The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1907-06-21
BATTLE OF
CEIcAMAUCA.
From "hOuAtAin Campaign IN
GeOrGia," BY James n. BrOWA.

er, the Chicamauga Battle, and ask
YOU to copy the brief history of that
great battle, which is correct in every
way. 1t gives the beginning, ending and
results, with going without a general
debate of the battle. So few young
people OF this community know any
thing about the cival war and its his
tory is why want this particular piece
of this large inserted in your paper.
know they will all have a chance 10
see it then. am not trying to hunt
anv glory for myself. for there is no
glory for a Florida soldier unless he
was member of the End Florida regi-
ment and got licked at fighting.
With best wishes,
HUGH BLACK
On the 18th of September, 1868, was
fired the first gun of what is known as
the great battle of Chickamauga' The
position of the two armies that morn
ing, in brief, was as follows:
Rosecrans occupied the northwest
bank of West Chickamauga Creek, his
line extending its sinuOus course for
dozen miles or more, guarding all the
fords, bridges, or other places or
transit, for the purpose of preventing
a crossing by the Confederate army.
east side of the creek, which is very
muddy and generally quite deep; and
Bragg's idea was to force his way over,
at various points, and fight the battle
on the Chattanooga side of the creek.
At Reeds Bridge, in Catoosa County,
Ca, some seven miles west of Ring
gold, a detachment of Michigan cavalry
was stationed, with orders to prevent
any advance by the COnfederates
Having been three for a day or more,
their commander determined, that
morning, to send about two hundred
mounted men acros the bridge, for the
purpose of reconnaissance, and develop
ing the Confederate position. At the
same time he ordered that the planks be
loosened, so that, when the cavalry re-
turned, these could be dropped into
the creek, and the bridge thus practl-
cally destroyed. The detachment cross
ed the stream, as ordered, and the
work of loosening the planks was com
menced by the others.
The scouting party, however, had
scarcely begun dCploying on the east
side of the creek before the Confed-
crates, who had been watching them
some couple of hundred yards distant,
at the edge of the woods on the sum-
nit of the elevation rising from the
bridge, opened fire, from couple of
pieces Of artillery. The very first dis
charge secured the range of the bridge,
and a bombshall exploding upon 1t,
knocked up some of the planks, and
killed one man and wounded two others.
Almost at the same instant volley of
muske try was fired from the same posi-
ton. The work of destruction Of the
bridge by the Federals instantly ceas-
ed, and there was stamped efOr cover
to the forest nearby The detachment
of cavalry on the east bank, seeing the
folly of attempting to cross the bridge
under a raking fire, galloped northeast
ward, down the creek, endeavOring to
find SEINE other crossing place. After
going about a mile ard half and find
ing no regular ford, they swan their
horses through the stream, and thus es-
crates charg ed across the bridge, dis
persed the cavalry, and Immediately
downward, towards Alexander's Bridge,
about one mile and half distant, and,
after quite struggle, possession of
this was also secured. Later on during
the day crossing was effected at several
other points Accordingly next morn
ing found Bragg's army, in line of bat
tie, on the northwest side of West
Chckamauga Creek. The struggle then
began, which continued with such des-
perate fury, and resulted in such dis
tressing carnage to both sides, during
the next three days.
Bragg's object seems to have been
to crush Rosecrans' left wing, and Sc
cure possession of the road leading
through Missionary Ridge, via Ross
vile, to Chattanooga. The result of
the battle is well known. ROsecrans'
army, was routed and driven back to
Chattanooga; and, but for the stand
which General Thomas took on SnOd-
grass Hill, and his heroic defence of
that position, and the check which he
gave to the COnfederates at that point,
the defeat of ROsecrans would have
been a crushing one, and the sweep Of
the Confederate advance may have eX-
tended back TO Kentucky and have al
most changed the fate Of the war.
"But great battles are fought behind
the Stars.
The struggle at Snodgrass Hill was
desperate and bloody in the extreme,
and was characterized as being "un-
questionably one of the most terrific
musketry duels ever Witnessed but
Thomas, having been reinforced by
Granger and Steadman, who had moved
without orders, 20 join him, held this
position until the rest Of the Federal
line of battle had been routed. and only
Hetreated on the evening of The 10th,