a union meeting cf
Miller and Stevens posts OF the Grand
Army was made doubly interesting by an
address of Judge Langley on the incidents
OF the battle as seen by participant.
Judge Langley was colonel OF the One
Hundred and Twenty-fifth Illinois
regiment. Changers reserve corps.
that went to Thomas support on
the Sunday afternoon when Ii was
do or de with the Union army. Chicka-
manga stands before the world today as
one II not the most stuboornly contested
battles Of the war. Gen. Boynton, who
was one Of the prime movers in the es-
tablishment of Chickamauga and Chatta-
nooga National Military parks. asserts
that the percentage OF its casualties ex-
ceeds those of Napoleon's most famous
battles as we'll as those OF later fields Of
modern Europe. AT the battle Of Chicka-
manga each side lost about 5000 men. and
as Judge Langley had an opportunity 20
witness with his own eve the awful
sights. his imprcmptu talk was very in
teresting. He attended the meeting WITH
out thought Of being called upon but sud
denly the presiding officer. F. H. Hurd.
called upon him. Judge Langley spoke in
substance as follows:
"ChickamauFa was an accident. M
strategic position was involved Chatta-
nooga. the objective point Of the campatrn
had already been ours for full ten davs
Rosecrans' good tactical skin had success
fully fauked Bragg out Of that stronghold
ana gained all the vantage ground for
more than six miles beyond. Here no
should have stopped. for he had Obtained
with no more than \ skIrmish what he had
hoped for only at hazard OF a great hat
tie But his success dazzleT him He mis-
took Bragg's withdrawal for a retreat and
desired 10 make = a complete rout For
this purpose he ordered Crittenden 70 fol-
low. sent McCook with the Twentieth
corps - Aloine. nearly forty miles from
Chattanooga to the left and rear Of the
enemy, with orders 10 intercept the sun
posed retreat. Thomas. with the Four
teenth corps. was advanced a. leas, half
THAI distance dehouching 20 the east Of
Nilsson Ridge from McFar1an1's Gap and
McT.amore's Cave. This disposition Of the
Union forces separated our corps from
ten 10 thirty miles. between which lay al
most impossible mountains In the mean
time Bragg was reinforced BY Longstreet's
corps from Virginia. troops from M.szls-
sippi and elsewhere and his felgned retreat
was suddenly changed 70 orders OF attack
first against Thomas with the hope of
breaking our center and beating the sew
era parts Of the army in detail
For the failure OF Braggs plan the
country IS infinitely more indebted 20 the
reluctance Of his subordinate officers 70
obey the orders Of attack than 10 the skill
Of our own commanders IN effecting the
concentration Of his army.
Lines Drawn for Bottle.
T'But nv September u Thomas was able 20
place his corps 20 the left Of Critienden.
against whose forces tEe enemy was well
aligned OF the west bank of the Chicka-
uaugs river and about twelve miles south
by east from CHATTANOOGA. while McCook
with 50 much q his corp. as withst0od a
week % farcet marches. covered Critte1-
den's right TO a point near Crawford's
springs. In .his position the battle proper
began on the 18Th and ragged az times and
or parts % the line z3th great severity. clos
ing AZ night with decided advantage 70 the
enemy. The right % the Union army had
been pressed back and n places driven out
OF lire. 80 as 20 require an entire read
tustment Of position for fhe next day
sunday morning. September %. the camp
vas early astir art everything seemed
ominous q battle, blood a1d disaster 4