The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-01-23

1he cavalry WAS pOsleu Oh thS HdhAS
Tie left was the vital point; and w
were that day to fight for the existenc
of the army and the occupation o
Chattanooga. Defeat here would have
been most terrible blow to our cause
for we would have been compelled K
recross the Tennessee River and yield W
all that had been gained by the Sum
mer's campaign.
The field of battle was vast forest
whose dense foliage prevented us from
seeing so yards in our front. About
9 o'clock the enemy moved up to attack
Our men
HELD THEIR FIRE
until the front line could be easily seen,
and then opened up with volley which
staggered the enemy. His second line
was pushed on and met a similar fate.
Their lines fell back, reformed, and tried
= it again. Five or six times this was gone
through with.
The loss was heavy on the part of the
enemy, but insignificant on our part, con-
sidering the brave work done. Gen. Pal
mer was on the left of lis division all
day, and | was on the right of mine.
This brought us together. Late Sun
day evening the fighting was heavy to
our right and rear, under the eye of Gen.
Thomas. Defeat at that point would
have placed the successful enemy in our
wear.
Palmer suggested that we send our
reserve brigades to that point which we
did, and Thomas told me afterwards that
their timely arrival
SAVED TIE DAY.
I then said to him that he was in
debted to Palmer (now Senator), who
made the suggestion. About six o'clock
the army iell back to Rossville, and on
the following day but one we took up
our position in front Of Chattanooga.
In 1882 the Indians were encamped
on the stream upon which this battle
was fought, and on or near this battle
ground.
The cholera broke out among them,
and many died. After the disease was
abated the chief men assembled and
named the stream ChicEamauga, signi-
flying, in their language, The River of
Death" and it again became one in
1868, as-about $4,000 men fell on that
field.
This battle had a queer beginning.
Col. Dan McCook, a brigade com
mander, reported 10 Gen. Thomas that
there was a Confederate brigade on the
north side of the river, and that the
bridge in its rear had been destroyed,
making it impossible for it to rejoin the
main army; that he
COULD CAPTURE 1T
with his brigade if he would allow him
to attempt ii. Thomas consented and !
McCook moved forward.
Soon be was reinforced by Brannan's |
Division, and bis by others, until the
whole army was involved. McCook
was mistaken, as the entire rebel army
was on the north side Of the stream.
Ia tie National Cemetery at Chatta-
nooga lie 1900 brave men, the greater
number Of whom fell in this battle. /
While it is pleasant to recall the events
of the war, there is always a tinge of
sadness in the thought that so many OF
our comrades, who by their courage and
bravery illustrated the annals, fell In
that terrible struggle.
Go where you win, on the wind-swept
prairie or in the mansion, you viii find
those who still mourn for friends who
offered up their lives freely that our
country might live.
A generation has come to the front
the members of which know nothing of
the hardships endured by our brave
men, who risked their lives to rescue
the country from tie greedy NAV of
dissolution and rebellion. Nav this
generation treat the old soldier with
great kindness, and may our country
I" know war no more"