IN MEMORIAM
On the 16th inst., at 2 o’clock p.m., in the old homestead where he was born, George Hidee breathed his last. He had suffered for years with creeping paralysis which slowly but surely reached out its tentacles until finally after gallantly fighting a losing battle he succumbed to the enemy who never knows defeat. George Hidee was born July 26, 1842 and died at the age of 72 years 9 months and 20 days. I shall not dwell upon his life as a citizen, for all who knew him know that he was a good neighbor, a respected citizen, a kindly man. But all do not know of his sterling qualities as a soldier in the Union Army form ’61 till ’65.
It is this phase of his character that challenges our admiration. He enlisted in June 1861 in the 35th Ohio Vol. Inf. He was always ready for any duty and was in all the many battles in which his Regiment was engaged. The 35th fought its greatest engagement at Chickamauga, Ga., September 19 and 20th 1863. And not only was this the fiercest of their battles, but one of the most deadly of modern times, as is attested by the fearful losses on both sides.
It was Sunday afternoon at Snodgrass Hill or Horse Shoe Ridge –
The great Thomas – “the rock of Chickamauga” was holding
the left and center against the repeated assults of Longstreet and Bragg.
Had this wooded hill been carried by the Confederates, rout, ruin and
the capture of the army of the Cumberland together with the loss of Chattanooga
would have been inevitable. Of that no man who stood there on that fateful
afternoon can retain the shadow of a doubt. In Longstreets column of attack
were 13 divisions. In Thomas’ line of defense were 8 divisions.
It was a critical moment when history hangs on a few ticks of the clock
of destiny. The flank of Branan’s division was being turned when
Steedman with the last of the reserve arrived – “Where shall
I go in,” said Steedman. “There, said Thomas, pointing to
the gray lines just enveloping the flank. And they did go in with a loss
of 50 per cent of the two Brigades in less than 20 minutes.
Longstreet’s magnificent Virginians reeled before the tempest of
bullets and hot blast of grape hurled into their very faces. This straightened
our line but nothing more. Every man was on the line, tense as a fiddle
string, not a corporal’s guard of our reserves left. Thomas, his
hand on the pommil of his saddle saw the thin line holding the enemy.
At places with the bayonet alone, and he said – “My God if
that line breaks”! And broken it would have been had not Vandeveer’s
Brigade with the 35th Ohio in the lead, fresh from their victory in the
Kelly Fields struck the enemy just in the nick of time.
Longstreet was beaten back from Horse Shoe Ridge and Chattanooga, the
goal of the campaign, was securely held and the army of the Cumberland
were masters of the field. Among the gallant boys who struck the enemy
was George Hidee of the 35th Ohio, whom we buried today beneath the folds
of the flag he loved so well.
The funeral which was largely attended, was conducted by Mrs. Ruth Murray
and the Lebanon Post of the Grand Army.
– U. M. Greene.
Source: "In Memoriam,"
George Hidee obituary, The Western Star (Lebanon, Ohio), Thursday,
April 22, 1915.
Copy from the Obituary Collection at the Warren
County Genealogical Society,
by
Arne H Trelvik
19 April 2011