Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-05

treated, who had never been defeated
He stood immovable. the Rock of Chick
amauga Never had soldiers greater
love for a commander. He imbued them
with his spirit, and their confidence in
him was sublime
To the right of Thomas line was "A
gorge, then high ridge. nearly al right
ang es thereto, running east and west.
Confederates under kershaw were pass
ing through the gorge. together with
Bushrod Johnson's division. which Long
street was strengthening with Hindman )
division: divisions We're forming on the
ridge for an assault; to their left the
guns of a battery were being unlimbered
for an enfilading fire. There was not "a
man to send against the force on the
ridge, none to oppose this impending as
sault. The enemy saw the approaching
colors of the reserve corps and hes tated
At | o'clock Granger shook hands with
Thomas. Something was said about
form ng to fight to the right ana rear
Those men must be driven back, sald
Granger, pointing to the gorge and ridge
Can you do it?" asked Thomas.
Yes. My men are fresh, and they are
just the fellows for that work Ihey are
raw troops, and they don't know any
better than to charge up there.
Granger quickly sent Aleshire's bat
terry of three-inch rifle guns which ne
brought up to Thomas left to assist IN
repeIling another assault about TO De
made there Whitakers and Mitchell $
brigades under Steedman were wheeled
into position and projected against the
enemy in the gorge and on the ridge.
With ringing cheers they advanced IN
two lines by double quick over open
fields. through weeds waist high,
through little valley. then up the
ridge.
The enemy opened on them first with
artillery, then with a murderous mus
kerry fire When we'll up the ridge the
men, almost exhausted, We're halted for
breath They lay on the ground two
three minutes. then came the COM
mand. Forward. Brave. bluff old
Steedman. with a regmental flag in his
hand led the way. On went the lines,
firing as they ran and bravely receiving
a deadly and continuous fire from the
enemy on the summit. The Confederat :
began to break and in another minute
were flying down the southern slope OF
the ridge. In twenty minutes from the
beginning Of the charge the ridge had
been carried
Grangers hat had been torn by a
fragment of shell; Steedman had been
wounded. W llltaRfF flild been MpuUitt
OF Steedmans two brigades numbering
$500, - per cent had been killed and
wounded in that twenty minutes. and the
end was not yet.
The enemy massed a force To Ietakc
the ridge. They came before our men
had rested: twice they assaulted and
were driven backo During one assault as
the first line came within range Of our
muskets, it halted, apparently hesitatinS,
when we saw a colonel seize flag wave
rl
whole line instantly caught his en-
thusiasm, and with a wild cheer fol-
lowed, only to be hurled back again.
Our men ran down the ridge In pursuit.
dead and wounded they found the brave
colonel dead. the flag he carried spread
over him where he fell.
Soon after o'clock Thomas rode TO the
left of his line, leaving Granger the rank
ing officer at the center. The ammuni-
ton of both Thomas and Changers
commands was now about exhausted.
When Granger had come up he had
given ammunition to Brannan and Wood
and that had exhausted his supply. The
cartridge boxes of both our own and
the enemys dead within reach had been
emptied by our men.
When it was not vet 6 O'clock and
Thomas was still or the left of his line
Brannan rushed up to Granger. saying
1.-The enemy are forming for another
assault we have not another round of
ammunition-what shall we do?''
Fix bayonets and go for them" was
the reply.
Along the whole line ran the order,
Fix bayonets.
On cane the cnemy-our men were ly-
ing down. Forward was sounded. In
one instant they were on their feet For
ward they went to meet the charge. The
enemy fed. So impetuous was this coun-
ter-charge that one regiment, with empty
muskets and empty cartridge boxes, broke
through the enemy's line which. closing
in their rear carried them off as in the
undertow.
One more feeble assault was made by
the. enemy; then the day closed. and the
battle of Chickamauga was over. OF the
800 men of the reserve corps who went