The National tribune., 1898-03-17

DTIuSc VIII ttke tUelE pltce tO-udy. 4Wo oo-
FOUNDER PARROTS have arrived and are placed
| in Fort Wood, on our left. The largest rifle
guns in this army previously were 3-inch
At McMinnville the rebels captured q Ten
nessee infantry regiment, about $50 strong,
| also one locomotive and II cars, which they
burned. Notice of their approach and full
| instructions had been sent there in season.
Burnside telegraphed last night inquiring
| if it was true rebel cavalry had crossed Ten
| nessee. As he was not only notified of the
fact four days ago, but promised to send his
cavalry in pursuit, this inquiry is astonish-
ing. 1t proves that he has done nothing
Had he taken the proper measures to protect
the left flank of this army this disaster could
not have happened, and unless he acts now he
will probably be responsible for worse ca
lamities.
TROUBLE ABOUT CIPHER.
The perennial trouble about ci pher
dispatches crops out:
Oct. 81 learn that part or all of my first
report of the second day of the great battle
was translated and shown about at Nashville
OH the evening of that day. Horace Maynard
even repeated at Cincinnati, few days ago,
whole sentence of it. Gen. X. S. Granger
is said to have had it. have inquired of
him respecting the facts, and suggest to you
that ought to have new cipher with many
more arbitrary words and combinations less
easy to discover. You ought also to deal
with your 1aithless subOrdinates who betrayed
me.
CHATTANOOGA, Oct. 5.
Gen. r. s. GRANGER, Nashville.
GENERAL: / am informed that on the even
n n aff ard
were in possession of part or all of dispatch
of mine TO the Secretary of War. Will you
kindly oblige me by telling me if my infor-
nation be correct, and, if So by whom this
dispatch was communicated to you?
Yours, very respectfully, c. a. DANA.
To Mr.. Stanton:
CHATTANOOGA, Oct. 5; 4 p. m.
About ] o'clock rebels opened from batteries
planted on eastern slope of Lookout Mountain,
and also from two guns on the west base OF
Missionary Ridge, and have been firing
steadily but not rapidly since. On Lookout
and low spur thereof, which stretches east
wardly toward Chattanooga Creek, they fire
seven guns in all. They are apparently
shooting to get the range. No damage done.
Knoxville Register, now issued at Atlanta,
says, in its impression of Sd instant, that
Polk and Hindman have come to Atlanta
under arrest; by order of Gen. Bragg, for dis
obedience in second days battle
THE FATAL ORDER OF cHICKAMAUGA.
Oct. 5 Mr.. Dana opens up the bitter
est question in the history of the Army
of the Cumberland:
Oct 6; p. m.-Result of rebel lombard
ment yesterday was that one private artil-
leryman, SANKEY'S Brigade, Negley's Divis-
ion, Fourteenth Corps, had foot shattered and
leg amputated. No other casualty. Firing
not yet resumed to-day. Chattanooga Rebel,
4th instant, published at Atlanta, says rein
forcements are constantly going forward to
Bragg. Stevenson's Division went up last
Saturday. This is Vicksburg division
Tennessee here fell four inches last night,
and the remaining trestle bridge is safe for the
present.
New pontoon bridge nearly completed. A
boom of heavy logs is being stretched across
above the bridges to guard them against OBJ
jects that may be sent down the river by the
rebels. Badly Smith, appointed Chief Engi
neer of the Department, infuses much energy
and Judgment into that branch Of the opera
tions. The news of consolidation of the two
corps reached here last night in q Nashville
newspaper; not having been previously pro-
mulgated it caused sensation.
Crittenden was much excited; said as the
Government no longer required his services
he would resign to-day. AT any rate be
would not hibernate like others, drawing pay
and doing no work He has admirable quail
ties of character NIcCook takes it easily.
Reports of corps, division, and brigade COM
manders IN recent battle now nearly all in.
Careful examination OF them seems to prove
that the gap in the lines through which the
enemy poured thanking and routing all Of
three divisions and part of a fourth, was
caused by an order OF the commanding General.
They prove also that there was much con-
fusion and uncertainty in the general move
ments of the day, though the probability still
remains very strong that but for this unfortu-
nate order we should have gained decisive
victory.
Tomake the ease clear to you, let me state
the position OF the various divisions. On the
extreme left was Baird supported by one
brigade of Negley, which had moved there,
leaving the remainderof division under Negley
ltBg in rear of Brannan though he had
been ordered to move his whole force to sup
port Baird. Next to Baird was Palmer; next
to Palmer, Johnson; next to Johnson, Rey-
nolds.
At least such was the original order, but
after the line was formed, gap appearing
between Johnson and Reynolds, and the lat
ter having no reserve, inasmuch as his third
brigade. Wilder's, being mounted, was de-
tatched and posted on the extreme right under
McCOOk, Brannan's reserve brigade was
marched into this gap and fought there.
Nextto Reynolds, on his right, stood Brannan,
and next to Brannan, in the original line,
Negley.
When that line was formed, Wood and Van
Cleve, of Crittenden's Corps, were both held in
reserve, while McCOok with the two divisions
remaining under his command, Davis's and
Sheridan's, thanked on the right by Wilder's
mounted infantry, was to hold the right, and
also to be ready to reinforce the left when
necessary.
On taking Negley out to support Baird,
Wood of Crittenden's Corps, was ordered to
fill Negley's place and did so, having Davis
closed in upon his ri.ht, as McCoOk main
tains, though Davis tells me that there was
always n space between him and Wood.
However that may be, it is now certain that
the fatal gap was caused by an order of Rose
Grams issued ut 10 minutes before II 4. m.
Rosecrans had been informed by staff
officer of Thomas's that Brannan had been
ordered out of the line to support the extreme
left, and supposing him to have left the line
accordingly, ROSecranS sent written order to
Wood Ito close up on Reynolds and support
him -