New-York tribune., 1876-05-20
THE BATTLE OF CHICKAlfA UGA.

MISS RANsoM's PIcrURE-GEN. THOMAS AND THE
battlefield
To the Editor OF Thc-Trtbune.
SIR: Please allow me to correct some mis-
statements in THE TRIBUNE not long ago reatNe 10 my
painting of Gel George H. Thomas on the batte-feld
Of Chickamauga "There large rocks in the Valley
of the Chickamauga where the battle was fought aod
from the point on tie slope Of Missionary Ridge
at which Gen. Thomas made the final stand, Lookout
Mountain WAS not visible at ALL" This statement IA in
correct as the inclosed letter from Col William b. Gaw
Typographical Engineer Gen Thomass stah ut that
time attess. Low ledges of blue limestone rock sim-
lar to those represented in my painting, crop out q" IN
tervas through that valley and particularly near Cquds
Spring the left OF Gen. ThOmass army, rs nH9 al
along the hilaidcs that rise FROM the valley especaiy
the ono taken by Gen. Thomas for his headquarters after
falling back from "Kcley's House" on Sept ~, lsO3
From this point Lookout Mountain Is distinctly visible
beyond the hills forming Missionary Ridge, as have
represented it. spent several weeks sFetehG on 'nc
battlefield Of Chckamauea and made carefully paihted
study OF the view looking north~ard from the hendiuai
ters Of Gen. Thomas that memorable sunday ai'ei
noon sent 90 1853 therefore know whereof speak
A. 10 Gen Thomas having sat In the coolest and most
nonchaIant fashion during the whole OF that famous
final int at Chickamaugs." stated N TIiE TRIBUNE
cannot 20 positively speak, ~ was not there st mat
time. Il does not stand to reason however, that Win
the right wing aLd center Of the Grand Army OF the
Cumberland dsasrou-y shattered and hccns Win It's
commander IN widest confusion from tn field that dur
ing tie following long hours of terrible peril, when
hts ttlc ANN OF oUly 1000 was icrcinS the re-
peltcd attacks OF enemy nearly three times s mum
bcr flushed ia victory and bsBt on bis destruction
that commander of the Wc.tkrovn characteristics oi
Gen Thomas would have been loug " Ia the hollow Oh
a field behind hlll" in The "coulesi end most noncha
ant fashion, Not thus could DC have won on that day the
glorious sobrquct Of "1Ee Rock Of oAckammugh'
Nor docs il correspond with the statements made
20 me by many an eyewitness OF the terrible carnage
Of that long September Afternoon and the stu more ter
rr clos NJ scenes of that fearful day, when with their
ammunition gone that sadly decimItcd little army Of
"Inynoib.,s" with fixed bayonets, rcpu.sed assault
aft,. assault until darkness closed around them gIantb
hod.ne the n,ld No commander o. such Gn army would
be ib,l, ~ be sitting around u The coolest and most
none a.aut manner" at such time. and particularly
one ro ten rr so loving. ard so beloved hy every man
i'm d. army as WIS Con. Tro0 is Tie very un'nNary
but lramau. attitude" complained Of in tae same para
graph igu.t Jc ln the jIuuo.ce VISION or complainant
a. tie iu,,o.d copies ~ letters rom iistush'd oii-
Ger, who age familiar with tbs painting. aai who know
Cen Thomas WELL VIII clearly prove. Believing That
you have been entirely mslrd relative to this painting
and tina. you VIII ll,dy q al justly wlth Il and rs
,ufhor atu very sincerely. ClEoLINE J.. RANSOM
U-a.Etugt,t. u. O.. April -. 1876.