Evening star., 1897-01-06
press forward with the result thus set
forth in his official report:
On Mission Ridge.

forth in his official report:
On Mission Ridge.
"'On taking possession Of Mission Ridge,
one mile or thereabouts from Rossville. We
found the enemy fortifying the gap. Dis
mounted Col. Dibbrelrs regiment, under
command Of Capt. McGinnis. and attacked
them, but found the force too large to dis
lodge them. On the arrival Of my artillery.
opened on and fought them for several
hours. but could not move them.
'Gen.' Forrest had two divisions, which
Union army was in line at Rossville, Ave
miles southeast of Chattanooga. Gen. Ros-
ecrans was in the city, sending out ammu-
milton and provisions and preparing 10
was the objective Of the campaign, and to
hold it.
Hon. Charles A. Dana. assistant secre-
tary Of war, then at Rosecrans' headquar-
ters in the city, under the same date as
this dispatch of Gen. Forrest, namely, Sep
tember q, thus telegraphed Secretary
Stanton:
CHATTANOOGA. Sept. q.
"Rosecrans has issued orders for all our
troops to be concentrated here tonight
Thomas will get in about IL pm. unless
prevented by the enemy, who have been
fighting him this afternoon. There
is no time to wait for reinforcements, and
Rosecrans is determined not to abandon
Chattanooga and Bridgeport without an
(signed &C A. DANA
What Bragg Would Have Met.
"Since Gen. Bragg is SO severely crit
icised for not pushing on 1T Is interesting
to inquire what he would have met had he
followed Gen. Forests advice.
"Rossville Gap, in Missionary Ridge, is a
deep defile. mile in length through its
highest crests which, with it's tanks on
ha ri loo nd the Vallpv fllllv protected.
formed one of the strongest defensive milf
tary positions held by either army any
where throughout the war.
During the closing hours of the battle
of Chattanooga, that is. during the after
noon of Sunday, September ID, Rossville
Gap WIS occupied in force by Gen. Negiey
with at least division of those Union
troops which had been forced from the
Union right and center, had passed to the
rear through Missionary Ridge, and, turn
ing to the right, had taken possession of
Rossville Gap and SO stood once more
Bragg's line of advance to Chattanooga
Not only this, but Sheridan's division en-
tire had moved through the gap, and
marched out three miles on the Lafayette
road toward Bragg, and stood across the
road, in close contact with Gen. Bragg's left
at the time the battle ended. These troops
had all recovered from the confusion into
which a portion of them had been thrown
by the break at noon at Chickamauga.
ION the morning OF September p, when
Forrest moved up within mile of the gap
to reconnoiter. and when ne supposed that
the Union army had reached Chattanooga
and was 'evacuating as hard as they can
CO. it was already stated, In position,
formed and ready for battle on such inn
pregnable ground as above Indicated
General Thomas report tells how hi
army was here disposed for battle, at the
very time General Forrest, in close prox-
unity to these lines concealed by the for
ests, was writing his dispatch to General
TOR frffi lot tp1 ov,6 int linn
the movement by which he withdrew his
forces from the Kelley field line to he fol-
lowed with those from SnodgrasS Hill, for
the purpose of passing them through Nc
Farland's Gap in Missionary Ridge, around
Braggs right. and placing them in Ross
vile Gap between Bragg and Chattanooga,
General Thomas says:
then proceeded to Rossvile, accom-
panied by Generals Garfield and Gordon
Granger, and Immediately prepared to place
the troops n position at that point. One
brigade of Negley's division was posted in
the gap on the Ringgold road, and two bri-
gades on the top of the ridge to the right
of the road, adjoining the brigade in the
read; Reynolds division on the right of
Negley's and reaching to the Dry Valley
road; Brannans division in the rear of
Reynolds right. a reserve: McCook's
corps on the right of the Dry Valley road.
and stretching toward the west, his right
reaching nearly to Chattanooga creek; Crit
tenden's entire corps was posted on the
heights to the left of the Ringgold road,
with Steedman's division of Granger's corps
in reserve behind his left; Baird's division
in reserve, and in supporting distance of
the brigade in the gap; McCook's brigade of
Changers corps was posted as a reserve to
the brigade of Negley or the top of the
ridge to the right Of the road; Minty's
mile and half in advance of the gap.'
No Chance for Bragg.
with practically the entire Army of the
Cumberland rested and fhns Ski1lfu1lv
posted in strong position, with sufficient
rations and ammunition. and with it's right
guarded on front and flank by Wilder's
mounted infantry and three brigades of
cavalry, with Speer's infantry brigade as a
support to these, and all, as General Thorn
as telegraphed, in high spirits it is not
difficult to see what would have happened
il Bragg, even with his seasoned and mag
niicent veterans, had followed Forests
advice to press forward as rapidly as pos
sible.'
THAT General Bragg was better informed
than General Forrest is sufficiently shown
by the fact that, at the very time Forrest
was sending the dispatch quoted. General
Bragg was telegraphing Adjutant General
Cooper at Richmond as follows:
"'CHICKAMAUGA RIVER,
September p, 1863.
" Gen. S. Cooper:
After two days hard fighting we have
driven the enemy, after a desperate resist
ance. from several positions, but he still
confronts us. 3" .
'(Signed BRAXTON BRAGG
"Of course, this advanced position at
Rossville was not one for permanent occu-
patton, and during the night of the 2lst
Thomas moved his army to Chattanooga
the objective of RosecranS most remark
able campaign. i
What is here said is intended to apply
solely TO the question of accuracy In Cen
eral Forests dispatch, and not to the
question between General Lonstreet and
General Bragg, to which 1t is scarcely ap-
plicable The dispatch Of General Forrest
a later date"
Burial of Colonel Elkins.
Col Philip Duncan Elkins the father of
Senator Stephen B. Elkins. who died Sun
day, was buried yesterday at Elkins, w