Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-11-04


cut mountain in thniy.six hours after Bragg
left Il. In the meantime, Crittenden, who ha,
reached Chattanooga, and finding no snem'
there, did not stop to occupy and fortitY i, but
strong in The general feeling Of tho N0rtheri
army, that the Conlederstes were thoroughly
demoralized and would not fght moved on to
ward Rnggold 10 cut of BucEner, who wa
understood 70 be moving 10 the support Of Bragg
0n reaching the point on the Georgia railroad q
which BucEHer crossed, ha discovered be We.
too late, aud turned toward Lafayette TO folloE
him He moved up the Chieksmsuga, on il
cast side, ia the direction Of Lafayette, and Va,
confronted by the cavalry uuder Gems. Pegran
and Armstrong. After skirmishss with them, il
which there were some brilliant dsshes upon th,
part Of our cavalry, the latter retired slowly be
fore the enemy, falling back toward L9feystte
To meet this movement Gen. Bragg ordered q
force of two divisions, under Lieut. Gen. Polk
to move to the front. These divisions, Cheat
hams and Walkers, were put ia molten, snd
were ia liae Of battle before daylight, covering
the three roads on which the snemY'5 three d.
visions were marching. HIndmaR came NJ aitel
daylight, snd Buckner was thrown forward as q
supporting force to guard POlk's left sgsins,
Thomas and McCook IN The cove CIittenden
finding himself eonfronsed declined battle, and
retired during the night, falling back on tie
Chieksmaugs, which, he crossed ct Lees and
Gcrdon's mills. This placed the whole Of Rose
eraus three corps en- the east side Of the ChickR-
manga snd IN easy supporting distance.
Nov was presented once more q magni6cent
opportunity for the Confederate general There
was ne longer doubt as TO the position of the
forces of the enemy. His whole army, with the
exception Of Granger, was before him. 1t was
distributed from the head of MeLemore's cove
along and down the west side Of the Chicks
nasugs velley as far as Lees and GOrdon's Mills,
Chieksnlaugs creek separating il from the army
OF the C0nfsderstes. A stEoag denomination
on the crsek Has al that was necessary 70
cover the proper movement That movement
gss 70 march his whole army rapidly by the
right fank down IS low as Reeds bridge and
the contiguous fsrds, and at that point TO throw
L across the creek and valley, forming it st
right angles 70 the Lafsystts and Chattanooga
road, ana so covering the exit FROM the valley ia
ths direction Of Chattanooga. This movement
would have been met by that Of The Firgiais
troOps landing from the railroad at Riaegold,
and would have effsetaally blocked the Yankee
army up in McLemOrs's cove, cut it of from
Chattanooga, and placed it at the mercy Of the
Confedarsis5- Bat the point vas not seen. Il
was beyond the limited range Of the usual stra-
tegie combinations of the Confederate Chief,
and while he ordered = demonstration on the en-
lT llAtEd d. 44og bAku AAAaAtdf 40 laEA1Q
10 grasp the whole OF the situation. Instead Of
throwing bis whols army in a body across the
ChieksmsHgs and far down, he moved it b. d.
visions snd crossed it st several fords and
bridges north of Lee and Gordons mills, up to
which be ordered the Virgins troops which had
crossed many miles below, and near TO which
he astsmDted to concentrate about half of his
army. This was on Saturday, the 18Th.
While he was engaged in discussing the pre-
else position of the enemy, tbs latter relieved his
embarrassment by an attack on AsjVr-Gen.
Walkers corps. This stack was made with
great vigOr, and Was sustained by the gallant
meu who compose that division 10 style IN
keeping with theif former reputation for the
highest BoliieTly qualities. The attack was
made simultaneously en- front aud flank by \
part Of Thomas corps and Palmer's division, Of
Clittenden's corps In meeting the attack, the
brigsdes Of Walthan and G5vsH, under the com-
msnd of Brig Gen Liddall commanding diYIs-
ioD, emineuty distinguished themselves. The
division Of Maj5r-Gsn. ChssthanI, vas moved to
he support of Walker, and Wss taken into tie
fight most opportunely; for while the greatly
superior force. by which Walker was attacked,
wss not only held in check, but driven st the
outset-Wslker running over seVerel OF tae en-
emy'8 bsftsFies-yet the strOug reIniorcements
tbas came up caused Walker 60 hail Che8thsm's
approach as g seasonbie relief Tins veteran
division, under its well tined and skilful leader,
threw itself upon the enemy's Hns, with its
usual weight and force, capturing many Of the
enemy's guns, and driving him back, uRtil he
Wss met by heavy reinfoTcements.
The enemy here crowded his troops down
upon his lett, and the fight became one of great
desperation, being sustained By the ensmy with
the whole of Thomas CORPS. The strength OF
his force being great enough to outhaHk Cheat
ham, he tapped round himon both right and left.
and although his advance was met with heroic
firmuess, yet being SO greatly outuumbered, be
was compelled to fall back. This was not
accomplished, however, until fearful sacrifices
had been experienced, and no help was seen 10
be at hand His line was naintsiGed until the
enemy, by a rapid flank movement on his lsft,
had pushed close upon the battery Of the gallant
Captain Csrnes, and slam mos. Of bis horses
and men. The heavy loss IN horses rendered ii
impossible to Withdraw the guns, and they
yFere, therefore abandoned to the enemy The
division Of Msjor-Gen ClebUra, Of LieUtensni-
Gen. Hill's corps, which had held Lee and Cor
doH's mills duripg the day, new esms 10 Cheat
hams support 1t moved to the attack with III
usual energy, aDd rolled back the tide Of battle
which was pressing with such weight on Cheat
hams right The FIRE with which It opened WaE
terrific, and soon afforded relief TO Cbeethani
who, with the elasticity which belongs TO thai
veteran DIVISION resumed Immediately tho for
ward movement, uniting with Cleburn, anC
pressing the retiring lines Of the enemy. Thii
fight was continued until the night, and It va;
last b fore the close, that the gallant officer
BdgsdieI-GsB. Preston Smith, with enc OF more
OF his aids-de-csmp, fell under one OF the vol
legs Of the ensmy's muskeiTy.
The division of MsjoT-GsueFal Hood, and thi
corps Of MsjoF-Gene,aI Buckner, were promi
nentiy engaged ia the operations Of tho day, aEst
bore themselves most galisntiy.
At the close Of the days work, the genera
commanding issued an order, dividing the force
Of his army into two wings.
The right wing was placed under LieUtensnt
General Polk, and the left under Lieutenant
General Longstrest. 1hs former was composed
OF Iieutanant- G eneral Hills corps, two divis
isrs--Msior-Gsnersl Cleburns and Major
| ssnersl Btsckipridgs'si Of the division OF Ms
/ ior-GsBerai Cheatham, Of Lieutenani-3enera
| Polk's corps, and the division OF Mal3t-Geners
/ ". n I. Walker.
The left was composed Of the divisions Q
| Maisl-Genersl Stewart and Bgig2dieT-(S5nersl
/ Preston and B0shr0d johnson, OF 1ajar-Gsn
sral Buckner's corps Msjor.Gsneral HIndmsE
| Of L4ieateRant-GeDeTsl PJlk's corps, and Ban
| Mugs, Laws and Robertson's bElgsdss, {
J Hoods diyion, and EeTshaI's and HumPhnei
/ Eruaueat 1AksAAaNS NANA9tSAAp " t-A5 y -
tepant-l3 3snersl L,oHgstrest's) Corps
The front line Of the right w,ng consisted
three divisions -BseckenTisge and Oieburn,
| Hirs corps, and Chesthsms OF Polks corp
which were posted from right to left 10 she orde
named. Msi-Qsn. Walker vas held IN Tesery
The left wing was composed OF MajoT-Gener'
Stewar,'s division on the right, with Hoed s o
the left. On Hoods left wes HiRdmsns diV
sion Of Lisut.-Gen. Polk's corps, with Preston
division Of Rackners corps, on the extreme lel
Orders were given 20 the lieuieoant,senl.e
commanding the right wing to attack Of dsy ilg
next morning, these orders were imznedlately
sued by him 10 his subordinate cornnssndeIs, b
owing to circumstances beyond bis control, q
altsek was not made until o'clock fIlor
giving the order to move forward 70 tns sttac
Gen, Polk discovered that owing to TIE wan.
prscsuaon on ths part Of the proper aethot.
| ia the formation Of the general line OF natsl
a portion Of the Line Of Tue left wiag had be'
formed IN front Of his line, portion amounin
{ 10 a sybele diyisisn, and that bad the order
, make the attack al daylight been obeye1, t