The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-05-07
TIE ARMY OF The CUMBERLAND.
General Cist on the Army OF BuclI,
RosccrRus. and Thomas

THE ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND.
General Cis on the Army OF BrcII,
RosccrRns, and Thomas
OF the Scribner series, F" Campaigns Of the
Clyn war, " tho history Of the Army OF the Gambler
land 10y General H. NJ. Cist is ono Of the most con-
plote and interesting. It has FOR its thcmo an army
which never lost amoyomont, and which was noted
for It's harmony and Its efficiency While much has been
written oflts campaigns the study Of records aud the
intimate personal knowledge which General Clst ac-
qulred rs member OF the stais Of General RosccraS
and OF General Thomas have enabled him to throw much
new light upon his subject.
The carly struggle on the neutral ground oi Ken
lucky, ending in tho Arm establishment Of the Union
Army within Its borders, is presented In brief but
Interesting light The battle OF MIN Springs stands
out the most important Union victory then achieved
and the reasons for Its disastrous effect upon the Con-
tolerate situation at the West are made appear very
clearly from the later knowledge which isnow access-
BILE concerning affairs inside the enemy sterlo'y The
energetic concentration at Nashville under General
BUELL. the brilliant raids OF those dashlng Confedc-
rates, Morgan and Forrest, skotchcd briefly but
In n style to interest and instruct
Buel's withdrawal from about Chattanooga to the
Ohio River Is set out In new light by Information
now presented for the first time The plans OF Bragg
In detail became known TO Buell., showing that an
evasion OF the latters army and an Invasion OF the
North WAS intended. ltenCc lnt ihhi'hNst w
widely criticised as retreat to place his army be-
tween Bragg and the North. The hasty organization
against Kirby Smith to delay his advance on Cincln-
natl and the rapid movement to Louisville were the
stops which really defeated Bragg. Ills designs were
frustrated by Buell's marching. lie was driven from
Kentucky by the battle OF Pcrryvlllc. THIS was
really fight In retreat for Bragg, and only portion
of the Union Army became engaged The real battle
stones River, resulting from Braggs advance north
a.. ~, rraI MuIfrpngIpIO.
this campaign General Rosecrans was placed In
command. lie received from his predecessor
an army In excellent organization and good
heart. The story does Justice to Buell.. lie was
the victim of circumstances and not understood In
time All added light thrown on the history OF THIS
army shows that his fame is to be hencetorh an in-
creasing one.
The most interesting portions OF the volume are
those which trest OF the Tuohoma campaign
which was the movement after stones River
for the possession OF Tennessee, tho campaign toi
the capture of Chattanooga, and the subsequent pa'
ties about Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge
The account OF the Tullahoma campaign, for which,
In connection with Chickamauga, General RosecrahS
has lately received much ignorant censure, brings
out Its salient points most clearly and shows
1t to he what those who carried 1t on and participated
I'm II have always known 1t to he, namely one of The
most brilliant and successful OF tho strategic victories
| of the war. In summing up this campaign Genera
| Cist makes the following strong point;
| barring the nine days OF active campaigning the
| Army OF the Cumberland, numbering less tha'
80 UnO effective men, with loss Of $50 Killed. wounded
| and missing compelled the army under Bragg mum
berng something less than As, 900 effective men, u
retreat greater distance and out OF FAR stronger posi-
lions than the united armies under sherman were ab
| 10 compel the same army, with but sghl adultlona
| strength under General Joe johnson, 10 fall back
| in Innr months Of active field campaigning with
| very much larger relative loss. Tie proportion o
the forces of the opposing armies during the Inilo
homa campalgn was tar nearer equal tman .a
cies tu be overcome largely the greater III TN
| rullUhoma campaign.
To those who know this campaign General Rose
Grams needs no vndlcaton. All such freely rende
him credit and high praise. Those who from want o
| knowledge are doubtful will find that their doubt
have no foundation as they read this clear and truth
| nl history.
| In no other publication has the campaign for til
upsspssion of Chattanooga been presented clearly
| 10 ihs army which made 1t and fought the blood
lest battle Of the war at Chickamauga as the price
Chattanooga, the campaign has never appeared
| mystery, nor the battle anything but an essentit
victory. AS generally received at the North the stoI
of Chickamauga Is that Rosecrans, having occupie
Chattanooga, marched out to attack Bragg, was de
feated and routed at Chickamauga and driven bac
Into Chattanooga.
The truth is that Chattanooga was never In posses
sion of the Army of the Cumberland in militai
sense until after the battle of Chickamtuga, while
Rosecrans fought In the of the town for Its pos
| session. At the opening of the movement Bragg OF
| cupied Chattanooga, on the south bank OF the Tel
nessee, and had strongly fortified 1t. RosecraI
made fent of crossing above the town. and crosse
thirty miles below Sealing two very dnicut monl
tain ranges he down into the valley iifee
or twenty miles In rear of Chattanooga. Brar
evacuated the place and retired to Lafayette, benin
Pigeon Mountains. ltosecrans started to eccnl
Chattanooga lie WAS delayed two days by McCoo
who held his right, failing TO move promptly III COZ
centration the Test OF the army. Meantin
Bragg was reinforced by Longstreet from Virgins
2 and felt strong enough to try 10 re0ccnpy Chatt
$ noo!a. Tho head of the two armies each marchil
for the town, met at Chckamanga, on n field fro
to ten miles Onslde OF the city, and two day
0 battle ensued. by the breaking of the Union Arm
on the morning OF the second day only five brigad
were cut off from the general line. The rest OF Il
i Army remained intact and fought the battle through
The Army Of the Cumberland could have continue
on the field ut the close of the Aght, but The pass
o In Missionary Ridge, which controlled Chattanoog
A were In Its rear. IL General Thomas had not occ
: pied them that night, the Confcderates might Ia
done so, and thus secured Chattanooga. BY leaviI
the field which was OF consequence to either sid
and taking fast hold of the prize for which the file
o was fought, the Army of the Cumberland obtain
the objective of Its campaign aud held It to the clio
u
y No such accurate account OF the battle OF Chick
n manga from the Union side has heretofore appeare
Is II the admirable and most correct Confederate II
@ count OF this engagement written by Colonel Arc
II Anderson, of Richmond, could he printed with Il
10 chapter from General Cist's volume, the two VOL
lie give the general reader all needed inform
, ton In regard to this battle. FOR Its history
stubborn and courageous fighting both Union 81
: diers and C0nfederates may read II with prld
' While all through this volume the solid services
: General George II. Thomas appears IN brillia
light, Chickamauga is rlghtfuy regarded AS his chi
& glory. He was equally great at the storming of NJ
ID slonary Ridge and at Nashville. In short, he v
Is always great, aud always successful, from NJ
10 Springs to Nashville; but as the Rock of Chicl
g. mauga'' he win ever be best known to all outs
IS the Army OF the Cumberland.
Is The arraignment Of General Thomas j. Wood for
bunder by which the Union line was opened at Chit
s. manga and break made possible Is terrific, not
language but In plain statement. That oiheer IN
make answer. and quotations from the proceedlI
|, OF the military court which heard his case, any
duction of the kindly letters which General Rosecra
in mistaken generosity was good enough to write,
C. sufficiently meet the new matter upon which Gene
or Cist arragns him.
Ve The accounts OF the battles about Lookout and
l. storming OF Missionary Ridge bring General Thon
g. into prominence as army commander, The arrva
of Grant army and Its participation In these fights
DIS the effect partially eclipse tho Army OF the Gu
berand and Its commander. But without appearing
ry deprive the Army OF the Tennessee OF tho credit VIII
st belongs to 1t, the narrative OF General Cst shows
n General Thomas was the controlling mind at Chat
H. nooga and that his army achieved the brilliant 5
c. Cesses there. The history OF the Army of the Gu
H. berland from Chattanooga through the Atlanta ca
IS. paign and the subsequent operations about FRANK