, 1863-09-30

character, It Is not strange tha. Providenco
selected him to wrench safety, ii not victory,
out Of 3 lost battle-tbe safety, perhaps. Of
The nation itse]f
bare been told that night. But I did not
belitye it. 1had eeen too much Of him and
his fighting division to credit that story. At
midnight Sunday night, Sheridan dotted his
hat to Thomas and reported for duty with
more men and more guns than he had car
ried into the fight originally!
Even after ho was cut of he repe[ed = des.
pernte charge Of the enemy. and one Of his
Iegiments-the 5lst ulinois-captured the
battle fsg of the 24th Alabama aud the Ms-
jor OF the regiment, who Was carrying It, en-
dea1orlng to rally his mea. The General Is
sn ardent, practical student OF roads, as
had occasion to know while riding with his
must haTe gone double that distance before
found that the Geneid was taking his daily
Lesson in geography. Gathering together
his noble br]gades, two Of whom had lost
their beloved le4ders, he struck across the
Missionary Ridge directly to the west. as the
rebels had possession Of tho country to the
moth Of him, including, for all be knew, ev-
cry read. Reaching the top Of the ridge, he
caused the assembly to be blown, and pick
ed up all the stragglers from other divisions
he could find. He had Lost three pieces OF
artillery in the fight, but he came acrosa q
and took 1t In charge. In this way he saved
q whole battery, given up for lost BY john
son. :
"With all that was left Of his own division,
and with long line Of stragglers aud addt-
t1onal artillery, he struck the road on top Of
Missionary Ridge, which he traversed until
he found it in possession Of the enemy. Qui-
city breaking Of agnin to the west, he adroie-
II passed the enemy's flank, regainlng the
road, and turning east through Rossytle. and
without halting tor q moment, he reinforced
Thomas BY midnight, as have already fodi-
Gated.
Before dark, McCqok and Crittenden re-
turned to the Held, ~ during the night the
army Was te+organi1ed and placed in the po-
sitlou around Rossville, shoWn on the map.
Monday, all expected d renewal Of the fight.
Thomas held The impregnable gag through
visions we're thrown to the west of the ridge,
while Crittenden and Granger were either
held In reserve or guarded points on the
But the enemy MAS wary. Toward noon,
he sent up heavy 1ine Of ekirmlshers, but
they ran IF preclPitately after . few volleys
from our braVe lads. Late in the afternoon,
seeing the dust rising from one Of our trains
carrying provisions to the front, they threw
q few shells in the direction, which did no
damage.
rode through the lines that day, and can
tEnt4A} tuak oNl 41M1 NILS II EAlc1EAt Ae1FAe5.
I found AIcCook's and C.ittenden's corps,
branded as utterly defeated by sudden cor
respondent, standing behind heavy palis-
ade Of rails and logs, crowned by IN artfal
abattfs and concealed BY bushes Cannon
were In position, and they, too, were masked
with bushes. Thomas, On the ridge, though
tc1ding position strong naturally, bad
erected good palisades, and was simply I'M
pregnab1e.
Tie st1agglers that had reached Chatta-
Iooga came back during Monday, impetled
By that most inaexible Of Provost Msrshals-
hunger. They were greeted with shouts BY
BY their regiments, something in the follow.
rs manner: :;53m aolloa, here comes old
soasper; thought he was killed" And each
Of anything but discontinue or lack Of spirit.
By Monday night the army was ill together
again and perfectly reorganized. But there
we're mnny reasons Why It shonld fill back on
Chattanooga. The town was already partially
fortified, and the position was IS strong as
tie one they occupied around Rossvflle. The
fear was 1hat the enemy might attempt to
cross the Tennessee, and this could best be
prevented, or the aim Of such . movement
best defeated, by our own army being ready
to c1ocs at any moment. Accordingly, In the
evening, the calssons were all cent to the
rear, and By midnight our whole army had
abandoned RossVule aud were moving into
Eosition around Chattanooga. There I left
pletely reorganizeo, confident that " we'll
vhip them yet" and I firmly believe they
will, If again attaeked.
Beyond few guns, what has the Confeder-
acy gained by her forced battles Of the Chick
QMauga?