New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-09-26

The accession OF Eastern troops TO the heDei army III
'front.' afforded additional proof Of the discouraging
TRUTH developed clearer from day to day last week that
the Rebel Generals have been acting throughout this
campaign upon mastery plan. and were about trying
great stroke Of strategy. The humiliating reflection
that the folly Of the managers Of the War in Washing
ton alone enabled them to essay 1t by allowing or fore
ing the center of our general base Of operations repre-
sented by Gen. Rosecranss and Gen. Burnsidcs armies
to take the offensive while the right and le-Grants
and Meadcs armiesto lie idle forces itself Fresisbly
upon ones mind
fConclud,d by Telsgrcphl
In the course Of tho 18th, already unmistahablc
signs indicated that the enemy had discovered the
weak posts Of position, ard were messing their
forces in front Of on- etcenter and left for the man
est purprc OF crushing those parts Of our lines or
getting between them and Chattanooga. correspond
ing movement by tho left flank thence made by the
whole a,uy further down the West Chicamauga SO that
on Friday morning our extreme eft rested at Gordons
Nil a. the crossing Of the Chickamauga by the Lafay
cite pAe abozt twelve miles south west Of Chatta
nooca On the morning Of the 18th friday portion
Of the oIIeos,d rocntorcorncnts. consisting Of two
hr escs Of tbs reserve eoTs respectively commanded
by Coils McCaoh and Mitchell, made their appearances
near Cbattarooga. end we're Immediately ordered to
make a rccpinossapcc toward Rinccoh nnd develop
tbo intentions oi the enemy from that quarter.
They cane uron the advance Of Lengstrect's corps
rusacd 1t back for distance. took number OF
uisone-sfrom il, and fly established the anticipated
concentration Of the enemy in front Of our left Al day
Friday tho cavalry covering our front skirmished with
different bodies OK tho eEomy Issuing from the various
caps ef the Pigeon Mountains and advancing upon and
again retiring from or line. No seri0ns collision,
huwcgoI occurred Ii was evident the Rebel generals
mccnt 10 create false impression ~ the points OF
line against ss h they proposed to strike blow
VITA concentrated power, But Gen. Roaecrans was
moo deceived. The reports om the frost all tended 10
confirm biz rrcys impression that IN onset in o.
wteming numbers contemplated upon our left
flank and that it hid be met by si further shift
ing line toward Chattanooga.
Accordingly on Friday night the divisions ofBrannan
and Baird formerly commanded by Gems. Rousseau and
Reynolds, Of Jaomnss corps together with Jobnsons
Of HcCooks corps moved iIon the center 20 tie left
II Crittcnns corps They In their new positions
ut daybrcak. The two other divisions Of McCooks
corps DAVIS . aud she ldans were TO move into the
position abandoned by TLcmas's corps. but hud not
time to assGc Il fully before the Commencement OF the
act on on the next morning On the morning 90 Sailr
day our line then appeared follows: On tie eI-
ircme left Brennan. next Baird and Reynolds. with
johnson In reserve in the center Palmer the right Of
Reyrods and Van Cevc his left. The lire, as al
ready stated. was TO he completed by DAVIES and
Shcrlans divisions faced little east VI south The
scene Of all the NOV cments the 18th and 18th was
McLamores Cave. previously described as the valley
formed BY the Missionary and Pigeon Mountains. The
valley Is washed FOR It's greater part by the West
Chckansrga and trayersed by two roads, one leading
from Rossye and the other from Chattanooga direct
Lafayette The two roads about two miles apart.
and vert II the Chickamanga where the battle OF
SATURDAY was fought
The section Of the valley bordered by the two roads s
almost plain. covered With thick woods which
crcd the field for the effective use Of art
eTy The line proper given above rested nearly at tho
base Of the Missionary Mountains distance In ad
vance of it's right Gordons Mills tho point Of inter
section Of the road from Chattanooga TO Lafayette and
the Chckamauga aforementioned still held on Sat
uray morning BY Woods division of criendcns corps
tnpported by Negeys Of Thomas's. Their position was
strong one; but at Gnglo with tho line proper, ap
peared like dangerous extension Of the latter and was
proved such by subsequent events. II was meant TO
secure right against turning naneuyes but officers
Of good Judgment entertained the belief that both
ca,er compaciness from closer contraction and perfect
security Of the right might have been obtained by post
ing the latter ON tie eastern abutments Of Missionary
Ridge The brigades Of McCook and Mi.chell OF the
serve corps were ordered back to Rossyie on Friday
afternoon for the protection Of our communication with
Chattanooga and hence were lot to participate in tho
struggle Of Saturday. The night had been frosty and
Tie troops not being permitted kinde byouac fires
tie discomfort they experienced together with the IA
gac from marching and want Of sleep, put them in
ysical condition by as vigorous as il should
have been for the severe work before them. Fortunate
IL tho sun rose clear and with its cheering rays. did
much to revive the spirits Of the army.
The early forenoon passed away without forcwarning
Of tho approaching conflict but shortly before IL O'Clock
the storm that had been brewing all the morning the
Rebel side burst forth in the expected direction. AT
,hat time long mass Of Rebel infantry seen adj
yarcjug upon Brcnnans division tho extreme LEFT.
Il first came upon the second brigade Col CroIton
aud soon forced 1t back despite its deter
mined resistance The two other brigades Of the divs
ion AZ once camo TO its assistance. and succeeded In
checking the progress Of the Rebels and driving them
back; but their column being in turn strongly re
enforced, they advanced again with wild yels. So
powerful was this assault that they pushed Brannan
back to and beyond lis position in the line and thus I'M
covered the left Of Bairds division. Making prompt
use Of their advantage they changed their course to tho
left, and speedily enycloped Scribner's and Kings
latter Of regulars. They were almost
surrounded but managed to disentanglc themselves
after fearful loss
Tho crushing Rebel masses next came upon Johns0ns
Division, and rolled 1t upon Reynoldss which also be-
came speedily involved In the desperate struggle The
stubborn resistance Of these divisions however and the
sweeping fro Of some batteries posted under tho per-
sonal supervision Of Gen. Rosecrans. arrested at last
heir sweeping advance
The divisions Of Brannnn and Baird having been raj
ioG, Gen. Thomas ordered general advance Of tho
tight. and soon tho tide OF battle decidedly turned
N our favor With cheers our limo advanced llltiug