The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-09-19
~ Nzzp eM0AWg Al0ag Ae39WNMg

of battle swept through Kelley field. Then there
came one of those mysterious and unexpected
lulls in the storm but 1t was merely gathering
force for the climax of a hurricane that had
ragged in the forest along Chickamauga creek for
two days 1t was soon to break again, and It's
lightnings were next to flash around horseshoe
summit where l standing. l saw the ad-
vancing Confederate legions sweeping all before
them across the open plain In my front. Long
street had driven his brigades through the Union
lines and swept the right wing OF Rosecrans
army from the field in wild disorder wheeling
his forces he started for Thomas in command OF
the left wing. If Thomas could be routed, VIC
tory for Confederate arms was assured that
would shake the nation to its foundations. Next
| beheld the brave General Brannan raliying the
remnants Of half dozen brigades on Snodgrass
HILL General Thomas marshalling his shat
tered forces for resistance that placed MS name
high in the esteem of the nation.
Before I could grasp the meaning OF the whlrl
and the rush of the regiments. Snodgrass Hill
had been converted into citadel Of defense from
which the thunderbolts of iron could be hurled
against the advancing foe l looked again and
saw Longstreets Confederates scaling the side
of the hill with majestic tread. Then l saw
sheet of fame burst from the Union lines on the
crest of the hill, full In the faces OF the advancing
Confederates. No troops could stand In that
storm of lead. They halted, dazed and deadened
by the awful carnage. Their lines gave way.
only to be reformed at the foot of the ridge for
another charge. l saw the flags of Mississippi.
Alabama and Georgia. South Carolina and Vir-
GINA and the lone star of Texas flashing de-
hance at the foe the summit OF the hill. An
other charge into the face of deadly volley and
another retreat to the foot of the ridge! VIII
they never desist in their mad attempt to scale
the ridge? Now saw some Of the Confederate
standards on the crest of the hill, and men In
hand-to-hand combat. They piled the dead In
the trenches and fought over their bodies. But,
again saw Gordon Granger and Steedman come
fIAr pf he IIpiO
troops and the Confederates were hurled MAIN
ed and shattered from the vantage point they
had gained by superhuman effort and undaunted
courage. The side Of the ridge was strewn with
the dead and wounded. Bursting shells had tg
nited the dry leaves of the forest and bodies were
scorched and blackened by flame and smoke
At last as the sun was sinking behind Lookout
Mountain throwing dark and spectral shadows
across the plain upon which one OF the greatest
tragedies of modern ancient warfare had Just
been enacted General Thomas withdrew his
forces under orders from Snodgrass Hill, leaving
the bloody field of Chickamauga in possession Of
the battered but shouting Confederate legion:
after two days of fighting that has never beer
excelled in the history of wars. The Confeder
ates were the Victors at Chickamauga, but Rose
Grams and Thomas got their army to Chattanooga
in safety, fact that has seemed to make honors
even
What followed the carnage at Snodgrass Hill
is history. General Bragg hesitated he faltered
him on that fateful field expected to hear ever!
minute an order to follow Thomas and clinch thu
victory; but the order never came. Thoma
reached Chattanooga in safety and soon afte
succeeded Rosecrans in command The loni
siege of Chattanooga followed with which read
ers of war history familiar.
Chickamauga the bloodiest two-days bal
tie of history. The forces were about equal Il
numbers Much controversy has from time L
time arisen over Chickamauga statistics. but iron
the best obtanable information the total strengt
of each army was little to the rise of 5000
men, making the number actually engaged some
thing more than 100000. The casualties wer
about as follows:
Confederate: Killed 226S wounded. 1888
missing 1890; aggregate, 1921.
Union: Killed, 1856; wounded, s.74s; missing
Alta; aggregate, 1919.
These deadly figures show that the agrgegat
slaughter at Chickamauga was $3.50. includin
dead. wounded and missing In both armies.