The National tribune., 1906-12-20

at the sight Even there 1t was some-
thing to be thought of; to be seen but
for moment; TO be remembered for
ever"
Gen. Brngg's Account.
Gen. Bragg, tho exaggerating the ef-
fective resistance of his army. does not
conceal his chagrin and shame at his
overwhelming defeat, which seemed to
him utterly unreasonable. In his eyes
there was no justification for his men
beng driven from so strong a position
as that which they held. He says:
"On my return to this point, about
1 l a. m, the enemy's forces We're being
moved in heavy masses from Lookout
and beyond to our front, while those in
front extended to our right. They
formed their lines with great delibera-
ton just beyond the range of our guns
and in plain view of our position. Tho
greatly outnumbered. such was the
strength of our position that no doubt
was entertained of our ability to hold 1t,
and every disposition was made for that
purpose During this time they had
made several attempts on our extreme
right, and had been handsomely re-
pulsed with very heavy loss by Maj
Gen. Cleburne's command. under the
immediate direction of Lieut.-Gen. Har-
dee. By the road across the Ridge at
| open to our rear. Maj.-Gen. Breckin-
ridge, commanding on the left, had oc-
cupied this with two regiments and a
battery. 1t being reported to me that
a force of the enemy had moved in that
direction, the General was ordered to
have II reconnoitered, and to make
every disposition necessary to secure
his flank. which he proceeded to do.
About $3.50 p. m. the immense force
in the front of our left and center ad
vanced in three lines. preceded by heavy
skirmishers. Our batteries opened with
fine effect, and much confusion was pro-
duced before they reached musket
range.
I'm n short time the roar of mus
kerry became very heavy, and it was
soon apparent that the enemy had been
| repulsed in my immediate front While
riding along the crest congratulating
the troops intelligence reached me that
our line was broken on my right and
the enemy had crowned the Ridge. AS
sistance was promptly dispatched to
that point, under Brig. Gen. Bate, who
had so successfully maintained the
ground in my front, and 1 proceeded 70
the rear of the broken line to rally our
retiring troops and return them to the
crest to drive the enemy back. Gen.
Fate found the disaster so great that
his small force could not repair it.
About this time l learned that onr
extreme left had also given way, and
that my position was almost surround
ed. Bate was Immediately directed to
form a second line in the rear. where,
by the efforts of my staff, nucleus of
stragglers had been formed upon which
to rally. Lieut.-Gen. Hardee. leaving
Maj.-Gen. Cleburne in command on the
extreme right, moved toward the left
when he heard the heavy firing in that
Il tl,A -f,yl,t rf
derson's Division just in time to find
that it had nearly all fallen back, COM
| mencing on its left, where the enemy
had first crowned the Ridge. BY a
prompt and judicious movement he
threw n portion of Cheathams Division
directly across the Ridge facing the
enemy, who was now moving a strong
| force Immediately on his left flank. BY
| a decided stand here the enemy was
entirely checked, and that portion OF
| our force to the right remained intact.
IAN to the left, however, except a
portion of Bates Division was entirely
routed and in rapid flight. nearly all
the artillery having been shamefully
abandoned by its infantry support.
| Every effort which could be made by
| myself and staff and by many other
mounted officers availed but little. A
panic which / had never before wit
messed seemed to have seized upon off,
| GERS and men, and each seemed to be
struggling for his personal safety, re-
| eardless of his duty or his character.
| In this distressing and alarming state of
| fairs Gen. Bate was ordered to hold
! his position. covering the road for the
| retreat of Breckinridge's command, and
orders were Immediately sent to Gems.
Hardee and Breckenridge to retire their
| forces upon the depot at Chickamauga.
fortunately it was now near night
| fall, and the country and roads In our
| rear were fully known to US, but equal
| ly unknown to the enemy. The routed
left made it's way back in great disorder,
effectually covered, however, by Bate's
| small command, which had q sharp
conflict with the enemy's advance, driy.
ing It back. After night, all being quiet,
Bate retired in good order, the enemy
| attempting no pursuit.
| 'Lieut.-Gen. Hardee's command, I'M
der his judicious management. retired in
good order and unmolested.
| LAS soon as all troops had crossed
| the bridges over the Chickamauga were
| destroyed to impede the enemy, tho the
stream was fordable at several places.
mo satisfactory excuse can possibly
be given for the shameful conduct of
our troops on the left in allowing their
| line to be penetrated The position was
one that ought to have been held by a
line of skirmishers against any assault
ing column, and wherever resistance
was made the enemy. fled In disorder
after suffering heavy loss. Those who
reached the Ridge did SO in condition
of exhaustion from the great physical
exertion Of elm bling, (which rendered
them powerless, and the slightest effort
would have destroyed them. Having
secured much of our artillery, they soon
availed themselves of our panic, and
turning our guns upon US. enfiladed the
lines both right and left, rendering them
| entirely untenable. 80
i Had all parts of the line been main
tanned with equal gallantry and per-
sistence no enemy could ever have dis
i lodged US, and but one possible reason
presents itself to my mind in explana-
| ton Of this bad conduct in veteran
| troops who had never before failed In
any duty assigned them, however diff
cult and hazardous. They had for two
days confronted the enemy, marshaling
! his immense forces in plain view, and
| exhibiting to their sight such superior
ity in numbers as may have intimidat-
ed weak-minded and untried soldiers;
| but our veterans had so often encoun-
tered similar hosts when the strength:
| of position was against us, and with
perfect success, that not a doubt crost
my mind. AS yet I am not fully in
formed as - the commands which first
fed and brought this great disaster and
disgrace upon our arms. Investigation
will bring out the truth, however, and