The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-01-06


0easrai Rsseera.s' Repsrt-The Bette
at .CAtckamauga.
General Roseorans, il his receatly published
report, tells the story Of his march to Ohatta-
nooga. and OF tho great battle fought BY the
army under his Command on its way to that
place. On the 18th Of September tho Army Of
the Cumberland was scattered ell over tho
country-at the north end Of Lookout Noun
tain. in oil the gaps Of that mountain and on
all the roads that the enemy might be oa-so
widely scattered that between its two tanks
there proved to be an actual interval OF 6fty-
seven miles; and on that same day General
R0secrans learned that the rebel army com
posed Of Bragg's, Johnston's and Longstreet's
forces, was concentrated at Lafayette, on his
immediate front-only fifteen miles from Q
vital point in his line. Here was Q great
error-the error of General ROsecrans-and IN
error whose results are apparent in ell the
operations that succeeded to 1t, and whose
effects were felt by our men in the disadvanta-
geous terms upon which it compelled them to
meet the enemy. From that day they were
overmarched, arst, that thcy might be concen-
trated, and then that they might get 60 near
to Chattanooga that the enemy should not
be able to seize the road between that
place and our army. On tho 10th.
when our force was not yet we'll concentrated.
we wero engaged in this movement towards
Chattanooga, and the enemy, engaged in the
Same movement, was ahead Of US; but on that
day one Of Rosecrans' generals made happy
mistake. Informed that . rebel brigade was
isolated on his front, that general sent out two
brigades to capture it. His two brigades, sent
out to capture an isolated force, fell in with
the whole rebel army, went at 1t with magnii-
cent pluck. and 90 brought on the battle
Of Chickamauga-ia other words, compelled
Bragg to fight W whore we were-while, if
left alone, he would have continued his
movement towards our loft, have seized the
road to Chattanooga, secured that point, and
had General Resecrans In Q most uncomforta-
bly, tight place.
Such were the moro important of the disad
van tageous circumstances under which our
men were hurried into battle but tho battle
of the nrst day was in every way great sue
cess. On the second day Gen. Rosecrans found
that his orders and ideas were not properly car
ried out General McCook was delinquent on at
least Eve points, and all important ones. Gene
raj Crittenden was delinquent on three points,
one of which caused delay chat proved Of
serious consequences" But the greatest delin-
quent Of all was General Wood, commanding q
division Of Crittenden's corps, who, being order.
ed to move or extend his line 80 that it should
connect with another division on his left. 90 Ear
misunderstood this order ~ to withdraw COM
pietely from tho lns II battle. Int the gap
thas made the enemy rushed, and oursiine was
broken General Rosecrans praises BIS three
corps commanders IN chosen terms Thomas is
praised nohiy and without reserve. McCook is
praised for prompt and willing execution Of
orders, to the best Of his ability" and, if we
measure by the Eve delinqucncies above allud-
ed to, VIC must conclude that his ability is not
great. To General Crittendea General Rose
Grams returns his thanks "for tho promptness
and military good sense with which he sent his
division towards the battle on the 10TH but
fails to mention any of his achievements on tho
goth ,s--
Battles lost through tho failure Of corps or
division commanders to understand or carry
out their orders the general commander must
be held responsible for 1t Is his business to
know his men 30 well before battle that no such
trouble can occur at q critical moment and the
more especially If he has commanded his army
for over year. In no one point does the diff
ference between great commanders and medi-
OGRE ones show moro clearly than in this Of
the knowledge and choice Of subordinate com
manders. Napoleon's successes are in great
measure attributable to his strength in this par
ticulsr. Rosecrans failed hcre. Pope failed
here also. and Meade ia likely to do the same.
Indeed, the only one Of our commanders who
has not failed in this respect is General Grant
His subordnatcs never fail to obey orders
McClernand did fail, and then McOlernand had
to 60 home. That is Grants plan. and il is the
only plan that can give our armies success.