The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-12-22
Very likely" said MIR. Chase. ''But
tell'mc what you saw yourself of Rose

Very likely" said Mr. Chase. but
tell'mc what you saw yourself of Rose
| Grams"
II was with him during the larger
! part of May. and saw him every day,
and AT all hours of the day and night.
| He spoke to M" with the utmost frank
ness, but II has seemed to me since that
he intended to tit me by personal obscr-
walton Ia make an intelligent report OF
the actual condition OF things to Mr.
Lincoln. BEFORE | had been at head
quarters two days General Garfield told
me that stanton had To make n forward
movement. which the army was in no
condition for: and day or two later he
said that an order had come to go for
ward TO Chattanooga. Rosccrans said
nothing special to me on the subject
pnt was present on several occasions
when he dictated dispa tchcs TO the War
department, showing the utter imprac-
ticability of a forward movement FL
naly, one night. II fortnight or more
afterwards, as sat in Rosecrans' room
IN close conversation with General
i'homa"-who had said to me that n
forward movement At that time would
DC suicidal. and that the General would
resign sooner than make it--Rosecrans
came to us. and handing Thomas 81 dis.
patch, said: I'VE have got our sentence
u Is too late tn send for McCooi and
Crittenden. but | will have them here
In the morning"
AN IMPORTANT MILITARY CON
FERENCE.
In the morning about n score of Of
ilcers were gathered in Kosccrans' room.
when McCook and Crittcnden entered
1t together. instantly. as if the purposr
of their visit We're well understood.
everyone. except General Thomas. took
up his hat and LEFT the ar,artmcnt I
was following them. when Rosccrans
called me back. saying. Il am Ia have a
conference with my corps comma ndcrs
ana want you to stay and hear what
they say"
When tho others hnd gone Rosccrans
said 10 McCook and Crittendcn. II have
n peremptory order fromNhe War Nc
partment to move forward nj once
Now. ] want your opinion as to the
advisability OF the movement"
Crittenden spoke first and said: Gen
eral, Ii would he absolute madness"
why so?'' asked Rosccrans. Give
Your reasons fully and frankly. Never
mind this gentleman. He is one of MS
Crittcnden then went on with clear
resources. taking down his words in
my note book.
"I3ragg's infantry" he said ''is near
~, II not quite. as strong as ours. while
his cavalry nutnumbers ours four to
one. is better mounted. and under such
active and able leaders as Forrest and
Wheeler. The scouts report that Bragg
has 5000 men. under Polk. strongly in
trenched at ShelbyVille, and 12.000, I'M
der Hardee, also strongly intrcnchcd
few miles To the east on the railroad
Mt Wartrace. These numbers arc doubt
less below the facts and you must adj
to them Bragg's 10000 cavalry. For the
past sixty days Bragg has had 3ODO
negroes building Entertainments cigh-
! teen miles south OF Shelbyvillc. at Tul-
| lahoma. to approach which YOU will
| have only the most wrctchcd roads and
| mountain gorges where two wagons
cant move abreast. Beaten at Shelby
Vile, Bragg will fall back at Tulla
| homa, and having fought one bloody
battle Mt Shelbyville you will have to
| fight another to dislodge him, and tho
| only result will be. that you will be
! cooped up at Tallahoma, cut off from
your communications. with only n
"retched mountain country already