The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-30
the consolidation a. a token of disgrace and
punishment.
THREATENED WITH STARVATION.

the consolidation as a token Of disgrace and
punishment.
THREATENED WITH STARVATION.
Although the reorganization OF the amy was
going on. there was no real change in our stu.
alton, and by tho middle of October 1t began to
look as II We wore in a helpless and prccarious
position. No Endorsements had yet reached
us, the enemy was growing stronger every day,
and, worse still, we were threatened with star.
walton. On Sept. 81, in spite of the protest Of
Granger and Garfield. RosecTans had aban-
doncd Lookout Mountain to the enemy. His
error was now apparent. Our supplies came
by rail from Nashville to Bridgeport. but the
enemy controlled the routh shore Of tho Ten.
ncsseo between us and Bridgeport, and thus
prevented us rebuilding tho railroad from
Bridgeport to Chattanooga, and with their
shore batteries stopped the using Of our steam
boats. They oven made the road on tho north
shore impassablo,, the shnrpshooters on tho
south bank being able to pick of our mon on
tho north. The forage and supplies which we
had drawn from tho country within our reach
were now exhausted, and we were dependent
upon what could DO cotton us over tho roads
north Of the river. These wero not only dis
turbcd by the enemy. but were so bad in places
that the mud was up TO tho horses bellies. Tho
animals themselves had become too weak to
haul the empty train up tho mountain. while
many had died Of starvation. On Oct. 10 tho
troops were on half rations, and officers, as
they went about where tho mon were working
on the Notifications, frequently hoard tho cry
Of Crackers" As l saw 1t was soon going to
be necessary that all persons except soldiers
leave the place, i asked Mr.. Stanton where I
should go.
In the midst Of these difficulties Gen. Rose
Grams seemed to be insensib,e to the impend-
ing danger, and dawdled, with trines in a man.
ner which scarcely can be imagined. With
plenty of Jealous and energetic officers ready
to do whatever needed to be done, ~ ecious
time was lostsbccnusc our, dazed and may com.
mander could not perceive the catastrophe that
was close upon us, nor fix his mind upon the
means OF preventing 1t. / never saw anything
which seemed so lamcntable and hopeless. Our
animals were starving, the men had star
walton before them, and the enemy was
bound soon to make desperate efforts TO dis
lodge us. Yet the commanding General de-
voted that part OF the time which was not en-
ployed in pleasant gossip to the composition of
a long report to prove that the Government was
to blame for his failure on the Goth.
While few persons exhibited moro cstimable
social qualities, l have never seen a public'man
possessing talent with less administrative
power, less clearncs IS and steadiness in diff.
Guilty, and greater practical incapacity than
Gon. Rosecrans. He had inventive fertility
and knowledge, but he had no strength of will
and no concentration OF purpose. His mind
scattered. There was no system in the use of
his busy days and restless nights. no courage
against individuals in his composition. and
with great love OF command. he was n feeble
commander. He was conscientious and hon
est, just as he was imperious and disputat!ous;
always with a stray vein OF caprice. and an over.
weonlng passion for the appreciation OF his per-
Sonal friends and the public outside,
RosECRANs IS RELIEVED.
My opinion of Rosecrans and my fears that
tho army would soon be driven from Chatta-
nooga by starvation. If not by the Consederates.
l had reiterated in my letters to Mr.. Stanton.
On the morning of Oct. 10 l received NY reply
a despatch from the Secretary sent from Wash
ington on Oct. 16 asking inc to meet him that
day, tho 18th, at the Gait House, Louisville. I
wired him that unless he ordered to the con-
trary Eosccrans would retreat at once from
Chattanooga. and then I started for Louisville.
1t was a hard trip by horseback over Waldcn's
Ridge and through Jasper to Bridgeport, and
the roads were not altogether safe. Ten days
before this, in riding along the edge of a bank
near the river shore. tho earth had given wav
under my horses hind feet, and he and l had
been tumbled together down n bank about
fourteen feet high, and had rolled over each
other in the sand at the bottom. i got off with
no worse injury than n bruisc on NV left shout
der and q slight crack on the back of my head
from the horses hind foot, which made the
blood run q little. The roads over Walden's
Ridge and along the river were even worse
now than when l got my tumble. and besides.
thew were filled with wagons trying TO get sup
plies to Chattanooga. 1t took at that time ten
days for wagon teams to go from Stevenson,
where we had q depot, to Chattanooga. Though
subsistence stores were so nearly exhausted
the wagons were compelled to throw overheard
portions OF their precious cargo in order to get
through. Tho returning trains were on the
other hand stopped. On the 18th Of October
500 teams were halted between the mountain
and the river without forage for the animals
and unable to move in any direction and tho
whole road was strewn with dead animals.
The railway from Bridgeport to Nashville
was not much more comfortable or safer than
the road. Early in the month l had gone TO
Nashville on business and had come back In n
tremendous storm in a train of eighteen cars
loaded with soldiers and was twenty.six hours
upon the road instead Of ten. On the present
trip, however, / got along very well until with
in about eight miles of Nashville, when our train
narrowly escaped destruction. A tic had been
inserted in n cattle guard, to throw the train
down an cmbankmont, but 1t had been caicu-
lated for q train going south, so that ours sim
ply broke it off. From what we learned after
ward we thought it was intended for a train
on which it was supposed Gen. Grant was go.
ing to Bridgeport.
My train was bound through to Louisville.
Indeed. i think there was no one with me OK
cept the train hands and the engineer. Wo
reached Nashville about 10 o'clock on the night
of Oct. 20, and there were halted. Directly
there came in an officer, l think IL was Lieut.
Col. Bowers of Gen. Grants staff, who said:
'Gen. Giant wants to see you."
This was the first that / knew Grant was In
Tennessee. / got out of my train and went over
to his. l hadn't seen him since we parted nj
Vicksburg.
MI Dana" he said as soon as I came in. 81
am going to interfere with your journey. I
have got the Secrotary's permission to take you
back with me to Chattanooga. / want you to
dismiss your train and get into mine; We will