While the army was in winter quarters at Dalton, Ga., an incident
occurred in the Thirteenth Tennessee Regiment which has left a memory
that will linger with me until the "shadows gather for the eternal
night."
The regiment was reduced to less than two hundred men, and, in
generosity and love, these few men determined to make me (now promoted
to Brigadier-General) a present of a horse. It was difficult to find
such a horse as they wanted, but Dr. Yandell of Louisville, Ky., who
belonged to the medical department, had a magnificent Gray Eagle horse,
for which he wanted four thousand dollars, but said that, if the
regiment wanted it for their commander, he would take three thousand
dollars. These few men, drawing eleven dollars per month, with their
uniforms in rags, and living on half rations, agreed to buy the horse,
and absolutely refused to let anyone outside of the regiment give one
cent. The money was scraped up among themselves and the present made,
Captain Jerry Crook of Company I delivering the presentation speech,
and Captain R. F. Lanier of Company G, on behalf of his commander, the
reception speech. The horse was christened "Chickamauga." I have lived
to forget many things, but never will pass from my heart the gratitude
I felt that day when my war-worn soldiers in their ragged gray gathered
around me to show their love and confidence. If nothing else, that act
alone makes dear to my heart every soldier of the Thirteenth Tennessee
Regiment.