The National tribune., 1898-03-03

o 900 in number, who are perfectly intact,
md with this army it is not difficult to make
Food our lines until rein forcements can
"rrive
The cavalry at our last advance had their
Headquarters at Crawfsh Spring where they
will perhaps be able to protect our main
hospital until the wounded can be brought
here by the Chattanooga Valley road, which
still is free from rebels.
The number of the enemy yesterday and
to-day | estimate at not less than 20, 600. He
was able to touch and threaten our lines
all points, and still form the tremendous
columns whose onset drove Thomas back and
dissolved Sheridan and Davis in panic. /
learn from Gen. ROsecrans. who himself took
part in the effort previously to the final stam-
pede of Sheridan's Division, that that General
charged the advancing columns of the enemy
in flank
The charge was too spasmodic to be
effectual; our men became involved in the
rushing mass and did not break it. Rose
Grams has telegraphed Burnside to hurry for
ward his reinforcements. The advance of his
cavalry is reported as having reached Cleve
land yesterday morning.
Some gentlemen of R0secrans's staff say
Cmckamauga is not very much worse than was
hlurfreesbcrough. / can testify to the con-
spicuous and steady gallantry OF ROSecrans on
the field. He made all possible efforts to
rally the broken columns; nor do see that
there was any fault in the disposition of his
forces
The disaster might perhaps have been
avoided but for the blunder of McC0Ok in
marching back from his previous advanced po-
stiOn. That biunder cost Us four days of
precious time.
THE ROCK OF CHICKAMAUGA.
The next day his spirits rose still
higher. He caught the indomitbale
courage of the army, and telegraphed
Sept. 81; p. m. Deserters and captives
both report that Ewell's Corps is on its way
to join Bragg. One of the latter, taken this
morning by Thomas, saws the corps has ar
rived, though not in season to fight yester-
day. Is now moving on the Tennessee River
above this. Longstreet. rs we know, Is here.
2p m.-Garfield, Chief of Staff, becom-
ing separated from Rosecrans in the rout OF
our right wing yesterday made his way to
the left. and spent the afternoon and night
with Gen Thomas. He arrived here before
noon to-day, having witnessed the sequel of
the battle in that part Of the field. Thomas,
finding himself cut off from Rosecrans and
the right at once brought his seven divisions
into position for independent fighting.
Refusing both his right and left, his line
assumed tie form of horse shoe posted
along the slope and crest of a partly wooded
ridge. He was spon Joined by Granger from
Rossvil;e with the brigade of McCOok and
division of S.eedman. and with these forces
firmly maintained the fight till after dark.
Our troops were as immovable as the rocks
A.. Il ,ix1
them repeatedly the dense columns which
had routed Davis and Sheridan in the morn
ing, but every onset was repulsed with dread
full slaughter.
Failing first on one and then another point
of our lines, for hours the rebels vainly
sought to break them. Thomas seemed TO
have filled every soldier with his own I'M
conquerable firmness. and Granger, his hat
torn ly bullets, ragged like lion wherever
the combat was hottest with the electrical
courage of a Ney.
Every division commander bore himself
glOriouslv, and among brigade commuters,
Turchin, Hazen and Harker especially dis
tinguished themselves. Turchn charged
through the rebel lines with the bayonet,
and becoming surrounded, forced his way
back again. Harker who had two horses shot
under him on the 10th, forming bis men in
four lines made them lie down till the enemy
were close upon him, when they suddenly rose
and delivered their fire with such effect that
the assaulting columns fell back in confusion,
leaving the ground covered with the fallen.
When night fell this body of heroes stood
on the same ground they had occupied in the
morning, their spirit unbrOken, but their
numbers greatly diminished. Their losses
are not yet ascer.ained Van Cleve had this
morning 1200 men in the ranks, but this
number will probably be doubled by evening
in slragglers. Neither ae, Sheridan, nor
Davis fought with Thomas. The divisions
of Wood. Johnson, Brannan, Palmer, Reyn-
Odds. and Baird, which never broke at all,
have lost very severely.
We hear unofficially from Brannan that but
about 1000 effective men remain in his
division. Steedman lost one-thrd of his men,
Thomas retired to Rossvllle after battle
DisD sitipns have been made to resist the
encmy's approach on that line. but if Ewell
he really tnere, Rosecrans will have to retreat
beyond the Tennessee
Thomas te.egrtpns this morning that the
troops are in high spirits. He brought Off
all his wounded. of those at Crawfish
Spring, our main field hospital, nearly all