Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1895-10-26
ON cHIcKAMAuGA FIELD.
The Great Battle that Occurred Septem-
Der 10 and 20, 1909.

With the sole exception of Gettys-
burg, Chickamauga was the most
saDgulnary battle which had thus far
ever been fought on the American
continent 1t took its name ap.
prcpriately enough from the creek
along the banks of which the stub.
born encounter ragged most fiercely-
a stream whose Indian name is said
to signify ''rjver Of DEATH Rose
Grams, with bis army of $4,000 men,
had marched out of Chattanooga in
the late summer of 1868 in pursuit
OF Bragg, who seemed to be retreat
ing southwark. Butthe Confederate
commander, receiving re-enforce-
ments which brought his force up to
10000 men, turned suddenly about
and fell upon Roseerans with great
vigor on the morning of the 10th of
September. All day long the bat
tie ragged with the utmost fury. 1t
was Bragg's plan to crush the Fed
eral left flank seize the roads to Chat
tanooga, cut Rosecrans off from his
base Of supplies and capture or de-
story his entire army. But fortu-
nately the Union left-the "keypoint'
of the whole situation--was CON-
manded by that wonderful tenacious
chiettain, Major-General George II.
Thomas, who on that fearful day
well won his famous title of "The
Rock of Chickamauga.'
Though the Confederate attack
make by superior numbers, was both
fierce and determined, it had gained
no important advantage until
terrible disaster befell the center of
the Union line through misunder-
standing of orders which led General
Wood to withdraw an entire division.
THROUGH the gap thus left Longstreet
Immediately threw six divisions,
dividing McCook's corps from the
rest of the Union army and scatter
ing the entire right wing in great
confusion.
The disaster seemed to be irrepar-
able. Rosecrans himself, apparently
believing that all was lost, left the
field and fed to Chattanooga TO
gather up the fragments of bis beaten
and disorganized forces and make
a last stand there. But Thomas,
undaunted as the mountains which
doomed above him, clung to his posi-
ton until be was re-enforccd by the
reserve under General Gordon
Granger. With less than half as
many men he beat back repeated
onset of almost the entire Confeder-
ate army, The slaughter along his
lines was frightful, and Thomas
men met and hurled back with cold
steel the final desperate charges of
the enemy. Then under the shelter
OF darkness, Thomas withdrew the
heroic fragments ofhis corps toward
Chattanooga.
Technically Chickamauga was
Confederate victory, and beyond a
certain moral advantage the bloody
triumph was fruitless for Chattanooga
remained in Union hands until Grant
and Sherman came up and raised its
siege in the splendid campaign which
eliminated in the thrilling struggle
"above the clouds" on Lookout
Mountain. The Union loss at Chick
amauga was 10000 men killed,
wounded and prisoners; the Confed
crate from $4,000 to 10000. This
record eloquently attests the stub
born and desperate nature of the
fighting, which extended over two
whole days, the 18th and Goth of
September. -Four brigadier generals
commanding fell on either side.
Among the Union officers who
especially distinguished themselves
were Philip II. Sheridan, who led
division and James A. Garfield,
Rosecrans' chief Of staff, who was
made major genera! after the battle
for his "gallant and meritorious ser
vices. Boston Journal.