The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-05-24
UNITED DAUGHTERS
OF THE CONFEDERACY
BY MRS. M. {. BATS.

couple of pieces Of artillery. The very
first discharge secured the range of
the bridge, and a bombshell explod-
ing upon 1t, knocked up some of the
planks and killed one man and wound
ed two others. Almost at the same
instant volley of musketry was fired
fl en- the same position. The work of
the destruction Of the bridge by the
F'ederals instantly ceased, and there
was a stampede for cover to the forest
nearby. The detachment of cavalry
en- the east bank, seeing the folly Of
attempting to cross the bridge under
a raking fire, galloped northeastward,
down the creek, endeavoring to find
some other crossing place. After go
ing about a mile and half and find
ing no regular ford, they swan their
horses through the stream and thus
escaped. In the meantime the Con-
federates charged across the bridge,
dispersed the cavalry, and immedi-
ately downward, towards Alexander's
Bridge, about one mile and a half dis
tant, and, after quite a struggle. pos
session of this was also secured. Later
o. during the day crossing was effect
Cd at several other points. According
ly the next morning found Bragg's
army, in line of battle, on the north
west side of West Chickamauga
CT eek. The struggle then began, which
continued with such desperate fury,
and resulted in such distressing earn
age to both sides during the next
three days.
Braggs object seems to have been
10 crush Rosecran's 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. Rosecran's
army was routed and driven back to
Chattanooga; and, but for the stand
which General Thomas took on Snod-
grass Fill, 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
heen a crushing one, and the sweep
Of the Confederate advance may have
extended back to Kentucky, and have
almost changed the fate OF the war.
Put great battles are fought behind
the Stars"
The struggle at Snodgrass Hin was
desperate and bloody in the extreme
and was characterized as being i'un-
Questionably one of the most terrific
rnusketry duels ever Witnessed" but
Thomas. having been REINFORCED by
Granger and Steadman, who had
moved. without orders, to join him,
feld this position until all the rest of
the Federal line of battle had been
routed, and only retreated on the even
ing Of the goth, under orders from
General Rosecrans himself.
The total losses sustained have
never been definitely ascertained. but
IL is generally estimated that there
wounded in the two armies during
IL csc bloody three days on and near
the banks of the Chickamauga, or
River of Death" as the Indians had
r1ophetically named it. Among the
killed was the Federal General Lytle,
the author Of the famous and beauti-
full poem. 81 am Dying, Egypt, Dying"
The Confederates captured 5000 pris-
oDers, 81 cannon, over $4,000 stand of
small arms, about 40 standards, and
ar enormous amount of army stores.
The battlefield was principally in a
level thickly wooded plain, where It
vas hard to use artillery with much
effect, and where the movements Of
large bodies of troops were yelled in
obscurity.
1t Is stated that there were numer"
Gus instances of where portions of
enc army's line were driven back by
its enemy, and these, in turn, would
soon find themselves caught by a
cross-f1re. or almost surrounded by a
counter successful movement by the
other side.
The strength Of Rosecrans' army
during the three days struggle. was
1892. Bragg opened with 1888 the
first day; but during the second was
REINFORCED by Longstreets corps.
which had just arrived from Virginia,
and which made his total force en-
LACED 47,321. Longstreet's troops ar
rived via the Western & Atlantic rail-
road, and deployed from the trains at
Ringgold and Greenwood, just below,
and hurried in the midst of the fray.
AS result of this waffle, the Fed
eral army was driven back into Chat
tanooga, and the Confederates occupied