Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-17
GENERAL BoYNToNs COMMENTS.

A Star reporter brought the Views at
tributed to General Longstreet concern
ing the Forrest dispatch to the attention
of General H. V. Boynton, who, as
soldier took conspicuous part In the
Chattanooga campaign, and VINO is re-
cognized as, perhaps the best living au-
thority on matters relating TO the Army
Of the Cumberland.
General Boynton said:
1.-THE dispatch of General Forrest, 10
which you call my attention, which has
recently been produced by his biographers
as one that fixed the fate OF the Confede-
racy' through General Bragg's disregard
ing II. and which is, therefore, declared
TO be the crucial dispatch of the war.
is of no significance whatever. beyond
showing the Misrepresentation which ex-
listed in the Confederate army during the
forenoon Of September 2lst. which was
the day after the close of the battle OF
CHI -samauga, concerning the position and
movements Of the Union army. This dis
patch is as follows:
ION the Road, September q, 1868.
General: We are within a mile Of
Rossville-have been on the point Of Mis-
sionary Ridge. Can see Chattanooga and
everything around. Tho enemy's trains
are leaving going around the point of
Lookout Mountain. The prisoners cap
tured report two pontoons thrown across
for the purpose OF retreatng. / think they
are evacuating as hard as they can 60
They are cutting timber down to OBJ
struct our passage. / think we ought to
press forward as rapidly as possible.
Respectfully. etc,
an. 3. FORREST,
'Brigadier-GeneraL
""To Lieutenant General L. Polk.
"'Please forward to General Bragg)
"At the time this dispatch was written,
the Union army was not at Chattanooga,
but was in line, fully prepared for battle
in Rossville Gap, and upon Missionary
Ridge TO the right and left of this gap,
with one of its three corps extending
across the valley nearly to Lookout noun
tain. 1t was therefore, directly in General
Forests front, and only a mile distant
The position 1t occupied could not have
been carried by direct assault. The army
trains were not passing around the point
Of Lookout mountain, but were going into
Chattanooga under direct orders from
General Rosecrans. No pontoon was be-
ing thrown across the river for the pur-
pose of retreating, and, by General Rose
crans's order, the one already in position
was heavily guarded to prevent any SOL
der leaving the city. The timber being
cut was in Rossville Gap to strengthen
that position. General Forrest himself
did press forward with the result thus
set forth in his official report:
ON MISSION RIDGE.
On taking possession of Mission
Ridge one mile or Whereabouts from Ross
vile, we found the enemy terrifying the
gap. Dismounted Colonel Dibbrelrs Regi-
ment, under command OF Captain McGin-
mis-. and attacked them, but found the
force too large to dlslodge them. On the
arrival of my artillery. opened on and
fought them for several hours, but could
not move them
General Forrest had two divisions,
which habtually fought dismounted
While the Union army was In line at
Rossville, five miles southeast of Chat
tanooga, General Rosecrans was In the
city, sending out ammunition and pro-
visions. and preparing to bring the army
into Chattanooga, which was the objec-
live of the campaign, and to hold IT,
Hon. Charles A. Dana. Assistant Secre-
tary of War, then at Rosecranss head
quarters in the city. under the same date
as this dispatch of General Forrest
namely, September 2lst--thus telegraphed
Secretary Stanton:
Chattanooga, September 21st.
" 'Rosecrans has issued orders for all
our troops TO be concentrated here to-
night. Thomas will get i'm about IL
p. NJ, unless prevented by the enemy,
who have been fighting him this after
noon. There Is no time to wait
for achievements and Rosecrans is de-
termined not to abandon Chattanooga and
Bridgeport without another effort. .
(Signed) I" &C. A. DANA
WHAT BRAGG WOULD HAVE MET.
'Since General Bragg Is so severely
criticised for not pushing on II Is interest
ing to inquire what he would have met
had he followed General Forests advice.
"RossvIlle Gap. In Missionary Ridge, Is
deep defile. mile In length. through
its highest crests. which, with Its TANKS
on the ridge and In the valley fully pro-
tected. formed one OF the strongest de-