In five minutes more, Garfield is by the side of Thomas; the perilous ride is safely over, the message is delivered. But look! the noble horse is staggering, and now it drops down dead at the feet of General Thomas. A half hour longer the battle raged desperately, and then with a sudden break in their lines the rebels abandoned the fight and began to retreat. Garfield sat down behind a dead tree and wrote a dispatch to General Rosecrans. In the midst of the heaviest firing, a white dove was seen to hover around for several minutes, and then to settle down on the top of the tree above Garfield's head. "A good omen of peace!" exclaimed General Wood, who was standing close by. Garfield said nothing, but kept on with his writing. At seven o'clock that evening, a battery of six Napoleon guns, by order of Generals Granger and Garfield, thundered after the retreating rebels. The battle of Chickamauga was ended; the Union army had won the day. "Again, O fair September night! Beneath the moon and stars, I see, through memories dark and bright, The altar fires of Mars. The morning breaks with screaming guns From batteries dark and dire, And where the Chickamauga runs Red runs the muskets' fire. "I see bold Longstreet's darkening host Sweep through our lines of flame, And hear again, 'The right is lost!' Swart Rosecrans exclaim! 'But not the left,' young Garfield cries: 'From that we must not sever, While Thomas holds the field that lies On Chickamauga River.' "Through tongues of flame, through meadows brown, Dry valley roads concealed, Ohio's hero dashes down Upon the rebel field And swift, on reeling charger borne, He threads the wooded plain. By twice a hundred cannon mown, And reddened with the slain. "But past the swathes of carnage dire, The Union guns he hears, And gains the left, begirt with fire, And thus the heroes cheers-- 'While stands the left, yon flag o'erhead, Shall Chattanooga stand!' 'Let the Napoleons rain their lead!' Was Thomas's command. "Back swept the gray brigades of Bragg, The all with victory rung, And Wurzel's 'Rally round the flag!' 'Mid Union cheers was sung. The flag on Chattanooga's height In twilight crimson waved, And all the clustered stars of white Were to the Union saved. "O Chief of staff! the nation's fate. That red field crossed with thee, The triumph of the camp and state, The hope of liberty! O Nation! free from sea to sea, With union blessed forever, Not vainly heroes fought for thee By Chickamauga's River." FOOTNOTES: [A] For document in full, see Addenda I. CHAPTER XVII.