The National tribune., 1900-08-30
STEEDMAN AT CHICKAMAUGA.
Comrade Tells How He Came to the Relief
of the 18th KY. and others.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUSE: VIII,
should any disparaging remarks be made
upon the action of Gen. Steedman and his
division at Chickamauga Sept. 20, 1868
How well | remember how he came to ou,
relief upon that day and upon that field
We opened the fight on Saturday morn
ing, and continued in it until Sunday
night. Ihe first man to receive a fata
shot at this battle that l know Of was
private, Dan Stewart, of Co. D, in my
regiment. 1t was early in the fight or
Saturday morning
On Sunday morning the enemy found
an opening on the Union right, and as
they marched into it our forces doubled
back so as to form Of us an elbow. as il
were, which resulted in breaking up our
line, forcing us to retire without much
regularity.
Not long afterwards we found our.
selves in the rear of the hill upon which
was Gen. Thomas. directing the forces
he had there. In short time we were
ordered to take position upon a hill run.
ming at right angles with the one Gen
Thomas was on. Our orders were to hold
this hill at all hazards.
Pretty soon evidences of a coming at.
tack upon our position by the enemy be,
came strong, and we We're filed with anx-
iety, knowing as we did that a large part
OF our force then were stragglerS from
various parts of the army who had be-
come scattered and lost from their COM
mands by the break made upon the right.
as mentioned above. Stray shots of can
non came near us and small arms were
not idle.
/ was standing a little below the line.
nj CT icfp in
Filled with curiosity, continued to stare
at these moving clouds, which were grow
ing In size and sweeping over our heads
in great quantities. Presently l saw tie
bluecOats coming out below the clouds. At
first there came few, followed closely by
more and then more of them until there
appeared in full view a solid mass of
troops marching by the right flank straight
past our rear.
At the proper time the command. "By
the left flank" came, which, being prompt
ly obeyed, threw the column into line of
battle facing the enemy. ''Forward,
march," being obeyed, this column in line
Of battle came marching up the hill. Our
forces lay down to let them pass, which
they did in fine style, splendid cline and
'front.'" and over the hill they went and
down through the brush out of our sight.
Only few moments passed and there
musketry l ever heard before or since.
Our broken forces retired from there and
were soon stationed at another point,
where we remained until about sundown,
when we left for Rossville.
This body of men that came to our re-
lief was Gen. Steedman and his division
If he used any means to stop his men upon
that field it was done to keep them from
going too far into the enemy's ground Just
at that time. Where was Gen. Whitaker
then? l saw him come back over the hill
and hunt a Surgeon to dress a wound he
received in that charge. He found the
Surgeon near where Gen. Thomas was
He did not disnount, but the wound was
dressed as he sat on his horse. l said,
General. you found it hot down there, did
you not?"
"Yes," he said, ''but didn't we give it
to emf. b. WEBSTER, Captain, Co. l.
18th KY, Louisville, Ky.