The National tribune., 1906-12-20
STEEDMAN'S CHARGE AT CHICkA.
MAUGA.
The 18th His Account of tho Flag In
cident.

cident.
Editor National Tribune: ] am read
ing with much interest your Army ol
1.-THE Cumberland" as it appears in TIL:
National Tribune.
l write with regret, however. that in
tho issue of the 11th inst, in speaking
of Steedman's charge on SnodgraSs
Ridge, yeu followed that old story that
III the first assault "A regiment gave way,
and that its flag was taken by Gen
'Steedman. You add an imaginary tale
TO the effect that some one called the
Colonel coward
The regiment referred TO WAS the
J15th H., and the Colonel. Jesse II.
Moore as brave a man as ever fought
IN that field. ! was a member of the
ll5th. was in the front, not 20 feet to
the left of the colors when the assault
was made and until after it ended, and
know that there was no halting and
no taking of the colors by Gen. SteeJ-
man, and no stopping until we were
frver 100 yards down the south slope
There was a flag episode which
first heard of some 10 days later, when
taken into Chattanooga from the field.
1t occurred in my absence near the
slose of the day, and is well described
in Lieut.. RoySiS excellent history Of
the 115th H., on pps. 133-134. Some
observations will also be found on pps.
1915 of the same volume.
You have written a fine account of
the great battles of the West, and in
the main seems to me to be very ac-
curate-G. s. Robinson, Des Moines,
Iowa.
As told in the history of the 115tll
Ill. the flag incident is as follows:
About 4:30 p. m. the want of am
munition began TO be seriously felt.
1,a nar rfrfst sttrah ag Il n Il
cd comrades were emptied; soon many
men were entirely out of Ammunition.
Our ammunition train had been ap-
propriated by other divisions, and there
seemed no possible source of supply.
About that time Prestons fresh divi-
sion of three brigades appeared in OR
front and began furious assault Oar
lines We're greatly thinned. The mon
of various regiments We're interminglnd
in many places. The most natural thing
occurred; Gen. Whitaker's Brigade be-
gan to retire from the hill Every man
that could find a cartridge was using It
to the best advantage. Even those
without ammunition were but slowly
moving to the rear. In this way the
115th had fallen back possibly IS or
so yards from the crest, when Gen.
Steedman came galloping along the
line, and inquired of Ccl. Moore why
he was not holding his ground-why
retreating, TO which Col. Moore replied:
We are out of ammunition. Give Us
ammunition, and We will hold the hill
against all odds The General re-
sponded: Give them the bayonef
then With great promptness Col
Moore gave the commands, Fix bay
onetsi Forward! Double-quick-
March, and with equal promptness
worn, wearied, reduced in numbers rs
they were, the boys of the 115th obeyel
The command. AS We started forward
Gen. Steedman seized our coiors and
carried them a short distance in the
charge, giving great enthusiasm to the
men. Thus, without ammunition, that
volunteer regiment was led in that
charge up Snodgrass Hill. TO the crest
and beyond, even driving PrestOn's
fresh troops to the valley below. This
was the celebrated Flag Incident told
in SO many ways in reports, war arti-
cles and histories Gen. Rosecrans, in
his official report. puts it in the frs;
charge, saying: Quick as thought h
directed his advance brigade upon the
enemy. Gen. Steedman, taking a resi.
mental color. led the column Mos,
writers upon the battle have followed
his statement. 1t certainly sound;
grand to speak of the Commanding
General going into battle, leading hi.
advance regiment, carrying its colors
But IL does not detract particle OF tn.
well-merited praise from the General Il
tell IT as 1t occurred; that he carried
that flag in the last charge of the day
and by the side of the equally gallant
Colonel of the regiment, assisted il
leading his broken, weary troops to I:
final triumph over their assailant
THE Confederates were stunned b,
che impetuosity of the charge They
doubtless attributed il to large rein.
forcements of fresh troops. Perhap:
they thought it wise to take their bear.
1ngs before renewing the contest They
at least were content to rest awhile anG
permit our brigade to quietly remain
on the crest of the ridge, enjoying it
aonors''