Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1909-02-19
Civil War Stories

How Great Battle Was Fought.
One Of the splendid battles Of the
war was that Of Chattanooga. In the
Century Gen. Fullerton tells the story
of the firing of the signal guns to take
the rife pits at the base of the ridge
10000 men. The General says The
enemy were thrown into confusion, and
took precipitate flight up the ridge"
He adds: Many prisoners and large
number of small arms were captured
And now follows a clear statement of
what the soldiers did for themselves
"a most instructive and brilliant pas
sage:
1.-THE order of the commanding Gen
eral had now been fully and most sue
cessfully carried out. But it did not
60 far enough to satisfy these brave
men, who thought the time had come
to finish the battle of Chickamaugua
There was a halt of but few minutes,
to take breath and to reform lines
then, with a sudden impulse, all start
ed UP the side of the ridge. Not a
commanding officer had given the or
der to advance. The men who car
ried the muskets had taken the mat
ter into their own hands, had moved
of their own accord. Officers, catching
their spirit, first followed, then led.
There was no thought of protecting
TANKS, though the enemy's line could
be seen stretching beyond ON either
side; there was no thought of support
or reserves.
"As soon as this movement was seen
from Orchard Knob Grant quickly
turned to Thomas, who stood by his
side, and l heard him angrily say !:
Thomas, who ordered those men up
the ridge?' Thomas replied in his usual
slow, quiet manner: I don't know;
did not" Then, addressing Gen. Cor
don Granger, he said: Did you order
them up, Granger?' No. said Granger :;
they started up without orders. When
those fellows get started all hell can't
stop them Gen. Grant said something
to the effect that somebody would suf-
fer if it did not turn out WELL and
then, turning round, stoically watched
the ridge. He gave no further orders
GAS soon as Granger had replied to
Thomas he turned to me- his chief-of
staff and said: Ride at once to Wood
and then to Sheridan and ask them if
they ordered their men up the ridge,
tall
push ahead AS / was mounting
Granger added 1T is hot over there,
and you may not get through. shall
send Capt. Avery to Sheridan, and
other officers after both of you AS
fast as my horse could carry me /
rode first to Gen. Wood and delivered
the message. 4 didn't order them up
said Wood; they started up on their
own account, and they are going UP,
too? Tell Granger, if we are support
ed, we will take and hold the ridge
AS soon as l reached Gen. Wood, Capt.
Avery got to Gen. Sheridan and deliv-
cred his message. L didn't order them
up said Sheridan; but we are going
to take the ridge. He then asked
Avery for his flask and waved it at
group Of Confederate officers stand
ing Just in front of Bragg's headquar-
tiers with the salutation, Here's at
you!' At once two gunS-the Lady
Breckenridge and the Lady Buckner-
in front of Bragg's headquarters were
fired at Sheridan and the group Of
officers about him. One shell struck
so near as to throw dirt over Sheridan
and Avery. 'Ah!' said the General,
that is ungenerous; l shall take those
guns for that" and he did, and good
many more.'