Farmers' champion. (Elgin, Okla.) 1912-1922, 1913-09-11

or north Georgia. This road was the dead line
In the battle OF Chickamauga. II it's dust, its
rocks and its trees could be animated and en-
dOwed with the power OF speech. the story they
could tell would turn into sckly romance the best
pages Of heroic history. The struggle for pos
session Of this now historic highway VAS no less
heroic and deadly than the numerous assaults aud
repulses at snodgrass Hili The flame of battle
swept the forest on each side OF the road with
fury that pen can describe
Practically all Of the first. day Of the battle Of
Chickamauga was contest for the possession OF
Lafayette road. The sun went down and dark
ness enveloped the field. leaving the mighty hosts
still contending for the highway. The Confed-
crates had been driving west all day In an effort
to 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 feld Neither
had been victorious. No more indcscribably op-
pressive spectacle can well be imagined than
night brought to the two armies. They we're so
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
ny the close OF the first days fighting the Con-
federates had become the aggressors Their pur-
pose was plainly apparent to break across La
fayette road and pierce the Union lines. cutting
the army In two sections. hopslessly dividing 1t.
and annihilating each section In detail
Not until church bells in Chattanooga
calling the people to divine worship did the roar
OF battle again resOund throughout the plain
But II came with more deadly roar than any
which had swept through the forest on Saturday.
The Union forces were steadily driven back from
Lafayette road. but doggedly held their position
In Dyer and Kelley fields against every assault
inhctlng heavy damage on the Confederate col
umns Through a jumbling Of field orders. the
Kelley field line of the Union forces weak.
ened and Iongstreet drove three divisions
against the weakened point. II was the opportu-
nifty that had been the hope Of the Confederates
all day. Rosecrans. Crittenden and McCook were
caught In the break separated from Thomas
wing and retired to Chattanooga.
II In not surprising that the break In the lines
and departure OF Rosecrans for Chattanooga dis
heartened the Union forces and inspirted the Con.
federetes. However. tho Confederates had a
great commander to contend with In the person
Of Gen. George H. Thomas the Rock Of
Chickamauga" A the roar OF battle swept
through Kelley field II seemed that the Union
forces we're doomed Snodgrass Hin rises some
three hundred feet high Immediately west OF Kel.
ley neld Its eastern side Is precipitous and In
some places rough.
General Thomas rallied his men on snodgrass
Hill. and here occurred the heaviest fighting Of
the entire engagement
The bcst regiments Of the southern armies
were sent against Thomas at Snodgrass Hill, to
be shot to pieces on the very breastworks OF the
enemy. Some Of the Confederate regiments lost
as high 10 per cent Of their In their at.
tempts to disodge Thomas. while the Union
regiments suffered almost A. heavily. The shouts
Of the living. mingled with the groans Of the
dyins and walls Of the wounded. made snodgrass
Hill \ veritabie inferno Of death.
Not long ago stood on horseshoe summit the
crater Of SnodGrass nm A far 40 the css
could reach along the crest Of the ridge sac
handsome monuments Of marble and bronse.
tributes Of sratefui people to the valor OF their
sons But these memorials. smblAsoned With the
deeds Of the living end the AsAA. carved into
thsa b TIE chissl q ~ astist dsd not impress
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