The National tribune., 1898-12-08
End of the Battle OF Chickamauga.


clearing, in the midst of which was 10.
cabin, with few rude outbuildings. Owe
it few the yellow flag of the hospital service
and beyond could be seen the parked train!
and other evidences of the immediate real
of the line-of-battle.
| The roar of the battle would have told
them as much, for it was now deafeaning.
The earth seemed to throb, and the tree:
shake with the awful shocks. As they passed
the hospital they saw grewsome pile of am
putated legs and arms, while the ground
around about was filled with wounded. whose
grOans pierced through the roar of battle.
| James Bradshaw and Simeon Wheelwright,
the two tall, stalwart men who had stood on
the right and who had shown great GOODNESS
during the fight. gave one look at the dis
membered limbs. turned pale as death,
gasped, and fell in faint.
Forward Can't stop to pay attention
to them" commanded the Lieutenant, in
whom the battle-lever was burning.
| Though still more than two miles from the
low crest of Snodgrass Hill, where Gen.
| Thomas, with the remainder of the Army OF
| the Cumberland, was standing savagely at
| bay against the fierce assaults of Bragg's and
| Longstreet's overwhelming numbers, they
| v ere soon in the midst of the wild ruck and
confusion of the rear of great battle. Miles
| of wagons were being urged hither and yon,
sometimes in accordance with intelligent
| orders by officers, more often from the
panicky fears OF wagonmasters and teamsters;
riderless horses with saddles under their
bellies were gallOping frantically around;
squads of artillerymen in search of ammu-
milton were storming about, cursing cow
ardiy teamsters, whom they could not find
streams of wounded men were trying TO
make their way to the hospitals; officers were
yelling and swearing in their attempts to
rally shirks and towards who had fled from
the font; men from regiments which had
been broken and scattered by the fierce as
saults were trying to find their colors; col
onels whose regiments had been ordered up
from the rear were fiercely forcing their way
forward, with many dire objurgations on all
who impeded their progress.
1t was a scene to discourage any but the
stoutest heart, yet it only wrought up the
boys TO greater eagerness to get through to
the firing-line.
The smoke-crowned crest of Snodgrass Hill
was soon but half mile away They could
make out the ragged, irregular line of blue
constantly vailng itself in sulphurous vapor
enemy. The shrill yell of the rebels as they
renewed the charge, and the deep-toned cheer
of the Union soldiers as they repulsed it,
reached their ears in the momentary lulls of
the firing.
So far, in spite Of all deterrents, they had
brought every man through except the two
who had tainted at the hospital Everyone
had shown true metal. Little Abel Waite
had particularly distinguished himself by
skilful lodging under wagons and past tanks,
in order to keep up with the swift pace of the
longer-legged men.
They had as yet found no one in all the
throng to give them the least information as
TO their regiment. when ST spied member
of Co Q walking deliberately back, holding
the wrist of his shattered left hand in his
right, with his fingers COMPRISING the artery
to restrain the flow OF blood
"There's Silas Peckham,' exclaimed ST,
running up to him. Badly hurt, Sile?
"No, answered Silas, more cooily than if
he had stubbed his toe. LEFT hands gone
on strike That's all. VISIT | could find
a doctor to fix it up SO could git back to the
boys. They're havin' an awful tussle up
there, an need me bad. Better hurry up, ST.
Don't waste no time on me. I'll find a doc
tor soon an be back with you"
81 Where's the regiment, Sile ?" asked the
Lieutenant.
Right up there to the left o. them tall
hckories," answered Silas, pointing with his
bloody hand To the right o. that battery
you see there. That's our bully old battery
at work Greatest battery in the army. I've
kept my eye on the place, because | want to
git back as soon's / kin find the Surgeon.
Amt much lett o. the regiment, or the bat
H. hat hui he,
in hell with the Johnnies every time, and
don't you forgit it. Capt. McGillicuddy's in
command"
Capt. McGillicuddy said the Lieuten-
ant. "Why, he's the junior Captain in the
regiment"
He was Yesterday mornin', but he's now
senior to every body that's alive" answered
Silas The Kunnel wuz killed Yesterday
forenoon. The Lootenant- K unnel held out
about three hours an then he got it for keeps
an the Major tuck command an stuck out
till nigh evening, when they knocked him.
"This mornin' the Captains IS bin going
down so fast that l couldn't keep track of
EN-, till Capt. McGillicuddy was the only
one left, an he's swearin' that the rebels
never run no bullet that could hit him.
The Adjutant's acting aforementioned an
Major both tOwunst, and shOotin' a gun
when he haint nothin' else to do. But the
boys that's left's siayers, tell you. They've
jest stuck their toe-nails into that hilltop
there an every time them howlin' rebels
come yippin' an ki-yi-in' out o. the woods
they send 'em back on the dead run. But
they want you up there bad. You've got
more than's left in the regiment. Hurry up.
rll be back with you jest as soon's kin git
doctor to cooper me up little"
"Forward-Quick time-March !" shout
ed the Lieutenant. Guide on those tall
hickories.''
Onward they rushed full into the smoke
that drifted backward down the hill As
they gained the crest the air became clearer,
and they saw the sadly-shrunken remnant OF
their regiment strung in an irregular line
along the forward edge Some were binding
up wounds more or less severe, some were
searching the boxes of the dead and wounded
for cartridges, some were leaning on their hot
guns, looking curouSly into the woods at
the foot of the slope into which the rebels
had fed
Every face was blackened with powder
almost beyond recognition. The artillery
men to the left were leverishly swabbing out
their guns and trying to cool them off, and
bringing up everything in the shape of am !
munition from the lmbers in the rear.
Capt. MeGillicuddy was: leaning on his |
sword at the right of the line. intently
watching everything. He looked sharply |
around, when the men raised cheer on