The sun., 1889-01-27

|
wounded as not exceeding two thousand.
CHATTANOOGA, Sent. 2o-4 P. M.-My repor
to-day is Of deplorable Importance. Chick
amauga is as fatal a name in our history
as Bull Run. The battle began late this morn
Ing. The first cannon was fired ut 0, but nc
considerable firing till 10. Previous to 10. ROSE
| GRAMS rode the whole length OF the lines. AL
| seemed promising except columns OF dust
| visible within the rebel lines moving north. and
| report from our right that the enemy had
been telling timber there during the night. Soon
after the fighting commenced, THOMAS. who
held the left, began to call for reGnforcements.
Then, about II, came word that he had been
| forced to retire to his second line. Reinforce
ments were sent him, and McCooK's wholo
| CORPS, which was on the right and as reserve
In the centre. was ordered to his assistance.
4. J. WooD Of CRIrrENpEN's corps. and VAN
CLEvE. who held the front In the centre. were
also ordered to the left, where the
fury OF the cannonade showed that an
| immense rebel force was massed. Their places
| were to be filled by DAVIS and SHERIDAN OF Nc
| Cooks corps. But hardly had these divisions
moved to take their places In the line. when the
| rebel fire. which had slackened on our left ever
| since 1t was turned and driven back about
three-quarters of an hour previously. sudden
| ly burst out in enormous volume upon our CEN
tre Never in any battle that have witnessed
was there such q mass of cannon and mus
kerry. This lasted some twenty minutes. and
then VAN CLEvE on THoMAs's right was seen
to give way. but in tolerable order. soon after
which the lines Of DAVIS and SHERIDAN broke
In disorder. borne down by heavy columns Of
the enemy. These columns are said to have
consisted Of PoLK's entire corps. They came
through with resistless impulse. COMPOSED Of
brigades formed in divisions. Before them our
soldiers turned and fled. 1t was q wholesale
| panic. Vain were oil attempts to rally them.
They retreated directly across two lines Of
considerable ridges running parallel to our
line OF battle, and then most Of them made
their way over Missionary Ridge and are now
coming here by the Chattanooga valley road.
Our wagon trains have mostly got here already.
and the road is full of disordered throng Of
fugitives. MCCooK. with the right OF his corps
and WILDERs mounted infantry. attempted to
recover the day but 1t was useless DAVIS and
SHERIDAN are said to be coming of at the head
OF couple Of regiments in order, and WILDERs
brigade marches out unbroken. THOMAS. too,
is reported as coming down the Rossvile road
with an organized command but all the rest is
confusion. Our wounded are all left behind.
some six thousand in number. We have lost
heavily in killed to-day. Tho total OF our
killed. wounded, and prisoners can hardly be
less than twenty thousand, and may be much
more. How much artillery We lose cannot
guess. nor do yet know what officers have
been lost. LYTLE Is said to be killed. RosE-
GRAMS escaped by the Rossville road. Enemy
not yet arrived before Chattanooga Prepara-
tions making to resist his entrance for time.
8P. Milan nappy to report that my despatch
OF 4 T. NJ to-day proves to have given too dark
q view of our disaster. Having been myself
swept bodily of the battlefield by the panic
struck rabble into which the divisions OF DAVIS
and SHERIDAN were temporarily converted. my
own Impressions were naturally colored by
the aspect Of that part OF the field. IL appears.
however. that only those two divisions were
actually routed. and that THOMAS, with the re-
mainder OF the army. still holds his part Of the
field. Besides the two divisions Of DAVIS and
SHERIDAN. those Of NEGLEY aud VAN CLEvE
soon rallied. and hold their places. the
first on the left. the second on tho
right of THoMAs's fighting column. In addition
to this. DAVIS and SHERIDAN have succeeded In |
rallying some eight or ten thousand Of the fu- |
gitives, and are also reported as having Joined |
THOMAS His command, consisting. after all |
losses. OF at least thirty thousand men. has |
still further been strengthened by the addition |
OF that portion OF the reserve lately stationed |
at Rossville under GRANGER. It has changed |
Its front from the nearly north and south line |
of this morning, and faces the enemy in an |
east and west line. 1t will at once fall back to |
the strongest line OF Defence for the purpose Of |
defeating the enemys design Of regaining |
and the Tennessee. The latest |
report from THOMAS is that he was driving |
back the advance of the rebels.
In addition to these forces we have the |
and moupted infantry not lesa tbnp
ton thousand in number, who are perfectly In
tact; and with this army 1t is not difficult to
make good our lines until reGnforcements can
arrive The cavalry at our last advices had |
their headquarters at Crawflsh Spring, where
they will perhaps be able to protect our main |
hospital until the wounded can be brought
here by the Chattanooga valley road. which
still is free from rebels.
The number Of tho enemy yesterday and
to-day I estimate at not less than seventy
He was able to touch and threaten
our lines ct all points. and still form the tre-
mendous columns whose onset drove THOMAS
back and dissolved SHERIDAN and DAVIS In
panic. Ilearn from Gen. RosEoRANs. who him
self took part In the effort previously to the
final stampede OF SHERIDAN's division. that
that General charged the advancing columns
Of the enemy In flank. The charge was too spas
modlc to be eilectual, and our men became In
volved in the rushing mass and did not break
It RosECRANs has telegraphed BURNSIDE to
hurry forward his reenforcements. The ad-
vance OF his cavalry is reported as having
reached Cleveland yesterday morning.
Some gentlemen Of RosECRAEs's stan say
is not very much worse than
vas Murfreesborough. can testify to the
and steady gallantry OF ROSE
Trans on the field. He made all possible Of
orts to rally tho broken columns, nor do / see
hat there was any fault in his order for the
disposition OF the forces Tho disaster could
probably have been avoided but for the blum
Ter Of McCooK In posting his corps SO as to leave
gap In the line OF battle.
Sept Ala P. M.-GARFIELD. Chief OF Staff.
becoming separated from RosEcRANs In
he rout Of our right wing yesterday.
made his way to the left. and spent
he afternoon and night with Con. THOMAS.
10 arrived here before noon to-day, having
. ,I,,t, i,,t