The Mena weekly star., 1913-05-01
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Gen. John R. Gordon Tells Story Of
 the Fight on SnOdgraSs Hill 10000 Union Soldiers Lie Near.

Chattanooga, Tenn. April 25.-| The battlefield at Chickamauga has many points of interest to those survivors of both armies who fought there, but Snodgrass hill, or Horseshoe Summit Is to Chlckamau- ga what the Little Round Top Is to Gettysburg. It was there that the consuming flames of battle rose highest. and enough blood was shed to make "CMckamauga Nee "a throughout all ages.
 The conflict at this point, as most readers are aware, took place sun day evening. Gen. John B. Gordon described the fight for the posses sion of this historic hill as follows:
 In the furious tempest there now came one of those strange, un- explained lulls; but the storm was only gathering fresh fury. In the comparative stiffness which per Vaded the field its mutteringS could still be heard. Its lightning were next to flash and its thunders to roll around Horseshoe Summit. Along that crest and around SnOd- grass house the remaining troops of RoSecrans' left wing planted them selves for stubborn resistance-one of the most stubborn in history. To meet the assault of Longstreet'S wing the brave Union general, Brannan. standing upon this now historic crest, rallied the remnants of CrOXtOn. Wood, Harker Beatty, Stanley. Van Cleve and Buell.; but up the long slopes the exulting Con- federate ranks moved in majestic march, As they neared the summit a sheet of flame from Union rifles and heavy guns blazed into their faces. Before the blast the charg- ing COnfederateS staggered, bent and broke. Reforming at the foot of the slope these dauntless men in gray moved again to still more de- termined assault upon the no less dauntleSs Union lines, firmly plant ed on the crest. Through the blind ing fires they rushed to a hand-to- hand conflict. breaking here, push ing forward there, in terrible strug- gle. Through clouds of smoke around the summit the banners and bayonets of Hindman's COnfeder- ates were discovered upon the crest. When Gordon, Granger and Steedman, with fresh troops. hur- ried from the Union left, and, join ing Derveer. hurled Hindman and his men from this citadel of strength and held it until the final Union retreat. With bayonets and clubbed muskets the resolute Fed erals pierced and beat back the charging COnfederates. covering the slopes of Snodgrass Hill with Con- federate dead. Roaring like a cy- clone through the forest, the bat tie storm ragged. Battery answered battery. deepening the unearlhiy din and belching from their heated thrOatS the consuming iron hail. The woods caught fire from the flaming shells and scOrched the bodies of dead and dying. At the close of the day the Union forces had been driven from every posi- ton of the field except Snodgrass Hill, and as the sun sank behind the cliffs of Lookout Mountain, hid ing his face from one of the bloOdi- est scenes enacted by human hands, this heroic remnant of Rosecrans' army withdrew to the rear and then to the works around Chattanooga. leaving the entire field of Chicka- mauga to the battered but trium- phant and shouting Confederates. In view of these facts, Gen. Cor don and his associates in battle thought it remarkable that both sides should lay claim to the vic tory. It remained for the late Gen
 H. V. Boynton to lay claim in be- half of the Union army, and at-
 tempt to prove his claim that the victory was with Rosecrans. The victory was clearly with the Con
 federates, but the fact that they diC
 not absolutely drive Thoma, from
 Snodgrass Hill; that he retreated tc
 save his army; that he got away
 with fairly good order-these are
 the only circumstances upon which
 the claim for a Union victory car possibly rest. These claims. how | ever, have never stood firmly 1T
 the light of intelligent argument.
 However, be that as it may. it i; 1 a privilege that the survivors ot
 this great battle will certainly ap-
 preciate, to revisit the field and gC over the places of deadly carnage | The reunion in May gives them Uni, privilege, and thousands of veicr-
 ans will enjoy it. Chackamauga i.
 easily reached from Chattanooga
 thanks to modern progress, at {
 cOsts that everybody can afford tC
 pay.
 As further proof of the deadly | fighting of the Confederates here
 inc National cemetery covers the
 remains of i3.000 Union soldiers.
 MISSING MAN FOUND
 DEAD AT RF\TON\HIF