The National tribune., 1897-10-28

Twelfth Corps, could be spared to
arrive at Chattanooga two weeks after
the battle of Chickamauga, why could
they not have been sent two weeks be-
fore that battle as we'll? Had Burnside's,
Hooker's and Towards Corps been
added 20 the small army that was al
lowed Rosecrans to contend with such
superior numbers, the battle of Chicka-
manga would have been more decisive
and successful, the base of operations
would have been transferred to Atlanta,
the later battles of Chattanooga, Look
out Mountain and Missionary Ridge
need never have been fought, and the
Chattanooga would have been used for
the base of operations by the Union army,
as it finally was by Sherman in the
march to Atlanta and the sea.
On Nov. 1, 1868, Rosecrans was
strongly intrenched around Chattanooga,
surrounded on three sides by Bragg's
army, also strongly intrenched on Look
out Mountain and Missionary Ridge.
Rosecrans was relieved by Gen Thomas
as commander of the Army of the Cum
berland. Gems. Hooker and Howard,
commanding the Eleventh and Twelfth
Corps respectively. were ordered from
Virginia to report to Thomas; Grant
was ordered to Chattanooga to assume
command. Upon arrival at Louisville,
Ky, he telegraphed Gen. Thomas to hold
Chattanooga at all hazards. Thomas's
reply was ave will hold the place
until we starve."
Gen. Grant ordered Gen. Sherman,
with portions of three corps, or seven
divisions, to advance upon Chattanooga.
Sherman reported to Grant in person
Nov. 10, 1868.
Hooker having placed Williams and
Ruger to protect their railroad lines be-
tween Nashville and Chattanooga,
Hooker and Howard crossed the Ten
nessee River near Bridgeport, Ala, upon
pontoon bridges, and advanced to White
side, Tenn, by the base of Raccoon
Mountain into Lookout Mountain VAL
ley. Towards Corps advanced through
Willis Valley along the railroad from
Bridgeport to Chattanooga to the
base of Lookout Mountain, until they
had passed the pontoon bridges Of
Browns and Kelley's Ferries, built and
maintained by the Army of the Cum
berland.
The commands of Hazen and Turchin
at 3 a. m. of Oct. 20 filled 60 pontoons
with 1900 men and foated down the
Tennessee, on our side of the River at
3 a. m. captured the Confederate pick
cts on the Lookout Valley side, and, CO.
operating with the Union forces await
ing at Browns Ferry, constructed the
pontoon at Browns Ferry and fortified
both sides of the river. Hooker's and
Towards advance arrived that night,
and the supply line to Chattanooga was
re-established.
Hooker was placed by Thomas in
command of the troops in front of Look
out Mountain, reinforced by Cruft's Di-
vision of the Army of the Cumberland
and Osterhaus's Division of the Army
of the Tennessee
On the Goth of November four di.
visions of Sherman's army crossed over
the pontoon bridge at Browns Ferry,
marched 10 miles through the woods up
the river range to North Chickamauga
Creek, covered by Hooker's troops, and
Towards followed with the Eleventh
Corps until arriving opposite Chatta-
nOoga.
On the 21st two additional divisions
of Sherman's army, under command of
Morgan L. Smith and Ewing, also
crossed Browns Ferry bridge, and on
the 22d advanced about IL miles, under
cover of wooded hills (having ample
pontoon trains) to North Chickamauga
Creek.
Meanwhile Howard, with his COM
mand, crossed the Tennessee River, and
had taken position ON the left of the
Army of the Cumberland at Chatta-
nooga, in full view of the enemy.
Bragg, not discovering the reinforce
ment of the Union forces by Sherman's
army, had sent Longstreet with his
corps to East Tennessee, to prevent
Burnside from forming a junction with
Thomas; thereby weakening the Confed.
crate forces.
1t will be thus seen that at the Begin
ming of the battle of Chattanooga, Grant
had the flower of Sherman's army,
Hooker's and Howard's Corps from Viz
ginia, in addition to the Army of the
Cumberland, to meet Bragg's command,
which had been reduced by one-third its
number by the sending of Longstreet
with his command into East Tennessee,
making Grants command nearly two to
one of the enemy.
4 Ito BE coRtinued.)
4 tn he Rn