Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-04-14
terry TO the Commanding General, who In per-
sen directed sc veral changes between sand lex

l.
bic for the delay in forming the new line on
that occasion. e4=ys.- - E..fs--e -.
1t further appears that General MaCook NOT
of keeping wen closed to the lett and Of maIa.
tanning a compact center, but he was also
ordered TO hold the Dry Valley road. This
caused the line 10 be ''attenuated," as stated in
the testimony Of Commanding. General, who
says tnat its length was greater than he though,
il was when assumed 8sIFE ~ ''I7f
Il is shosn, o TOO, that the cavalry did notobey
The above facts, and the additional one that,
the small force at General McCook's disposal
was inadequate to defend against great.y
superior numbers the hong line hastily taken
under instructions, relieve General M,Cook
entirely fIom the responsibility for the reverse
which ensued.
did every thing he could to rally and hold he
q oops after the line was broken, giving tae
Iecessary orders, &c to his ssubordipateS a., :,
The court are OF opinion, however, that in
McCook committed a mistake, but his gallant
conduct in the en- engagements forbios the idea
that he was influenced by coasidePa:ioa ,oi
personal safety.
Bearing in mind that the Commandips Gen :
eral having previously gone to Cha ttan nooya,r,
was natural for General McCook TO infer tnat
all the discomfited troops We're expected %
rally there, as well as to presume that a con-
ference with the Commanding General on tn at
important subject was both desirable and ne
cessary, the court cannot regard his act Of
2. Finding and Opisaion In the Case Of Major Gen
III CvA y. erat Crstteaden, lF..,, =
General ,Grittendens commanded the 2Ist
army Corps, composed of Palmer's, Woods,
and Van Cleye's Divisions. rs ..rst y
On the 18th OF September. 1865, tths first day
OF the battle OF Chickamauga.) his comma id
consisted p9 those divisions, excep, Wagaer's
Brigade, which garrisoned Chattapoosa,
The evidence adduced respecting General
Crlttenden's operations on that day not only
shows no cause Ter censa-e, but on the con-
trary thathis whole conduct was most credits,
able; for BY his watchfulness and prompt aud
judicous support OF troops engaged, serious
consequences to our Armyfw preSented, and
the enemyis plans for the day discoucertei
Early on the morning OF the 2ottl q enersI
Crittendeas command consis.ed OF W ood- . and
Van Cleye's divisions; but as about eight
O'Clock. a. m, Woods division was detached.
to take post fn Thofnas's line, General Cri ten
denfis mot responsible for its subsequent con-
duct. .aaH.a. s.- =.
deTed to the left, and General Criften dem WIS
to accompany it, uE 4 HfEN
As IL was moving the attack took place, and
the troops were broken by our retreating ,aTtii-
lery and infantry, as well as by The furious
attack of the enemy. 20 '- .
q For the disaster whsch ensued he is in no way
responsible. re7.
Changes were ordered to be made in the line.
The break which OCCURRED while the rroops
were moving by flank from the right to the le.t
to conform to these changes was taken aa-
ensued. 1t is amply proven that General Grit
tepGen did every thing he could, by ex In1pie
and personal exertion, to rally and hold s
troops and to prevent me evils resulting from
snch condition OF affairs, but without avail.
Believing that by his presence on the fel.
nothing more could be eSted, he left for Ross.
Commanding General ha gone to Chat IAN oors
He repaired thither, where one OF his brigade
was stationed. l,st r, af..l, -.--Tr.ra
II shs opinion e tas G court General Cri,ten-
g. Ffadfsg' and Optfsion in the case OF .ucjor
General Negtey. u
= NO question has any where been raised as to
the conduct ofGeneral, Negley on The, i9.h ct
September, the first day OF the battle G. Chic3a-
mauga. A~ifs '.'- '' R'atA = -.A .--.'-'-
He commanded on that day his entire divis-
ion, and 1t appears from the evidence mat MS
conduct throughout was ereditable.
= Early on the second day General NegIey was
assigned position In the line on the right Of
General Brannan, from which he was relieved
between eightand ten O'Clock by Wood diyls-
ion. r. rf4t.er ssr,g .,--.. - r.-..
He was then ordered to take position on the
extreme left, but his division having been re-
heved at a later hour than was expected, his
reserve brigade was sentmeantime in advance
OF the others, and became separated from hiln,
taking place in the line under General Bairo.
subsequently another OF his brigaies was
placed in line on the left OF General Branna,
and under the command OF that officer.
"a little later in the day, rs General Negley
was moving TO position on Missionary Ridge
Thomas, he gaveup to General Braunan on
his urgent appeal for support, the largest regi-
ment of his last brigade, retaining for himself
only Two weak regiments and four compar les
OF another regiment.
The point to which he was direcued was in
rear OF the center Of the line.
Here ne found some artillery; other batteries
and parts of batteries ioined him, an il annears
in evidence that lie had at last fifty guns under
his care with only the small infantry suppor;
above referred to, namely two small regiments
and four companies Of another regiment, in ali
about six or seven hundred men.
The gap in the line made by the Withdra wal
of w ood's division, the rout of the entire right
and the unresisted advance of the enemy from
that direction, as well as the adyanc of the
enemy from the left OF the line, the enemy nav-
ing outfianked and driven in q portion OF the
left also, subjected General Negley to such
hazard Of losing this large park OF artillery as
made it itexpedient in his Judgment to withdraw
1t to point on the Dry Valley road, abouttw
or three miles from Rossville.
1t appears in evidence that this movement
was executed in good order, and all the artil-
lefy saved. lfE1 =
Here General Negley met Generals Davis
and Sheridan with portions OF their commands
from various commands.
th He co-operated with the division command
ers above referred TO in taking such measures
as the exigencies Of the occasion seemed to re-
quire, and toward evening retired to Rossvilie
General Negiey exhibited throughout the
day tthe second Of the battle) and the follow
ing ulSut great acuSlty ana zeal In the dis
charge of his duties, and the court do not find
in the evidence before them any ground o..
censure
The impression which seems to have been
entertained by General Brannan that General
Negley had ordeVed one Of his brigades to the
rear is not sustained by the testimony.
It appears in evidence that Brigadier General
Wood on one or more occasions, at the head
quarters of the army Of the Cumberland and in
the presence of the commander of that army
and q portion Of his staf, indulged in severe
reflections upon the conduct Of Major Gen.
eral Negley, applying to him coarse and often
sive epithets. When placed upon the stand
before the court he failed entirely TO substanti-
ate any charge or ground Of accusation against
him. "
The court deem it their duty to express their
marked condemnation Of such conduct, leading
to yexatious and improbable investigators
prejndicial to the service.
II. The record and opinions in the foregoin
cases ha. heen submitted to the President Of
the Uniteu States. He is of opinion that no
further action is required, and the Court OF
To- ss