The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1903-12-03
Chiekamauaa Forty Years Ago.

Forty years ago was lOught tne Dht-
tie that made the name Chickamauga
historic. In the character and number
Of troops engaged In tho strategic
maneuvers that preceded the battle,
and in desperate fighting on the field.
Chickamauga was the great battle OF
the West, and one of the most remark
able conflicts OF the civil war
The troops engaged were mostly vet.
erans. The men OF the Union army
had fought under Grant and Buell. at
Shiloh, under Buell. at Perryville,
under Rosecrans at Stone River. and
were organized In corps and divisions
commanded by such officers as
Thomas. Crittenden, McCook. Sheridan
and Palmer. The soldiers Of the sew.
eral divisions had the confidence that
comes with long association In cam
paigns, and they had also that knowl'
edge of the opposing army that came
of meeting It In several battles.
On the Confederate side there were
not only Bragg's veterans Of Perryville
and Stone River. but Longstreets
splendid soldiers of Lees army and
the rebel armies that had been operat-
ing in Mississippi and Georgia. Each
army had respect for its antagonist,
and an overwhelming desire to win.
On the Confederate side this desire
to win had been intensified by what
had gone before. Bragg had fought at
Perryville and run away. He had
fought at Stone River and retreated.
yielding all of northern Tennessee to
the Unionists. He had been outman.
| euvered at Tullahoma in June and
July. 1868. and had yielded all OF
southern Tennessee without a battle.
| Two months later Rosecrans had fore
ed the passage of the Tennessee and
compelled Bragg's army to retreat
from Chattanooga. which had been
pronounced impregnable. and which
was to the rebel line In the West what
Richmond was in the East.
When Bragg had retreated and
Rosecrans' elated division had moved
on diverging lines In pursuit, the Con-
federate authorities formed plan to
crush the pursuing army. Lee was
weakened that Longstreet might be
hurried to Bragg. Troops were with
drawn from Sherman's front and sent
toward Chattanooga. and on Sept. 15,
1868, the President at Washington and
the people throughout the country and
Rosecrans at Chattanooga saw that
the Army OF the Cumberland was
threatened with destruction I'm the
hour of it's greatest triumph.
Rosecrans confronted with the prob
lem of holding Chattanooga and saw
ing his army recalled his divisions to
the line of the Chickamauga river, and
had them in supporting distance be-
fore Bragg was ready 10 strike. On
the night OF Sept IS. he shifted his
whole army, anticipating the plan Of
Bragg to crush his left and drive the
Union army away from CHATTANOOGA.
So on the morning of Sept 10, 1868,
Bragg, with an effective force of n 900
men, was ready to attack Rosecrans'
army OF $4,000. and was confident tha..
he would not only crush the Union
army but reoccupy Chattanooga that
day. Before he could attack. however,
Gen. George II. Thomas. In command
on Rosecrans' left. which was not
where Bragg supposed II to be. took
the initiative and made a furious at
tack on one OF Bragg's advance briga.
ades. This movement developed the
rebel position and at the same time
no disconnected Bragg that he post.
poned his general attack.
Rosecrans. with Bragg's plans re-
vealed, made his dispositions accord.
ingly. His men knew they were out.
numbered and fought with despera.
tion. On Saturday night. Sept. 19,
the men OF the Army OF the Cumber-
land felt they had been worsted. In
the hard fighting Of the day they had
lost heavily in men and artillery, but
they felt as they went into new posi-.
tions that Rosecrans was preparing
to hold fast.
On the morning OF the Goth, forty
years ago. the sorehearted soldiers
OF the depleted Union army were hang.
ing like a bulldog to the roads by
which Bragg must reach Chattanooga.
The very flower Of the rebel army
OF the East and West was against
them. but they clung To the roads
and gaps between the enemy and
Chattanooga.
Divisions were crushed. charging
rebels ran over the generals head.
quarters, a line Of battle q mile IN ex.
tent, melted away. Gen. Rosecrans
himself was swept from the field in a
rout Of the regiments nearest him,
and at vital point in his line, and
yet the bulldog Army of the Cumber.
land held on To the roads and gaps.
Assailed again and again, the divis.
Ions under Thomas at the left and
the brigades that had been sent 10
reinforce him and the regiments, bat.
talions and companies that had drifted
to him when their own divisions were
broken up. elung 70 the roads. even
after Bragg's mon were In their rear.
, When night came Che Army of the
Cumberland retired 10 the line OF Mis-
sionary Ridge. but II slill held the
roads and II still held Chattanooaa
The supreme e1Iust a the Confcderate1
In the West he'd failed Of its ob1ect
The greef battle q ne West ha1 booe
fought lnr CkaflnpouDa end alkor ~
(seneeE1ouo s(rooS1o nooeosone ~
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