Chickamauga

The Battle of Chickamauga Park

We've fought no battle hard and hot

In no mans land a' dark,

The nearest to the front we got,

Was Chickamauga Park.

We did not have a chance to fight

And make our records famous,

Too soon the Huns were put to flight,

I hope you do not blame us.

The time of peace has come about,

but still in camp they hold us.

God only knows when we'll get out, 

and he has never told us.

It may be that they'll leave us here,

perhaps they will forget us.

But we should worry, weep, or fear, 

the prospect does not fret us.

We've all the grub that we can chew,

and lots of time to chew it.

And nothing in the world to do,

and all the day to do it.

Each day brings forth great strings of news,

from our Latrine Gazette,

You may believe them if you choose,

it's all the news you'll get.

Perhaps we'll all come marching home,

perhaps we'll go to Russia,

France or Belgium we may roam,

to Palestine or Prussia.

Although we have never fought,

we're boys of Uncle Sam.

So send us home or to Berlin,

We do not give a d**n.

We found this poem years ago in my Grandfather's trunk that contained his World War I era army souvenirs.  It was copied in his own handwriting, but I don't think he was the author. He was stationed at Camp Forrest which was a temporary camp on Chickamauga Battlefield National Military Park.  He was part of the First Provisional Regimental Battalion, Sapper Engineers.  Fortunately he did not have to go to Europe.

We made Chickamauga Battlefield our first stop on the way to Florida this winter.  It was a rainy, foggy day, but we learned a lot of Civil War history there.  The battle for Chattanooga was fought to keep the Union army from taking the "gateway to the South".  The Union was forced to retreat from the fields around Chickamauga creek, but they were able to retreat into Chattanooga and fortify the city until General Grant could arrive with reinforcements. Thus the loss actually became a turning point in the war.  It had the second highest casualties of the war, after Gettysburg.

We enjoyed visiting the battlefield, but the weather prevented us from any hiking or a picnic.  We toured the battlefield, walked through the museum, and watched the movie that explained the battle and its importance.

While my Grandfather was stationed there, they took a group picture of his battalion.  The old farmer and his wife were able to get our picture taken in the same spot he stood for the picture.  Excuse the glare on the glass of the old photo.

About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the Lord unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.

Joshua 4:13