The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-10-09
Wednesday, Oct. 9, 1885.
SPEECH OF GOV. OATES.
DELIVERED AT CHATTANOOGA ON FRI
DAY, SEPT. 20,

DELIVERED AT CHATTANOOGA ON FRI
DAY, SEPT. 90,
On the Occasion of the Meeting oi
Survivors of the Army OF NOrth-
ern Virginia and the Army OF the
Potomac.
Soldiers Of the Lost Cause ana Successlui
Defenders of the Union:
This is n great occasion, and an extra
ordinary compliment Is extended 10 me ny
the Invitation to address you: / apPrehen,e pPea, q
that my lack OF ability Will poorly Vlnuicate
the wisdom of the selection. ,.
Thirty-two years after one of the bloodlest
conflicts in the history of battles between inc
gallant soldiers who fought for the union ana
The Confederates who fought for separate ma
tIonal existence, on the field OF Chlcka'
mauga-the 18th and 10Th days OF september
1853. Saturday and Sundays receiving ltS
second baptism into the everlasting history
of the great events Of the world. This irater'
nal meeting and participation IN the deaicaI aai
tion of the great National Park avn Wnica WI WIZ
point out the scenes OF the conhlct 10 r sue
ceeding generations, for hundreds ol SetiS
marks new era in the history OF ciSliiha, t1a,
tion In no book was IL ever recorueu tnat
the batue-scarred soldiers of two opposing
armies ever before met rs brethren on such
field of strife to mark with enduring monu-
ments where they shed each others blood,
The good example was nrSI SCI oy ineralSI nnnnSns
armies voting for an appropriation OF money
from the national treasury 10 purchase,
mark and beautlfy this great PARK wHlch pro pro
mauga, on which the Confederates were sue
cessf1l, but also that of Missionary ridge,
where, at a later day, the union forces were
equally victorious.
But q few months ago we saw unveiled IN
the city OF Chicago a monument 10 the Con-
federate dead.
10 pause and think how the melloWlng IN,
huence of time smooths down the wrinKled
front Of war, but impressed the younger
generation with the fact that the memories 20 o'
the great struggle now belong alone 10 MS
This great gathering and the fraternal feel
ine>maniiested will give to the historian lot
record something new under the sun. -,
This great occasion Is higher honor 10 Inc
union veteran than TO the confederate oe-
cause he was conqueror, anu ye. ne ne 70 III ~
dnlges no vain or offensive boast over MS IaI-
en- rival. 1t is a high compliment 10 the Con
federate that his prowess and patriotism are
thus acknowledged. -, -,
the union veteran because 1t commends the
side he fought for the more generous consla-
Grafton OF the younger generation OF south-
erners.
The Union veteran, by this fraternity, ex-
tolls his own gallantry and high soldiery
qualities, by which alone, he was everaoie tG
triumph over such stubborn ana 9e.erinine;u 9anrn;a
foes. 1t Is complimentary TO the Confederate
veteran, In this manly way, 10 acknowledge
defeat, though accomplished by overpowering
numbers and TO strike hands with his late
adversaries as honorable men ana IL Is not
only commendable to the Confederate, out
highly h onorable and patriotic ior him anu
his late foeman to meet here on this occasion,
which proclams to the world tnat we we reai,a are
have peace.
This meeting is a most impressive pre-
sentation to the civilized people OF the entire
world of the highest observance. ol Tie great
national code OF honor.
ARMY OF NoRTuER ERS VIRGINIA.
have been designated to represent on this
occasion the troops from the Army OF North
ern Virginia, who came down to reinforce the
army OF Ten nessee.
twas one Of those, who, in an humble way,
commanded the Fifteenth Alabama in
fantry regiment, and part OF the time, on
the afternoon or the 10th, commanded fonr
regiments of Laws brigade. Two entire ul-
transferred out here, but the only brlgades
which arrived In Time to participate IN tne
battle were Benning's Georgia, Robinson,s
Texas and Laws sotR aSona Ti and
Humphreys Mississippi brigades OF Nc
Laws division.
These troops wereall old veterans, who aad ad
seen much service, and had been commanded
through many engagements by excellent
officers and never had known defeat.
II is not expected of me that should give
a
brigades, or the regiments composing the
same. II is enough for me to say that their
gallant conduct was fully up TO the h1gn
standard they had erected FOR themselves 5 ga al
Manassas or Bull Run, at Seven Pines, Mea'
dow bridge. Gaines mill, Fraziers sada larm.
ricksburg Charlottesville and GettysPurg'
and some OF the regiments were with JACK
son in his celebrated vally campaign In '69.
The roar of the deadly musketry and the
deafening thunders OF the artillery were
l., nI,t \, fn m
Chlckamauga on Sunday there stood before
them living wall OF brave and determined
men; yet when Longstreet said FORWARD
my men," they moved IKE a tnanaer @ s'oytn' ognn
though double, could long resist or Withstand;
and they had not taken drop OF powder and
whisky.
OF the field, and at the last point OF the heroic
resistance there fell before the hre OF my
regiment that accomplished and lamented
"Dying, Egypt, Dying" Recognizing him
lying with the sun full In his face / stopped
long enough TO draw him TO the shade OF
tree.
In this struggle-just at the turn of the
tide-my regiment captured a twogun bat
terry, turned and discharged one of the pieces,
which was loaded and the shell exploded
within three feet of General Rosecran's head,
from which he miraculouSly escaped wlthout
injury, as he told me since the war l r.
piled, "Well. General, would have been de;
am very glad that you escaped unhurt.
At the close OF the battle, with victory on
his side, Gen. Bragg made the mistake too
often made during the war, OF falling vlsor-
two days thereafter he deliberately moved up
his army and besieged Chattanooga Long
street, now reinforced by the brigaues ol
Jenkins South Carolina and Anderson's
Georgia, o. Hoods division, and Bryans ana
Wafford's Georgia brigades OF McLawS d.
vision was still on the left, his command en-
tending 10 the west Side OF Lookout noun
tain.
/ was sent over into Lookout valley, where
the Fourth Alabama. under Col. Bowles, was
picketing the river as sharp-shooterS near
The end of Raccoon mountain and shooting
the drivers and teams when they attempted
TO use the dirt wagon road on the other side
OF the river The picket line was extended
by companies from my regiment clear up TO
Browns ferry. had in reserve six compan-
les OF infantry, numbering about 40 men,
and a section of the Louisiana battery. For
three weeks we held this position. Rose
Grams was restricted to one wagon road to sup
ply his army, which reached condition pro-
dncinq grave apprehension that II would have
to retreat, which II was vas no. 1 P[eParGI 10 oo' OF
plan was devised to remove my COM
mand and thus raise the blockade. and when
Gen Grant assumed command IL was carried
ont on the night of the Goth OF October, when
he succeeded In landing 200 men on my side
at the ferry. l made the best resistance
could with my handful OF men, but just as
day was breaking on the 9th was severely
wounded and carried from the leiu. o,,
/ had for two days reported indications and
ask ed for reinfOrcements to resist the attack.
but they came not until that morning, when
IL was too late. Thus we lost Lookout valley
And Hooker's two corps which came oy way
of Rridgeport, were thus enabled to capture
, JookOu mountain, after Longstfeets troops
were Withdrawn tbereirom:
Bragg was forced to retire to Missionary