Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-03-11

overwhelming disaster To- the Federals. cut
u had c1li~d into action every resources Of
Rcsecrans' army, while the Confederates
still had reserves
The next morning Bragg. who had been
strengthening his position all night, began
a determined attack, and in a short time
the engagement was under full swing all
along the line. In the heat of the battle
General Thomas I. Wood, a division COM
mander, through a misapprehension Of his
orders, broke the line of battle and marched
TO the rear Of another division. Longstreet
perceived the gap and threw Hood and his
command into il. This lost the battle on
the right, the Federal troops broke, and the
Confeierates advanced almost withont op-
position. Rosecrans was himself caught in
the rut and WAS forced to hasten to Chat
tanooga to prepare for the inevitable re-
treat and defense. Garfield, his chief of
staff. was sent to General Thomas to inform
him Of wha; had happened and of plans for
the future. Thomas was equal to the oc-
oasion and fell back in good order, his cool
hess and ability saving the routed right
from annihilation- Rosecrans had COM
plcted his preparations for defense by the
time that Thomas forces reached Chatta.
nooga, and Bragg's victory did not count
for anything but possession of the battle
ground. Rosccrans lost nearly IL 600 men.
somewhat less than Bragg Rosecrans was
relieved OF his command as soon rs possi-
ble. but was later put in charge of the de-
partment of Missouri in place of General
Schofield. Rosecrans was not, however. in
any better odor with his superiors than be-
fore, and his occupancy of Missouri was not
marked by any notable events. Dec. 0. 1864,
he was relieved Of his command without
warning or explanation. In 1866 he was
mustered out Of the volunteer service and
resigned from the army in 1861
Rosecrxns and His Soldiers.
Rosecrans was n man of action in every
essential. His executive ability was i'm
mensc. His industry was untiring. He
spared neither himself nor his suboryli-
mates. Staff officers rarely lasted long with
him, though they remained as long as ma
turc would sustain their ambition. He was
always ready for work in headquarters at
10 O'Clock. Being devoted Catholic he
rose early on Sundays and Wednesdays and
attended mass. He did not often retire till
O'Clock in the morning. frequently not be-
fore 4, and sometimes remained at work till
broad daylight. Ii was not unusual for his
aids to fall asleep in their chairs while he
was still eagerly continuing his work over
his charts. and when he saw their extreme
WEAKNESS he would look at them compass
sionately, and waking them send them to
bed with an admonition as TO their sleep.
Whenever he found time in the afternoon
ho IL. s.l. tb a. az.
review and inspect the troops. On such oc.
,asions his great popularity was evinced by
.he rousing cheers with which he was re-
eeived His manner at once engendered a
genuine cordiality between officer and men.
The latter became convinced that their COM
mander took personal interest in their
welfare. although he examined their condi.
tion and equipments with the most exact
ing scrutiny.
General Rosccrans was Keen observer,
and he was motel because Of the close at
tention he gave to the confguration Of any
section Of country through which be might
be passing and the knowledge Of its milf
tary characteristics which he would absorb.
He paid great attention to details, and
therein lay perhaps an element Of weak
ness, for IL took up much Of his time and
energy. II is claimed by his friends that
whatever he did himself was well done. and
that all his failures may be traced to the
incompetence or lack OF energy Of subor-
dina;eS His critics rejoin that even il this
view be correct il argues a fatal defec. in
his makeup-a lack Of knowledge OF human
nature
Hov He Told The Story.
Ro~ecrans did no. consult with the mem
hers Of his staff as freely As some command
ing generals. but in General Thomas
Pap" Thomas, the boys called him-he
placed the utmost confidence. and with him
be consulted often II was General Thom-
~ to whom his Command was turned over
after Chickamauca. and Rosecrans at a re-
unisn held in Washington same years AGO
told the story cf how they met after the or
der TO turn his command over came. It
was In Ro~ecsan.!euta =; Chattanooga that
Coet,nned on seeorc page.
0sosy - Lsaa