The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-03-08
ROSSVILLE GAP.
Gen. Minty Has a Word to Say About Who
Left 1t Last.

Left 1t Last.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In Picket
Shots in your issue of JAM %, G. L. Camp
claims that the 92d Ohio was the last regi-
ment to leave Rossvile Gap for Chattanooga
after the battle OF Cbickamauga; and says
that ION Tuesday morning at / o'clock we
started for Chattanooga, passing through the
Gap, and arriving at the breastworks near
Fort Negley, or as the rebels called it, Star
Fort, little before daylight. / have the
time and dates in my daily diary kept at the
time"
/ have not the slightest doubt of the
correctness of the comrades statement, but
think / can show him his deductions are
wrong; that the 4th U. s. Cav, the 4th
Mich. Cav, the 7th Pa. Cav, and one section
of the Chicago Board of Trade Battery were
holding the fort in Rossville Gap for some
hours after the arrival of o2d at Chatta-
nooga.
The official maps of the battlefield of
Chickamauga, 10 in number, prepared under
the direction of Col. Merrill, u. S. A., Chief
Engineer Of the Army of the Cumberland,
bear on each legend descriptive of the
operations of the various portions of the
army.
In the legend on map a." the last of the
series, appears the following: "Gen. Rose
crans's army during the night Of the 21st was
withdrawn to Chattanooga, leaving Mnty's
cavalry alone on the Ridge, north of Ross
vile Gap.
"Soon after sunrise of the 22d Forests
Cavalry forced Minty away from Rossville
Gap toward Chattanooga"
During the afternoon of the 21st my bri-
gade was in the valley between Mission
Ridge and Chickamauga Creek, in advance
and TO the left Of the position at Rossville
Gap. At about 5 o'clock p. m / was ordered
to report in person to Gen. Thomas. /
found the General in the grove of large trees
behind the Gap. When l reported to him,
he said:
Col. Minty, am going to fall back to
Chattanooga tonight; wagons, ambulances
and tumbrels have already gone The artil-
lery will follow shortly, and during the
night the infantry will be Withdrawn.
want you to take possession Of our present
position, deceive the enemy as long as pos
sble, but as soon as they attack fall back
and retire 10 Chattanooga. Do not endanger
your command unnecessarily"
moved my brigade out of Chickamaupa
Valley over Mission Ridge into Chattanooga
Valley, leaving small pickets on the various
passes or trails, with orders to remain there
until after daylight, where they could see
everything in the valley before them, and
then TO report to me Oh the Rossville and
Chattanooga road.
By o'clock a. m, Sept. %, was at
Rossville with my brigade, and as the in
fantry withdrew thin line of dismounted
cavalry occupied the lines. The sun was
well up before the enemy's skirmishers be-
gan to feel our position. After slight in
terchange of shots they advanced to the
attack. The 4th u. s. Cav, which regiment
occupied the most advanced position, with
drew and moved slowly back, followed sue
cessively by the 7th Pa. and 4th Mich. Cav.
BY o'clock we were again in our saddles.
showing bold front on every possible &C.
casiOn, and checking the enemy to the best
of our ability.
We passed inside our lines in front of
Chattanooga at about o'clock in the after
noon, 10 or II hours after Comrade Camp
and the 92d Ohio had arrived at Chatta-
nooga-R. II. G. MINTY, Brevet Major
General, y. S. ", Ogden, Utah.