New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-12-05

ard along the ChiCkemauga Valley, ne 10 make TN
mills his len These positions he assumed succcssiyey
cover the movements Of Thomass corps fret dow
The Lookout Mountains ard hen into Mciemores Cove
Gen Thomas assumed position in font Of the eante
debogchuesO OF the Lookout Mountain Cups. lie hasj 81,
corps n np, when the order TO concentrate reacted
him, and could have formed Crttenden on The 18TH
Ind d, not had 20 await the arrival OF McCooks corps
This did not up behind him until the 18th. Cen
Rosecrans hed desired Gen MeCook TO move hi. com
rnand from Alpine TO NeLemore's Cove via a direct
road over the Lookout Mountains IN Stevens's Gap.
But lie IA ,tar did not march by it for the reasons
In the preceding extracts from bis report The grounds
upon which Ae denies the existence " such r0ad
strong ones; bat Gen. Rosecrans claims to have eyi.
dsnce TO tie contrary. and calls McCooks foiure r.
take IL in his report an unfortunate mistake omission
OF something 10 that effect 1t Is certain that by the
length OF the route Gen. McCook thought hiInye.f
Obliged follow tie concentration o! the army III tho
Core end its subssqucnt shifting toward Chattanooga,
was delayed FOR several days; and 1t seems probable
that II this delay had not occurred the impending events
would have assumed different shape Bnt IL Is sti to
be positively proved that NcCeOk ID really responsible
forit BY unnecessary loss OF time on his march from
Alpine.
ward into position on Crt,enlsn's light. followed BY
McCoot, who formed Ga his right. The movement 81
NE e0tL Corps could not be meted until tho night OF
tho 18th when the three corps were. FOR the hrst TINE
in nine dsys. more formed upon each other lie
army then. indeed. concentrated. but upon tns
ss thar spsrs mile long pia line Of equ0t die.
dNcs t,,vsss and Chattanooga corred only " Gran.
Hs hrs brgSd<s and accessible to ths enemy by ssveroI
rood' And IN this extended. thin formation, Gen.
Ro-eeruis meant TO Eight battle II attacked, when 10
still expected 30 be upon hs then front This last dclu
sion. h0wcvec was dspeled IN tie oourse VI the lbth
when the real plans Of the eneuy were fully unfoded
TIE main body Of the army covered oil the crossings
Of the CLckaarga By roads from Lafayette fa down
| tho valley Us G0r1on's Mills Between the latter and
the mouth Of the stream there are i've or six
other points at which 1t IL crossed by roads leading to
ward Chattanooga and around the left oi position
from RiDggold and Lafayette OF these. Alexanders
Reeds and Red Mouse bridges we're nearest 10 the le
Of position, and hence required tho most careful
guarding. The frat two bridges were guarded by the
two mounted brigDdesone Of cavalry md the other Of
mounted infantry-rrspectively commanded by Coils.
Mint and wilder that covered the left asnk Of tie
army The Fed Hessc bridge he'd until the morn
ms Of the le'h. by part OF Gen. Granger command
unexplained reason, by the viihdra1ai of tho
covering force 70 Roayie. and INN ,distcly serwnd
occupied y Rebel ea,sIy Dari P tho morning aal
aud.rs bridges but defended Themselves brhyely and
successfully unti about O'Clock. whena body II Rebel
infantry appeared the flank and rear Of Mnty. and
compelled lin although reinforced bytso regiments "
wilder 10 fall bacE the latter. Boon they were both
forced bach upon Woods Division.
In the morning Gen. Wood from his position AZ Cor
don's Mile. discovered low clouds Of dust-tie sure
signs OF marching nfaptry-rlsing iorn long dieisree
over roads leading uorthgard Rom ~ yette 70 tie
east OF the Chlcsanaugn In mont Of lis peAets indi-
cations u direct advance BY the enemy upon his POSI-
ton became apparent lie reported these facts prompt
y 10 Gen Eoseorans expressed lis opinion that tbs
enemy trying 10 throw himself between oar army
and Chattanooga. and suggested movement TO the et
prevent this But Gen. Eosecrsns hestetsl until The
CfrIcctless OF Gen. " Oous cOnclsiOLs hltrFWhG
proved by tho advance o. Rebel infantry up The west
bAak ~ the ChlcSamaugs upon hinty aud " Nder. IL
ascer,ained that the enemy he'd taken prompt
House bridge and BY crossing tie Chieksusugs, and
assuming position on ts western baAk passed thu only
natural barrier between him snd our Asxyi Spon tie
Successful defense o. which The safety Of Gen. Rose
cranss communications ard Of lis iirA Of retreat. IN
Of defeat, depended IN great measure The truth
TINT tie enem. ~as not only contemplating. but Ind
ready well nigh accomplished turning movement.
I lf.t lrl Il
upon Gen RosecrArs; and the hst m.tted by form
lfg lis a,my along the CEicknDaDga 10 The south IN
siead - to the north of GOTtOLs NILS could DG' DO
sharply fe.i by him.
Tieie we're but two means q meeting the emergency
mo, cmen, frurn the right ~ the eit. ard IN stack
uton lie .Ieny Gen Losecrans applied tic forme!
Cl tie latter. I sLhA speak hsrerfter.
The movement wac made In this wise Gen. critten-
dea led Gen: WOOD In hls postpa ei GoIdoa's Mh!s
wood rsht ~ his en-. IN this formation the 2l.I
Corps TO cover the passage 10 the rear and it .:
it oi ;lf.e divisions Of Thomas coips The sth Di
,.lon Of the 18th Corp-Nesey was TO take postioH
I on Mood. ghl McCookis three divisions 20
take hs position vacated by tie withdrawal Of Tie
three q Jioms.. The center We thus 10 become I've
Con. Ihonss v a. directed 70 march TO the point Of
Intersection Of the Rossv. ard lafayette rosG b. TIE
road from Reeds Brig- and assume position ~ "a 20
cover the former and form aIous IL uriil he joined
'Clltiopiels hight lie movements, owing 20 tie nar
goWac.s ~ n 10 n1t dow tia. bis advance
BarLs diyisoa-Ald not reach tie stated poln, n-iI
dayf.t he I'll. AMI Lis last di'loE was 40, Oat
Of The way OK McCook Until dsfk when the latter NOV ed
INTO the position assigned 10 lin.
Upon he rcpalse o. the mounted troops under Colo
neis Nin,y aud Wilder. from Reeds and Aesanders
bridges General Granger selt WhiIaAeTs ard Me
Cooks lrgados out rpm Ross'!lle 10 70 possess hcd
House and Reeds bridges. Tho former found Itself
confronted ly the enemy when three miles oG AID ia
not accomplish It's tack. NcCooks marched. on the
evening ~ tie leth % within mile Of Reeis bridge,
when Il into McSa!rys brigade q Walker, Rebel
div ison 81 Longt,reets corps, nom which Is took
twenty Eve prisoners. l. went iao blyoaac close to
I A. st1f mo rHu ID
90 tie bridge and destroyed under the nFe oil the enc.
ny IL appeared sitcTWArd, 4 At The enemy had not
one brigade. bu. whole division. on the west BANK OF
tie kalaGuga and two others In close proximity on
the cas-, bank before General Thomas reached his posi-
tlon At tho crossroads that tho Rebel forces veto ao
tualy nearer to Rossvle than 10 when lie reached
his Destination. and thus could easily execute HANK
1Ler. ro some very singular facts relating TO the
sti,t ~ tic center to the left. Gems. Thomas and
Crt,endon aero both unaware that the enemy had
possession OF tho bridges above Gofdons Mills unti
ihe morning of tho l9Ih Of course they could
NOT know /, nom any source W intelligence OF tier
own but got tho proper information only through
the general headquarters. Gen. Thomas was arst IN
formed Of i. BY Cod " ilder Gen. CTu,enden seems
10 have also boon lef. In Ignorance OF the movement.
Of GEN Thomas past his rear during Tie time il was
| going on.
took the designated veston az TIE crk Of the roads,
| hciug toward Reeds ard AeYIuc,rs bridges Bran
nan. Division closely following Balrds was placed IA
position on IL. elt tie two roads leading from TIE
State road 10 the two mentioned bridges. Colonel Mo
Cook reporting that the Rebel force lie had discovered
on the ives, bnak OF tie Chickamnuga might be ent vi
DO had destroyed Reeds bridge. over which 1t had
| crossed General Thomas ordered General Brannnn 10
post rgade within supporting distance OF baIu, on
hc road to AlexaulcTs bridge and with his other two
hugndes to reconsider the road to Reeds bridge TO SCI
ifhc could discover the Reb, detachment, aud t. at
tempt is capture. KoVlortuiit, offered.
| Iks divisions Of HAlrd and BraErGn were properly
disposed oiby a. Soon after. portion O! General
In'mcrs Division. o. Cruenden's Corps. which lad
been ordered to report IL Genera Thomas took position
! 10 the right OF BgirGs.