Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1913-09-19

H"&4A$ ent in all great military opera
- items combined to produce the
conflicts OF. Gettysburg and Chickamauga
1t is a part OF the military history OF the
United States that neither Meade Lee
intended that the battle that was to decide the
issues between the opposing forces Of the
Union and the Confederacy in the east would
be fought at Gettysburg; but chance and acct
dent, otherwise Fate, decreed that 1t should
be decided there and Gettysburg is a glorious
heritage in which all Americans common
heirs
Seventy.fve days after the flames Of Get
tysburg, two great armies of Americans threw
themselves against each other like thunder
bolts OF death on the banks Of Chickamauga
creek, in the northwest corner of the state of
Georgia, ten miles south of the city of Chatta-
nooga Tenn, and the battlefield OF Chicka.
manga is mournful but glorious testimonial
to American valor for all time to come.
Like the conflict of Gettysburg, the slaugh.
ter Of Chickamauga due largely, II not who'll
ty to chance and accident Neither General
Rosecrans nor General Bragg, commanding the
Union and Confederate forces respectively, I'm
derstood or expected that a battle would be
fought that wooded plain.
After the Tullahoma campaign OF the Union
army in middle Tennessee, which ended July 4,
1853, General Bragg moved the army of Tonnes
see to Chattanooga General Rosecrans, about
the first Of August began moving the army of
the Cumberland to the western slopes of the
Cumberland mountains with the intention of
throwing his forces across the Lookout range
into the Chattanooga territory.
General Rosecrans had established headquar-
ters at Winchester Tenn. for the purpose OF d.
recting these military operations against Ghatta-
nooga His left corps, under Crittenden. was at
McMinnville, about fifty miles north OF Winches-
ter, but the distance from the western
base of the Cumberlands. The center of his line
at Decherd, under Gen. George III. Thomas.
who destined to glorify his name at Snod-
M ha
at Winchester with Rosecrans. Minty's
cavalry to the left OF Crittenden. r. M. Nc
Cooks division of Mitchell's cavalry corps on
the right of the goth corps. General Sheridan's
division early in the month OF August adj
vanced to Bridgeport and Stevenson. Ala, the
Tennessee river.
Thomas and McCook were sent through the
mountains many miles south of Chattanooga.
striking the valley about forty miles south of
that city. Crittenden was dispatched to the vi
cinity of Chattanooga the purpose being to en-.
gage the attention of Bragg until Thomas and
McCook could the mountains and place
their corps between Chattanooga and the Con-
federate base of supplies to the south.
General Bragg, however. not to be
caught In such trap. On the night of Septem.
Der and morning of September he quietly
evacuated Chattanooga, marching south TO In
tercept Thomas and McCook, as they came down
from the mountains into the valley south of
Chickamauga. The Confederate plan Of cam
paign is clearly revealed in this movement. Gen
eral Bragg opportunity to engage the
Union corps in detail and destroy them. Long
street coming over from Ringgold, Ga. with
heavy reinforcements. having just reached that
point from Gettysburg. 1t the golden oppor-
tunity for the Confederates, but slipped through
Braggs hands by failure on the part of corps
commanders to carry out his orders.
General Crittenden discovered that Bragg had
evacuated Chattanooga on the morning of Sep
TENDER Q. and Immediately occupied the city.
Through the most unreliable information. Cen
eral Rosecrans believed that Bragg was in full
retreat Rome Ga. Acting upon this informa-
ton he ordered pursuit through the Pigeon noun
tains. Crittendens corps. with the exception of
a garrison force, was sent after Bragg They
found him at Lee & Gordon's mill on chicka.
manga creek preparing for battle. with the
forces of Thomas and McCook
There lingering doubt that great
battle was to be fought on the banks of the
Chickamauga the morrow. On September 49,
which was Friday. General Braxton Bragg. realiz-
Ing that his plan to engage his antagonists in de-
tail had misearried, ordered a movement OF his
army down the Chickamauga to effect crossings
at a number of bridges and fords. Late on the
evening of the 18th sharp engagement occurred
at Alexanders bridge.
The battlefield of Chckamauga was a densely
wooded plain with an occasional elevation from
which the thunderbolts Of war could be hurled
from heavy artillery
The visitor today to the field OF Chickamauga
way. now well improved by the government that
did service before the war for the country folk
~--~-~@~~~~--~---~~~~-1~~~