The National tribune., 1902-03-06
40 ATINzh Me TIlEn.g1LE2V
sEEA >:ARlnY~
G. sz5ssaIEff saIEffs9sassss5ks3S Battle of Chickamauga.
Copyrightca. 1901. by the pubIi

.E~'sN4SSS
Copyrighted. 1901 by the pubi
And now began the movements of those
two great armies for position. 1t mus
be understood that ROsecrans in his grea
flank movement to force Bragg out OF
Chattanooga had caused his three corp;
to move upon widely divergent lines. anC
it was not until Sept. II that Gen. Crit
tenden had been able to unite with the
rest of the army: consequently RoSccrans
was not in condition to take the initiative
in a struggle with Bragg, whose army was
concentrated at Lafayette, some 20 miles
south. But on Sept Is. when he learned
that Bragg was moving north. he ibstant!
took steps TO establish Il strong defensive
line of battle
RosecranS's army was emcamped in the
territory lying between Missionary Ridge
and Chickamauga River. This river IN
its tortuous course flows to the northeast
almost parallel with the ridge, and passing
around the northeast end of Missionary
Ridge empties into the Tennessee a few
miles above Chattanooga.
Missionary Ridge is an uplift of about
400 feet. with very steep sides, but broken
toward the west with n gap, through
which lies the road from Chattanooga to
Rossville. Snow Hill and Lafayette. Rose
this road. His army was north of Chick
amauga River, while Bragg's army was
south of it, On Sept. IS Rosecrans moved
his whole line northeast down the river,
his aim being to Straddle the Chattanooga
and Lafayette road The roads were mar
row and the moyement of the troops slow;
night came on. and still the line had not
been sufficiently extended to the northeast;
Gen. Thomas marched his corps during the
whole of the night of the 18th. reaching
his position on the extreme left of the line
at daylight Gen. Crittenden's Corps
reached its position on the Rossyille road
about midnight. formed on the left of Gen.
Woods Division, then at Gordons Mills,
and made connection with Gen. Thomas's
right. Gen. McCook reached his position
about dark: his corps was mainly in re-
serve. and protected Crittenden's right.
Minty's Brigade of Cavalry and Will
der's Brigade of Mounted Infantry were
thrown to the front of these moving
forces and encountered the enemy at
Reeds and AleXander's bridges, in heavy
force, toward evening.
During Sept. IS Gen. Bragg's army con-
tinued to march nOrthward on several
roads He made a heavy demonstration
against Gord0n's Mill, while his troops
were crossing the river lower down, with
the obvious Intention of seiZing the road
leading through ROssyille TO Chattanooga.
During the AFTERNOON anu hight VI lHt
18th Gen. Bragg succeeded in getting Ills
entire army across the river
FACE TO FACE.
On the morning of Sept 10 the two ar
mics We're confronting each other in line of
battle about three miles in extent: but their
positions had for the most part been taken
during the night previous, and neither side
knew precisely where their antagonists
hoI GnfipIfa EnnyVi-
edge of the number of men in their front.
The battle of Sept. 10 was brought on
by Gen. Brannan with two brigades. He
was sent forward by Gen. Thomas to re-
connoiter the front and attack any small
force he might meet. He soon encoun-
tered considerable force, attacked it Wig
orously. and drove it about half a mile,
where he found a strong column of the
enemy. 1t was obvious that Gen. Thomas
had arrived none too soon at his assigned
position TO dispute with Bragg's army the
question Of the possession of the highrOad
leading to Chattanooga.
The Confederate forces accepted the
gage of battle. and made vigorous at
tack upon Gen. ThOmas's line in heavy
masses.
Johnson's Division of McCook's Corps
and Palmers Division of Crittenden's
Corps were dispatched as reinforcemeDts
TO Thomas. Gen. johnson arrived on the
field at the instant that Gen. Baird's right
was so hard pressed that it was falling
back in disorder.
johnson struck the enemy in flank and
drove them back distance of half mile;
here he encountered i superior force,
which was in the act af enyeloping his
right. when Gen. Palmer arrived on the
scene, formed on Johnson's right and at
tackled and drove the enemy with great
spirit: but he also found his right over
lo, ('lax-n 70 hn
port of Palmer. but was beaten back. Gen.
Reynolds with his division at once entered
the fight, and he too was oyeTpowered.
Gen. Davis brought his division onto the
field, and at once engaged the enemy with
success. He forced them back some dis
tance, but Gen. Bragg sent in reinforce
ments and pressed Davis so heavily that
his line was giving ground, when Gen.
Wood at the oppOrtune moment threw his
division into the fight and turned the tide
OF battle in favor Of the National troops.
1t was now 3 O'Clock in the afternoon,
the battle had been raging for five hours
against ThOmas's position and the six di-
visions which had been thrown into the
vortex of battle to his right.
WOOD IN A TIGHT PLACE.
At this juncture Gen. McCOok, by Rose
craHss order sent Gen. Sheridan with his
division 10 the support OF Wood, leaving
Gen. Iytle's Brigade to hold Gordon's
Mill. Sheridan arrived to reinforce Wood
in the nick of time to prevent disaster
TO that splendid division. This terrible
tide Of war on the Union side was at last
more than the Confederate line could
stand; it sullenly retired. leaving the field
in possession Of the Union forces. But
the Confederate forces were not idle mt
the center; here the battle ragged with
great fury and the Union forces were Civ
ing way, when Gen. Negley, hing
from CrawfiSh Spring with division,
vaulted into the fight and drove the en-
emy steadily until night closed the com
bat; in the meantime Gen. Thomas dis
patched Gen. Brannan from the extreme
left TO reinforce the center.
This days battle. although extending
over q period Of nine hours, and involv-
ing nearly every fighting man in both ar
mics, was not decisive
THE Union forces had held their posi-
tfOn. they had resisted every assault Of the
enemy, and had prevented him from seiz-
ing the road TO Chattanooga; but Braggs
army was not whipped-both men and Of
ficers were confident Of success. Gen.
Longstrcet with his corps from the Army
of Virginia. where il had gained great re-
nown was now fighting side by side with
the Confederate troops Of the Southwest
and there was a friendly rivalry between
them in the display of yalor on the battle
field.
ROSECRASS OCTNUMBEBED.
Gen. Rosecrans had not received any
reinforcements whatever since crossing the
Tennessee River, nor had he base Of