The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-22

Both armies regarded the possession OF
Chattanooga as by far the most important
strategic point in that part OF the piano.
rama of the War of the Rebellion. 10 the
Confederates it was a gateway of supplies
for its army operations in Tennessee, and
to the Union forces it was the most for
midable point from which its organiza-
tons could debouch into the heart OF the
Confederacy. To secure this commanding
advantage Buell., after Shiloh, directed his
movements which resulted in his getting
tianked by Bragg out of the very positions
on the north side of the Tennessee River
where Rosecrans made successful cross
Ing with the same army exactly year
later.
Rosecrans began his advance from Muir
freesboro on the 24th of June, 1868, and by
the 4th of September his entire army had
crossed. General Crittenden with the
Twenty-first Corps passed around Look
out Mountain on September 10 and occu-
pied Chattanooga, which Bragg had evac7
uated the day before. Leaving one brigade
in the town, Crittenden followed the re-
treating enemy, whose main body had
gone to Lafayette; but he was found in
force in the Chattanooga Valley, and Crit
tenden took a defensible position near
Gordons Mills and closed up on Thomas
Fourteenth Corps, which bad been moved
to the left along Chickamauga Creek to
Crawfish Springs.
AS soon as Thomas made way to the left
McCook, who, through some misapprehen-
sion OF orders, had got on the wrong road
thereby losing several days of valuable time
moved his three divisions to the right of
Crittenden and massed them. What little
cavalry was within reach of Rosecrans' or
derS was kept busy accommodating and on
the TANKS Although there was corps of
two divisions of cavalry Colonel Minty's
brigade and Colonel Wilder's brigade OF
mounted infantry were depended npon to
do the work Of that branch, and most gal
lantly was 1T performed. General Gordon
Granger, with reserve corps of IL 600 eff
fectlve men, was advanced as far as Ross
vile, thus covering our extreme left and
rear. These were the positions IN which
our troops were disposed during the 18th,
and their positions were the same at the
beginning of the first days battle.
Saturday morning developed into good
day for battle. 1t was cool, and therefore
favorable to those who were to stop bull
lets of the enemy. The enemy had COM
bined in heavy masses on our left, and
soon the rattle OF musketry and roar Of ar
tillery told those further along the line and
to the right to be in readiness. At this
was generally covered with timber, densely
interspersed with underground, through
which it was impossible to see more than
hundred and fifty feet.
Following the attack on Brannan, Baird
was next engaged and began to tiercely
drive the enemy, whose dead and wounded
covered the ground. On his left the enc
my was pressing Brannan so badly that
Baird closed up to support him, and had
III into yuh Qr hQ NO c
compelled to change front to meet the
enemy who was assailing his right. He
was unable to Withstand the superior force
of the enemy and was driven back in dis
order. McCook hastily sent Johnson's di-
vision to Baird relief and in doing so Re
struck the enemy's column in flank and
drove it back half mile, when his own
right became overlapped and was in danger
of being turned. Crittenden saw the
emergency and Immediately threw Palm
er's division to the support of Baird and
coming upon the right of Johnson drove
back the enemv's advance column, but in
turn his right was soon overiapped and
Van Cleve was rushed to his support, but
was beaten back by overwhelming numbers.
In turn Reynolds division came into the
action and was overpowered but by the
opportune arrival OF Davis division the
tide of disaster was stayed and
the enemy driven back. 1t was only
for a moment however, as the enemy
returned to the attack with augmented
force and pressed Davis heavily. He was
giving ground with Heg's brigade in dis
order when Woods division came to his
relief and by judiciously disposing his
troops, soon checked the enemy's advance,
but in doing so, met with heavy losses.
The hour was about P. NJ, when the firing
was hottest and the fighting fercest, and
nearly every one in our front line was
engaged.
Everywhere the ground was strewn with
the dead and their numbers attested the
bitterness of the battle. Up to this time,
or for most of the time, it had been an
attack and repulse on one side, with the
same tactics and results employed and
experienced by the other, each later one
being made. if possible, more vicious than
the preceding. More aid from the right
came in the shape of two brigades from
Sheridan, one of them going into action
most calamity at a moment greatly to the
relief of Wood, who had been receiving and
repelling the heavy onslaughts of the
fugitives rushed through the ranks of
Colonel Buell's brigade and threw it into
confusion.
The days battle was practically over.
The Army of the umberland held its po-
sition ana covered the roads to Chatta-
nooga, objects for which the rebels had so
desperately batted. Day was over and
the tired troops, worn out with marching
and fighting, hungry and thirsty, were per-
mitted to rest on their arms and contem-
plate the battle of the next day.
Sundays battle, as anticipated, began on
the left at about $50 A. NJ. Thomas, with
re-enforcements, held his position of the
day before; McCook close on Thomas
left, his right refused, and rittenden,
with two divisions in reserve near the
junction of Thomas and McCook's lines,
ready to render assistance to either. An
hour later and the battle was raging furi-
ously on our left. Nothing like its roar of
cannon and rattle of small arms could be
described, and it was evident that the
enemy would make it hot for the boys i'll
blue. From left to center the assaults
were made and repealed, and it was yet
early when Thomas asked for aid, as he
was heavily pressed. Negley's and Van
Cleve's divisions were sent to him.
Then came word that Brannan, in the
center, was out of line and that Reynolds
right was exposed. Wood at IL A. NJ. was
ordered by Rosecrans to 'close up on Rey
nolds and support him." 1t was found
that Brannan was not out OF line, blu t
en- echelon. To obey the order Wood
withdrew from the line leaving a gap
through which the enemy rushed with
great rapldity, intercepting and breaking