Page:1861 vs 1882. "Co. Aytch," Maury grays, First Tennessee regiment; or, A side show of the show (IA 1861vs1882coaytc00watk).pdf/102

96 that could demoralize, and I may say intimidate a soldier, was being enacted, and he not allowed to participate. How we were moved from one position to another, but always under fire; our nerves strung to their utmost tension, listening to the roar of battle in our immediate front, to hear it rage and then get dimmer until it seems to die out entirely; then all at once it breaks out again, and you think now in a very few minutes you will be ordered into action, and then all at once we go double-quicking to another portion of the field, the battle raging back from the position we had left. General Leonidas Polk rides up and happening to stop in our front, some of the boys halloo out, "Say, General, what command is that which is engaged now?" The General kindly answers, "That is Longstreet's corps. He is driving them this way, and we will drive them that way, and crush them between the upper and nether millstone. Turning to Genera! Cheatham, he said, "General move your division and attack at once." Everything is at once set in motion, and General Cheatham, to give the hoys a good send-off, says "Forward, boys, and give 'em hl" General Polk also says a good word, and that word was, "Do as General Cheatham says, boys." (You know he was a preacher and couldn't curse). After marching in solid line, see-sawing, right obliqueing, left obliqueing, guide center and close up; commence firingfire at will; charge and take their breastworks; our pent up nervousness and demoralization of all day is suddenly gone. We raise one long, loud, cheering shout and charge right upon their breastworks. They are pouring their deadly missiles into our advancing ranks from under their head-logs. We do not stop to look around to see who is killed and wounded, but press right up their breastworks, and plant our battle-flag upon it. They waver and break and run in every direction, when General John C. Breckinridge's division, which had been supporting us, march up and pass us in full pursuit of the routed and flying Federal army.

We remained upon the battle-field of Chickamauga all night. Everything had fallen into our hands. We had captured a great