And this is glorious war? The 84th Indiana on September 20, 1863

Indiana at Chickamauga 

In part two of the 84th Indiana at Chickamauga series, Thomas Addington provides his experiences on Sunday, September 20, 1863, when his regiment was ordered to support General Thomas's line atop Horseshoe Ridge. 

     "Up until 11 o’clock Sunday morning, we remained idly in camp enjoying ourselves in such pastimes as are known to all soldiers while Thomas was breasting the storm hurled upon him with relentless fury," Addington recalled. "Then the sharp, quick notes of the bugle called us into line. Chickens were abandoned half dressed, fresh pork partly cooked was thrust hastily into haversacks, sweet potatoes were left roasting in the fire, guns and cartridge boxes were looked over to see if all was in order and away we went on the double quick. Up hill and down, across fields and through the woods, for three miles we hurried on, the roar of battle growing more terrific all the time till at last, panting for breath and dripping with perspiration, we came upon the field of action."

    This account first saw publication in the June 18, 1885, edition of the Weekly Toledo Blade as part of their "Camp Fire" series featuring soldiers' accounts of the Civil War. 

    

Detail from the 84th Indiana monument located atop Horseshoe Ridge on the Chickamauga National Battlefield. The 84th Indiana as part of the Reserve Corps saw its primary action on the afternoon of September 20, 1863, playing an important role in holding their ground until sunset. 

    The private soldier can see but a very small portion of a battlefield. The line often extends for miles and while the general in command, having direct communication with the entire army, controls all the movements, the soldier in the ranks sees only what comes under his immediate notice. So far I have spoken only of the First Brigade, First Division simply because we were for these two days detached from the corps and knew nothing of its movements. In our retreat on the evening of the 19th, we were reinforced by the division to which we belonged [General James B. Steedman] and remained with them afterwards.

          I told you in my last that far into the night we could hear heavy firing to the right. There were also other sounds which could be distinctly heard in front of us and which were kept up throughout the night, sounds which clearly indicated that some important move was being made. Yet what it was we could not determine till a reconnaissance in the morning revealed the fact that the entire force in front of us had been withdrawn and, as we learned afterward, concentrated on the right. And here another mistake was made which came well nigh proving fatal to our army. Had prompt measures been taken to ascertain what was being done and had Granger’s corps been brought up on the night of the 19th to strengthen Thomas’s position, the result of Sunday’s battle would have been different from what it was and instead of a drawn battle, Chickamauga would have been a glorious victory.

Chaplain Thomas Addington of the 84th Indiana poses with his wife Margaret in this image dating from about 1900. Five Addington brothers enlisted in Co. A of the 84th Indiana in August 1862; only Thomas and William survived, two of the brothers dying of disease and one of wounds sustained at Lovejoy Station at the end of the Atlanta campaign. After the war, Thomas worked as a minister for the eastern Indiana Christian Church and lived in Ridgeville, Indiana. 

          Up until 11 o’clock Sunday morning, we remained idly in camp enjoying ourselves in such pastimes as are known to all soldiers while Thomas was breasting the storm hurled upon him with relentless fury. Then the sharp, quick notes of the bugle called us into line. Chickens were abandoned half dressed, fresh pork partly cooked was thrust hastily into haversacks, sweet potatoes were left roasting in the fire, guns and cartridge boxes were looked over to see if all was in order and away we went on the double quick. Up hill and down, across fields and through the woods, for three miles we hurried on, the roar of battle growing more terrific all the time till at last, panting for breath and dripping with perspiration, we came upon the field of action.

          We found Thomas almost surrounded. The two wings of the enemy were just sweeping around to close up on his rear. There were yet two roads open to him: the river road coming in from the northeast and the Rossville road from the northwest. We came in on the first [river road], formed in line in the woods on the left of it, facing east, and advanced into an open field. As soon as we made our appearance, two batteries opened on us; one from a hill almost half a mile to the east, the other from some old log buildings about three-fourths of a mile south.

Changing direction by the right flank, we double-quicked for half a mile to the south under the fire of those two batteries whose shells flew harmlessly over our heads. Coming to a fence within 80 rods of the south battery, we filed right and again plunged into the woods and took position on the Rossville road, the only one now open to us as the other had been taken possession of by the Rebels immediately after we came in. From 1 o’clock until darkness put an end to the conflict, we struggled for possession of this one avenue of escape. Back and forth over the same ground, alternately driving the enemy and being driven by them; side by side lay the dead and wounded of both armies mingled promiscuously on the field of strife. We passed and repassed them time and again and at each parting, our ranks grew thinner and weaker as the Federals and Confederates lay more thickly in our path.

Never was night more welcome when its friendly shadows put an end to that terrible strife. Thank God, it found us in possession of the coveted road. Shielded by its darkness, we quietly drew off the field, followed by the entire army and within 100 yards of the Rebels as we went. The night was intensely dark, the road very rough, and a number of wounded men were with us. Hungry, thirsty, exhausted from the day’s fighting, loaded down with our guns and accoutrements, and assisting as best we could our wounded comrades, we toiled on for what seemed an age. Midnight found us at Rossville, seven miles away from the scene of conflict, a broken, bleeding remnant. We lay down to snatch of few hours of needed sleep and to dream of the loved ones in our distant homes. But before we could do this, these poor wounded boys must have a surgeon’s care and must be made as comfortable as possible. Alas, who shall care for the thousands left on the bloody field, whose bed is the cold ground, whose covering is the pitiless sky, whose wail of anguish brings no ministration of mercy? And this is glorious war?

To read other accounts of Steedman's division at Chickamauga, please check out the following posts:

An Ugly Scene at Rossville Before Chickamauga

Guarding the Road to Chattanooga: The 84th Indiana on September 19, 1863

Saving the Army: The 115th Illinois on Horseshoe Ridge

Atop Snodgrass Hill: The Second Day at Chickamauga with the 89th Ohio

"Wipe Out Perryville!" The 121st Ohio's Redemption at Chickamauga

Source:

“Granger’s Reserves at Chickamauga,” Private Thomas Addington, Co. A, 84th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Weekly Toledo Blade (Ohio), June 18, 1885, pg. 2


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