The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-02
The Final Assault.


when did you begin to make the final
move on Thomas?"
'After McCook and Crittenden had been
driven from the field and their troops had
been pushed through the gap at Missionary
Ridge, I reversed Braggs order of battle and
wheeled to the right to envelop Thomas. The
movements that followed my change of
Bragg's line of battle l gave you further
down the road"
1 wish time and space would permit me to
record all the details General Longstreet gave
of the battle here as we rode over the field.
Not far from the place where he told the
story about General Benning we came upon
the Dyer House and stopped for dinner. This
house was, late on Sunday, at times in the
focus of the battle, and not far from L Long
street formed his troops for the final attack
upon Thomas. The few fields and the woods
not far from the house still bear the scars of
the fight Here and there little stones have
been erected to show where some officer
or soldier fell during this conflict. AT the
edge Of pine thcket on the brow of a hill
not half mile from the front of the house.
a rude headstone stands, upon which is re-
corded the fact that sixty-four Kentuckians
are buried there. There are other evidences
cut off by artillery shots or marred by mus
ket balls. The Widow Glenn's house, then
Rosecranss headquarters no longer stands
but there have been few other changes since
those days. 1t is not far from Dyer's to the
Snodgrass house, where, before dinner, we
rode to inspect that and other portions of
the battlefield. We easily found the little
log house upon the hill, with shade trees in
front, under which Thomas had his head
quarters during Sundays fight, General
Longstreet took a seat on the little shelf
made by the roots of a great oak tree, the
largest one in the yard.
Il reckon Thomas sat Oh that very seat
General, the day you all were after him."
said old Mr.. Snodgrass as General Longstreet
seated himself at the foot of the tree.
mot many men would have held on here
as Thomas did. There have been few, if any,
more dramatic incidents in the war than the
stubborn stand of Thomas upon this hill
He was very badly whipped, and knew it,
yet he took his chances OF getting reinforce
ments, or of holding on until the friendly
darkness would give him chance to escape.
It was quite late, after Bragg refused to allow
me to flank his pasition, before our line was
ready for the final assault upon him. Steed-
mans fight with Benning delayed us some-
what, and it was nearly dark before we
reached the vital point of Thomass position.
Night came on just as we did, and the dark
ness gave him the opportunity to slip away
to Rossville, and Bragg did not have the
spirit to follow him. Thomass stand at
Chickamauga was one of those grand Incl
dents OF war like leading forlorn hope An
accident made it successful, but man had
to have great nerve to take the chances"
"Why did Bragg bring on the battle of the
10Th with only 55,0 600 men, when he knew
that you were on your way to reinforce him
and he would have TO- 900 the next day?'
81 do not know, and have no opinion to
express. That inquiry might be material if
we had not won complete victory on the
goth. AS we were successful, the important
question is, why Bragg did not obey General
Lees Instructions follow up and get the
fruits of the victoryp'
when urged him to do so he said it was
dark and dangerous, as the Federals had
probably only withdrawn to new position.
| visited him the morning of the 21st about
daylight, and found him still in doubt as to
his future movements. He had lost much
by resting over night but might still have
followed up his advantage with success. He
asked me what thought he had better do. l
advised him. as he was doubtful as to the
policy of following up Rosecrans, that he
had better march toward Nashville, threaten
or destroy his line of communications and
leave the defeated army to follow him or
take care of itself. He agreed that this
would be good move, and ordered his
troops TO march toward the capital of Ten
nessee. The most of his command had
crossed the Chickamauga river and was push
ing toward Nashville, when Bragg sent to me
and said that he thought that it would have
a good effect upon the Southern people if it
were known that his army was marching
through Chattanooga with bands playing
AMI banners flying in honor OF the vic
tory of Chickamauga; he, therefore,
thought that he would turn back and
march upon that place. 1 replied that 1
thought it would have much better effect
upon the Southern people if they knew that
he was following up his victory by a flank
movement on Rosecrans, now he had lost
his opportunity TO crush him while his army