The National tribune., 1892-03-03

position as early as possible in the morning
lt was now near midnight by daybreak my
| pickets had possession Of the fOrds, aud dur
inc the morning strong patrol passed through
ChiokRmauga Station and Graysyille without
meeting the enemy.
About p. IN. one Of Gen. Granger's staff
/ officers Informed mo that the General was
moving 10 his right to reinforce Gen. Thomas,
and requested me TO take possession OF the
Rossyile and RinggOld road.
When ] arrived al my new position j sent
patrol to the front with instructions 10 60 MS
4 far as the " Red House Bridge" The patrol
reported that Gen. Scott, with his brigade. was
! on the west side Of the Chickamauga. This
\ considered an encr0achment on our territory,
/ and nj once attacked and drove him across the
bridge 10 the east side Of the creek.
/ l3y this time i had gained possession of the
/ bridge. Night WAS upon Us. i fell back 10
/ McAlee's Church, the position which Gen.
! Granger had occupied and felt well to the
/ right for the purpose Of
FORMING JUNCTION
with the infantry. but in the dark failed 10
end them. We remained ia position all night,
sitting on Che ground, holding our horses, and
procuring hut little rest.
We were pretty well worn out with our three
days fighting aud want Of food aud rest, and
the feeling that tho battle was going against
us. The night was cold. and We were thor
I ouEhiN Gulilth. Aut impression llItNalicu
throughout the army that Burnside was on the
march from East Tennessee to reinforce Gen.
Rosecrns.
A little before break Of day wo heard cheer
ing away in our rear Every man sprarg 10
his feet. The blood cUursng through our veins
warmed our chilled limbs and infused new life
into our bodies More than one called out:
There's Burnside, aud wcl whip them get"
sent couple Of OrdcIlcs back 30 learn
what tDrpN Yng They YpluFnpl
with the information that tho whole Of Gen.
ROsecrans's army was in position Rt ROssvile
three miles directly in our rear. nice posi-
tiOn 10 be in, truly. A little brigade Of cavalry
lthrec regiments and one section OF artillery, IN
all about 5000 men, three miles in front Of our
army, aud directly between il and the army
we had been fighting for three days!
j waited until ] had received tho reports
from my pickets, when, taking a stat officer
and couple OF Orderlies with me, j galiOped
back 70 Rossvlle and reported my position to
Gen. Thomas whom found
IL THE FAMOUS GROVE
Of large trees Immediately back Of the Gap.
As soon as ] reported 10 him he said:
I" You should not be there, Colonel
replied:
81 know that, General; bat there am"
After a moments thought he said
" Well, ms you are there, delay the enemy all
you can. Give me ms much time as possible 10
prepare to get ready for them"
returned 10 my brigade and very soon had
reports from my pickets that the enemy was
advancing on the road from the battlefield and
from Rngg0d. This was al cavalry, and con-
sisted Of Pcgram's Division and Scott's and
Dayids0n's Brigades fell back 10 the junction
OF those roads, abOut half mile from McAfee's,
aud there gave them battle, and taking advan-
tage Of every possible position, fought them stub
bOrnly ali the way back 30 Rossville. ] passed
through Negleys Division in the Gap at about
] p. M, aud at once moved TO the left taking
possession Of the passes over Missionary Ridge,
north Of Gen. Thomass position.
In the evening received an order TO report
ia person 10 Gen. Thomas lie was at tho same
place at which ! had reported 10 him that
morning
la his quiet impressive manner, he said:
" Col Miuty, / am going 10 fall back 10 Chatta-
nooEa tonight; wagons, Gmbulanccs, and tum-
hris have already gone; The artillery will fol-
low shortly, and during the night the infantry
viii be Withdrawn. want you TO take posses
sion Ot cur present position, deceive The enemy
as long as possible, but rs soon as they attack
fail back and retire 10 Chattanooga.
DO NOT ENDANGER YOUR COMMAND USNEc-
EssARIIYp
Small picllets were left In the most impor-
tHnt passes, with orders 30 remain there until
alter daylight, when they could see everything
ln the valley baiure them, and then to Join the
brigade on the ROssviile aud Chattanooga road
By a. m Sept - ] wasTt Rossvile with
my brigade and as The infantry withdrew a
thin line of dismouuted cavalry occupied the
lines The sun WHs well uu before the cuclnv's
skirnshors began 30 feci our position, and after
a slight Interchange OF shots they advanced 10
the attack. The An L. s. Cav, which regi-
meHt 0ccdplcd The most advanced position.
withdrew aad moved slowly back. By o'clock
we were again in our saddles. showing a bold
front on every possible occasion and checking
tho enemy much as possible. We passed in
side our lines IN front OF Chattanooga az about
D. m. il took the rebels six hours to drive us
the four miles between R0ssvlle and our ad-
yanced works ai Chattanooga.
The battle Of Chickamauga, as told ~ In
history, lasted two days, the 18th and 2Oth Of
September, 1863. For the Saber Brigade" ID
lasted five days on every one Of which, except
the 18th, when il was protecting the trains on
the Dry Valley road, il had its fall share Of
severe lighting.
ITS STUBBORN FIGHTING
on the 18th has never been properly appreciated
at its full value. Here will transcribe Gen.
Braggs circular order Of battle:
HEADQUARTERS ARaY oF TENNESSEE. !
AZ TIKI FIELD, LEETs TAEYARD.
J. Johnson's column GIood'sl. on crossing an ar
most practicable route aud sweep up the Chicka-
maugs towGTd Lee a. GordOu's Mil.
q walker, on crossing al AleNander's Bridge
VIII unto n this move aud push yigoTous on the
eneIny's Hank and near n the same direction.
3. Buckucr, crossing al Ieliurds Ford. will ioin
az ln the movement 10 the left. and prc-s the
enemy up The stream from Foik's front at Lee a.
Gordous Mill.
4. Polk will press Isis forces TO the front uf lee
6ordOu's Mill, and II met by TOO much rcaisl-
Rnce Will bear 20 tie right aud cross Ht Daiton's
Ford or at IefOrds. ns may be necessary aud join
M tie httnck wherever the enemy may bc
D. Hill VIII cover our lef flank from an advance
oi the enemy from the cove. aud by pressing the
cavalry in s front. ascertain f the enemy A. REIN
forcing 81 lee a. Gurdon's MILL ia which event
hc viii Btlack tIcin Ia flank
g. wheeler Cavalry will hold the gaps Ga Pigeon
Mountain, HHd cover our rear and ef aud bring up
stragglofs.
T. al teams etc not with troops. should 20 TO-
ward RuRgoid and Dalton beyond Jaylor'z liidge.
I8y command 81 GfN BFhGg
g. W BEEST, Assistant Adjutant-G General
IL Nider's Brigade at Alexanders Bridge
aud Miuiy's at Reeds Bridge had not made tie
stubborn fight they did, which fact is attested
by the l05 rebel dead left 20 Alexander's Bridge
the lO2 rebel dead left az Reeds Bridge aud The
unknown number left in Pea Vine Valley at
/ Dyers Ford, on the line OF retreat from Rcrd's
Bridge to Lee & Gordou's Mill, and in front
OF our position near that place, aud by the loss
OF The entire day 70 Gen. Bragg, what would
have been the result TO
THAT GLORIOUS ARMY,
the Army Of the CumbCflandY
III Bragg had been allowed to carry out his
MANNED grfIfF IL b.ff1g l.f lyr.,, f-,