The National tribune., 1885-08-27

Crittenden turned northeast and began to
move mn the river. Thomas crossed Raccoon
Mountain to the little village Of Trenton, IN
Lookout Valley: turned south 10 miles,
then east. and climbed Lookout Ridge
through Stcvens's and Cooper's Gaps.
McCook. with Stanley's Division, crossed
at Capertons Ferry, marched southeast,
crossed Sand Mountain, descended lnto
Lookout Valley. and climbed Lookout Ridge,
heading directly for Summerviile, which Is
nearly 60 miles south of Chattanooga.
BRAGG's MOVEMENT.
While Rosecrans's troops are on the march,
let us step into Chattanooga and see What
Bragg is doing. He knows every movement
of Rosecrans and sees him separating MS
corps
Instead Of retreating toward Atlanta, IN
accordance with Haileck's and Rosecranss
reasoning. Brsgg withdraws al his troops
from Chattanooga except one brigade,
marches south about 30 miles and takes
position, facing west toward Lockout Ridge
Gen. Bragg taus writes of his movements:
"On the 9th of September 1t was ascer-
tained that a column, estimated at IRON four
TO eight thousand. had crossed Lookout
Mountain by way of Steyenss and Cooper
Cans. Thrown off his guard by our rapid
movements GDporcHtiy in retreat when III
reality We had concentrated opposite his
center, and deceived by the information
from desertersand others sentiut0 his llnes,-
the enemy pressed On his columns 10 inter
cept US, and thus exposed himself III detail
LoNGsTEEET SENT TO BRAGG.
Bragg has asked for re-enlorcements. Lee
is sending LongStrect's veteran corps, which
has been in all the fights around Richmond,
Manassas, Charlottesville and Gettysburg.
Buckner's command from Eastern Tennessee
is ordered TO Join him. Joseph L. Johnston
dispatches some Of his troops from MlSSls-
sippi. and there are militia regiments from
Georgia
Bragg outnumbers Rosecrans by several
Thousand. He is concentrated, while Rose
Grams is divided. Bragg is close 10 his sup
plies while EoSecraRs Is moving away from
his.
The movement of Rosecrans had compelled
Bragg to withdraw nearly all his troops
from Chattanooga Wilders Brigade of
mounted infantry iUnion) appeared upon the
northern bank. opened fire from battery OF
light artillery, and drove Bragg's force out.
Crittenden's marched in pushed out over
Missionary Ridge to Lee q GOrdcn'S Mill,
.on West Cbickamauga Greek, 10 miles, bring
ing him that much nearer to Thomas.
From RosSyille. situated near the northern
end of Missionary Ridge, 10 miles from
Chickamauga, two roads run south-One,
the Dry Valley road, alCng the western slope
of the ridges. and the other the Lafayette
road, along the east side. Ten miles due
south from Rossville the Lafayette road
crosses Chickamauga Creek at Lee 4 Cor
dOn's Mill. The road, after crossing the
creek. keeps straight on TO Lafayette, 10
miles distant.
two aT3
from Missionary Ridge to bridges and fords
across the Chickamauga, so that Bragg could
m8yeihis troops rapidly from Chattanooga
across the creek TO positions between the
mill and Lafayette, or back again when the
proper time came.
~ -7- BURNSIDE At KNOXVILLE.
While Roseerans was moving across the
mountains, Gen. Burnside, with a large force,
was taking possession of Knoxville, driving
out BuckGer, who retreated to join Bragg.
If Burnside had pushed on; if Halleck had
ordered him to hasten TO Chattanooga, he
would have brought 10000 men TO Rose
Grams; but he was not so ordered till it was
too late. Halleck had made several mis-
takes-one, in ordering ROsecrans peremp- |
tOrily to move on; another, IN maintaining
that Bragg was in full retreat; third, in
concluding that Bragg was sending men to
the aid Of Lee, while, on the contrary, Lee
was sending Longstreet to Bragg; and now
he made fourth IN not ordering Burnside
TO hasten after Buckner and join ROsecrans. |
The features Of the country are such that
by the time the last division Of RoSecrans
was. across the Tennessee, the foremost was
far on It's way over Lookout Valley and on
Lookout Mountain.
On the 9th Of September, Crittenden took
possession of Chattanooga.
=" IL is ours without struggle" was the
dspatch sent by Rosecr&ns to Halleck.
All he did not know that almost at that
moment Bragg was issuing orders TO two of
his division commanders TO move on Neg
ley's Division Of ThOmas's Corps, which was
descending the east side of Lookout Ridge
from Steyens's Gap; that Cleburne and
Hindnlan together outnumbered Negiey two
70 one. s
= Eegley is on the east side of the ridge
with > 900 men,-his nearest support, Bairds
Division Of 600, four miles distant; while
theUthsr two divisions of Thomas's Corps
are ON the west side of Lookout, at Tren-
ton:
Bragg, to make all sure, ordered up Cheat
HAMS and Walkers Divisions to support
Hindman and Cieburne making 25 900, with
a large force Of cavalry in addition, to fail
anu Ddllu Will ii,OUO.
ROsECRANs's MISTAKE.
Reseerans was in utter ignorance Of the
state OF affairs. Bragg's spies, sent in pur-
posely, had done their work we'll
.," All the information l have received"
wrote Rosecrans TO Thomas on the evening
Of the 9th, induces the belief that there is
noconsider2ble rebel force this side of Dal-
ton"
Gen. Negley's scents had different tale TO
tells different, that that officer with wise
sprecaution, started his train back toward
Bairds position, aud moved his troops in
the same direction two miles.
BraggoTdered Hindman 20 begin the attack
early in the morning CIeburne was to ad-
vance as soon as he heard Hindmans guns.
The morning came and ed,-none of
Hlndman's cannon were laundering: fore
noon passed still no artillery. Courier after
courier was sent to know the reason ef the
silence. Not till o'clock was Hindman
ready TO advance.
THE CONFEDERATE ADVANCE
1t is not known why Hindman was not
ready,-Bragg does not inform us in his re-
port; hut at 3 o'clock Hindmans guns be-
gan to play, and Cleburne advanced
Two companies Of the 18Th Ill. were be-
hind q wali bidiBg their time Cleburne's
line was coming on. Suddenly the stone
wall was ali alianle and 20 of Elei,urne'S foen