The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-09-15
ON CHlCKAMAUGA FIELD.
The Great Battle That Occurred sept. 10
md go, 1868.

The Great Battle That Occurred sept. 10
and go. 1868.
With tho sole exception of Gcttys-
burg, Chicknniauga was the most SAN
culinary battle which had thus far ever
been fought on tile American continent.
1t took It's name appropriately enough
from the creek along the banks of which
tho stubborn cncou ter ragged most
iicrccly-a stream whose Indian nalnc is
said to signify river of death. - Rose
Grams, with his army Of So, 900 men, had
marched ont Of Chattanooga in the late
summer of 1868 i'll pursuit of Bragg,
who seemed to be retreating southwark.
But the Confederate commander, rcceiv-
ing rc.enfoTemeuts which brought his
force up to 20, 900 men, turned sudden
ly about and fell upon Rosecrans with
great vlgor Oh the morning of the 9th
OF September. All day long the battle
ragged with the utmost fury 1t was
Bragg's plan 10 crush tho Federal left
flank, seize the roads to Chattanooga.
cut RosCcrans off from his base of sup
Plies and capture or destroy his entire
army. But fortunately the Union left
tho "keypoint" of the whole situation
was commanded by that wonderfully
tenacious chieftain, Major General
George H. Thomas, who on that fearful
day we'll Won his famous title of "Tbe
Rock of Chickamaupa
Though the Confederate attack, made
by superior numbers, was both fierce
and determined, il had gained no i'm
portant advantage until terrible dis
aster befell the center Of the Union line
through misunderstanding Of orders
which led General Wood 10 withdraw
an entire division. Through the gap
thus left Longstrect Immediately threw
six divisions, dividing McCook's corps
from tho rest of the Union army and
scattering the entire right wing i'll great
confusion.
The disaster seemed to be irreparable.
Rosccrans himself, apparently believing
that all was lost, left the field and fled
10 Chattanooga to gather up the frag-
ments of his beaten and disorganiZed
forces and make Il last stand there. But
Thomas, unhauutcd as the mountains
which doomed above him, chung to his
position until he was re-enforced by the
'NSNA W hAuN4 N'tiItIul N'OluOll
With less than half us many men he
beat back repeated onsots OF almost tho
entire Confederate army The slaughter
along his lines was frightful Evening
came. Tho Union ammunition was OK
hausted, and Thomas men met and
hurled back with cold steel the final
desperate charges Of the enemy. Then,
under tho shelter of darkness, Thomas
withdrew the heroic fragments Of his
corps toward Chattanooga
Technically Chickamauga was Con-
fcdorato victory, and beyond Il certain
moral advantage the bloody triumph
was fruitless, for Chattanooga remained
In Union hands until Grant and Sher-
man came up and raised its siege in the
splendid campaign which eliminated in
tho thrilling struggle "above the
clouds" on Lookout Mountain The
Union loss at Chickamauga was l6, 900
men killed, wounded and prisoners the
Confederate from 5000 to 10000.
This record eloquently attests the stub
corn and desperate nature of the fight
ing, which extended over two whole
days, the 10Th and Goth of September
-Four brigadier generals commanding
fell on either side. Among the Union
officers who especially distinguished
themselves were Philip II. Sheridan,
who led division, and James A. Gar
field, Rosecrans' chief of staff, who was
made n major general after the battle
for his gallant and meritorious serv-
ices. boston Journal