The National tribune., 1893-03-16

a few minutes aud Breckinridge's left brigade
was almost anuihlated, having lost its com.
mander, Gen. Helm and two Colonels killed
and two Colonels wcunded.
Under misapprehensien of the movements
of the enemy. Gen. Rosecrans gave orders for
new dispositions of portions Of his forces, in
the execution of which a severe engagement
was had with the enemy, which resulted dis
astrously to the Union forces. For time
| thereafter there were but five divisions in line
| against the whole Confederate army, which was
then concentrating on both fanks of the line,
which lay across the Lafayette and Chatta-
nooga road.
From noon till night these FIVE divisions, and
such other troops reached them from the
right under orders, or drifted to them after the
disaster and two brigades from the Reserve
| Corps successfully resisted the whole Confed-
| crate army and repelled repeated vigorous
| and persistent assaults. Gen. Wood, with
Harker's and Barness Brigades and portion
! of Buell's, reported to Gen. Thomas in due
time. The three brigades of Negey's Division
| reported separately The 44th Ind, from
| Dicks Brigade, and the 18th KY, from Beatty S
! Brigade, of Van Cleve's Division, were the only
regiments that, without orders, diverged from
| the line of retreat and reached Gen. Thomas
! in time TO participate in the hual conflict.
Gen. Rosecrans, believing that the day was
| lost went to Chattanooga to give orders for
the security of the pontoon bridges at Bridge
! port and Battle Creek, and to make prelimi-
nary dispositions, either to forward ammunl-
| tion and supplies. should the army bold its
| position, or to withdraw the army into good
| position should il become necessary"
Gems. McCOok and Crittenden were of the
same opinion as Gen. Rosccrans respecting the
! issue of the battle and followed him to Chatta-
nOoga to report for instructions. All COM
mum ication between Gen. Thomas and the
troops in retreat had for time been cut of,
and the approach of hostile columns In the
/ direction of expected rein nforcements first re-
| vealed to him the condition of affairs on the
right. although it was late in the day before
| he learned the full extent of the disaster.
Gen. Bragg began preparations for a new
effort TO turn Gen. ThOmas's left and gain the
| Rossville road. His plan was wefldevised, and
ho advanced boldly, but was met and over
powered by the reserve brigades of Johnson's,
| Palmers and Braunan's Divisions, which for
! tunatcly were in position for this threatening
emergency. His assaults were furious and
| persistent, but made no impression upon the
| firm defensive line. The repuises were fol-
lowed by total cessation OF the deadly strife,
and none of the divisions on the left were
again engaged until late in the evening, when
they were Withdrawing under orders
Following the rupture Of the main line on
| the right of Brannan, it became necessary to
change his position. His division, which had
| been engaged on all parts of the line, had made
| frequent charges to restore broken columns,
and had become greatly reduced. In with
drawing from Reynolds's right, Gen. Brannan
selected position to the ri ght and rear OF the
one which he abandoned-a strong position for
defense, but unprotected by troops ON the right
or left. This position was high knoll on the
ridge trending eastward from the Dry Valley.
road, thence northward on the east Of that road.
The position, though strong, was easily turned,
there being Oh the west a depression which
afforded easy passage round ii. This ridge
from the Dry Valley road to Kelly's or the
Lafayette road, was wooded, and in every way
advantageous for defensive line whose tanks
were secured by reserves.
Gen. Thomas knew nothing Of Brannan's
change of position or of the movements of
Negley and had sent orders to the latter to
mass a large number Of guns on the eastern
slope of Missionary Ridge. to keep the ground
to the left and rear of Baird, where the enemy
was partially successful in turning his left
flank. Gen. Negley had posted his artillery in
the rear of Reynolds and Branuan, but had
finally gone to the Dry Valley road. and thence
toward Rossyille with his guns and supporting
infantry. These movements were all unknown
to Gen. Thomas as he rode to the right to as
certain the cause of the firing IN the rear of his
own line.
Upon learning, as he soon did, that the right
of the army had been turned, Gen. Thomas
directed Gen. Wood to form his troops on the
left of Brannsn, of whose position he had been
informed. and gave notice to Reynolds that the
enemy was in his rear.
These movements had scarcely been exc
cuted before the lett wing of the Confederate
army fell upon Wood and Brannan, whose
troops composed of the fragments Of brigades
and regiments about loo men in all, repeat
edly repulsed the most furious assaults of
Longstreets massive lines. Soon strong
"A "a r;r~l,f
flank to his rear, and this advance foreshad.
owed the crisis OF the battle.
Gen. Thomas took position in the rear of
Woods line, and with no line of troops inter
vening saw the foe advancing in direction
to strike him before he could reach his troops
Fortunately, reinforcements were near, and
Gen. Granger, who was to the left and rear, on
hearing the noise of conflict moved rapidly for
ward in disregard of the enemy's effort to
arrest his progress, and at moment of great
need reported to Gen. Thomas with two bri-
gades. While the enemy moved down the
northern slope Of the ridge, toward the rear
of Brannan and Wood, two brigades of Steed-
mans Division furiously charged the foe, driv-
ing him over the ridge, and then formed line
of battle from Brannan's right to the hill
above Villetoe's, in front of Longztreet's left
flank. In gaining this position there was
heavy loss, but there is no doubt that the op.
perfume aid of these two brigadcs saved the
army from defeat and rout.
By this time the ammunition in the boxes of
| the men had become reduced to an average of
| two or three rounds per man, and the ammu-
milton trains having been unauthorizedly
| ordered TO the rear, the troops were entirely
dependent upon the small supply brought up
with Gen. Steedman's command.
| About d p. N. Gen. Garfield, Chief of staff of
| Gen. Rosecrans, reached Gen. Thomas's posi-
| ton and gave TO him the first reliable infor-
nation that the right and center Of the Union
army had been driven, and soon after Gen.
| Thomas received from Gen. Rosecrans dis
patch directing him 10 assume command of ali
the forces, and TO take strong position and as
sumo threatening attitude at Rossvilie send
ing the unorganized forces to Chattanooga for
| reorganization.
/ Gen. Thomas then gave orders relative to the
| supplying of ammunition and notified division
commanders to prepare to withdraw their CON-
mands upon the receipt Of orders. The move
ment was to be commenced by Gen. Reynolds,
| who was TO form line to cover the retirement
| Of the other troops on the left.
While passing through an open woods bor-
derng the State road Gen. Thomas was in.
| formed that large force of the enemy was in
| the woods and advancing toward him. The
| head of Reynoldss column was then lust ar-
preaching, and Gen. Thomas gave orders TO
| Reynolds to form line perpendicular to the
| State road aud to charge the enemy, then in
| his immediate front This movement was
promptly made, and facing to the right while
on the march Turchn threw his brigade upon
III. H.,