The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-06-28
THOUGHT 1T SETTLED.

Comrades Should Not Claim TO be in Ross
vile Gap After the Rebels Had Full Pos
session.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In former
article l tried to make the matter clear to
my late comrades of the Army of the Cum
berland as to what regiments were last to
leave Rossville Gap on the morning of Sept.
%, 1863, and supposed had said enough
to definitely settle the matter. l gave them
the State and number of each regiment
which composed the command, the exact
location of the line, the hour of taking
position, and the hour and minute OF leav-
ing the field, and inserted true copy of the
commanding officers report, in which he says
he received his final orders from Gen.
George H. Thomas, and that he was after
wards complinented by that officer for his
success in the performance Of this duty.
These facts should be convincing, but
notice in your issue of May 81 that Comrade
Little, of the 18th y. s., seems to think that
he and his company were still holding the
line on the morning of the 23d, or day after
the last Federal soldier had left the vicinity
of Rossville.
Now, have not the least doubt that the
comrade performed the duty exactly as he
has stated, but he is laboring under the de-
fusion that his line was In the advance, and
has got the location and the time badly
mixed.
Rossville Gap is quite unlike many of the
gaps we passed over mot through during
our campaigns in Dixie. 1t is really gap
in the ridge; the road passing through it is
nearly level with country on each side of
the ridge. The passage runs about 30 de-
grees south from line drawn due east from
the west end Of the Gap, and is from four to
six rods wide and about so rods in length.
At the east end Of the Gap the road forks,
one running pretty much due east to Ring
gold, and the other southeast, forming what
is known as the Lafayette Road.
The position held by Stoughton was at
the east end of the Gap, near the forks in
the road, and so rods in advance Tor east of
the position described by Comrade Little.
The lines of the 11th Mich. were formed
directly across the road, its TANKS extending
upward and along the east face of the ridge
on each side of the highway. The 10 IL.
was stationed on the left of the 18th Mich,
and / think the 18th Ohio was on the right,
although | am not positive as to its exact
location there.
Now, in regard to the time, l will say
that it is well-known fact that the army
retired to Chattanooga at midnight of the
21st. Col. Stoughton in his report says:
" The night of the 21st our whole army re-
tired to Chattanooga, and l was ordered
Thy Gen. Thomas in person) to send back
my artillery and three regiments of my bri-
gade, and 10 remain In charge of the picket
line and cover the movement"
Comrade Little says: About midnight
/ received orders to withdraw my men and
form them in the highway without noise"
This he did without mishap, when he
found his brigade had already started for
Chattanooga. One soldier alone remained,
with instructions from The commanding
officer for Lieut. Little to march his COM
mand to that place as quickly as possible,
but it was getting daylight before he started.
1t seems that The Lieutenant was rather
slow In obeying his commanding officers
orders.
He does not tell rs what detained him nor
what he was doing during the four or five
hours from midnight until dawn, nor what
became Of those rebel pickets which ne
thought his men could touch with their
guns as they lay in line.
The facts are that the Regulars were
merely acting as q support to the advance
line at the east end of the Gap, held by the
men under command of Col. (afterward
Major-GeneraD William L. Stoughton. and
there was not an armed rebel within hun
bred rods of Comrade Littles pickets until
after daylight Sept. %. at which time the
brave Stoughton Withdrew his line and fell
back through the Gap to Rossville and from
there TO Chattanooga every other infantry
regiment having lett the vicinity OF Ross
vile during the night previous.
Now, comrades, do not overdo the mat
ter and claim yOu were still holding the
lines at Rossyille Gap on Sept. %, 1864,
or day alter the rebels had full possession
of that section.-JAs. NJ. WHALLoN, 11th
Mich, Fltchburg Mich.