The National tribune., 1907-05-02
THE CLOSE OF CHICKAMAUGA.
What Regiment Fired the Mysterious
VolIey Which Ended the Battle.

Volley Which Ended the Battle.
Editor National Tribune: I have read
with much interest your account of the
battle of Chickamauga. VIII you allow
me q word as to how that battle really
closed?
Darkness had fallen on Snodgrass
Hill. The right of the line, composed
of Changers Corps, had been given or
ders to evacuate the Hill and did so,
and the position which had been so
bravely defended was imm ediately &C.
cupied by the enemy.
Three of the regiments which had
fought under Granger were by some
mistake overlooked. These regiments
were the 22d Mich, the seth and 21st
Ohio. These regiments were out of
ammunition, and the enemy coming up
on them in the dark of the evening not
only on their TANKS but in rear, their
only alternative was to surrender.
The 21st Ohio was the last regiment
reached, and when they surrendered it
was dark. AS the enemy was corral
ling the regiment a murderous volley
was poured into them. In the confusion
and panic which followed many of the
21st escaped, nearly one-half, I believe.
A number of Confederate officers speak
of the volleys fired. and some of them
say IL was an act of treacGery, as the
troops who fired the volleys had sur
rendered, but there is no doubt Of the
CONSERVATION and panic these produced
of tho 5th KY. Confederate regiment,
says Ia his report that it stampeded all
of Twigg's- Brigade, and that all the
prisoners would have escaped had 1t
not been for his regiment. These vol
ieys were the last firing In the great
battle of Chickamauga. Now, what
command fired them, and under what
,-to do IN
puted point. Both the eth Ind. and the
35th Ohio claim to have done the firing.
The 9th Ind, tho in Crittenden's Corps.
served during the entire battle under
Thomas. On the morning of the goth
1t was at the southwest corner Of KEEL
ley's Field. Here 1t stayed until 2:30
p. m. when an urgent appeal from
Thomas came for a brigade with am
munition to help him hold Snodgrass
Hill. Hazen's Brigade, to which the
9th belonged, was withdrawn from the
line and sent to the relief Of Thomas.
The brigade formed on the extreme left
of the line on Snodgrass Hill. and help
ed repulse the last furious charges of
Longstreet. Just before dark Gen.
Brannan sent an appeal for q regiment
with ammunition, saying his men were
out, with his right flank exposed. The
eth Ind. was taken from the brigade.
marched down the hill in the rear, then
up, forming on the extreme right of
Brannan's line. Before. they reached
the top darkness had fallen, and the
men had to feel their way. When
they heard the babel of excited voices
and the tramping of horses feet. Not
knowing whether the voices came from
friend or foe, Capt. Thomas Madden, Of
Co. A, sent his First Lieutenant, Thomas
Thompson, to investigate. Not return
ing as soon as expected, the Captain
sent Serg't McCosmick and Corp'l Beat
tey to creep out few PAGES in front
and see what they could discover. Hard
ly had they disappeared in the darkness
when Lieut.. Thompson returned, great
ly excited. His hat and sword were
gone, and he reported that not more
than 80 PAGES away the hill swarmed
with rebels; that they had taken the
21st Ohio and captured him, depriving
him of his sword, but under cover Of
the darkness he had escaped. The Cap
tain now called in low tones for the
Sergeant and Corporal to return. but
there was no response. No response
ever came till the close of the war.
when Serg't McCosmick, a mere skele-
ton, was released from Andersonville.
He said he and the Corporal had crept
but q few yards, when they found them
selves in the midst Of the enemy. He
verifles the fact Of the panic which
seized the rebs when they were fired
into.
Hardly had the Lieutenant returned
when q man rode up out of the dark
ness and demanded the surrender Of
the regiment. The answer was a shot
which tumbled him from his horse
Orders were then given to fire, and the
yolleys which caused the CONSERVATION
among the foe ended the battle of
Chickamauga.
And now comes the queer part Of It.