Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-05
BATTLES and LEADERS q The CYL <ARNll
Ct1CKAMAUGA-TT1E GREAT BATTLE OF THE WEST

cred his front with a slight barricade of
rails and old logs found in the woods, and
so greatly aided his men.
Early in the morning Thomas dlscoV-
cred and reported to Rosecrans that an
other division was needed to maintain
our extreme left against the enemy
longer line. Rosecrans, therefore,
brought Wood from reserve to relieve
Negley. and ordered Negley at once to re-
port his division to Thomas, and Thomas
was informed that Negley would imme-
diately join him at the left. But Negley,
disappearing from the line, drifted away
from the field to Rossville. Two OF ms
brigades reached the left. but so far apart
and so ill-timed as to be of little value
1t is important to remember Negiey
conduct. because from 1t came the mis-
apprehensions that We're soon to result in
disaster to our right wing
The Confederate plan was to turn and
envelop our left, and then to advance
upon our divisions in succession and IN
volve. the whole in one common ruin.
Their right wing was commanded by Gen.
Ieonidas Polk and their left by Long
street.
Polk was ordered to begin the battle
at daybreak. but the first shots were not
heard before $50. and in an hour the ac-
ton at the left became furious. Polk
right division began to enyelop our left
and to appear upon our rear; but Thomas
hurried some reserves against 1t and
drove it away in disorder.
Having been able. in the absence of
Negleys division. to find the way to our
left and rear the enemy would naturally
reappear there with decisive numbers.
Thomas, therefore, knowing nothing OF
Nealey's conduct and wishing to add oniy
a division to his left. sent again and
again for the promised achievements.
Naturally supposing that Negley had
already reached Thomas. Rosecrans in
e.. Of nd
from other indications that Bragg was
moving his left wing to the extreme right
of the Confederate line of battle. The
conflict had been raging against Thomas
for two hours. while Wood. Davis and
Sheridan were untouched: and, not sus-
pecting that Longstreet "a reconnois-
sance of ten minutes would have devel-
oped it, was already formed for attack
and about to advance in full force against
right wing. 4tosecrans in the short
space of fifteen minutes-1o::D to 1o:4j-
ordered to his left Van Cleve, from the
reserve. and Sheridan. from the extreme
right: and. by the blunder of an aid in
wording order. sert Wood out of line
to ~close up on Reynolds and support
him as soon as possible" while McCook
to move Davis by the left flank into
the position vacated by Wood These
disconnected and fatal movements of Van
Cleve. Wood, Sheridan and Davis We're
in progress wheE Iongstreet attacked
them with six divisions of the COnfed-
crate left wing. Disaster was the i'm
mediate and inevitable result.
Sheridan's routed division moved back
to Rossville. Heroism could not save
Davis: his division overwhelmed
and scattered IN fragments that We're aft
erward collected behind Miss .onary Ridge
Woods movement uncovered Brannans
right, and. in temporary confusion, that
division hurried away to a new position
This exposed Reynolds right made 1t
necessary for him to change front to the
rear at right angles on his left; but there
he held firmly to Pa,mers right. The
rush of disordered troops and artillery.
disintegrated Van Cleves division. and
destroyed its further usefulness in this
battle
Rosecrans. seeing this appalling demo-
lition of his right wing, and finding that
the enemy had interposed between him
and Thomas FASTENED around to Ross
willie. Finding there men of Negley's di-
vision, which he had supposed to be with
Thomas, Rosecrans thought the day lost
and deemed it his duty to hasten to Chat
tanooga, there to prepare for the recep-
ton and dispos ton of what seemed to
him his disordered and defeated army
Rosecrans and Gen. James r. Garfield
his chief of staff, separated at Rossville-,
Rosecrans riding to Chattanooga and
Garfield to Thomas at the front. Rose
Grams says that he sent Garfield to the
'front.' while Garfield many times said
that he himself insisted upon going-tnat
the sound of battle proved that Thomas
was still hold ng the enemy in check.
McCook and Crittenden soon Joined Rose
Grams at Chattanooga, but Thomas re-