The National tribune., 1891-07-30
CEICKAMAUGA.
Where the Backbone OF the Rebellion was Actually
Broken.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: For quarter
OF a century we have heard the song Of Gettys-
burg sung, and il has become almost as worn as
Marching Through Georgia" Writers Of
every degree, East and West. have declared
that Gettysburg broke the backbone OF the
Confederacy.
Is il not about time to investigate a little,
and if IL shall be found TO be an error TO ac-
knowledge the fact, and place the breaking Of
the backbone where il belongs? Ii has also
been claimed for Gettysburg. until everyone,
nearly, accepts il as Gospel truth. that it was
the bloodiest battle of the war. Investigation
is proving that Chickamaugs showed a greater
per cent. Of loss in killed, wounded and miss
ing than Gettysburg, and in blOod-spllling,
killed and wounded, its losses were far greater
than Gettysburg.
Now. how do we find IL about the broken
backbone? IL the vertebra of the Confederacy
was broken, or even seriously strained. certainly
Lees army must have been in a somewhat criti-
cal condition, and the Union army correspond
ingly the stronger, and il the Confederate lead
ers were aware Of the weakened condition Of the
backbone, some of them in their confidential
correspondence would have so indicated. DO
we fad any such statement by any Of them
Ii so, when, where and by whom, or anything
20 even point in that direction2 And how was
Lees army2 That battle was fought in July.
Two months later Lee felt perfectly safe in
sending his best Lieutenant with about 10000
Of his most reliable veterans nearly 1000 miles
by rail $50 great a distance that lac could not
possibly hope 10 have any assistance from them
in case the Union commander should attack
HIM, 10 aid Gen. Bragg i'm the destruction of
the Army Of the Cumberland and the recovery
Of Tennessee and possibly possession Of Ken
lucky. Docs that look very much rs though
Gen. Lee felt that the backbone of his army
the army that had fought Gettysburg
4 "a
in plain English that cannot be miscOnstTucd,
that he considered the Union army so badly
worsicd after that battle, and. even AS late as
September, that he could with perfect safety
dctach One-third Of his army, under command
OF his best General and send il beyond any
possible rcachg Docs it not say plainly that
he looked with even contempt upon the Union
army confronting him2
Gen. Longstreot took the flower Of the Con-
federacy with him and put il in at Chickamauga,
and himself commanded the left wing of their
army On the decisive day. lie was there, as
many Of his men said. TO teach the Western
Confederate how 10 fight For the first three
hours of Sunday forenoon Of Sept. 90. 1863, il
looked very much as though Longstreet was an
adept as a teacher for in that time lie routed
in tho widest stampede imaginable tho GEN
eral commanding and the whole right Of the
Union army, chasing them as far as he could
see them. lie then formed 10 make a grand
right wheel 10 corral all Union troops remain
ing on the feld-held there by feints 10 lead
them 10 believe that the Confederates were
checked; continually. however. sending re-
connoitering bodies around TO the Union left
rear, 10 see that none wero Withdrawing or
escaping from the NAV aching 10 encompass
them.
Ia the execution Of the grand right wheel,
Longsirect struck what proved 10 be i'm
movable snag in the form Of two brigades Of
Gen. Changers Reserve Corps. On this snag
he continued TO charge from noon until dark.