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


vance In front and stayed H. JoInsons and PalmerS
divisions which had been dispatched respectively from
the right md center u tue assistance ~ the c when
the battle opened. together with Reynoldss ups
formed and advanced oblquey upon tie enemy attack
ing on lis front and right flank and diving him 10
confusion upon Lis reserves. This about 4 y. N.
After lu Of abont hour the enemy ao;anced apon
ReyIodss right and in furious attack tried to tare
Ii and rsin bis This effort also foed By sco.
PORTING divisions Abort dusk another assar,t in greed
force esssyei epon Johneon's division fdat olso
drew in Bard but /. wGs rcpelled as the preceding
ones. -
tunes on thr le TO the close VI 10 day recey.lg te
three great slows BY which the enemy hoped 10 Dreh
that part Of Gre army and striking cack with great 81
feet the renci.ng divisions were also drawn srediauy
into the fight rom the right TO the left one after tht
sther and experienced eeyere shocks from Rebel oot
pushing successfully upon their TANKS at dfor.
e: times. ard from several points o. the west bank q
Johoson and Palmer to relieve the LETT from crushing
rrsss1re. Next same Nesleys. then Dayis's, thcs
Woods and ut last two brigades OF she-d'Ls dis sion
and with them nj me available force excepting the -
Brigade Of the see division. came under Ere Just DO
fore the enemy gave rp his efforts for the day Tbel
oil fSug,. esswes1 and and al could ses
aud rear saved by the nearest friends striking the
flank and ,ear OF the emmy" The power Of the on
sms % rs to s 3 Ds Van
seriously GCu g,' e,gased, end ongerthan Sheridan
The conflict Of the 18th will be pregmlrent In history
sought for IL the annals Of TIE present and com.
Ing generations i'll wonder more a. the original
eharact Of denousTent CT s SIN! sgnsn Tragedy
IN the Tournaments 81 ancient times chan Ycns ~ o1s
party entered the lists after another 70 be matched
against those - the opposing party 20 n tbs sIsaa
trial Of loyal and rebel strength. limb 40 % peak.
after another OF e hugo contendg bodies las sep,r'
ate deadly struggle. From right 70 zen tie mighty
waves OF attack rolled and rushed broke against shs
masses they went TO wash away. A rreasu-eg.ens OF
relative courage, strength endurance cohes SeBess
was. indeed bat 40 match Of seiaine minds at least
sure the directing influence Of Ger Thornas ft.
But he had hardly any inspirston-fit be called
from @ higher sphere during the day, and
extend lie authority tle wLcle Geld he OtLeT
divisions being taken from the control - tei- corps
commanders and 10, placed under that ofoen rhonas
ct ali events he does not spcak of them 10 lis report
as having acted under bis oriers-sese .Toc. ilsea
into the battle ard their commanders .Oncht tsa 80
best they could without cienr understanding o. ths'
position and the bearing Of the action.
Fuller criticism Is NOT applicable for the simple reaeoa
that there 10 preconceiyed method VI conducting
tic unforeseen collision, and that hence plan can
not be measured by execution" AID vice Bgt
the question whether IL was wise and uLayolCoe 20
bring On conflict ia the manner described cals or
discussion Gen kosecrnns Contend cha, q the bstta
OF ClcLamauga StsoEtciy necessary 70 secure oar
coucentf alton and Chattanooga" As 20 lie IN
ev,sbiNty OF the battle 10 existed after bus Iot Doors
the 18Th that is not long concentration IN .ront
Of Chattanooga vas practicable For tie i.c that the
victorious enemy has not yet dared ~ attack what 70
OF the Army Of tie Cumberland IN lie prcsens
not have veAtured offensive battle II be lid had -
seek our army in its full strength beh4a IL. ..~cacnA
But granting, even. tho. battle was nooos.a to de-
eide which OF the two armies to Lave possession OF
Chattanooga il Is not certain that IL ssgry 70
have orrs forced into il while making moyenen. bi he
leit lank, by which great sd,aniago was sise1 -
making tie shif from right TO et earlier There wsre
furthermore many ssoacions AID gallant Oh ce-s oi 80
uortaward march from Lafayette parslel to our flont
the leth. felt thu, precious opportunity YES oi2sea
to Gen Ro.ccrans 20 inf.ct defeat. il not Destruction
upon the enemy by throwing lis troops N co.inaS
latter did the following day, when the SITUATION VS.
reversed anl We were attacked hel.. CoiulAs .ays
moving by 'ho hant. The strike would have .tan hod
but TO more hazardous than the hlnk movement N the
f!cc and partially under The fire Of The enemy Oh the
18th Gen R,.cersns could have moved columns .! NJ
tack from the Chcksmsuga crossings IN ouT possss.ion
- ,o.1 oiro.. er-evdcuiar 10 tie enelv's M-s 81
II arch There great obstacles ~ ground, Ind
S.v mica r1eroA would have brought thcu Lpoa .hs
enemy IL IL true lac attempt VI the enemy iiel On
tie 18th. But moved then upon one lnc en- echeon
a, II were while he merc 81 from 0iu near Gc-ipae
MILF over two r,ads ai!rs apart. Even II Cur attack
had 10. resulted Ia cusite the Eebc army N Two and
rOutinglt il mi have shaker tie enemy 10 sucA An
extent as 10 STOP his aankins movement: fss the
Gen Eecrans lad sbort oOr rnuatc-g fsr :hs bat.
tie Of the 18th am persuaded tha, when tue truth 10
hereafter revealed lie enemys strength "A aP2eer 70
ave been not oger - 0f0.
Tie result Of the battle wa that our troops every-
where maintained their Z siuoils dc eoi the en,y.
and gained great otiects-hororsh command eftbe
Iossylle and Dry valley roacs. J al We been hTAly
f. position ia issue would have d0ahtess bee, much
more In our favor. HAT great disaster bsse ~.
the unproptons circuris'eno,5 nader
" h!ch the fight wos made Teit il solely one 10
the undputs5e sasnuy Of the greater porioa o! oaf
troops
ON the nigh, o! TIRE 10th there vas not n ouf
army that did not feel the ceria ATTY OF Che rsnesa Of
the struggle the next morning And uHthat we're
informed enough 10 comprehend the situation were -
deeply impressed Gen. Roecr' - with the conviction
hot 10 Inrsrtlrg
safety u communications. bn the safety III he army
Itself depended.
consultation With !heir chief othe Operations Of toe
coming daT at the general ddGe-ters Sieu. Rose
crnns issued he following nsir letio9s C.n IAomaS
with the troops that had reinforced lin lmers ana
John ans divisional. Was to n Lnain 81 isianta ho
presen, line with Brannnn IN -eserVe. NSCooA was to
maintain lis pcse: limo till driven In snG e close on
Thomas with lis main line gh, refuse and covering
position as Widow GlenI's oise; CT ienden was 20
have his .wo divisions in recave near lAe Junction OF
McCooks. and lhomass hrs to be axe TO 'reoof
either.
At dawn Gen Rosecran1 Dsoceed1i 20 inspect the
lines. IIs found Geuefl MeCocAs r;sLt 100
r..erye on wooded hillside o. parallel to the
Dry valley Road. He meT .foIed thl ~ Gen. GeCook:
desiring Gen Davis 70 be brought down M once moved
more TO the LETT aAd puc,. u close column di,ison
doubled On tie center in sh,ltefe ,siilon. lie found
gen C-Itenden's two DIVISIONS rssSed ~ sAe foot VI
the sass bill in TIE valley! aad eal.ea hi5 eieatoa 70
this. desiring them 10 be mo.oc mora o the let.
Ihonass troops the indie ssu position. exceps
Pamefs lne which had Ia De cl"s.i more cesnpactly
sai!sled that the enemy would feneN tie attack on
the len, Cen Rosecrsss 9rtcr.G hegley DIV lson 70
Ioin en- Thomas and Jaa. Nee Ok. to rs-eyo Nesey
IN the iiuc.
Returning to the right hc kuri that Nagley had nos
moved and that Mccoeks ttoc ps were not coming 20
relioss him. Ncgle- was frel ring e. withdraw TWO
briIlles from the lAe. lie wa O.der,s ~ wIhdrav
his reserve brigade irlmediGi ~ and solow wia 'hs
two oth, rs only whe reicyo she In eo battle Zen.
Crilsluen. being nss.g@t v4,erderes v MI NeElcl
place aud Gen. Mseo,k notified 81 It's order arising
lom the necessity IL promptly sendils reeAo1 eemeas
81