Vice President Dick Cheney Talks History, Heritage At Chickamauga Battlefield

He follows military history and today, Vice President Dick Cheney shared with the public his connection to the Battle of Chickamauga.

Cheney is a descendant of a man who fought for the North at the site, before settling down as a farmer.

Things were a bit unsettling about 30 minutes before the Vice President arrived.  A gust of wind caused a giant American Flag banner to come crushing down, sending secret service into a scramble.

After draping the back drop with a real flag, the VP's motorcade pulled in and he took the stage to mark the anniversary of the Battle of Chickamauga.  "The 19th of september has come around again 145 times always drawing people here to reflect on those events of 1863," says Cheney.

Dick CheneyThe date and this site hold importance in the Cheney family history book.  Cheney's great grandfather, Samuel, enlisted with the 21st Ohio Volunteer Infantry on this day back in 1861.  Two years later, he would be among the men in this field, fighting in one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War.  "No one is left that remembers sam cheney and he didn't leave much behind in the way of his possessions either. But we have the sword he carried at Chickamauga, and throughout the war and a picture of him in him uniform from that era," says Cheney.

5,000 students listen to Cheney's story.  Some were awestruck, others listened intently.  Brandon Smith, a Sophomore at Powell High School says "I'm kind of star struck, cause everything is just so big and like wow, to me."  Joshua Forest, a 5th grader from North Layfeyette Elementary likened it to a "once in a lifetime chance."

Senior Lacy Patton of Powell High says Cheney "was talking about his great grandfather and how concerned he was about his whole life and how he had been through so much."

While Cheney offered students a history lesson, sprinkled with personal and Presidential details, he left them with a message of their responsibility to now keep the peace.  "Whatever it was about this land that produced such brave souls back then, I'm proud to say we still have it," says Cheney.

The V.P. later joined with reenactors at the Ohio Volunteer Infantry marker to pay tribute to his great grandfather.

The "Civil War Courier" also presented him with a painting they commissioned of Samuel Cheney in full uniform on the banks of Chickamauga.