GDG- Re: troops from the West

[Biggsk at aol.com]

Laurie writes:

>>>>>Examples abound in every war. I'm always fond of  the one at Chickamauga 
where Minty at Reed's Bridge kept sending back reports  to Corps Commander 
Crittenden that the Confederates were coming in strength  and Crittenden kept 
refusing to believe until Minty literally rode into his  camp as his brigade was 
forced to withdraw from the Reed's Bridge area and  Crittenden could see the 
Rebs for  himself!>>>>>



A few days before my wedding in April, 1993, I was a speaker at one of the  
late Jerry Russell's conferences based in Chattanooga.  One of the speakers  
was Dale Phillips, then with Chick-Chatt NMP, and he did a program on the REAL  
first day of the battle (and it really was a three day fight).
 
His program covered Minty and his excellent delaying actions on the first  
day and he mentioned the incident with Minty and Crittenden, and I think also  
Wilder.  They reported Confederates in huge numbers out to the front and  
Crittenden would not believe them.  A Federal infantry brigade came up  about then 
and Crittenden ordered them into the woods to drive off these  pesky 
Confederates (he called it "a little brush") who were there but not in the  numbers 
being reported.  Phillips stated that both Monty and Wilder just  gritted their 
teeth as these infantrymen formed line of battle and went  forward.   A few 
moments later came a crashing volley and right after  that fleeing Federal 
soldiers.  At this time Crittenden admitted, "my God,  they ARE out there!"
 
It was a great program - and if any of you are living in the middle  
Tennessee/Kentucky area, I invite you to the March meeting of the Clarksville  CWRT 
where Dale Phillips, now up at George Rogers Clark National Park in  Vincennes, 
IN, will do this program for us.  We meet the third Wednesday of  the month.
 
Greg Biggs