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

NY y
had given the necessary instructions to Hill
and Ewell to get their troops and transporter
ton ready. In this letter | renewed the ar
guments that 1 had made to him personally
against making another campaign into Penn
sylvania that year. | urged that il he were
Stron 9 enough to move north again, he was
strong enough, at least, to act on the defens-
i've where he was. and spare the reinforce
mentS necessary to win sweeping victory
over Rosecrans. | presented to him the GER
tainty of his having 10 withdraw from Penn
sylvania, on account of the lateness OF the
season at which he would find himself on
Northern soil, even if the enemy did not
attention to the fact that Rosecrans
was pushing toward Georgia, and if
he should succeed in marching through
that State the Confederacy would be virtual
ly dead. A few days later | received note
IN reply to mine, requesting me to get two
west General Lee soon returned from Rich
mond to his headquarters, and we had
long, earnest talk over the effort to be made
to force and win great battle in the west;
or, | might say to transfer the battle-ground
OF that year from Virginia to Tennessee, and
even to the Ohio, if we were as successful as
| hoped we would be. | expressed 10 him
great concern lest Bragg should fail to follow
up with energy any success we might gain.
He replied that both President Davis and
himself had anticipated this suggestion, and
that orders had gone to Bragg that should he
win a victory he must follow it up with
great vigor. l was at General Lees head
quarters or he at mine every day during the
short time it took to get Hoods and Nc
Laws divisions of my corps, about 1900
men, in readiness to move west by rail-
After he had decided TO send reinforce
ments he was much interested in the
movement, and we talked about it more or
less every day. Time and time again he
would say: General, we must have great
victory over there. The success OF our cause
depends upon it. We need only infict one
great disaster upon the Federal army to re-
cover everything that has been lost
1.-THE morning my troops were loaded on
the cars, and was about to start, rode over
to General Lees headquarters to bid him
good-by. We had a hurried but earnest talk,
shook hands, and parted AS 1 walked out
of his headquarters he followed me. When
put my foot in the stirrup to mount my
horse he put one hand upon the animals
name and the other on my shoulder ana,
looking at me square in the face, said, with
great earnestness:
General, you must beat these people out
there
81 withdrew my foot from the stirrup, and,
turning toward him, said:
General Lee Rosecrans shall be beaten
if i've but would not sacrifice life.
would not part with a single man of my
command to simply gain victory. 1t is
worthless to us unless it be followed up with
such energy as to crush the Federal force we
attack. l hope you will instruct General
Bragg to let nothing prevent his pushing
Rosecrans to the wall after he has beaten
him upon the field
"'Such orders have already gone to him.
was General Lees response, and l assure
you they shall be repeated
II then turned, mounted my horse, when
he shook me warmly by the hand and we
parted 1 do not think 1 ever saw him look
more in earnest in his life than he did on
that morning. 1t was long ride to Chatta-
nooga and Braggs position was changed be-
fore | reached him; but finally arrived at
Rnggold, on my way to Chickamauga on
the 10Th of September. Three brigades of
my command had reached the battlefield
that day. The horses that belonged to
my staff officers were got off the cars
as soon as possible, and, without my
staff, l pushed rapidly forward for Bragg's
headquarters. My troops were unloaded as
fast as they could be got off the cars, and fol-
lowed me. | crossed at -Alexander's Bridge,
and reached Bragg about IL o'clock at night.
met General Polk along the road. He had
already received his instructions for the COM
ing battle and was on his way to his head
quarters to rest. When l arrived at the
headquarters of the army, General Bragg
went over with me his plan or battle. he
had divided his army into two wings. Polk
was to command the right and the left.
His first point of attack was for Polk to strike
Thomas, break his line and then wheel to
the left. Each division was to do the same
as the fighting came to them, the whole
army having for pivot the left of my line
at Lee & Gordon's Mills on the river. Polk
was to attack at daylight he said, and was
net to take up the fighting until he had
broken the line and each division to my
right had beaten the enemy in its front,
and swung to the left, in accordance with
his plans. / left his headquarters
shortly after midnight, and rode out
to where l expected my lines would be
formed, and laid down for few moments
rest l was on my horse at daylight putting
my troops in position aud carefully inspect
ing my line. Polk did not attack at the hour
Bragg said he would. The gray of the morn
ing gave way to broad daylight, the sun even
arose and yet there were no signs of battle.
suppose it was between 8 and 10 O'Clock be-
fore Folks artillery announced that he had
begun the assault. | believe waited nearly
two hours for the fighting to approach my
line but, finding that Polk was not likely to
break Thomas, l senta staff officer to Bragg
with the suggestion that [ had better see if
could not force the line, as Polk did not
seem to be able to turn the left, as he had ex-
pected Bragg replied that l could make the
attack.
breaking the Lines