The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-09-25
.BA TIE OF
CHlCKAMA'CA
Interesting Paper Read Before
Louisiana Veterans at Their
Recent Reunion.
by CAPTAIN JAMES DlNKINs
Battle in Which the Superior
Quality Of the Confederate
Was Illustrated.

desire, in this necessarily mperft ct
s sketch OF the great battle of Chicka-
4 manga, TO record, as far as may be
able only the most important features,
and events, ana it Is not without dllii-
M dence that have consented to do So Fl
Il The present war between Russia and
+ Japan has been compared to the WIT be-
tween the States, and the japanese are
accredited with possessing enual strategy
X with Jackson and Forrest,
The Japanese soldiers are being spoken
Of as the greatest ofsSthe age, almost
without compar son for dash and cOlll-l
4 age. Z "A
Compa rison is too vast subject to su'1-
G dertake in Il short report, but 1t is we'll 70
Z remind those OF the present generation
i that the South was plunged into the
Il midst of war without any preparation,
and without equipment, While Janan has
K for years been actively employed in or,
gan zng her battalions and nlobillzing
her armies. We have great admiration
for the Japanese. ,tnd earnestly hope they
may be successful In crushing the mem
ace which confronts them, and also check
the madness ct that bnrbarous and IN
human Government which has for years
oppressed and murdered Il harmless and
peaceful people. When Il recent battle
r. was fought reports were sent over the
world stating that SCI men were killed or
wounded. and people held their breath
K, while they read the headlines, and gaspcd
Il over the awful destruction Of life.
5@SI have selected Chickamanga as my
Il subject, therefore, beta use 1t w II Illus
& trate the quality OF the Confederate SOL
3 der, and viii enable those who make
comparisons to do 50 ntellgently.
desire particularly TO impress upon
( I,ay vnr pSb IN hr inf Il
Confederates were greatly outnu1nbered,
while the reverse Is true Of the japanese.
Chattanooga. Us We all know, is IN the
h mouth of a narrow valley, formed by
81 Lookout Mountain and q sp,ns of noun
tn MS known us Missionary Ridge. Look"
\ ont Mountain juts abruptly upon the
Tennessee River, 4 short distance TO the
west of Chattanooga and extends sou.n-
ward into Georgia.
s For fifty miles or more the denselY
wooded hills and rocky cliffs are im7as-
sable for troops except By. two wagon
roads, one distant twenty and the other
forty miles from Chattanooga.
Missionary Ridge extends from north
to south, on the eastern extremity Of the
valley, and aiong which the eastern
branch o! tho Chckamaugil River runs.
TO the sourh is Iageon Mountain, some
TWENTY-FIVE hiiles distant from tnatta-
nooga and apo.t equally distant between
y the two the Chickamauga River crosses
tho valley. and on this west branch of
the river Lee and Gordon'.s mills are
situated.
II was early in july 1868, that the
Army OF Tennessee, under command or
General Braston Bragg, was withdrawn to
the south side Of the Tennessee River, and
concentrated at Chattanooga where nee
cssnry changes IN the organization took
place.
Ii Forrest had been assigned to the com
n,and OF a division OF cavalry and ordered
to East Tennessee to keep watcbfu oh
ii scryaton Of tho enemy In that direction.
The Federals at that time were in strong
force at McNinnrile, Frahkln and Tri-
unc.
General Rosecrans, who commanded
( The Federal Army, had several times de-
cided on forward movement. 1t trans
pires, but the audacions work OF Forrest
kept him In doubt, and he therefore did
not undertake to cross the Tennessee
until about August 9th.
On tile last Of the month two divisions
of McCook's Corps and ono OF Thomas'f
Corps made the passage at Caperton's
Ferry, and began 70 march without delay
over Sand Mountain.
divisions of MeCook and Thomas crossed
AT Bridgeport and Shell Mound.
&E About this time the ihrec Confederate
VI corps, commanded by Generals Polk, u
H. Hill and Ispcknert were WitfdrHwn u
the vicinity Of Lee and Gbrdon's mills, or
* The Chickamauga. On September 9TH twt
divisions az rhomgs's Corps fSegly's ant
Bip rd's) made Their way through Coop
er's and steyens's gaps, in Lookout Noun
tam, both very sunne positions, wh!cl
werc left open by General Bragg, bu'
without any apparent object
The enemy took position near Dug Gar
and as soon AZ they had done so, D. II
IIIll WAS ordered TO guard the passage II
PIGEON Mountain, while General Polk ~at
summoned to make active operation
against the irnderals n Mcl.emorc's Cove
Thus The two armies faced each othp
on september ltth hut no epii3slon &C
CURED lIill made disposition for battle
ana Cleburnr battle-snarrad HEROES de
nioyed IN line ready 10 srring Goftl wiz
tLeir llahituai elan hut before the orde
was given word REACHED lill From head
quarters To ssuspend the movement.
55G It'll believed by those acquainted wit
the conditions that most favorable OF
polunity WAS lost al this tifhn,
AS an evidence OF this the Yankees be
gan a hurried ehoerade march.
AS soon an General Hill reported IN.
Tact he Mas ordered 70 advance, whifs
he did with great spirit, but iiie Federal
decncj battle, and u CHI being at hant
Under tayor Of darkness fell buck 70 III
hills In front OF Stevens Gap. and 81
oaped t.Iat desSrs~stion Which & skilltt
general lika HILL. With Ills impetu9us 80
oilers, could have wrought
eThs was one ~ tbe host opportun4tir
Of The Ma.
IeCook assembled his corps near ANit
stofirs Gap, ~ Lookout Mountain, SON
fnrt " miles ajstau. Meantime IVlOml