, 1880-04-04
CHICK
The Story Of the Great Battle
Told by Gen. Turchin,
Who Commanded a Brigade Of Illinois
Troops in That Memorable :
Conflict,
Ihe ReVerses Of the Federal
Forces, and Rebel Strait
egies.
The Victory at Last Over the Out
numbering Strength Of the
Enemy.

Enemy.
A Battle Without Plan Gained Alone
by the Pluck OF the Ranks.
Lde 'q g. Ge Jo Sa arena OF s"@
Gen. Rosecrans, knowing that the enemy's
army was considerably weaker than his own,
conceived a bold plan Of campaign, by which
he wished to compel the enemy not only to
evacuate Chattanooga, but to retreat clear
down to Rome and Kingston. With this OBJ
.1ect in view, he crossed with McCook's and
Thomas army corps the Tennessee River
at Bridgeport, Battle Creek, and Shell
Mound, and took them BY the
roughest roads possible across the
laccoon Mountains into the Trenton Valley,
between Raccoon and Lookout Mountains.
From there he ordered McCook to march up
the Trenton Valley, cross Lookout Mountain,
and direct Ills corps toward Alpine, south
west Of Lafayette, while Thomas was or
dered to cross Lookout Mountain above
Trenton into McLamore's Cove by Stevens
Gap, and take the direct road to Lafayette;
meantime ordering brigade of Crittenden's
corps, concentrated opposit Chattanooga, to
EIOSS Lao 1C1tutssGt 1AAfc1 44EAtUA sdA-
ley, and, by a rough path called Nickajack
Trace, to climb the Lookout and occupy
Chattanooga after the enemy evacuated it.
As soon as these movements commenced to
be executed, Gen. Bragg, commanding tho
Rebel army, withdrew from Chattanooga,
taking the bulk Of it towards Lafayette,
posting its divisions along the main road be-
hind the Pigeva Mountain. Our detached
brigade entered Chattanooga, the whole Of
Crittenden's corps crossed the Tennessee
River BY the town, and was ordered to push
along the Chattanooga <E Atlanta Railroad
to Runggold and beyond, accompanied by a
portion Of our cavalry under Col Minty and
Wilder's mounted infantry brigade,-the
balance of our cavalry, under Gen. Mitchell,
being with McCook and Thomas corps.
After ascending the Lookout, Thomas took
the direct road leading to Stevens Gap, di-
rectlng Turchin to take his brigade on the
branch road leading to Cooper's Gap. Neg
ley's division, being in advance Of Thomas
corps, descended into McLamore's Cove
through Stevens Gap and moved across the
cove without opposition, but its advance, ap-
preaching the Dug Gap leading across Pigeon
Mountain, was met with resistance. Negley
formed most Of his division and spiritedly at
tackled the enemy, but found him too strong,
and, being threatened in his left flank by a
large Rebel force, fell back to the foot Of the
Lookout by Stevens Gap. Turchin, ap-
preaching the descent into McLamore's Cove,
at Coopers Gap, could see from the
top Of the, mountain the Negley's
tight in the distance, and his retreat.
lie descended into the valley, drove
back the Rebel vedets posted at the foot Of
the mountain, and went into camp, most Of
the troops Of Thomas division bivouacking
in the valley. This was on the 10th of Sep
tember, 1863
Next morning Negley moved again to-
wards the Dug Gap supported by Baird's
division, while Turchin moved to Cattlet's
Gap, but both the gaps were found strongly
sealed by the enemy. :.
The main road leading from McLamore's
Cove to Chattanooga, after passing Crawfish
Spring southwest Of Gordon's Mill, branches
in two, the right branch leading into the main
Lafayette and Chattanooga road, while the
left branch leads into the Chattanooga Valley
and Dry Valley. The divisions Of Thomas
corps took positions between Dug Gap and
Crawtish Spring, the headquarters Of the
army being at Crawfsh.
LET Us LOOK
at the situation. Rosecrans was under the
impression that the enemy was in full retreat
TO Rome and Kingston, and that he would
have the sport OF chasing him. To enjoy the
run he scattered his army corps so, that while
Thomas was in McLamore's Cove, McCook
was not far from Alpine, some twenty five
miles to the right Of Thomas with an ex-
ceedingly rough stretch Of country between,
while crittenden was at Rlnggoid, twenty
What was the enemy doing? Bragg
drew Buckner's corps Of two strong
and walkers ha Of two diys1nS dyln9aa
Of strong reinforce1nents from the East. OF
his old army he had Polk's corps OF two d.
visions and HIPS corps Of two divisions. He
had now eight divisions concentrated at
Lafayette and north of it, against four divls-
ions of Thomas, thus having two men to our
There was an opportunity for Bragg to
give lis stunning blow, BY. crushing our
isolated army CORPS III IN detail he tEled f;t to
on the 10th, but circumstances prevented to
have his plan fully carTi ed out Thomas be-
came careful after the warning and shifted
lis divisions to the left Bragg lost the next
with his corps made flank movement from
RinggoId to Gordon's Mill, and connected
with Thomas. Bragg saw that his game was
up, and was lying still.
RosEcRANs RECEIVED A DISPATCH
from Gen. Halleck from Washington, dated
sep j. whish ameng other t6inFs 35n it, it was IS
receiving reinforcements from Bragg"
which was but the repetition Of a stratagem
50 often used by the Rebels $. IN IN the ?e,
East to deceiye +;a tne infarns}ion au19nes a1e
the desired food for the belief
OF Rosecrans that the enemy was weak, and
tllat he would give him yeta chase and caused
far n IhHmHC-