New Orleans daily crescent., 1866-10-29
Gen. ID. H. EE1Il's Report OF the battle OF
Ghicksafna nangHs


!
mauga on the 19th and 20th of September, 1866
reached Chattanooga on the 10th of July and.
was assigned to Hardees old troops, consisting of
Gleburne's and Stewards divisions, They were
'eneanFed on the Chiekamagga about Tyner's-
station
The Yankees soon made their appearance at
BTidgep port, and made arrangements to guard the
crossings Of the Tennessee. A regiment was
posted at Slveys ford, another at Blythefs ferry
and Woods brigade at Harrison On Fast Day,
august -, while religious services were being
held m Chattanooga, the enemy appeared on the
opposite side Of the river and commenced sbelling
the town without giving notice. Our pickets and
scouts tif any were QUIT had given no warning Of
mis- approach. Some women and children were
alliied aud wounded by this not unusual act Of
atroeity.
a few nights before Glaytons brigade had
been moved up to Brentwood, three miles from
the mouth Of the HiaWassee and General Clayton
was instructed to send officer up the river until
he met our cavalry pckets and endeaVor to effect
aSconnect1on with them, Gen. @. reported to me
that he found no pickets for forty miles, the great
mass of our cavalry being at Kingston. This re-
port was communicated to the commander-in-
chief and the cavalry piekets were moved down,
SO as to connect with Clayton The shellng OF
Chattanooga revealed the fact that the enemy was
our immediate front and ordered ClebuTne' s
division to Harrison and had it distributed that
every ford ard ferry from the mouth of the Ghicka
Maugaito the mouth Of the Hiawassee were guarded
and covered by rifle pits and batteries. 1t had
been the design of the enemy to interpose a
column between Knoxville and Chattanooga and
thus isolate Buckner, while Burnside should ap-
pear on his flank, But, after trying all the cross
ings and finding them guarded by yigilant and de.
termined men, he was constrained to abandon his
original plan.
Breckinridgeis division having come up from
Mississippi was assigned to my corps, and
Stewards division was soon after sent up towards
Knoxville to join Buckner; Stovalrs brigade, Of
Breckinridge's division ,lWas posted at Slvley's
ford, and as the enemy still threatened crossing
Hindman' division, OF Polk's corps, was sent to
our support. On Sunday, August the 36th. We
learned almost accidentally through a citizen that
the corps Of Thomas and McCook had crossed at
GapeTtonis ferry, beginning the movement the
Thursday before.
This was the natural point Of crossing for the
enemy, as 1t was near to thefrdepotat Stevenson,
and gave them a good road on our fiank and rear.
Buekneris command was brought down from
Knoxville, and the commando -chIet resolved
to abandon Chattanooga. The reason given by
him for this evacuation was that the enemy was
getting inhis rear and might seize the crossings
Of the Oostanaula and starye his army, as he had
no noveable pontoon train. The movement be-
gan on the nightof September the 3d. my corps
taking the lead, on the Lafayette road. Ihe
mass Of the eneny5s army was slpposedf TO he at
Trenton III Wlllfs valley, b1tas our cavalry soon
ost the almost inpregnable position Of Lookout
mountain with but small loss on either side, the
enemy began to pour down into McEemore cove.
was accordingly ordered by the commanding
Il general to picket the gaps in Pigeon mountain.
This dRty was intrusted 70 Gen. Gleburne, while
Breckinridge was left at Lafayette in charge of
b 55 1
About daylight on the morning Of the 10th
September received the following order from
the general commanding
HEADQUARTERS ARMY or TENNESSEE,
G0rdonis Mills, Sept. 8, 1868, III II. VI.
General lHsll--I inelose orders given 70 General
Hindman. General Bragg directs that you send or
take, as your judgment dictates, Clebnrne g
division to re-unite with Hindman at DaVis's x
Roads tomorrow morning. Hindman starts at
~ tonight, and has thirteen miles to make.
The commander of the columns thus united
will move upon the enemy at the foot Of Stevens
Gap, said to be four or five thousand
II unforeseen circumstances should prevent
your movement, notify Hindman.
cavalry force should accompany your column.
Hindman has none.
Open communication with Hindman, by your
cavalry, in advance of the junction. He marches
on the road from Or. Anderson's to Dayis's x
gsignsd) WV. MAeKA1L
Chief OF STAFF.
Immediately replied to this note, notifying the
commanding general Of the late hour at which it
had been received, and stating that Gen. Cleburne
had been sick in bed all day; that two Of his regi
xnents, which had been picketing above Harrison,
had not yet joined him; that one Of his three
brigades had to be relieved from picket at the
Gaps. and that these Gaps had been heavily OBJ
strueted BY our cavalry, and some hours Rouldbe
required to open them up.
1nasmuch, too, as Gleburne would have nearly,
not quite as long a march as Hindman,I Il be-
eyed the intended junction would be impossible.
and certainly no surprise could be effected. These
reasons appeared satisfactory to the commanding
general, as he made no complaint in regard to my
not making the movement, and met me the next
day, with his usual cordially. General Buckner,
at Gordonfs Mill, vas directed to make the move
nent, instead Of General Clehurne, and the Ian
guage of the order to General Buckner, recog-
nized the inpracticability of the order issued to
me- General Hill has found it impossible
to carry ont the part assigned to Gleburne3s
division, IN fact General Hindman hadInade his
night march, and reached the neighborhoed OF the
enemy, almost by The time received the order to
move to effect q junction. AS there could be no
direct communication with him, the followingnote
did not reach me, from him, until the afternoons:
HEADoUARTERs ETo., AT MoKGAN's Cow ROAD,
-Four lilies from Davis's Roads,
September 10th, 6 a. N.
Geierdz- expected you would open conmu-
nicati0n with me by the time reached this place,
but, al yet, hear nothing from you If it be true,
al learn il is that the road from Lafayette to
Dasis's Roads is hIockaded at Dug's Gap, and
the gatlett's Gaproad also blockaded, fear it
Will be impossible to effect the intended Junct
Your better Information viii enable you TO decide
4s I'd that.
1t is runaored here that q federal division is at
and near Dayis's < Roads, and another at Bailey's
X Roads Col. Russell, commanding cavalry
regiment Of Martins brigade, has gone forward to
ascertain the facts; ! deem it inexpedient to
move beyond this place. till learn that you are
notion and thatsWe can safely unite
Very respectfully,
Your obedentservant,
Z. O HINDMANi Major General
On the morning of the 1Ith Cleburne's division,
olleWed by Walkers, marched to Dutch Gap. 1T
was understood that Hindman aRd Bnckner would
attack at daylight; and these other divisions were
to cooperate with them. The attack, however,
did not begin at the hour designated, and so I'M
perfect was the communication with Hindman.
that it svas noon before he could be heard from.
was then direetedto move with the divisions OF
S1fgbnrne and Walker and make front attack upon
the enemy. The sharp-shooters of Woods brigade
under The gallant Major Hawkins advanced in
handsome style, driVngin the Yankee picRets and
skirmisheEs; and Gieburneia whole force was adj |
yaneing On their line Of battle, when was halted
BIZ an order from General Bragg. The objeetWas, +
IS supposed, to wait until Hindman got in the I
Yankee rear. About an hour before sundoWn, I
Has ordeTed once more to advance, but the enemy +
sooa rapidly retired. The rear was gallantly at I
tackled By a company OF our cavalry, but made I
stand on the ethhr side of Dhekamauga creek, I
nnder cover Of battery Of artillery. sempieia /
magnificent battery was ordered up and in o short T
Time sfeneed the enemys fire with heavy loss and
hiasFaut was complete. I had in the meantime
communicated with General Bnckner in person +
and by an aid with General Hindman, aud had az
ranged to connect my line of skirmishers and bat
fie with theirs; so ms to sweep everything before
.tls, The prompt flight Of the enemy and the ap-
proaching darkness saved him from destruction
i bis force proYedto be the advance OF Thomass