The state herald., 1913-09-12

OF north Georgia This road the dead line"
in the battle of Chickamauga II Its dust, its
rocks and Its trees could be animated and
dowed with the power OF speech. the story they
could tell would turn into sicky romance the best
pages OF heroic history. The struggle for pos
session Of this now historic highway was no less
heroic and deadly than the numerous assaults and
repulses at Snodgrass Hill The flame Of battle
swept the forest on each side OF the road with n
fury that no pen can describe.
Practically all OF the first day Of the battle OF
Chickamauga contest for the possession Of
Lafayette road. The sun went down and dark
ness enyeloped the field leaving the mighty hosts
still contending for the highway. The Confed.
crates had been driving west all day In an effort
10 break the Union lines and Lafayette road be
came the bloody lane" of Chickamauga
The blood OF the two armies still flowed when
night threw its shadows over the field Neither
had been victorious. No more indescribably op.
pressive spectacle can well be imagined than
night brought TO the two armies. They were
close together than the groans OF the wounded
and dying of both armies could be plainly heard.
The field was strewn with the unbured dead.
by the close OF the first days fighting the Con-
federaies had become the aggressors Their pur-
pose was plainly apparent. 10 break across La
fayette road and pierce the Union lines. cutting
the army in two sections. hopelessy dividing 1t.
and annihilatingN each section In detail
Not until church bells In Chattanooga were
calling the people to divine worship did the roar
OF battle again resound throughout the plain
But II came with n more deadly roar than any
which had swept through the forest Saturday.
The Union forces were steadily driven back from
Lafayette road but doggedly held their position
In Dyer and Kelley fields against every assault.
innictng heavy damage on the Confederate col.
umns Through jumbling OF field orders. the
Kelley field line OF the Union forces was weak.
ened. and Longstreet drove three divisions
against the weakened point. II was the opportu.
nifty that had been tho hope OF the confederntes
all day. Roseerans. crittenden and Mcccok were
caught In the break. separated from Thomas
wing and retired to Chattanooga
1t Is not surprising that the break In the lines
and departure OF Rosecrans for Chattanooga dis.
hear'ened the Union forces and inapirtcd the Con.
fedcrntcs. However, the Confederates had n
great commander 10 contend with In the person
OF Gen. George II. Thomas. now the Rock OF
Chicknmauga." As the OF battle swept
through Kelley field. Il seemed that the Union
forces were doomed Snodgrass I'm rises some
three hundred feet high Immediately west Of Kel.
ley neld Its eastern side ia precipitous and In
some places rough
General Thomas rallied his mon on snodgrana
Hili, and here occurred tho heaviest fighting OF
tho ontire engagement
Tho best regiments OF the southsrn armios
we're sent against Thomas at snodgrnns nm. to
be shot to pieces on tho very brcastworks OF the
enemy. Some OF the Confederate regiments lost
M high M 10 per cent. OF their men In their at.
tempth TO dislodge Thomas. while the Union
regiments suffered almost aa heavily. Tho shouts
ot tho living. mingled with the sroans OF tho
dying and walls OF the wounded. mado snodsrars
I'M voriiable Inferno OF death
Not lohs ago ! stood on horseshoe summit tho
crater of snodgraas nm A far m the eye
could reach along the crest Of tho ridge I saw
handsome monuments Of marble and bronze.
tributes OF grateful people TO the valor Of their
sons. But these memorials. cmblazoned with tho
deods OF tho living and tho dead, carved into
'hcm by the ohisei OF an artist did not Impress
~ 80 profoundly aa what enw through tho gray
m'sts OF MY yoars. ! allowed my mind 10 go
back. and saw M heroic n display Of human
courage m the world sver witnessed Tn. roar