The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-10-30
BATTLE OF ICkAMAUGA.
MfSm anagem of our Forces.

The Chicago Tribune, which has been,
until lately, one of the warmest admirers
Of RosEoRANs, has had reason to distrust
its judgment of the man, and on ANNOUNCE
ing his removal, publishes the following:
Extract from private letter.
In CAMP, Sept 28 1868.
l fear you at the North have very poor idea
of the magnitude Of the contest, or the way in
which our defeat was brought about. That il
was a sore defeat, think no one questions. and
but for the indomitable valor of our Western
soldiers, msInanaged as they WERE it would
have been crushing and rreparablc disaster.
think we ought to have had and did have,
Is, 600 men, and POI pieces of artillery in action
on Sunday, but put the figures at the lowest
notch. and you may bet on their correctness.
Joe Johnston may possibly have had IS 600
men under his command, but do not think it,
for if he had, we would have been driven into
the Tennessee River, so poorly were our forces
handled. You cannot fail to notice the i'm
mense amount of our artillery. Of this we lost
between 80 and SO pieces. heard General
Mitchell say he thought our loss would not ex-
coed 80 pieces, while some put it at so pieces.
The medical men say our loss IN killed and
wounded is between IL 600 and IL, 600; while
our loss in prisoners is between s. 600 and I, OOO
All our severely wounded were left in the enc
my's hands, as well as the bodies of the slain
on the field, for we were forced back distance
of nine miles. And all this horrid slaughter
took place, or nearly oil, between IL and
o'clock on Sunday-twO short hours.
l believe that the rebel loss in killed and
wounded is as great and perhaps greater than
our own, and we have some 1, 500 prisoners.
When Rosecrans commenced his movement
on Chattanooga, Bragg lay there with about
%, 900 men, which was amply sufficient to hold
the place against any force which might attack
in front, or from the north side of the Ten
nessee. Now old ROsecranS plan vas to send
Crittenden's corps Gown to attack Chattanooga
in front, Chat is from the north side of the
Tennessee River.) while he, with Thomas and
McCoOk should cross Lookout Mountain and
come in the rear of the town, cutting off Bragg
from all reinforcements and making him either
come out in the open field and risk all on the
fate OF single battle, when We had the choice
of the gronn and 4 vastly superior army, or
else lie in his entertainments at Chattanooga
and starve to death, as Pemberton did at
Vicksburg.
Well, Just as Rosecrans had succeeded in
making the movement Joe. Johnston arrived
with few thousand men from Mobile and
took command, ordered the evacuation of the
town and commenced making big show of
falling back on Rome or Atlanta Rosecrans
was completely fooled by this movement, and
rushed with Thomas corps into Chattanooga.
counting his beads, and saying his Pater Nos
tiers with Catholic Archbishop while he sent
McCOok's corps, and the greater part of the
cavalry still further south to flank Rome in
case Johnston should attempt to stop there.
Instead of this, as is now evident he should
have concentrated his forces and beaten Johns
ton before he received renforcements from
Virginia. Thus you see "old Rosy" spent
week catching flies, when he ought to have
been whaling Johnston.
That willy rebel no sooner discovered the
movement of McCook, than he sat about to
"gobble him, and threw large portion of
his forces under Polk between Thomas and
McCook, thus forcing him to retreat Then
occurred one OF the most terrific stampcdes on
record. Our brigade was with McCOok, and
brought up the rear, SO happen to know all
about it. We retreated forty-eight hours. and
scarcely stopping to eat-eleeping was out of
the question.
Here follows an elaborate account of the
battle, which we omit, our purpose being only
with results Ids. Tri5une
The battle was substantially over The
Army of the Cumberland had met with terri
bic defeat, but not crushing one. Some other
day it will, when better handled, retrieve its
lost glory, and show itself, as it did then,
though unsuccessfuly, the bravest and best
army on the continent.
Our Generals try to sneak Off after defeat and
save themselves from public contempt by re-
peating and encouraging monstrous lies as to
the rebel strength. / have not seen a sane man
in this army who thinks we had 100 600 men
opposed. to u.s. and yet see the newspapers
say the rebels had 100000. There is Just about
20 600 lies there. If they had had any thing
like that number of men they would have re-.
taken Chattanooga.
As the thing now stands will try to give
you my opinion as TO the result and it is the
opinion OF the most intelligent men in this
army: The rebels fought this battle with the
object
tirst-If possible to hurl the army of the
Cumberland into the Tennessee, retake Chatta.
nOo%a, and re open communication between
Richmond and Alabama and Georgia by this
route.
Secondly-To give Rosecrans such terrible
thrashing that ne would not be able to move
or give battle again for two or three months.
to capture guns and prisoners, ard obtain q
victory that would revive tIeir spirits ut home
ana put their waning cause abroad on its legs
again. Meanwhile. they can transport all their
army back TO Virginia. flashed with Western
victory to administer another dose of salts to
the Army of the Potomac and attempt to take
Washington.
In this last object think no one will dispute
the rebels were cmnently successful. 1t viii
be at least three months before tits army can
again take the offensive.
Collecting Testimony.