Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-11-29
DEATH OF GENERAL GEORGE
b. CRITTENDEN,
Reminfseenee Of his Career as q
Confederate Commander.

General George B. Crittenden,
eldest son of the late John j. Critten-
den, died Saturday the 9th inst. at
his home in Danville, Kentucky. He
wal a graduate of West Point and
served in the old regular army. Early
in the wal he rendered his services to
the Confederate government, and was
rapidly promoted to the rank Of major
general. In the latter part ofthe year
1861, he appeared at Knoxville and
took command of all the forces in
East Tennessee. Zollicofier who was
onlya brigadier-general had alreadyad-
vanced toward Kentucky with several
regiments by way of Cumberland Gap.
At Wild Cat, north ofthe Gap, he met
a partial reverse, fell back and trans
ferred his forces west to Mill Spring,
Kentucky, on the Cumberland river,
a point which was reached by steam
boats from Nashville. The roads from
Knoxville to Mill Spring across the
mountains were in aterrible condition.
C~rittenden fingered as long as possible
at Knoxville, preferring, 20 doubt, the
comforts OF the Lamer house 70 the
diseomforts Of the tented field.
Near the last days of Decem.
Der, 1861, he set out With
his staff and CAROLS old regi-
ment, the 9th Tennessee, hen com.
manded by Col. Moses White, and a
battery Of artillery as an escort. The
distance was one hundred and thirty
miles, and the route lay through a
wild hostile country. The march was
slow and painful and was retarded By
an enormous quantity Of camp equip
age, personal baggage aud supplies Of
commissary stores. There was also
some ammunition carried along, bul
it was mostly in wagons, in charge o.
an ordnance sergeant. Very little o
this s~uperAuous trumpery ever found
its way back across the mountain un
less Thomas army took the trouble t.
pick it up. The command pushed OF
rapidly as possible, passing through
the little towns Of Wartburg, james
town and Monticello, KY, but tn,
writer can testify that it was in lighte
marching order and made much bette
time a few days later on the somewha
unexpected and unmilitary return
Toward the last Of the advance, Crit
tenden with 3 small escort pushe.
ahead. The esmmand reached Mi
Spring, if we are not mistaken, earl
in January. Zollicoffer's little ara
had gone into winter quarters in
pocket or big bend, on the north sid
Of the river. There was som
cavalry, probably Carne's invinci
bles aud some infantry on the sont'
side; what General Crittenden though
of the situation and the strategy
the engineer or general who selecte
it we never knew. 1t would hay
been a strong place against Indian
armed only with bows and arrows, bJ
General Thomas could take his choiC
to flank it or make a direct attack. II
concentrated his forces and adOpte
the latter policy. Zollicoffer, as BRAY
and noble a man as ever lived, va
killed on that dark, miserable day, tn
18th of January, 1862, and his BRAY
but poorly armed and i'll discipline
little army was driven across the rive
and fell back the next day in will
confusion. The tents were left stanC
ing and great quantities Of stores wei
abandoned. We have never seen
correct description Of this battle, an
the reckless race for life that ensueC
The march for a day OIL two perhaT
beggars description. The brayest me
may become panic stricken as in thi
instance and lose their presence {
mind.
This was one Of the first Of a seric
Of terrible disasters to Southern Cor
federacy. The regiments engaged |
il, including the Thirty-seventh Ten
nessee, the Fifteenth Mississippi
commanded hat day by Lieutenant
Colonel E. Q. Waltball, the Twenty
ninth Tennessee, commanded by Col