The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-09-19
Review of the Bloody Struggle
For the Union On Sunday,
September, 20, 1868.

Thomas There was nothing else TO do
but 20 shorten the line and close il in upon
the left. making Thomas battle the battle
OF the whole army.
But one OF those accidents which no
human brain could foresee. no human
energy ward Of. interviewed and com
pletely ruined the undertaking. The d.
vision connecting McCook with Critten-
den, in moving 10 a new position. vacated
the line completely under a misinterpre-
tati0n OF orders. a. that moment Bragg
was hurting everything upon Thomas. who
was calling for help, All OF McCook's
brIgades we're in motion. either 70 go 10
Thomas aid or TO relieve brigades which
were 10 go. In front Of the fatal gap and
of the shifting brigade lines on the flank
OF II Longstreet's column stood ready 10
take up the battle and night down the
line toward Thomas. The signal TO dash
forward came just as the fatal gap was
opened and two of Sheridan's brigades
had detached themselves from McCook's
line 20 cross over 10 Thomas
Longstreet had eight brigades. some OF
them composed OF seasoned veterans of
the peninsula battles. OF Fredericksburg.
Au.ietam and Gettysburg Their on
siaught WAS terrific. and the upguarded
ends Of the Union line upon each side Of
the gap were crushed in a twinkling. II
would be wrong TO call the disaster to
fknSfGFaDS men a FOQt- II was me udsu
OF tidal wave that lifted and bore along
everything in its pathway. The Union
generals were carried off their feet by
force none but a god could resist.
In order TO understand the part played
by Thomas at the battle of Chickamauga
one must have In mind a plan OF the bat
tlefield Thomas position was on a spur
of Mission ridge, overlooking the valley
OF Chickamauga. His duty was TO hold a
sxs-,-
Rossville through a gap i'm the ridge dis
tant about four miles on his left rear Di-
recfly behind him about two miles was
McFarland's gap. through which passed
another road leading to RossvIlie and 10
Chattanooga. This road ran from the
right wing of Rosecrans' army and at one
point was within a mile OF Thomas ex-
treme front. and at one time his troops
were fighting desperately within half A
mile Of IT. Between that road where il
crossed the original line of battle on Rose
Grams right flank and the ridge upon
which Thomas fought the Confederates
forced their way and cut the Federal army
IN two. II was there that the fatal gap
was made in the line giving Longstreet
his opportunity TO separate the corps Of
Mccook and Crittenden from the left
wing.
Meanwhile. with the battle between Me-
Cooks and Crittenden's FederaIs and
Longstreet's Confederates raging on his
right, Thomas was contending with a
heavy force which Bragg had thrown up
on bis own immediate front and left flank
on the ridge, where he stood alone Thorn
as had already called for achievements
from the right flank. He rode personally
Ia that direction. expecting that a line OF
troops which he saw advancing was the
division OF Sheridan coming 10 his aid.
Instead Of being a column OF men in blue
he found Il to be the advance Of Long
streets force
To meet the attack coming upon him
from three directions, Thomas formed
new line as front, guarded by hreastworks
facing east His right and left TANKS ex-
tended west at right angles with the
breastworks. thus forming a line shaped
like a horseshoe. His battlefield was less
than mile in length. The troops on the
right and left TANKS. fighting back to
back. were less than a mile apart
When Longstreets men came rushing
and yelling against the right flank of the
horseshoe instead Of Sheridan's mon
which Thomas had looked for TO strength
IN that line. the desperate charge Of
Brechnridge's division on the left Of the
horseshoe had Just been repulsed Thomas
threw Its hriEades from that flank across
10 the new right at double quick II was
during this terrible ordeal the over
Wn"iintng confederate attacks, the sur
prises. the failures OF supports the shift
Ing OF hrigades divisions and batteries
under FIRE. that Thomas line and Thomas
personally proved 10 be The Rock OF
Chickamauga"
The fate q the battle hangs by a hair"
SAYS Col T a. Dodge In a graphic de-
scrlptiou of the crisis and its hero Am
munition is getting low Cold steel IS
used The enemy Is unremittlng I'm his
blows His onslaught is redolent q sue
cess. As at store River everything seems
lost. The entire right OF the army. with
Rosecrans and his STAFF j. driven from the