Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-02-16
CHICKAMAUGA.

CONTRIBUTION TO Wsg HISTORY
BY Mr.. DANA.
Publication of the Cipher Dis
patches sent TO Secretary STAN
ton frola the Battlefield.
A Washington dispatch of few days
since says: A most interesting contribu-
ton to war history is made to-day in the
publication by Mr.. Dana of the cipher dis
patches he sent to Secretary Stanton from
the battlefield of Chickamauga. These
dispatches have an important bearing upon
the controversy which has been going on
SO many years as to what estimate should
be put upon that battle. Secretary Stan
ton did not put these dispatches on file.
They were furnished, however, by Mr..
Dana, at a comparatively recent date, and
the originals are now in the possession of
the War Department. The editor of the
Sun, in publishing these dispatches, says:
"a good deal of discussion has been go
| ing on lately concerning this memorable
engagement. The statement which Gen
eral Sheridan included in his Memoirs
| furnished tie occasion for opening the dis
pute, and it has been continued with spe-
cial ability and interest by General
/ Francis A. Walker of Boston, and General
II. Y. Boynton of Washington. We shall
not review the points they have adduced,
nor shall we in any manner try to correct
any presentation of the facts which has
been brought forward. Our purpose is
simply to add to the documents which bear
upon the history of this battle brief
series of official kilograms written from
hour TO hour on the very field, and repre-
senting the impressions and excitements
belonging to the varying phases of the
conflict. They have not yet been pub
lislied in the series of war reports which
Congress has authorized, though, of course,
they will appear in their proper order
along with the other papers of the Chatta-
nooga campaign.
SEPTEMBER, '63.
''CRAwFIsH SPRING, September 10.
1863, 1890 A. M.-Battle opened at 8 this
morning on our left. Bragg in command
of the rebels. His force not vet ascer-
tanned; engagement not yet general. His
effort is to push into Chattanooga. In an
ticlpa.lon OF this movement Thomas
marched last night to our left Crittenden
pushed up behind him, and McCook has
been brought here as reserve As | write
the enemy are making a diversion on our
right, where Negley was left to hold the
fords. Negley Is supported by Sheridan.
An orderly of Braggs, just captured, says
there are reports in the rebel army of
Longstreet's arrival, but he does not know
they are true. Rosecrans has everything
ready to grind up Bragg's flank.
Il P. M.-Everything is going we'll, but
the full proportions of the conflict are not
yet developed. The engagement is now
between here and Rossviile, where Thomas
has his headquarters.
"WIDow GLENN's, September 18th, 230
P. M.-The fight continues to rage; enemy
repulsed on the left by Thomas has sud-
denly fallen on the right of our line of
battle, held by Van Cleye Musketry and
artillery there fierce and obstinate. Crit
tenden, with remainder of his corps, is Just
going in. Negleys and Sheridan's divi-
sion and cavalry alone remains unengaged,
and Sheridan is ordered here, leaving
Negley to hold the fords beyond Crawfish
Spring. The mass of the cavalry guards
the gaps beyond it. Thomas loses pretty
heavily in men, also one battery of guns.
Decisive victory seems assured to us.
% P. M.-The enemy forced back by
Crittenden ON the right has just massed
his artillery against Davis on our center.
His attack there is the most furious of the
day. He seems giving away.
DRIVING THE REBELS.
800 P. M.-Thomas reports that he is
driving the rebels, and will force them
into the Chicamauga tonight 1t is evil
dent here their line is falling back. The
battle is fought in thick forest and
is invisible to outsiders. The line is two
miles long.
a P. M.-Negley, being nearer than
Sheridan, has come up in his stead Neg
ley's First Brigade is just getting in.
Everything is prosperous. Sheridan is
coming up. The cavalry has been brought
to Crawfsh Spring to be ready for use.
"4:30 P. MI do not yet dare to say our
victory is complete, but it seems certain.
The enemy is silenced on nearly the whole
line. Longstreet is here. 1t is said that
Governor Brown has taken part in the bat
tie.
$500 P. M.--Firing has ceased Re-
ports are coming in. Enemy holds his
ground in many places. We have suffered
severely. Reynolds reported killed. 1t
now appears to be an undecided contest,
but later reports will enable us to under
stand more clearly.
$3.50 P. M.-Immediately after my last
dispatch Negley opened on the enemy with
two fresh brigades and drove him back
half mile. The firing did not cease till
an hour after dark, the feeble light of the
moon favoring the combatants This gives
US decidedly the advantage in respect of
ground. The result of the battle is that
the enemy is defeated in his attempt to
turn and crush our left flank and regain
possession of the Chattanooga. His at
tempt was furious and obstinate, his re-
pulse was bloody and maintained till the |
end. If he does not retreat Rosecrans will |
renew the fight at daylight His DISPOSE
tions are now being made. There are here
two brigades and one regiment which have
not been engaged at all, and two brigades
which have Eeen engaged but little. AT
Rossville are 5000 men of the reserve
corps not engaged at all. We have lost no |
prominent officers. Reynolds is safe.
Weather cool, favorable to wounded.
PRISONERS TAKEN.
IS P. M.-We have taken about $50
prisoners, including men from thirty diff
ferent regiments. We have captured ten
guns and lost seven. | cannot learn that
we have lost any considerable number of
prisoners. The battlefield is three miles
north from Crawfish Spring and about
eight miles south of Rossville. 1t is
mainly in a forest four miles square.
III P. M.-Dr Perrin, Medical Director
of this Department, estimates the number
of our wounded as not exceeding 2,0G0
CHATTANOOGA, September 20, P. M
My report to-day is of deplorable import
ance. Chicamauga is as fatal a name in
our history as Bull Run. The battle began
late this morning. The first cannon was
fred at 9, but no considerable firing till 10.
Previous to 10 Rosecrans rode the whole
length of the line. All seemed promising