The National tribune., 1900-11-01

the early reverse. and that he left the Ee
with ROsecrans, McCoOk and Crittenden
These reports were accepted by many
passed into some ephemeral historic an
mails, and also found lodgment in the minds
of men engaged in other parts of the fl Id
In Van Horns History of the Army OF
the Cumberland. published in 1915 (Vol
L, p. 374, appears a statement by Col G.
p. Thruston, of Gen. McCook's staff, il
which he says that he found Gen. Sheri-
dan and Davis on road near Rossville,
proceeding thither, and adds:
Being Adjutant and Chief of Staff of
the corps to which they belonged, l re-
ported to them Gen. Thomas's position
and situation, and requested them to re-
turn and take position as directed by him.
Davis ordered his men to right-about at
once and marched back, under my guild
ance, some Of Negley's and other troops
joining US. Gen. Sheridan said he pre-
ferred to go to Rossville and so out on the
Lafayette road. l told him it was get
ting late, and he could scarcely get on the
field by that route before night, but he in
sisted on going that way, which was sew
eral miles around"
1t is stated that Gen. Thruston, who is
still living has within recent years added
to the foregoing a positive allegation that
Sheridan did not leave RoSSville for the
front that night or make any attempt to
help Thomas.
In the text of Van Horns History (Vol.
l, %. :;59) is the following: Gen. Sheri-
dan moved through Rossyille and reached
the vicinity of Gen. Thomas's left flank,
but he was too late to attack the enemy,
and Gen. Thomas was ignorant of his
movement"
At a meeting of the Minnesota Com
mandery, Loyal Legion, three years ago,
at whicn l was present, companion Of
unquestioned bravery and veraclty, who
COZ. 'mandei a regiment on SnodgrasS Hill,
made the statement, doubtless based upon
the authorities above quoted, that Sheri-
dan went to the rear before noon with his
disorganized command and disappeared
from the battle.
The issue is thus clearly raised, did
Sheridan go out from Rossville on that
Sunday evening and report to ThomasF'
Sheridan i'll his official report of the bat
tie and i'll his Memoirs, distinctly states
that he left Rossyille and reported to
Thomas. though, as usual, he claims less
than the official reports and unassailable
statsme of others would justify.
EVIDENCE FROM REBELLION RECORD.
Serial Number 80 of the Rebellion Rec.
ords contains reports of the Chickamauga
campaign. These are the contemporary
authorities, written before any controversy
arose From these reports the following
brief extracts are made:
Garfield, Chief of staff, telegraphs to
ROsecrans at 3:45 p. m, Sunday, that
be has reached Thomas by the way of
Rossville, and thai Sheridan is in with
shape, though plucky and fighting" P.
141)
Negley telegraphs Rosecrans from Ross
vile at $40 p. m: "One of my staff Off
GERS has just returned from Gen. Sheri-
dams command. He reached the meeting
house three miles from this point He
reports communication with Gen. Thomas
cut off by the presence of a considerable
force of the enemy. Forests cavalry har-
asset Sheridan all the way" (P. 144.)
Gen. Garfield telegraphs to Rosecrans
from Rossville at $40 p. m.: Sheridan
gathered ! 800 Of his division and reached
point three miles south of here at sun
set" P. 145)
Charles A Dana, Assistant Secretary
of War, telegraphs to Secretary Stanton
from Chattanooga, at 3 p m: Davis
and Sheridan have succeeded in rallying
some eight or ten thousand of the fugitives
and have also Joined Thomas" P. 1881
Gen. Negley's official report of the bat
tie says: AT this moment / learned
three miles from ROssville." P. 331.)
Gen. McCOOk's official report of the bat
tie says: These (Sheridan's and Davis's)
troops were placed in position by order
Of Gen. Thomas on the road leading from
the battlefield to Rossyille." P. 490D
Col. Silas Miller, commanding brigade
In Sheridan's Division, says in his official
report: by your order the command soon
moved from Rossyille). this brigade in ad-
vance, passing on the Ringgold road three
miles TO - Church, arriving at dusk.
Here the column halted until about 8
o'clock, when by your order it returned to
ROssyille." (P. 5S4D
Maj. Carl Won Baumbach, 24th Wis,
SIiller's Brigade, says in his official report
81 moved my regiment up the Chatta-
nooga and Ringgold road about five miles,
where we halted for short time, and
then marched to Rossville." P. 5S7)
The History of the I'D Ill. Up. 226)
quotes from the journal of Capt. T. d.
Kyger as follows: From the point where
the regiment reformed after the charge
we were taken by Gen. Sheridan three
miles 10 the rear, and then we were taken
three miles in the direction of the left
wing Of the army to support it, if neces-
sary."
Mai George W. Patten, then a Captain
in the I'D ILL.,, was wounded early in the
day and did not participate in the advance
from Rossville. He removed TO Chatta-
nooga more than 20 years ago, and still
resides there. He has visited all parts
Of the battlefield with hundreds of sur
yivors of Sheridan's Division, and has
many times positively identified the ad-
vance position reached on Sunday even
ing. He has twice conducted me to the
site of Clouds Church and showed me the
remains of its foundation. He unbesitat-
ingly affirms, as the verdict of innumerable
witnesses, that Sheridan's command
marched TO that point, where il, in strict
military sense, connected with Thomas.
u. F. Lawler, Co. B, I'D ILL.,, writes me
as follows: Our numbers were greatly
reduced by death and capture, but we
were fully organized and ready for bust
ness from 2 o'clock on. Gen. Sheridan
docs not claim as much as bis division
was really entitled to for our advance
from Rossville. Judging from the stray
shots and shells that passed over Thorn
ass lines as we were marching up in his
rear and toward his left flank we came
much nearer his headquarters than Sheri-
dan claims"
Mai. Il. Z. Belts. Engineer National
Park Commission, writes to me that, ac-
cOrding TO the maps, when Sheridan came
ont on the Lafayette road. He is in mo.
ton, passing the Bacon place at $50 D.
m. and he was at the Cloud Church at
dark"
Gen. II. v Boynton, of the National
Park Commission, probably the best liv.
ing authority on the events of the battle
and the typographical features of the
field, writes ME as follows: Sheridan