Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-04-04
ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE

A meeting of the Ramsey county Vet
erans' association was held at the court
house, last evening, quite number of vet
Grams being in attendance. Col. w. Fl.
Taylor presided and Capt. J. j. McCardy
performed the duties of scribe in the alb
sence of the regular secretary.
A receipt for $13 was handed in by Capt.
Mead, the same having been collected by
the committee.
Maj. Browning made short address, bear
ing on the necessary steps to be taken in
order to secure pension blanks, which, he
stated, could best be procured from the adiu-
tant- generals office at the capitol.
THE ADDRESS.
Gen. r. w. johnson was then introduced,
and delivered the following interesting and
eloquent address on the movements of the
army of the Tennessee in and about Chat
tanooga:
The campaign of General Rosecrans by which
he expelled the rebel army from middle Ten
nessee, was one of unusual brilliancy, and yet
the ease with which it was done gave him a
contemplate opinion of Bragg and his gener-
ais and caused the campaign into northern
Georgia to result in failure and dsappoint-
ment. Rosecrans had so much confidence in
| the courage, devotion and endurance of his
own army and so little respect for the energy
| and enterprise of his opponent that he planned
a campaign beginning at the Tennessee river
| and extending into the very heart of the con-
federacy, without considering that he might
| have an enemy to overcome before his object
i've point could be reached. Bragg, with his
army was encamped at Chattanooga, with its
ohacJ ed nd fol hJrnaolf
fectly secure. Rosecrans put his columns in
| motion, and each day the distance between his
right and left was increased, and on the 18th
day of September, distance of forty miles
separated them. Bragg evacuated Chattanoo-
ga and fell back some distance, delaying an at
| tack until he could receive re-enforcements
from Richmond. Finally Rosecrans became
aware of the enemy's intention and ordered
speedy concentration of his scattered forces.
Longstreet, from the Virginia army. arrived
and reported to Bragg about the 10th or 18th.
On the 18th there was skirmish firing all day
on our left which was held by Thomas corps.
During all the glad spring and the golden
summer our advance kept pace with the feath-
cry fringe of the skirmish smoke, and the thun-
der of the guns rolled southwark continuously;
and when August had languished into the lap
of autumn, and the simmering heats of its sui
try lingering began to go out with the falling
leaves and the fading year, we followed the
OI
havoc of that death-grapple at Chickamauga.
All! then
The soul of battle was abroad
And blazed upon the ali"
Repeatedly the rebel hosts were hurled against
our lines, only to be repulsed and driven back
with great slaughter. During the entire day
on Saturday Q9th), the roar of artillery and
musketry was continuous. But the sun went
down behind the western hills and darkness
closed the operations of the day. Nothing had
baen decided. Our lines were readjusted and
preparations made for a renewal of the conflict
on the following day.
The provision train could not be found and
the tired, hungry soldiers had to retire without
dinner or supper. Capt. G. r. Taft, of my
staff, after taking short sleep, awoke and be-
gan a search for his saddle-in the shue-pouch
of which, he said, he had placed piece of ham
and hard b1 cad about a week previously. The
saddle was found and the little store of provis-
ions brought forth. Being the senior officer
present, the largest share was assigned to me,
out of courtesy and received piece of ham
about an inch square and about the same guam
tity of bread. l have dined at the Merchants
and at the Metropolitan, but Col. Allen or
Col. Belote never spread before me such a rich
feast as Taft drew from his old shoe pouch,
On the Goth of September the sun rose clear,
and the stiffness of the hour reminded every
one that it was Sunday, the day upon which the
mission was to preach peace on earth and good
will among men. The struggle soon commenced
and continued throughout the day with unusual
ferocity.
How can l portray the wonderful story of
that Sabbath days valiant work when Thomas
held at bay the outnumbering columns of the
foe with his encircled wall of steel? Minstrel
sy and poesy, the inspiration of the painter
and the enchanted numbers of song, will
give it all its full-hushed
need of glory. History is commonplace and
oratory is dumb in the attempt to render it
fair measurem emit and do justice to the superb
merit of its achievement.
Rosecrans could not be found and Thomas
alone directed the operations of the day. Then
back through the bitter night We filed, and
pitched our camps at Chattanooga, and there
for long, woful weeks the Army of the Cum
berland held its position in the face of the be-
leaguered enemy without, and gripping famine,
and mortal disease, grim and unsparing, IN its
very midst.
Rosecrans was relieved and Thomas, who had
saved the army at Chickamauga, was designat-
ed as his successor. Gen. Grant telegraphed
Thomas: "How long can you hold Chatta-
nooga?" He replied in the strong, terse
words: Until we starve.'
The rebel army closed in around as and
every avenue by which we could bring forward
supplies were closed, save one, and that on the
north side of the river, through rough, noun
famous country. Over this uncertain and I'M
reliable route the provisions for the army had
to be transported.
Day by day the allowances were reduced I'M
til at last a mere semblance of food had to
suffice.
When the army took possession of Chatta-
nooga it was beautiful place. Many fine
residences with large grounds, beautifully laid
out and studded with fruit, ornamental and
shade trees, gave it an aristocratic appearance,
but the scarcity of frewuod necessitated the
leveling of these fine trees and the destruction
of fences, and starving horses and mules
played sad havoc with the timber shrub
berry.
Chattanooga is surrounded on all sides by
high mountains which overlook the city. Above
and below the town the Tennessee river could
be seen winding its way along the base of the
mountains like silver thread passing by the
beleaguered army. thence running directly to-
ward the Northern peak of Lookout mountain,
striking its base with all the force of the cur
rent, thence almost at right angles and dis
appearing from view through its mountain
passes. The enemy occupied the mountains
on the south and also the summit of Lookout.
Bragg had the federal army so nicely cooped
up that he sent for jeff Davis to come and see
it. He arrived, bringing with him large
number of ladies who desired to see
how live Yankees looked in a cage. The top
of the m ountain was beyond effective musket
range, and so far elevated above the plain be-
low that artillery could not be depressed
enough so as to throw shot shell into our
camp. In order to entertain Davis and his
feminine followers, the battery on the noun