Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-03-08
Tripping on His Facts.

Mr.. Blaine might be excused for lack OF
knowledge of the history of Guatemala and
Mexico, but in national funeral Grafton
accuracy concerning important events in
the life of the subject of his eulogy would
seem to have been attanable. General
Rosecrans convicts the orator of serious in.
accuracy of statement as to the condition Of
the army of the Cumberland at the time
when General Garfield became his chief Of
staff. Against Mr.. Blaines statement that
the field Of Chickamauga was disastrous tc
the Union cause, the following extract is
quoted from the speech of General Garfield
himself, February II, 1864, on a resolution
before congress to thank General Thomas
for his services at Chickamauga,
The resolution proposes to thank Major General
Thomas, and the officers and men under his
command, for gallant service in the battle fol
Chickamauga 1t meets my hearty approval o
what 1t contains, but my protest for what 1t does
not contain. should be a recreant to my owl
sense OF justice did allow this omission to pas.
without notice. No man here is ready to say
and II there be such man, am ready to NEE
him. that the thanks of this congress are not due
Major General W. S. Rosecrans for the campaign
which eliminated in the battle of Chickamauga. II
is not uncommon throughout the press Of the coun
try and among many people to speak of tina
battle as disaster to the United States, anC
to treat of it as defeat. II that battle was de
feat we may welcome a hundred such defeats.
should be glad II each of our armies would repea
Chickamauga. Twenty such would destroy tn,
rebel army and the confederacy utterly and for
ever. What was that battle, terminating as /
did great campaign whose object was to drive
the rebel army beyond the Tennessee and obtair
a foothold on the south bank of the river, which
should form the basis of future operations in thu
gulf states? We had never vet crossed that rive
except far below in the neighborhood of Corinth
Chattanooga was the gateway of the Cumberland
mountains, and until we crossed the river and held
the gateway we could not commence operations
in Georgia The army was ordered to cross tn,
river to grasp and hold the key of the Cumber
land mountains. 1t did cross in the face of SUI
perior numbers, and after two days OF fighting
more terrible, believe, than any since this wal
began the army of the Cumberland hurled bacl
discounted and repulsed the combined powe
OF three rebel armies, gained the key OF til,
cumberland mountains, gained Chattanooga and
held 1t against every assault. II there has beer
more substantial success against overwhelming
odds since this war began, have not heard of 1t
We have had Victories God be thanked, all alonl
the line, but in the history of this war | know Of
no such battle against such numbers, forty thou
sand against an army OF not less by man thar
right wing on that bloody afternoon of Septem
Der 90 twenty-five thousand men of the army o
the Cumberland stood and met seventy-fve thou
sand hurled against them and they stood in the
bloody tracks immovabe and victorious. Wher
night threw its mantle around them they had re
PEELED the last assault of the rebel army. who
commanded the army of the Cumberland
Who organized, disciplined and led it9 Who
planned its campaigns? The general whose name
Is omitted in this resolution Major General w. S
Rosecrans.