The National tribune., 1906-10-25
CHAPTER XXXIV.
BEGINNING OF THE SIEGE.

guidIy to the Investment.
Grandly as Thomas loomed above
the awful whirlwnd of battle splen-
didly as he was served by his magnifi-
cent division, brigade and regimental
commanders, yet after all the figure
which that mortal contest of manhood
raised to highest glory was the Amer
fcar soldier.
In all the cycles since the sword be-
gan to devour there was never better
hghting done on both sides than at
Chickamauga. The Confederates de-
serve all the praise which has been
given them for their dashing valor and
their renewed and persistent assaults
over their own wounded and still warm
dead. While according this measure
of commendation t. our enemies we
can still claim, in all fairness. a higher
credit for the thin line of blue behind
the barricades and on the crest OF
Snodgrass Hill, that withstood during
the long hours the most desperate at
tacks OF brave and resolute enemy
IL IL required men to charge and charge
again over the bloody wrecks Of their
1ormer assaults, it required men OF
even a higher type to stand hour after
hour in firm and unshaken resistance
TO the fierce dashes of continually in
creasing hosts of foes 1t is said that
the commander makes his troops: with
more truth it can be said that the
troops make the commander
Inomass superb generalship and his
resolution, as fixed as the north star.
the glorious leadership of such men as
Baird. Reynolds, Palmer, johnson.
Rrannan
have avai1ed nothing had there not
been, under their command, soldiers of
a character rarely heen on any field of
battle. Every man in that army was
as intent upon winning a victory, as
brave in encountering peril, as quick
in taking advantage of everything tha,
promised to lead to success as any of
the Generals. To be the first among
such men was sufficient to make a
man great General. The men who
carried muskets We're as good Generals
as those who wore swords. and the
man with the sword had only to take
advantage of his position and join
heartily with his men to become a
great General
Thomas Retires to Chattanooga.
Altho Gen. Thomas had taken up the
strongest possible position after his re-
tirement TO Mission Ridge and had dis
posed of his troops to the best advan,
tage, he saw that his line was MT the
best upon which to receive an attack
from Bragg's superior forces 1t Was
too long and consequently too weak
especially in that part which extended
across the Chattanooga Valley to the
base of Lookout NJ ountain. The Chat
tanooga Valley is cut up by foothills
which would mask a movement of
Bragg's army, while preventing the
ready reinforcement of attacked por-
tions by the other divisions. There
fore, Gen. Thomas advised Gen. r ose-
Grams to withdraw the army back to
Chattanooga and concentrate 1t inside
the line of fortifications which the reb-
els had thrown up around that town
These We're unfi 1ished, but Rosecrans
had we'll employed Sept 81, while
Thomas wss standing on Mission Ridge
offering the enemy battle. in strength
ening and extending these defenses
They were put into fair shape by even
ing. and at 6 o'clock Thomas issued
orders for the withdrawal to them.
As usual with his orders, they We're
perfect In their symmetry of detail,
with everything as carefully thought
out as if for parade or review.
In the evening he had sent for Crit
Senden, who commanded on the left,
spsd McCook, whose corps lay at his
tight, to notify them of what was ex-
pected to be done and to direct them
wagons, ambulances and surplus artil-
lery We're started to the rear, and as
soon as IL was dark strong skirmish
lines, under the direction of judici ous
officers, were thrown out to cover the
front of each division and well con-
nected up on each flank. They We're
ordered to hold their position until
daylight and then retire on Baird's Di-
vision, n ow commanded again by Gen
Rousseau and Minty's Cavalry which
were left in support. Crittenden was
TO begin the withdrawal at O'Clock
by evacuating the position to the left
Of Ross Gap, followed by Steedman's
Division. AS these cleared the roads
Eegley's Division was to start by 10
o'clock, t. be followed by Reynolds's
Brannan's Divisions moved back TO a
point half way between Rossville and
Chattanooga to cover the movements
McCook's Corps was to follow by di-
visions from left to right. all keeping
within supporting distance By a
m, Sept. %. the whole army was in
position behind the intrenchments
without having lost a single man on
the retreat.
Rosecrans's Last and Greatest Mistake.
While the works around Chatta-
nooga were readily made capable of
defense against any direct assault, vet
the position had grave disadvantages.
Ihe nrst ana greatest was that the po-
sition did not control it's line of sup
plies. AS has been repeatedly said.
Chattanooga stands at the great gate
way thru the mountains made by the
waters of the Tennessee bursting the
rocky barrier to seek outlet to the
Mississippi Through this narrow
gorge. hanging sometimes almost over
the river. the railroad runs on the
south side of the Tennessee to Bridge
port, where it crosses the river and
thence runs to Nashville. There is also
wagon road out of Chattanooga
:. north of the river, but ii lies much of
= the way along the river bank and Is
readily commanded by musket fire
from the other side, as was lamentably
proved. The other roads leading out
Of Chattanooga to the northward are
rough trails over the precipitous wall
of Waldrons Ridge.
A fortress, no matter how strong
which cannot control its line Of sup
plies fated to fall before any enemy
which is persistent enough to hold on
for a time. Rosecrans made a fatal
mistake when he withdrew Spears
Brigade from Summertown, on the
summit of Lookout Mountain, which
controlled virtually all the roads lead
ing to the passes across that high wall
. Of rock. Gen. Gordon Granger. who
was quite frank in his criticisms, and
therefore not popular with either his
Grams plainly that he had signed his
death warrant when he withdrew the
garrison and surrendered Lookou,
Mountain to the Confederates Meth
er Rosecrans nor Bragg. however. seem
to have comnrahan8ad the strata1ic