, 1880-04-04

1alayeCte anu CndItanOOEA lOAtis lldAiuE 4u-
numerable bends or crooks: It has quite
number Of fords and is bridged on several
roads leading from southeast to Chattanooga,
but its banks are mostly. steep and rough;
The ground between Chickamauga river ana
Mission Ridge is andulating, gradually rising
the ridge. The eastern slope OF the Mission
Ridge, with its spurs and gu!leys, presents
very advantageous ground for de1ense-
Along the main road are farms and m oPenmgs,
River also, but the Intermediate ground BE-
tween the openings on the road and the open
ings on the river is covered with woods clear !,
enough for the passage OF artillery: me
and passable for carriages only on the roads.
The principal crossings over Cllckamauga
River below Gordon's Mill were at Dalton
ford, about two miles below the mill, Alex,
ander bridge, four miles further dow down. and
ander bridge
While our army was shifting and closing
nm during the 18th of September, what was
tie enemy. doing? Bragg, being sure OF
ILongstreet's corps coming to reinforce MN,
the crossings over Chickamauga. Towards
evening most OF Polk's, Hili's, and Buckner's
!. corps were across the river by Dalton ford
Walker secured AleXander's bridge, but did
not cross the river; B. r. Johnsons division
Of Longstreet's corps came up from Dalton
Nnw Rosecrans decided to steal march
upon the enemy during the night, from the
| 18th to the 18th. The trains were directed to
ain. and then by the Chattanooga Valley and
Drv Valley roads, to Chattanooga. Thomas
and McCook's troops took the road
leading into the main Lafayette and Chatta-
Manga mad. while Critte1tlen remained in
the SAME position. opposit Gordon's Mill.
There were then seven divisions moving on 4
single road with their artillery, In the day
time an army corps could form two Or three
columns and march them abreast, lne aLtii-
Ing on its sides through woods and fields,
and make easily fifteen miles in eight hours
but in the nighttime it cannot be done. 1t
was the most
TEDIOUS. AND wEAR1soME MARCH;
nin~ niu~ than H. marchinr. The distance made by
4hesSa rooms dnring the while sleen1ess night
comid have hran easily made in t|iree hours
oorlw ~ ira 1s,nrninT The njpht was dark
and i1 faeev. 70 W. aii fences along tie road were
ope eG77ddiera. tha ammunition train was
,iso3 ~, 9Th ;nfontr1. traoon stonning
for enma tr;fliny canse wouId detain tiiyis-
IONS S fnr an hn,i'.. Sometimes n whole train Of
tnae Snrr;nv fanca danearnus]y nInse. snma-
t;,ae n oula,ns ~ sam,mnn;t;on waetnn wn'1ld tiart
eornsc tha hnrnin~ raiis II was a wonder
that ~ ~ axr1ue;nn7 ~ thn nost fatal Find han
pened llu d. during that nislst The lair air was thick
Vii, en,ci-a ,n"vv aTI onnressive II, the ny
tra,ne ntan az # the hreathing If 1noo offrH6ns
a,d a = m animais seooucrote1in cose
nroSiw,ty ,nasle the air foil and unendurable.
The troops, jaded and fatieued, stopped
as ws1 tha eaG haad ~ Thnass % coInmnS abonf
twn miles nnrth If f;nrdon,s Mill over ten
,n;1as rom Ehattanonon
fta- ef,or+ rae5 1ha AMY inovad ao,3n
sdy,t d;uisnn ti..r .np tba;s Ra;sd,s +hnn
neyh1ias y,, n tn a a5 1>,.s ard s'orn', tnn
van Gie'e a1 noon. M; Hd a!,5 9;a =, ~
th u4t @ tI that e m +ta he
ne lsal. & - ~ W. r. anv's . r,', ~ ~ tho Ike
whole Of IL was so on ta 9af sae or Inc ehcsa s1
h,rr7.in1 huua aa'f' r. 1 cra.s ~ II and That We
nu,l.ulg l,,arc g,,t,,,r ,,",,,,o,,4 ,dar
the n@t ewes of the enemy 1waitine Tor us in an
ambush, ready to spring up and attack. Yet,
instead of moving our army corps in solid
double columns, Concentrated on one, or at
places, place Keeping proper distance between d.
visions. ready 1T q moments notice to face
the enemy III an unbroken solid front, we
Scattered our army on over six miles, formed
enemy gy With @ solid 'front.' n case Of an attack,
but BY separate brigades or divisions isolated
from each other, incapable to mutually sup
port one another and left to the pluck or
Skill Of Individual commanders, instead Of
having Tie WHOLE WlElutu UJ Qut Mluu.
Gral1ger. in command Of our reserve di-
vision. occupied O position on the. Ringgold
road. but Col. Dan NcCook was detached
towards Reeds bridge to watch over the
enemy there. Receiving orders from Rose
Grams TO ioin Granger's command. McCook.
after STARTING his brigade, galloped towards
Rrannan,s tIiyision. and, nleetiIg Rosecrans
riding at the head Of the column. humorous
" conniaiued that lie lost a chance to capt
ire a Rehel regirnent that crossed Chicka-
manga hy Reeds bridge and stood there iso-
lnted' the bridge haying been Burnt in its
rear. Rosecrans lauelied. and turning to
Brannan said be might send there one Of his
hripadps il canturf that Rebel regiment
fThe head Of the column of the first brigade
was turned to the right, and lie brigade
moved into tha woods. In half an hour was
heard a
rr.pp1r R.1-7r M ,r7surrpv
.s ~ ~ "a. IL ~ Goes
and lne neaos OF tne m M 9tnei ALieaues o. b!an-
M nan were turned 70 tne IL ragn%5 % and WenG a; lnI4
me WOODS also' puI tae heoei IGglihenL t;li ens
pfoVed 10 pe too s5toaS, Duaiaa .aa:a asheu ~
Ie1n1orcemelts. balIus DIVISION we'll ~
support bfanna4, anu tnat was not enough.
neyhoias y allo Jonnso1' Ianaer anu VAL
CIeve ald tne same; yet th9 heDel Igglnleins m,
proved 70 pe 10Y sLronE. ~ pIoveu ~ M pe
lons ta,I ~ ans ~ 3 s'u oom7
lr i.1es ,s ". ,as rnii;I,9 thr"no ia ,yoodc
5 49,, tnft ~ ;rl,+ ,,;ti1, nnohetaa fnrv 4ho
1aH = 'e ~ H.. d;,.;ain.,e ,a,a caat aato
Mnoie ID ;s u Meao ,,,iias
ieleu IL. ~ ~ ,,ou - ~ hoooo o - &c,
@ ~ yo"Id 'u at+enE nortion " #