The National tribune., 1906-08-23
ARMY OF THE
CUMBERLAND.
tContinued from page Ii

McMinnyille, and enable us to threaten
Chattanooga and East Tennessee, and
it would not be unreasonable to expect
an early occupation of the former
place.
18th. But the chances are more than
even that a sudden and rapid movement
would compel a general engagement,
and the defeat of Bragg would be in the
highest degree disastrous to the rebel
lion.
18th. The turbulent aspect of politics
in the loyal States renders a decisive
blow against the enemy at this time Of
the highest Importance to the success
of the Government at the polls. and in
the enforcement of the conScription act.
9TH. The Government and the War
Department believe that this army
ought to move upon the enemy; the
army desires it. and the country is
anxiously hoping for it.
18th. Our true objective point is the
rebel army, whose last reserves are
substantially in the field, and an effec-
tive blow will crush the shell. and soon
be followed by the collapse of the rebel
Government.
18th You have, in my judgment.
wisely delayed general movement
hitherto. till your army could be massed
and your cavalry could be mounted.
Your mobile force can now be concen
not equal in numerical strength to that
of the enemy. is greatly superior in
efficiency and morale.
For these reasons 1 believe an i'm
mediate advance of all our available
forces Is advisable. and under the prov
idence of God will be successful
VERY respectfully your obedient SER
want,
81. a. Garfield. Brigadier-General and
Chief of Staff"
ROxecrans's superb Strategy.
The time was now come for Rose
Grams to display his wonderful genius
for strategy. in which he was unsur-
passed among the great captains of
war in all history. There have been
far better fighters of battles than Rose
Grams. but no better planners of cam
paigns. Bragg had firmly expected that
the main blow. when it came. would
fall upon his front at Shelbyville. His
main line would be the Horse Noun
tains, which he made briStle with in
trenchmentS. heavy batteries and abatis
during the six months he had occupied
the position. For miles in front all the
passages, gorgeS, roads and fords were
similarly fortified and heavily garri-
soned. There, under Polk. was gath
cred the bulk of his army. His plan
was to fight fiercely behind these works
and if driven from them retire to the
strong fortificationS around Tullahoma.
leaving his antagonist so crippled that
another six months of repair and rein
forcement would have to follow before
attempting an assault upon that for
midaEle position.
Rosecrans did all that he could to
encourage this idea of Bragg's. In the
meanwhile he carefully wrought out
quite another campaign, as exactly as
If making plans for some piece of en-
gineering. The months of drill and
discipline at Murfreesboro, added to
Buell's previous training. had made of
the Army of the Cumberland a tre-
mendous, firm-jointed, surely working
machine. which could be handled with
ease, celerity and certainty.
Having determined upon his plan of
campaign. Rosecrans worked out in de-
tail every mans part in 1t, and impress
ed this upon his subordinate command
erS until each one was as familiar with
it as himself. and no possibilities We're
left for mistakes and failures.
Gen. Gordon Granger. with the Re
serve Corps, was to keep up the Illusion
of the main attack being made directly
on the Shelbyville front. The most of
the cavalry. under the command of
Gen. Stanley, was to aid in this, with
Gen. Mitchell and his division Of cav
airy beginning the movement by a Wig
orous attack on Wheeler on the Eagle
Vile road. Stanley, with the rest Of the
cavalry. except Mintys and Turchin's
Brigades, was to go directly down the
Sheibyvilie road, with the two columns
uniting near Middletown, where they
expected to find Wheeler's whole force
and drive IL back upon Polk's infantry.
Granger was to follow up Stanley, and
Brannan's Division of the Fourteenth
Corps was to remain at Triune until II
was seen whether Granger needed II.
Then Brannan was to cover McCook's
right flank for a period and afterward
march to join Thomas. Turchins Bri-
gade was to march toward Woodbury.
aid McMinnville. far on the left. to give
an impression of feint In that direc-
ton while Bragg's front was assailed.
Gen Thomas, to whom the most Seri-
Gus part of the work was assigned. was
to move rapidly and in great force up
on. the Manchester road and push
Straight through the vastly important
pass of Hocver's Gap and Mats Hol-
low. McCook. with the Twentieth
Corps. was TO make show of assisting
Granger and then a feint on the right
of Thomas. and finally come in on his
right to strike Liberty Gap.
Crittenden, with the Twenty-first
Corps, was to leave Van Cleve's Divi-
sion to hold Fort RoSecranS, and move
with the rest of his troops and Minty's
Brigade of cavalry to Bradyville.
The troops were all drawn in toward
the roads they were to take, and ex-
plicit directions given them as to what
was expected to be done.
AS the army was to pass into the
eBarrens" of the Cumberland Pateau
trains were 10 follow each division with
~ days rations, one-half of the meat
being in the wagons and the other half
driven along on the hoof.
The Advance Begins.
June Is usually rainy month in Ten
Aessee. but June, 1863. was rainy be-
yond all precedent. The storms set in
before the date for the army's advance,
and continued with little intermission
throughout the campaign. This was
particularly harassing. because the
main movement was to be through the
exceedingly rough country, where the
great floods of water falling on the wide
Cumberland Plateau came rushing
down the narrow gorges with immense
volume and force. Where the gorges
widened into valleys the freshets spread
over them. In that barren country
there were but few bridges, and the
army pontoons had desperate struggles
with the mountain torrents. But moth
ing could Withstand the ardor of The
men, breaking away at last from their
CALLING inaction. In spite of torrential
rains, of execrable roads and of swirling
sluiceways across their routes. the great
army moved like piece OF well-ordered
machinery. with every division starting