Polk County news-gazette. (Benton, Tenn.) 190?-191?, 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 it was merely gathering
force for the climax of a hurricane that hau
ragged in the forest along Chjckamauga creek LOT
two days It was seen TO break again, anu us
lightnings were next to fash around horseshoe
summit where | was standing. saw the ao-
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 Wheenng
his forces he started for Thomas in command OF
the left wing. II Thomas could be routed, VIC
tory for Confederate arms was assured tnat
would shake TIE Esfion to Its foundations Next
/ ben5id the brave General Brannan Fally1ns the
remnants OF half dozen brigades on Snodgrass
HILL General Thomas marshalling his shat
tered forces for a resistance that placed his name
high in the esteem OF the nation
Before could grasp the meaning of the WhlTl
and the rush of the regiments, Snodgrass Hli
had been converted into citadel OF defense from
which the thunderbolts of iron could be hurled
against the advancing foe. looked again and l
saw Longstreet's Confederates scaling the side
of the hill with majestic tread Then saw
sheet of flame burst from the Union lines on the
crest of the hill full in the faces of the advanclnA
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 TOT
another charge. i saw the flags or MISSISSIPPI
Alabama and Georgia, South Carolina and VIZ
ginia and the lone star of Texas hashing de-
fiance 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, ana men IN
handto-hand combat. They piled the dead in
the trenches and fought over their bodies But,
7 Steedman
to the relief of the Union defenders with fresh
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 ig-
nited the dry leaves Of the forest and bodies were
scorched and blackened by flame and smoke.
At last, as the sun 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 Chickamauga in possession Of
the battered but shouting Confederate legions
after two days of lighting 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. 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 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 The long
siege of Chattanooga followed. with which read
ers of war history familiar
Chickamauga 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 a little to the rise Of $4,000
men, making the number actually engaged some
thing more than 100000. The casualties were
about as follows:t
Confederate: Killed 226S: wounded, 1868;
missing. 1880: aggregate. 1871
Union: Killed 1856; wounded. 9,749; missing,
i.774: aggregate, 1919.
These deadly figures show that the aggregate
slaughter az Chickamauga 81 $50. including |
dead wourded aas missing IN lefh armies