The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-03-29
THE GREAT BATTLE OF CHICAMAUGA.
The Fiercest and Most StubbornIy Contested of the
Bloody Civil War.
FEDERALS ROUTED AT END OF SECOND
Part Played by Ectors Celebrated Texas Brgade-Bragg
Failed to Follow up Advantage
BY A. A.-eEN. BYLAND ToDHUNTER.


fought on September 10 and 20, 1868,
and by odds was the biggest and most
desperate conflict of the civil war,
when measured by stubborn and un-
daunted fighting, a standard the
application and fairness Of which
there viii be none to dispute.
The contending forces were the
federal army, numbering about 49,
900 men, commanded by Gen w. S.
Rosecrans, and the confederate army,
numbering less than 10, 900 men Of all
arms, commanded by Gen. Braxton
Bragg. The confederate loss in the
battle was was about $4,000 men and
and the federal loss is estimated to
have been 10, 900 to 81, 900 men.
In giving an outline Of this battle
thirty-nine years ago, as ! remember
it, without diary or notes to assist
me, l trust that any Discrepancy may
be lightly viewed.
In writing of this battle my object
is to give an account of the part taken
by Ector's Texas brigade, Of which !
was the A. A. General This brigade,
forming a part of Walkers infantry
corps, after crossing the C!iUdEauga
river at Byram s ford, Saturday morn
ing about O'Clock or sooner; Gen.
Forrest, with his cavalry, having
developed the enemy in great num-
bers on the federal left wing and
being overpowered, asked for infantry
assistance. Walkers corps being
the nearest infantry, Ector's Texas
and Wilson'S Georgia brigades were
ordered to Forests assistance, which
troops, before 9 O'Clock, opened the
battle that lasted for two days with
unabated fury, the contendlng forces
| fighting at close range, almost within
the smoke Of their rifles and the
flames of their batteries Wilson'S on
the left, Ectors in the center and
Forests (dismounted cavalry on the
right. We soon met the first line of
the enemy and drove them back to
the second line and continued to drive
them until near their supposed third
line, or fresher troops. Before reach
ing this last line of troops, Wilson Is
Georgia brigade, being fanked on his
/ left and Forrest on his right, both
these brigades were forced to retire,
leaving Ector's Texas brigade without
support on either side with the enemy
on every side, fighting more like bul
dogs than human beings and soldiers
falling at almost every point In
moving by right tanks we captured
several hundred of the enemy in om
rear, which troops had pursued Will
son and Forrest. This engagement
in which the brigade exhausted nearly
all its forty rounds of ammunition,
lasted about two hours. Ammunition
was at once replenished and we were
ordered forward into action again
Together with Gen. Liddil's division
viz; Walthall's and Govan's infantry
brigades, on the left of our formel
position, we fought over nearly th'
same thick woods and brush as before
We met them with such clasu anC
deadly aim that the first line wa
again driven back upon their SECOND
line, fighting stubbornly for ever.
foot Of ground yielded. Our Texa
brigade, in pursuit Of the enemy
obliqued too much to the right, which
again left us without flank support
Both sides were badly used up, ou
brigade loss having been one-thlrd tn
men in action. The federals, il
sending fresh troops into action, NOV
ed a command parallel to our Texa
brigade in very close range, possibl.
not exceeding seventy-fye yards. A
soon as we discovered their colors ant
dress through the brush our Texan
gave them a close volley and rushe'
upon them, which completely frus
trated and drove them back in grea
confusion. The ground.at this poIn
: seemed to be covered with dead an
wounded. This was near II O'Clock
Saturday, the arst day.
i At about this time Gen. Cheatham'
division, .csmpoaed .of f0Gr ane. Ten