The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1895-09-19

The surgeons were up to their elbows
in blood. There were the shrieks and
groans of the wounded and dying.
Rosecrans fell back and long night
preceded the coming day of greater
disaster.
Thomas and Sheridan had joined
RoseCrans, and his army was numeri
cally the stronger of the two.
Longstreet had joined Bragg to give
music and counsel. Polk was there,
and John G. Breckenridge, after hur'
ried trip, had arrived before the going
down of tho sun. Polk was a Tennes
sean. He was bishop OF the holy
church. He was also a patriot and o
soldier of war.
Tennessee was much in evidence
that day. Alexander P. Stewart was
there, and Forrest, the greatest cavalry
leader OF them ALL and Cheatham,
Nancy and Bate, Walthalll and Pat.
ton Anderson and host of others
have added lustre to their names by
the parts played by them.
longstreet on the right, Polk on the
left and Bragg on the centre were the
assignments for the day Breckinridge
andForrest opened up the engagement
and then it became general. Walthsll
and Cheatham, Polk and Bate, and
Anderson and Wheeler and Nancy
rushed on and on into the firing of
batteries of death.
Snodgrass Hill is fertile this day
from the blood spilled that day. Upon
the right, at the centre, on the left
there was fighting. Sheridan was
routed, and long before night Rose
Grams and Thomas united in the be
lief that the battle was lost.
The killed were numbered by the
thousands. The wounded were more
The captured especially of our enemy,
constituted an army of themselves.
Rosecrans fell back; Thomas was
lorced Sheridan was routed.
Everything favored the South, and
at night on the second day the federal
troops retreated to Chattanooga.
Whipped and beaten, they retreated
and reached what Rosecrans has since
described as "the objective point" of
his army. As matter OF fact, Chat
tanooga had all along been in his pos
session and he retreated only to the
point whence he had sailed
Bragg did nothing. That is, he did
only what he had hone at Perryvill
and at Murfreesboro. He whipped his
enemy and never knew it.
The fling OF military criticism may
find in him fit and deserved target
he may go down as general of griev'
Gus faults and apparent errors; but
the army which he commanded, al
the army which Rosecrans command
ed, will long live as noble exponent'
OF the highest type OF American cour
age.
Military critics will always believe
that Bragg had itin his powor to have
overwhelmingly crushed his adverse
ries.
He did not, and to history belongs
his crime or mistake. That Providence
which guides and rules nations may
have been his justification in the in
terest of right and for the better. Ger
tainly, now that he has gone and hi
devotion has never been questioned
we may deal with charity with hi
weak and strong points
Missionary Ridge and the mythica
battle above the clouds are the sever
est criticisms that have been passed
upon the generalship of a truly noble
Southern general.
But to Chickamauga!
In few days it is to be dedicated a
national park. The federal govern
ment proposes to pay to the partic
pants in the great battle its tribute {
non partisan respect. For the frs
, time, the reunited country Is to Civ
! official recognition to the South as
} belligerent power. 1t proposes at la'
to admit that we we're two power