The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-03-29
Comrade Touus's View Of Tic Great Comics


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Twenty-four
years have passed by since the battle Of Chick
emauga, sept. % and 20, and there is much
said and written concerning it that is as ridicu-
lOus as il is untruthful. Long years have pass
ed since R0secrans with 10000 troops, all told
confronted Bragg, VINO had $4,000 after Long
streets 1900 arrived. Some would have as
believe that Bragg had a prep0naerancc Of IS
900 IL that battle: such a statement must have
originated 10 brain fertile with erratic con
illusions. Bragg had an advantage Of about
lO0OJ men u whole figures, and the vantage
ground ID choice Of position. To be sure lie
had not any advantage in number the first dav
Of The battle the 1884, because he bad then
but 53,Jyy, which. u the choice Of the position,
however, would still give him the advantage.
But lie Is,JJJ lost IA the two days fight cut
Bragg army down to y, O00 and Rosecrang'g
loss apprOZimatlng tie same figures in killed,
wounded and missing, would leave him OuIv
about 10000 men all told, which would still
leave Bragg prepoDdeTance Of 1900.
And How Is 10 the results. Was Rosecrans
whlHFedE / answer emphaticalIy, no. Was
Bragg Waippadf / answer, no. But after
Bragg failure 10 follow up and push Rosecrans
across the Tennessee River, then I say his neg
lect and failure % do what he might have easily
done VIII give the advantage TO the Union
forces. and while LOnCstreet's oppOrtune ar
rival on the morning Of the Goth was the sal
walton Of Briggs forces, so also was The terrible
onslaught Of Gen. Thomas on the same day the
salvation gf GOsecrauss withdrawal.
ne purpose Cf the battle was the OCCUPANCY
Of Chattanooga. EosecTans had mauuvered
Bragg out q IT, and Bagg's failure to push
him INTO aud over the river gave RoseCrans the
victory Of strategy, and after he was bh6rGugh-
~ fortified - Chattanooga, the battle Of Chick
amaEga must necessarily be grand victory 10
#H .| F.r.
the ccm01-llke yell which rang along the rebel
line about sunset on that memorable Sunday
afternoon, which sounded Ike q fierce contest
among Infatuated wild beasts2 While Rose
Grams was On the line Of withdrawal toward
Chattanooga Bragg failure was Rgsccrans'sy vic
tory. OF the yalor Of the troops on both sides.
lett be sald, no 5TaVcTn OrmOre determined men
ever opposed each other 10 deadly conflict. The
last Union cheer over the result came from the
nights q Missionary Ridge, with breastw0rks
and barbados surrounding our men; and the
assurance Of Old Rosy" in person that there
were not enough rebels IN the Southern army
70 Gls-glge us caused many Of our soldiers 10
c0uc.uds that we had squaTely whinped BRAGG
a. lAIckamauga. The truth Of the matter was
whipping was not really the result TO either
side: q Tar as that goes one was whipped ab9nt
rs much as the other tic inevitable result Of q
draw game" But ROsgcFanss mastcrIv STRAIT
egy IA mauuycrlng Bragg out Of Chattanooga
and keeping him out Of 1t was his victory. and
VIII ever ensAriue his name IN glory while the
measure Of his power at the battle Of Chicka-
manga was in an evenly poised balance with
BraZton Bragg. There Union soldiers fought
Ike brave heroes; there Southern rebels fought
Ike iniuElatec demons There Union Generals
1 displayed mastery heroism there Southern
( Generals displayed dantless valor and bravery.
West Pointers against West Pointers. Brother
against brother Father against son. and SON
against father Thus the final result was q
grand and sweeping victory for the Union
forces, and the pages Of history are already
sparkling with the deeds Of our forces, which
were never surpassed in point of valor and
bEavery.-IsAAC K YOUNG. Sergeant. "a n
eaLl III Bristol Ill