Staff Photo by Dan Henry
Jack Fishman, CEO of Lakeway Publishers, the owners of three civil war publications, speaks to Vice President Dick Cheney while standing in front of a painting of Vice President Cheney's great grandfather Samuel F. Cheney, who fought during the Battle of Chickamauga. Lakewood Publishers were the organizers and funders of the 145th anniversary Battle of Chickamauga event being held in Walker County, Ga., the weekend of September 19-21, 2008.

CHICKAMAUGA — Vice President Dick Cheney said here today he is “proud of the bravery” his great-grandfather showed at the Battle of Chickamauga 145 years ago.

The vice president’s great-grandfather, Samuel Fletcher Cheney, was a sergeant with the 21st Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War, seeing action at the crucial battle on Sept. 19-20, 1863.

Soldiers on horseback today came over a hill and surrounded the place where Mr. Cheney spoke.

During his 20-minute speech, he told thousands of people gathered to mark the battle anniversary the story of his great-grandfather’s life. He spoke of how he was a farmer and mill worker and of how he named his two children after Civil War generals — Thomas after Gen. George H. Thomas, known as the “Rock of Chickamauga,” and Sherman after William T. Sherman.

Mr. Cheney described his great-grandfather as a “sturdy, determined man” and said he is “proud of the bravery” he showed. He said his grandfather’s “years of service meant a great deal to him.”

The vice president is expected to attend a private ceremony near the 21st Ohio monument with Brad Quinlin, a Battle of Chickamauga historian who has befriended Mr. Cheney.

For complete details, see tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press.

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