The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1895-09-19
Chicanauga.
'rom the Nashville American


From the Nashville American.
Chicamauga belongs to history
1t is one of the great battlehelhs of
the tremendous war of carnage which
reigned in this country from 1861 to
1865.
There were engaged therein more
than 100000 armed and accoutred SOL
diers. They met to fight. There was
death in the air. There was the smell
of blood in every official order. There
was destruction ahead. When Rose
Grams and Thomas encountered their
two armies it was with determined
idea. When Longstreet joined Bragg,
demolition was the sentiment which
prevailed. Over and thoroughly ac
quainted with coming events, vultures,
huge black crows of carrion, hovered
in horrible expectation Of the dawning
event.
There we're bound to be seas of
blood. Brother and cousin we're to
meet brother and cousin. The one
wore the blue, the other the gray. The
one was an invader, the other was the
invaded. The one fought his country's
enemies, the other defended his coun-
try. Both were grimly and terribly
determined. Both wanted fight and
both heard the gunshots, felt the grape
and came in contact with steel.
Chickamauga was not holiday oc-
casion. The inspiring music os"Yan-
kee Doodle" and "Dixie" had in it the
dirge of mournfulness. There was
death ahead.
The South was invaded. The armies
OF the other section were the invaders
Politics made the whole world the en-
envy of the South. The latter, with
equal numbers. in this instance, and
thoroughly stimulated by thoughts Of
invasion, were ready for the contest.
The great army of R)secrans was
the offending agency. The great army
of Bragg constituted the defenders of
a section. -.
Both struggled for the advantage Of
position. Bragg should have won it;
Rosecrans did win it. The latter pre-
sumed beyond his right to presume.
Bragg should, long before, have driven
him off sacred ground. But Rosecrans
was there. And Bragg, finally sur
rounding him, dared him to battle.
Rosecrans accepted the gage and
Chickamauga was the scene OF subse-
quent operations.
Instead OF proceeding cautiously
with the advantage gained, the feder.
al commander was thirsting for vic
tory. He held Chattanooga, an i'm
portant point OF vantage, bnt wanted
the mastery OF the entire situation
Bragg was willing. The latter had
troops in command who feared neither
death nor the implements thereof AL
hell was not terrible to them, and
when after a delay, which favorable
historians have not yet explained
Bragg did finally offer battle, there was
no recreancy so far as his troops wert
concerned. The general in command
has been blamed and over his grave
there may still sit the critics of 1862
bat, no matter what might have beer
bis faults, the rank and file were NOR,
than ready.
! Chickamauga consumed two days
They were bloody days. The fight wa
! to the death, if not to victory.
Rosecrans was joined by Thoma
and late 10 the battle Longstreet join
ed Bragg.
Twelve miles from Chattanooga tn
two lines of battle finally faced on
another in the throes Of bloody expeC
c tation.
All day long OF that fatal day O
September the battle ragged. Valor Gu
Y a big dash and wide swath.
{ Bragg conceived aud executed wei
q With an inferior force, he drove bae
the enemy, and when night came wa
: in charge Of the enemgs position. Tn
|. Ambulance corps was busy that day