Vice President Dick Cheney to attend the first day of the Battle of Chickamauga

Vice President Dick Cheney attended the 145th Anniversary of the Battle of Chickamauga on Friday’s opening ceremony, where Cheney was the featured speaker for the event that kicked off three days of battles by the Blue and the Gray. The battle was referred to as the “Gettysburg of the West.” 

 

  

Photo by Samuel E Burns

Cheney arrived around noon under the unrelenting Georgia sun and spoke at the opening ceremony. The event will also commemorate the 145th anniversary of the first awarding of the Medal of Honor to Cheney’s great-grandfather, Capt. Samuel Fletcher Cheney of the 21st Ohio Volunteer Infantry.


   
Photo by Samuel E Burns

Vice President Cheney praised the many re-enactors and later received a painting commemorating the service of his great-grandfather who fought in the battle.




Photo by Samuel E Burns

Walker County will commemorate the Battle of Chickamauga with a three-day celebration that is expected to draw an estimated 10,000 re-enactors of both Blue and Gray.  The battle took place Sept. 18-20, 1863, and was one of the bloodiest battles in American history. The 145th anniversary celebration of the battle will take place at Davis Crossroads in Chickamauga.