Medal of Honor Heritage Trail
Chickamauga - September - 1863
Orville T. Chamberlain was a student at the University of Notre Dame in northwestern Indiana. Early in the war so many other students, including a few of the priest instructors, followed his example, that the school became known as the home of the Fighting Irish. On the second day of the battle at Chickamauga the fighting was so intense that ammunition became a problem. During this time Lieutenant Chamberlain, in spite of the galling fire from the Confederates, made his way through the woods and found another regiment that had plenty of ammunition. He brought the very badly needed ammunition back to his own company. For this action he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
When the war was over, a proud Notre Dame welcomed back several bona fide war heroes and became home to a unique veteran's organization: a Grand Army of the Republic post composed entirely of ordained priests or professed brothers.
Anthony Taylor responded to President Lincoln's call for volunteers early in the war and enlisted on August 22, 1861 as a Private in Company A of the 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment. He was promoted to First Sergeant on March 1, 1863 and to First Lieutenant on May 8, 1863 as the Army was preparing to move against the Confederates at Tullahoma. During the Battle of Chickamauga Lieutenant Taylor was in charge of the couriers at Rosecrans headquarters.
On September 20, while General Rosecrans and the senior officers made a rapid retreat toward Chattanooga, Lieutenant Taylor joined a group organized by Captain Horace Porter and fought a rear guard action against great odds, giving the Federal wagon train and artillery time to escape.
At the end of the war, it was Anthony Taylor who carried the dispatch from General Palmer that led to the capture of Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy.
He was awarded the Congressional
Medal of Honor, issued
on December 4, 1893, for
his heroic action in the
second day of fighting at Chickamauga.
His citation reads: “Held out to the last
with a small force against the advance of
superior numbers of the enemy."
Erected by the
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Heroes • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #16 Abraham Lincoln, and the Medal of Honor Recipients series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is March 1, 1863.
Location. 34° 53.007′ N, 85° 16.032′ W. Marker is in Chickamauga, Georgia, in Walker County. It is on Lee Gordan Mill Terrace east of Red Belt Road, on the left when traveling east. Located at the Lee & Gordon's Mills. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 71 Red Belt Road, Chickamauga GA 30707, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Georgia’s Mountains. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Deep South, in Appalachia, and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Medal of Honor Heritage Trail (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Medal of Honor Heritage Trail (here, next to this marker); Start of the Atlanta Campaign (here, next to this marker); General Joe Wheeler's Attack (here, next to this marker); Crittenden's Corps at Lee and Gordon's Mills (here, next to this marker); Lee & Gordon's Mills (within shouting distance of this marker); Lee and Gordon's Mill (within shouting distance of this marker); 3rd Confederate Georgia Cavalry (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chickamauga.
Also see . . .
1. Wikipedia article on Captain Horace Porter. (Submitted on November 27, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)
2. Wikipedia article on Orville T. Chamberlain. (Submitted on November 27, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)
3. Wikipedia article on Anthony Taylor. (Submitted on November 27, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 27, 2019. It was originally submitted on November 27, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 372 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 27, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
