The Raymer enterprise., 1913-09-11
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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 Chjckamauga creek for
two days. II was soon to break again. and Its
lightnings were next to fash around horseshoe
summit where was standing. l saw the ad
vancing Confederate legions sweeping all before
them across the open plain in my front. Long
street had driven his brgades 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. II Thomas could be routed. VIC
tory for Confederate arms assured that
would shake the nation to its foundations. Next
] beheld the brave General Brannan rallying the
remnants Of a half dozen brigades on Snodgrass
Hill General Thomas marshalling his shat
tered forces for resistance that placed his name
high In the esteem OF the nation.
Before I could grasp the meaning OF the whirl
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 / looked again and
saw Longstreet's Confederates scaling the side
OF the hill with majestic tread. Then saw
sheet OF fame burst from the Union lines on the
crest Of the hill full In the faces Of the advancing
Coniederates. 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. saw the flags OF Mississippi.
Alabama and Georgia. South Carolina and Vir.
gna. and the lone star Of Texas flashing de.
nance at the foe on 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
handtohand combat. They piled the dead in
the trenches and fought over their bodies But,
again I saw Gordon. Granger and Steedman come
to the relief OF the Union defenders with fresh
troops. and the Confederates we're 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 ig.
nited the dry leaves OF the forest and bodies were
scorched and blackened by fame 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 or ancient warfare had just
been enacted. General Thomas withdrew his
forces under orders from Snodgrass Hill. leaving
the bloody field OF Chlckamauga in possession Of
the battered but shouting Confederate legions
after two days Of fighting that has never been
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 a fact that has seemed to make honors
even.
What followed the carnage at snodgrass Hill
is history. General Bragg hesitated. he faltered.
he lost. Every commander Of q division under
him on that fateful field expected to hear every
minute an order to follow Thomas and clinch the
victory: but the order never came. Thomas
reached Chattanooga In safety and soon after
succeeded Rosecrans In command. Tho long
Siege Of Chattanooga followed, with which read.
ers Of war history are familiar.
Chckamauga was the bloodiest two.days bat.
tie Of history. The forces were about equal In
numbers. Much controversy has from time TO
time arisen over Chickamauga statistics. but from
the best obtainabe information the total strength
OF each army was n little to the rise Of $4,000
men. making the number actually engaged some.
thing more than 100000. The casualties were
about as follows
Confederate: Killed 2,2ss wounded, 1858;
missing 1890; aggregate. 1891.
Union: Killed. 1866: wounded. 9,74s: missing.
4,77i: aggregate. 1919.
These deadly figures show that tho aggregate
slaughter at ChIckamauga was 33l60. including
dead. wounded. and missing In both armies