davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-09-20

to the extreme Confederate right to oppose
Thomas. Cleburne had six miles to traverse,
over road choked with army baggage. 1t
was sunset when he gained the place to
which he had been assigned. Here he Vt
tackled Brannan's division so vigorously that
he captured guns, flags and 300 prisoners.
At the time of Cleburnes attack with the
fresh division from Hills corps Gen. Thomas
was in the act of reforming his divisions o
give them a better position for the battle of
the morrow, which he saw to be inevitable.
Baird's division was placed on the extreme
left, johnson next to Baird and Palmer next
to Johnson on the right. To the right of
Palmer was the division of Gen. Joseph J..
Reynolds. There were two Gen. Reynolds
in the army of the north during the war.
Brig Gen. John f. was killed at Gettysburg
July l, 1868. Brig. Gen. Joseph j., of the
Army of the Cumberland, was a division
commander at the battle of Chickamauga.)
In Gen. Thomas new arrangement of his
division Brannan was assigned as a reserve
to the rear and right of Reynolds division.
Gen. Cheatham was on the Confederate Gle
burne's left in the fresh attack on Thomas
late in the afternoon. The fighting on the
left of the attacking column. Cheatham's
division. was desperate for a time during
this attack brave and popular Confeder-
ate officer, Brig. Gen. Preston Smith, was
killed
At one time during the afternoon portion
of Bragg's army actually crossed the Ross
vile road and obtained possession of it.
Gen Van Cleve held the center Of the Union
force engaged in the fight of the morning
after. At o'clock Van Cleve's ranks were
broken by the terrible Confederate fire, and
fell back pell NELL Gen. W. B. Hazen's
brigade lay along the Rossville road.
"Now Van Cleve is in for it," exclaimed
Hazcn. He sprang upon hts horse and
quickly formed his regiments in the
rear of Van Cleve to support his stagger.
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-09-20

ground for six hours against the repeated
assaults of the whole Confederate army.
Garfield reached Thomas, and was greeted
warmly. The glorious soldier told him he
had seven divisions and number OF detach-
ments intact, and was confident he could still
hold his ground against any number OF as
saults. There were with him $4,000 troops.
Garfield hastily dispatched the good news to
the chief.
At Rossville Rosecrans had parted from
Garfield The aide went to find Thomas, the
commander rode hastily to Chattanooga, to
prepare a refuge for the remnants of his
broken army, if the defeat was total, or to
forward ammunition and supplies if Thomas
was still intact.
McCook and Crittenden, escaping from the
wreck, soon after Joined him. While they
sat dejectedly together, dispatch was
handed to Rosecrans 1t was the one Gar
field sent from the Union left. Rosecrans
read it hastily. "Thank Godi' he exclaimed,
''the day isn't lost yet" "Gentlemen," he
said to McCook and Crittenden, ''this is no
place for you. Go at once to your commands
at the front"
The dispatch infused new life into him.
He ordered Wagner to take his brigade, stop
the flying stragglers from the front and re-
organize them. He at once sent supplies to
meet the army at Rossville.
Thomas fought till night, then withdrew
his army to Rossville. AT the most critical
period of the afternoon Gen. Gordon Gran
ger brought his reserve force on the field
from Rossville to the aid of Thomas and
saved the day. His advance brigade was
led by Gen. j. B. Steedman. Gen. Steed-
man took regimental color in his own
hands and led victorious charge against
Longstreet and took possession of perilous
gap in the Union line. AT dark the Confed-
crates gave up the fight and left the field.
Their last attack was repulsed with the
naked bayonet
In his report Rosecrans makes especial
mention of the gallantry of the cavalry
under Minty, Mitchell and Wilder.
In the two days battle of Chickamauga
Rosecrans lost over 10000 men, Bragg $1,000.
The Union army was all gathered In Chat
tanooga by Sept %. The success of Bragg
at Chickamauga is classed in war history as
"barren victory"
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-09-20

attack were those of Adams and Stovall.
Beatty was in the rear of Baird's division.
1t seemed possible that Adams and Stovall
might succeed in fanking the Union left
But at the very moment when the Union line
was thrown into confusion, order was restored
through the heroic act of a Federal colonel
He snatched his regimental flag from the
color bearer, waved it aloft and headed his
horse directly toward the advancing Con-
federates. Instantly his own men rallied
around him.
Thus was formed nucleus, where a sue
cessful stand against the Confederates was
made. Then came re-enforcements from
Negley, and the Confederate tide was stayed.
The two brigades were beaten back. Adams,
the leader of one, was wounded and captured.
As Adams and Stovall attacked Beatty and
threw him into confusion the Confed crate
generals Helm and Cleburne advanced
against Bairds front and attacked heavily.
But in front of Baird began the log breast
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-09-20


and captured them A writer says:
"Details of men were sent for water and
never returned. There was not a drop Of
water on the whole field, and men and Off
GERS resigned themselves to the torments Of
thirst"
The diagram below shows the relative po-
sitions of the Union and Confederate armies
ON the morning of Sept 20:
THOMAS POLK.
CRITTENDEN.
MCooK LoNGsTEET.
Thus arranged, the Union army faced east
ward, the Confederates westward. OFF to
the east Of both armies Chickamauga creek
flowed on its way northward.
The Union divisions stretched in long,
irregular line between Thomas and McCook.
Up to IL o'clock all went well for the Fed
eral cause Thomas divisions had stood
their ground. They had borne the brunt of
battle ind sustained themselves.
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-09-20


The famous battle takes its name from q
creek or small river that flows north through
the valley between Mission Ridge and Pigeon
mountains, and empties into the Tennessee
four miles above Chattanooga.
With Bragg, Sept. Is, were four corps:
Those of Buckner, Polk, Walker and D. H.
Hill D. H. Hill had been sent from Rich
mond to take command of Hardee's corps
BY the arrival of Longstreet from Lees
army Bragg had five corps.
In the fight of Sept. 20, Confederate autho-
rites put the Union force at nearly 46, 900, and
the Confederate at $4,000. Federal figures
say Bragg had 10000, Rosecrans $1,000
electives. With Bragg were many Confed-
crate soldiers who had been captured at
vicksburg and Port Hudson and been paroled,
but who had not yet been exchanged.
Sept. 10 McCook's corps was Still at Alpine,
in the western edge of Georgia. At midnight
of that day received an order to hurry
with all speed and support Thomas at
Stevens Gap, on the east side of Mission
Ridge. When McCook first reached Alpine,
finding himself isolated from the rest Of the
Union army, he had sent his wagon train
back to the top of Lookout range.
McCook made all haste TO obey. The order
he received came directly from Thomas. Its
instructions were to move two divisions of
his corps to Stevens Gap, and leave the third
to guard the wagon train. McCook took the
wrong road, crossed Lookout range, was
obliged to recross it, and after march of great
hardship and fatigue reached McLemore's
Cove on the night of Sept. II. With him
were Stanley and the cavalry.
Crittenden had been ordered also to move
forward his corps and connect with Thomas
on Chickamauga creek. Sept. IA he moved
his corps, except Woods division, to Mission
Ridge.
Thomas extreme left, under Reynolds, was
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-09-20

m. II. j.. ID.
mond. This Rosecrans became aware Of
Sept 16, and his anxiety was greatly in
creased.
Once more Bragg prepared to attack the
Union army. His preparations occupied
from Sept. Is to II. He ordered his generals
to concentrate along the east banks Of the
Chickamauga. The Union army was by
Sept Is concentrated on the west side
The vital point to both armies was now the
road from Lafayette to Chattanooga. This
road passes through gap in Mission Ridge
at Rossville. Whichever, therefore, could
secure this gap at Rossville was sure of Chat
tanooga. At this time there was at Chatta-
inooga only one brigade of Union troops,
EWagner's, and at Lee e. Gordon's mills,
where the road to Chattanooga touches
Chickamauga creek, there was for several
days only one division of Union troops,
Woods An attack from Bragg any time
from Sept. Is to Is, on the Lafayette and
Chattanooga road, would have secured it to
the Confederates But Bragg was waiting
for requirements When, at length, he
was ready to attack, Rosecrans had his three
corps within supporting distance.
As the Union army lay, Sept Is, It faced
Chickamauga creek to the eastward A
stream called Crawflsh spring flows into the
west side of the Chickamauga, short dis
lance southwest of Lee e. Gordon's mill.
Around and north Of Crawfish spring the
Union army as grouped in regular order,
Sept. is, McC Ook on the right, Thomas in the
center, and Crittenden on the left This DO
sition on the 18th must be remembered in or
der to get the situation of the 10th, the first
battle day, early in the mind Wilder's
mounted infa ltry and Minty's cavalry were
guarding the Union left to the northward
AL day at intervals, during the 18th, word
came TO Rosecrans that the Confederates
were massing more and more strongly upon
his left
He must save Chattanooga at all risk
Part OF the Union army must speed north
ward with a haste to guard the road lead
ing from Chickamauga creek to Rossville.
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-09-20
promised


the right of Thomas, his own right covering
headquarters at Widow Glenns house. Crit
tenden was ordered to have two divisions in
reserve just back Of the junction of McCook
and Thomas, so as to support either in case
of need.
Immediately after dark the order was
given for tn Union troops to 60 into posi-
tion The divisions were formed in line just
as they came. without reference to the corps
to which they belonged.
Longstreet reached Bragg from the east
at IL p. IN. Hoods division of his corps had
arrived before and had taken part in the
battle that day. That night Bragg, in mill
tary parlance, changed his organization
in face of the enemy" as commanders
are warned lot to do. Bragg divided his
army into tw" wings, the right under Polk,
the left under Longstreet. To Polk were
assigned the forces of Hill, Walker and
Chatham, with Forests cavalry. With
Longstreet were to be the commands of
Buckner, Hood and Hindman, and Wheeler's
cavalry.
Longstreet and Polk were with Bragg on
the night of the 10TH He gave to them his
wing commanders orders to attack the
Union lines at daylight. But d. H. Hill
says that no proper preparation was made for
such an attack. The troops were not
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-09-20

cross the Chickamauga and advance towards
Chattanooga. The roads at which Baird and
Brannan were posted both led into that Ross
vile road which was the key to the situation
Gen. Gordon Changers command was
posted as a reserve at Rossville. On the
evening of Sept Is Col Dan McCook, of
Changers command, made a reconnaissance
eastward to the Chickamauga, and burned
Reeds bridge across that stream He re-
ported to Gen. Thomas that one Confederate
brigade was already across Chickamauga on
the west side AS McCook had burned the
bridge nearest them, it would be possible by
an immediate attack to capture the whole
brigade Accordingly, with the early dawn
of Sept. 10, Gen. Brannan moved forward
with two brigades and attacked the Confed-
crate force that McCook had reported.
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-09-20

recting Hill to begin the attack. A messen-
ger had been sent to Hill in the night with an
order to attack at daylight, but it failed to
reach him.
Hill was forming his line when, at 8
o'clock, Gen. Bragg rode up to him and de-
manded why lie had not made the attack at
dawn as commanded. Hill replied that he
had not heard anything about it. Bragg
said angrily: ~ found Polk after sunrise
sitting down reading a newspaper at Alex
ander's bridge, two miles from the line of
battle, when he ought to have been fighting"
This is denied by Folks son.
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-09-20

the relief to come to take his place in the
line. The commander-in-chief himself dis
patched Negley then at once.
But long ere this the battle had begun
During the night of Sept 10 Gen. Thomas,
always mindful of the safety of his troops,
had ordered rude breastworks thrown up in
front of his line. Some were breast high,
and behind them lay the four divisions who
were to bear the brunt of that days battle
They were Baird's Johnson's, Palmer's and
Reynolds. Because of these very breast
works the attack on the right of Thomas
divisions was unsuccessful But to his left,
where Baird was, his line did not extend to
Reeds bridge. Baird appraised him of this
ON the night Of the 10th, and Thomas at
once asked that Negley be sent to him to
secure his left flank from assault. The order
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-09-20

was the Forty-firs Ohio, Col Aquila Wiley.
AS he saw the flying men from Van Cleve's
broken ranks pouring in wave upon him,
Col. Wiley quickly parted his regiment by
companies. The fugitives passed through
the gap and Wiley quickly closed up his line
again.
As the Confederates advanced on the run
in pursuit. they were met by volley from
the Forty-first Ohio that staggered
them and stopped them for a brief
space. Hastily reloading. Wiley was
able to- deal them another blow. He
did this by quickly changing front
and firing after the Confederates as they
passed his right Then loading once more as
quickly, the skillful commander turned his
men again to the front at double quick, and
dealt volley anew to the fresh masses of
Confederates. BY this means he checked the
Confederates till he could move to the rear
and form new line.
At this time the Confederates were actually
in possession of the road to Chattanooga.
They were the forces Of Hood and Bushrod
johnson. But while they were Fastening ON
victorious across the road to Chattanooga,
Hazen dashed down the road and brought
into position some unoccupied batteries
there. With these he enfiladed the Confed-
crates as they bore onward over the ground
which Van Cleves division had yielded.
Capt Kimberley writes of the situation at
this moment, the close Of Sept. 10: bragg
had actually crossed the Rossville road and
cut the Army of the Cumberland in two,
with nothing In the gap but one regiment Of
300 men,"
But Hazen's batteries and that one regi-
ment kept the Confederates back until Neg
.ley's division came to the rescue, when the
Confederates were In turn driven Then
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-09-20
ON THE UNION LEFT.

The heavy battle of the day began about
$50. Breckenridge and Cleburne made a
tremendous assault on the Union left. Neg
ley had only just arrived thore. Beatty's
brigade of his division was struck heavily by
Breckinridge and driven back. There were
no breastworks in front of the Union line
here.
With Baird's division of the Union line
began the breastworks. On the right of Baird
was Johnson's division of McCook's corps
To the right of johnson was Gen. John NJ
Palmers division of Crittenden's corps.
Breckenridge had suggested to his COM
mander, D. H. Hill, the attack on the ex-
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-09-20

faces. Gen. Helms brigade was Almost cut
to pieces. Gen. Helm himself was shot and
fell dead among his men. The officer next in
command withdrew the brigade
On the left of Palmer's division Johnson's
men continued the fire Palmer had begun.
On the right Gen. Reynolds took it up.
load and fire at will' was the order passed
right and left along the Union line.
Under this whitening fire the Confederates
wavered, then stopped. Then they fell slowly
back into the shelter of the woods whence
they came.
The men who fought in the Union army
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-09-20

night ana the close of the days battle CAME
together.
Heroic and thrilling incidents there were
at Chickamauga in plenty. Capt J. w.
Miller, now literary editor of The Cincinnati
Commercial Gazette, has recently written a
"reminiscences of Sheridan in that days fight
81 saw Sheridan lead one of his brigades
Q4aibold's) under fire across cleared field
and place it exactly where he wanted it. He
came galloping back on his famous black
horse q never saw him on any other with hat
off, sword flashing, and face glowing with
the magnificent passion of the battlefield
He passed me, then turned in his stirrups,
and said: We're driving them. d-m them.
In two or three minutes he came in view
again with another brigade.
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-09-20

The center corps of the Union army
changed position for the time. Gen. Thomas
late in the afternoon and during the night
of Sept. Is marched his corps, except Neg
ley's division, to the north to protect the
road to Rossville. Negley's division was left
behind to guard the ford of the Chickamauga,
near Crawfish spring,
Gen. Thomas and his soldiers marched all
night long. The road from Chickamauga
creek to Rossville cut the northward road.
over which Gen. Thomas marched, at Kelly's
farm, hence to become historic
AT kelly's farm Gen. Thomas weary di-
visions halted Thomas posted Baird's di-
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-09-20

Confederates took advantage of this fatal
gap in the line.
Longstreet poured the whole Confederate
left wing into the space, and wheeled his force
around towards his own right. The Union
army was cut in two. The corps OF Critten-
den and McCook were struck in flank. They
were driven from the field.
The Union line OF battle that had stood so
bravely from north to south in the morning
was bent back. All south of the divisions OF
Baird and johnson were rolled backward till
they extended from east to west, almost at
right angles to the position they held in the
morning.
Through the gap swept the Confederate
forces of Stewart, Hood, Renshaw, johnson
and Hindman. Preston followed as a sup
port. They poured through the breach like
waters over broken levee.
South of the break McCook was left with
only a portion of Sheridans and Davis divi-
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-09-20

tics for the Con-
federates to attack
the thinned Union
forces left at Lee
& Gordon's uill.
But that was no
part of Bragg's
plan.
Bra g 6 himself
was at Tedford's
ford, b e t W Q g n
Alexander's bridge
and Lee & Cor
don's mill. At 3
o'clock he ordered
d. III. Hill to send
T1nl1-...1'o .l.-,..A.
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-09-20
THE UNION RIGHT.

Seeing in the beginning that he would be
hard pressed. Thomas had sent to Rosecrans
asking urgently for re-enforcements. Rose
Grams sent answer back to Thomas that he
should be supported If it took away the whole
corps of McCook and Crittenden. Negley's
division was already on the way to Thomas,
and Van Cleve's was started at once.
Rosecrans ordered Gen. Wood to "close up
On Ravnolds and support him " meaning that
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-09-20

works. They were
continued along the
Union line towards
the right, in front
of Johnson, Palmer
and Reynolds. The
Union troops be-
hind their defenses
calmly watched the
oncoming Confed-
crates. When the
southern soldiers
were within range
a terrific fire from
Palmer's division
was S u d q e n ] y
yo,,ra6 inf, fhair
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-09-20
CHICKAMAUGA.
One or the BlOOdiest Battles of
the Civil War.
SEPTEMBER 10 AND 20, 1858.
The Armies Of Bragg and Rosecrans
Meet at Last.

The Story Told q Quarter OF a Century
Later-After Three Months of Retreat
Ing Bragg Makes a Stand and Fights.
Re-enforced from Lee. at Richmond, and
johnston, in Mississippi, He Wins q
victory-A Fatal Gap in the Union
Line-Gen. Thomas, the Rock of Chick
amauga-GardeId's Ride.
The battle of Chickamauga took place
Sept. 10 and 20, 1868, with a preliminary
fight Sept. Is. The heaviest fighting was on
the Goth, and on Sunday. .
The engagement of Wilder's mounted in
fantry at Leet's lanyard, Sept. Is, was the
premonitory signal Of the battle. 1t occur
red near Lee & Gordon's mill, while Critten-
den, in obedience to Rosecrans' order, was
concentrating his corps.
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-09-20


he should take po-
sition ON the right
of that officers
division. A mis-
understanding OF
this order caused
the mistake which
was the undoing of
the Union force on
the right. The first
part Of the order
given to w God
m cant that he
l.lI ...1r ks1
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-09-20

line of battle more comp act on the right Of
Reynolds. The second part meant that he
should move to the rear of Reynolds. The
order was written by one of Rosecrans' aides
who was not military man.
Gen. Wood interpreted the second part of
Rosecrans' order technically and obeyed it.
He moved towards the rear of Brannan's
division, who was next on the right of Rey-
nolds.
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-09-20


Yet again in this day Of varying fortunes
the tables were turned aud pursuer becar ie
the pursued Gen. Liddells Confederates
turned and retreated before the attack
Johnson's freshly arrived division. The a.
treating columns lost heavily in killed,
wounded and captured, and were forced o
leave behind all the Union guns they had cap
tured.
Just after Liddell was driven from the
field about IL o'clock a. m. Gen. Bragg or.
dered Cheatham's division, 1000 strong, to
go to his relief. But Cheatham was too late.
As Liddell fed Gen. Thomas quickly organ
lied pursuing column. Two more fresh di.
visions had just arrived to assist Thomas
Crittenden, at Crawfish Spring, had taken
the responsibility of sending Palmer's .divi
sion to Thomas. Reynolds division VI
Thomas own corps reached the ground about
the same time with Palmer.
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-09-20

was given to McCook and Crittenden, but
obeyed in the tardy manner described. The
battle began at $50 a. m, and Negley did
not reach Thomas for an hour after that.
The Confederate attack began as Rose
Grams had expected, on the left. Breckin-
ridges division advanced on the Confeder-
ate right, with Cleburne's division to the
left of Breckenridge. These belonged to d.
Ii. Hills corps.
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-09-20

aligned, a nd b Q
himself did not
hear that he had
b e assign e d t o
Polk till after mid
night. Gen. Polk
sent him the word,
a ID told him to
come to Alexan-
der's bridge.
Hill moved h i S
troops for war d.
At TBS a. m. they
were eating their
breakfast. At this
time an order came
from Gen. Polk di-
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-09-20

ings were all north
of Lee & Gordon's
mill, about which,
on the west bank
of Chickamauga,
the greater portion
of the u IL j on
army was grouped.
d. H. Hill had the
extreme left of the
Confederate line as
it faced westward,
and Hood the ex-
trene right. Hoods
division was the
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-09-20
le Union army

the 10th OF Septem-
Der suffered tortur-
ing thirst. Bragg's
army had crossed
to the west bank
of the Chicka-
manga. They had
got possession Of
the springs which
supplied the Union
; troops the day be-
, fore. They lay in
wait for the squads
of Union men who
were cent for water
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-09-20
BATTLE OF SEPT. 10.

This attack of Gen. Thomas at early morn
ing, Sept. 10, was the opening of the battle
of Chickamauga. But it was not the opening
Bragg had anticipated.
Sept. 1S Bragg gave his orders to his gen.
erals for next day His troops were to cross
the Chickamauga at three different points,
from Reeds bridge on the north, next by
Alexander's bridge south, and third by Ted
ford's ford, still further south. These cross
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-09-20
AFTER DARK.

Both sides spent the night of Sept. 10 pre-
pairing for next days battle Rosecrans,
anxious and weary, assembled his corps COM
manders at his headquarters at Widow
Glenns house. All of his army except two
brigades had been in action that day. An
other days fighting was before them that
prornised to be still hotter than the one Just