The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-10-01

tn0 CROSSING Oh tnc leUncSsee anu lIookOut
Mountain. From tho latter point however. ho
did condemn the plans which were followed.
and, ne tho author shows, favored the occu-
patton Of Chattanooga and the concentration OF
the army at that place before beginning tho
pursuit. OF Bragg rs ordered by Rosecrans.
Had this course been adopted. We should have
been spared some rather SNOWY strategy. and
probably the great disaster which followed 1t.
Tho wel-ordered and deliberate methods OF
Thomas might not have led to q battle Mt so
early day, but it is highly probable that. with
Chattanooga as n base and the army well sup
piled and united In its advance from that place,
Bragg would have found it altogether more
difficult to handle than he did in the scattered
and irregular formation it was forced to adopt
on tho forest clad hills of the Chickamauga,
But let us consider tho part actually taken
by Thomas In tho battle which ended the mill
tary career of Rosccrans and came so near
ending that OF the Army of the Cumberland.
Tho author tells the story ovor again, better
than it has ever been told before, and we refer
to his text for the details. 1t is In the main
painful reading. but no true American can fail
to admire the stcadfast courage with which
Thomas held his ground upon that stricken
field after Rosocrans and two corps commanders
had fed from 1t in tho belief that tho baltic
was irrcvocably lost. No military critic. after
reading this volume. can fail TO think that had
Thomas directed the movements Of the army
which led to that battle or had he commanded
1t even after 1t had takon UP its ground. he
would have so arrayed it and held it to its
work that no part Of its ranks could have boon
broken or dslodgcd from its position. His
disposition to have everything in order, and
not to fight till he was ready. might have saved
the country and that army day OF bitterness
such rs We were rarely called upon to pass
through. even during the darkest years of the
rebellion. The steadfast courage with which
Thomas held his position throughout the day,
till Stecdman and Granger hearing the furious
cannonade from several miles in the rear. had
marched to his assistance. while some who had
stood with him in the morning had fed from the
field is worthy Of all praise. IL won for him
title such as but few men have worn. and OF
which any ono might be proud-thc Rock of
Chickamauga.
Much to tho regret of Thomas. Rosecrans
was relieved shortly afterward. and tho latter.
without being consulted. was assigned to the
command of the Department and Army Of the
Cumberland; but it will be readily recalled
that he was not permitted to command it I'M
aided and alone. was doubtless his secret
ambition. Grant. who had been in Disgrace
and whom he had superseded at Shiloh. and had
since conducted the famous campaign ending
in the capture OF Nicksburg, was assigned to
the command of all the national armies operat-
ing in the Mississippi Valley, and went at once
10 Chattanooga, whence he was followed by n
portion of the Army of the Tennessee under
the immediate command of sherman. On his
way Grant having been met by Mr.. Stanton
became profoundly impressed with the gravity
Of Tie situation. and telegraphod Thomas to
hold the town ut all hazards" Thomas re-
Piled with characteristic brevty and determi-
nation "Wc'll'hold tho town till we starve."
The author does not say so. but 1t was well
known at the time that the reception OF Grant
on his arrival ut Thomas'5 headquarters was
not cordial. but was gravely dignilled and re-
served. Whether Thomas resented in hi, heart
the supervision he was put under. because he
did not think 1t was necessary. or because he
did not think his old comia,lr of the Mexican
war and the Shiloh-Corinth campaign was the
person who should have authority over him.
can never be known. Whatever Thomas may
have thought, he was too good a soldier and
too reserved man ever 10 disclose his inmost
feelings upon subject of such dclicacy What
ever they may have been. it is we'll known that
they were not marKeI by that lrankness and
gcniality toward Grant which characterized
the relations Of sherman and Grant. and 10 n
less degree of Sherman and Thomas. 1t Is
deeply to be regretted that any GOODNESS should
have existed. for the absence Of it might have
maze the course of both Thomas and Grant
smoother and pcasantcr upon moro than one
occasion. Moreover cinior compcls us to add
that. so far rs We then knew or have been able
to learn since. Grant was in no way to blame
for havin. been ordered there and when the
choice was given him of removing or retaining
Rosccrans. he promptly chose his removal. and
advancement Of Thomas to the vacancy. His
treatment of Thomas thereafter during that
campaign was. SO far u known both kind and
conciliatory. but the ice between them was
never thoroughly melted. On the day that
Missionary Ridge was assaulted and carried
by Thomass troops Grant gave the order for the
advance more than once before it was obcyed.
and finally repeated it in tones that could
not be mistaken. The authors account OF the
operations on that day. well rs before and
after. demonstrates the faacy Of both Badeau 5
and Shcrmans account of the same events and
carries conviction to the careful reader that
his is strictly in accordance with the facts.
while theirs are not: but having heretofore
fully discussed the whole subject in these col
umns. We shall now pass on. merely pointing
out the fact again that this battle was won. as
is frequently the case. By means and move
mcnts altogether different from what was in
tended, anticipated. or reported by the COM
mandinG General.
! The pursuit of Bragg and the relief of Burn
side in East Tennessee followed Immediately
nlter the victory. Grant was appointed Lieu
/ tenant General. and called To Washington to
direct all the armies and to take immediate
| command of the Army of the Potomac. Sher-
man was designated by Grant to succeed linn
! in the command of the military division re-
Gently created. while Thomas was left in COM
! mand Of the Army of the Cumberland. The
! author shows clearly that the latter and his
army did more to defeat Bragg and drive him
! from The field than Sherman or his troops. II
! is also worthy of note that at this time Thomas
ranked sherman 10y the date Of his commission
! rs Major General of Volunteers and had been
| uniformly far more successful than Sherman
| in battle. 1t may therefore well be asked why
/ Sherman should have been placed over Thomas
| sherman had not so far been fortunate; luck
seemed to have run steadily against him from
the beginning Of the war. He had won no grca
victory. and saved no impcrillei army but, Oh
the contrary at Missionary Ridge. ns ut Chick
asaw Bayou. while he had strvcn CALAMITY. he
had failed to carry the position lie moved
against Can it be that upon this occasion he