New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-14
rur CHATTANOOGA CAMPAIGN

crvrp.I. ROSECRANS STATES HIS CASE
.-,srr,N, IN THE CREDIT OF WHAT WAS "Ai>ND
ntxrRAL GARFELDs RELATION ~ i"i
,,orrvr1rs OF The AINIY-GENERAL THOMAS -
,onFsT DISCLAIMER AND GENERAL Hi'A-''
BLUNT OPINION.
rohs EDITOR Of The Trtohhe' -,
9. In vour SEMl-WEEKLY OF the 9th INST 'N'
lew Of Cist's Army of the Cumoerlan" n''
.so-,l statements which ought not 10 20 mo 4--'
10ry. .,..,;..i,,, oDd , CONNIE
liam vet in the land of the living ana CON,
=. witness owe il TO your readers VIM '0'0 So,
YEN -. hat General Cist gives All the credit
f,r,nHyeuce over the movements OF lHc amy -
~ C,,.horl,nd. which was due, to General Gar
tAs o,,nbaticallv that General GarhelGs
- m the planning and giving the time oil
.,r the campa,gn of Tullahoma was sub
--l,- Nothing. | further state that never
- $ tho views expressed in the Garfield
I,r1.,,er until | read that letter few months
- lie never expressed any such sentiments OF
- ~ mo bDt on tie contrary seemed to appre-
o.otAe views and labor> of Che General eolnhahu-
ing. 49,. c,.-.n.1 c,,r
g ,-..t IN Thomas and the extract from the
so 3..cribiug my arrival at Chattanooga, serve
o. contiure in circulation errors corrected years
oro and in A letter written by ne from Cahlornl'
last wear. and published IN TIE NEW-AoRA lIdB-
YNr To emphasize the facts: sent Generas var
Gold ~ General Thomas to report to him the dspcsi
,ons which stated 10 HIN were 10 be mace VIZ l"
order the cavalry on right to extend It's leIt over
81 -a,e from the Valley Of Chattanooga Creek
70 our infantry on the Dry Valley Road 70 order
post, brigade 10 push with the coumlssary train,
do the valley and across the Rolling Mil Bridge
into Chattanooga to order SpeaTs brigade to
mt that bridge IN order and on Post
arrival 10 be ready to We 10 the front
md TO order Wagners brigade, II Chattanooga u
,.rk the snare artillery defensvely and to be IN
readiness to move promptly. All these were orders
required from any thoughtful and capable COM
nander TO meet the possible emeTgencies o. Tie
fght. General Garfield, on being told what was I"
he done. SAID he could 20 TO Thomas much better
1hAn give all these orders ana was accordingly sent
bv1ne to tell Thomas and report to me by tele-
rrsph from Rossvllc TO Chattanooga telegraph
eMce, whittier necessarily the giving OF THESE va
nous orders finally took ire about sunset Ihat
yas the only central point where could oe Iounu
tn that vast lonesome, wooded country anu dc Ia
immediate communication with my Whole Hoht'
cavalry, ammunition PROVISIONS Ni'N-0''' '-@ VIZ
three infantry brigad,s.
How looked" when arrived at the telegraph
Office. 10 my sympathiz.ng stat. don't know. but
DO know that while approaching kiad ieeiihs' 1
needed no help TO dsInouut and no sympathy OF en-
oouragemeIlt. l knew the ueedtul orders had been
given aud only wanted 10 hear OF their execution,
md 70 hear from Thomas frolt WHITTIER l had
seat Garfield. Sure enough, IL a few moments came
The desired dispatch, dated p. H., saying " We
hold the held." l telegraphed General Thomas al
once uer General Garfield. u his discretion at
the close Of the fight whether 10 remain on Tie
ground OF 20 retire to RossyLe. In case be decided
&. ~. be T. ID
ne know 50 that could order the reserve brigadcs
OF Wagner. Post and Spear the provisions and am
muniton, whe rever needed.
L. tie exercise Of that discretion. there being no
water on the ground, General TLonas sent word be
would withdraw to KossVi.i I directed him u
take defensive line Of battle there sent up spare
trOyqs ammunition an provisions, aad awaited The
movements Of the enemy, while selected the limos
around chattanooga which were TO occupy 10
hold ouf prize; and the following evening or
dereG our troops 10 occupy them. which wa, quietly
done during the night We hal been Obliged to
fight for this point not ground Of our OWE choos
ES. but had It and held It,.
"After-sght" is generally better than &" fore
sight but IL the case Of uy coming TO Chattanooga
telegraph office on the evening of the 2Dth, n my
Judgment, Que confirms the other. could not have
done otherwise without neglecting precautions
g great army and interests Of the Nation to provide
for could dare TO neglect. 81 the expense of such
duty | Might have gratifcd vanity by rushing
erocnG 10 Thcmass front aud receiving the pldudts
Of the troops and of the newspapers. That is
al But he Army of the Cumberland, rank oC file,
with prrsis ent and sonderful unanimiry. la al
way expressed eonhdencei IN their commander II
thai battle.
The whole stuff adverse to this orig mates in
wicked conspiracy against the truth, sustained by
various interests and lbitions. bat is bound 10
perish Listen 10 tue words Of that friend and
gentleman Of stainless honor, General Thomas
Nheu at The reunion of the Society Of the Army Of
tie Cumberland, responding TO the toast Chicka
manga aNnz slowly, he sail: Chickanauga,
battle for which have received a great deal Of
Ie-t which belongs 20 An ADLER and better
soudlcr-M jor-General william 5. Rosecrans." |
was aot al that reunion, hut hundreds of comrades
who were there eau tell how that sentiment was
welcomed
As 70 that devihsh aud cruel calumny, that the
A'~y Oh The Cumberland had been demorslized
pS O"ickamaugA" it was first stamped into the
e1"t al Missionary Ridge when the atterer OF it,
o'4J cd aud demOralized himself by the failure Of
MS own plans, in blank aInAzement beheld that
Army charge up the slopes of Missionary Ridge,
'"V'P away braggs lines, capturing troops flags
az VA1Aon and putting the whole line TO rout.
ye' al 10 p 10. Of that night, with these great
t~Nt a.. before him, he had the cold blooded viii
-Ahy u telegraph To Washington: Sherman has
taken the rlcge to Tunnel Hill. Hooker has carried
lookout Thomas reports several prisoners" Wait
Tor the records. w. s. RosEcRANs
House " Representatives. Washington, Juns II. 1882