The National tribune., 1898-03-03
LETTERS OF
CHAS. A. DANA.
Continued from first page.)

1t will be seen that the fighting of
the first day ended quite hopefully for
the Union army. They had been able
to repulse the rebels at all points, and
secure decided advantages at several.
THE SECOND DAY. AT cH1cKAMAuaA.
The fighting on the morning of Sept
90 was of such confusing and indeter'
inmate character that Dana was not
able to extract from it anything definite
to send to Washington. His first dis
patch came after the great disaster tc
the right. and he had gone with the
other fugitives to Chattanooga. Il
would seem that he was about as badly
ratified" as any man in the Army Of
the Cumberland in those terrible hours
A TERROR-sTRICKEN DISPATCH.
CHATTANOOGA. Sept 90; p. m.
My report to-dayis of deplorable import
history as Bull Run The battle began late
this morning The first cannon was fired al
9, but no considerable firing till TO- Previous
to 10 Rosecraus rode the whole length Of
lines. All seemed promising, except columns
of dust within rebel lines moving north, and
report from our right that enemy had been
telling timber there during night.
Soon after the battle commenced Thomas
who held the left, began to call for reinforce.
ments. Then about IL came word that he
had been forced to retire to his second line.
Reinforcements were sent him, and McCook's
whole corps, which was on right and as re-
serve in the center, was ordered to his assist
ance Wood, OF Crittenden's Corps, and Van
Cleve, who held the front in center, were also
ordered to left, where the fury of cannOnade
showed that enormous rebel force was massed.
Their places were filled by Davis and Sheri-
dan, of McCook's CORPS. But hardly had
these divisions taken their places in the line
when the rebel fire, which had slackened on
our left ever since it was turned and driven
back about three-quarters of an hour pre-
viously, suddenly burst over in enormous
volume upon our center.
Never in any battle 1 have witnessed was
there such mass of cannon and musketry.
This lasted some 20 minutes, and then Van
Cleve, on Thomas's right, was seen to give
way. but in tolerat1e order, soon after which
the lines of Sheridan and Davis broke i'm
disorder. borne down by immense columns
of enemy.
These columns are said to have consisted Of
Folks entire corps. They came through with
resistless impulse, composed of brigades
formed in divisions. Before them our soldiers
turned and fed. 1t was wholesale panic.
Vain were all attempts to rally them. They
retreated directly across two lines of con-
siderable ridges running parallel to oar line of
battle and then most ftllem made their way
over Missionary Ridge, and are coming here
by Chattanooga Valley road. Our wagon
trains have mostly got here already and tie
road is full of disordcred throng OF
fugitives.
McCook, with the right of his corps and
Wilder's mounted infantry, attempted TO re-
cover the day, but it was useless. Davis and
Sheridan are said to be coming off at the head
of couple of regiments in order and Wild
er's Brigade marches out unbroken. Thomas,
too, is coming down the Rossville road with
an organized command, but all the rest is con-
fusion.
Our wounded are all left behind, some 6, 900
in number. We have lost heavily in killed
to-day. The total of our killed, wounded,
and prisoners can hardly be less than 20, 900,
and may be much mere.
How much artillery we lose / cannot guess,
nor do ] yet know what officers have been
lost. Lyle said to be killed. Rosecrans es-
capped by Rossville road. Enemy not yet ar
rived before Chattanooga. Preparations MAX
ing to resist his entrance for time
GETS OVER HIS PANIC PRESENTLY
1t is to Dana's credit that he sue
ceeded in pulling himself together
again inside the next four hours, and at
8 o'clock sent the following:
CHATTANOOGA, Sept. 20; 8 p. m.
am happy to report that my dispatch of
4 p. IN. ta-day proves to have given too dark
a view OF our disaster. Having been N.Y.
self swept bodily off the battlefield by the
rabble into which the divisions
Of Davis and Sheridan were tenn norarily con-
verted, my OWN impressions We're naturally
colored by the aspect of that part of the field
1t appears, however. that only those two
divisions were actually routed. and that
Thomas, with the remainder OF the army,
still holds his part OF the field. Beside the
-wo divisions of Davis and Sheridan, those
Of Negiey and Van Ceve were thrown into