The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-09-19

klA@ emit in all great military opera
tons, combined to produce the
conflicts of Gettysburg and Chickamauga.
1t is part of the military history of the
United States that neither Meade nor 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 it should
be decided there, and Gettysburg is a glorious
heritage in which all Americans are common
heirs
Seventyfive days after the flames OF Get
tysburg two great armies of Americans threw
themselves against each other like thunder
bolts of death 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, If not who'll
ly, to chance and accident. Neither General
Rosecrans General Bragg commanding the
Union and Confederate forces, respectively, I'M
derstood expected that battle would be
fought on that wooded plain.
After the Tullahoma campaign of the Union
army In middle Tennessee, which ended July 4.
1863, General Bragg moved the army of Tennes-
see to Chattanooga. General Rosecrans, about
the first of August, began moving the army Of
the Cumberland to the western slopes of the
throwing his forces across the Lookout range
into the Chattanooga territory
General Rosecrans had established headquar-
tiers at Winchester Tenn for the purpose of d.
recting these military operations against Chatta-
nooga His left corps, under Crittenden, was at
McMnnville, about fifty miles north of Winches-
| ter. but the same distance from the western
base Of the Cumberlands. The center of his line
was at Decherd. under Gen. George H. Thomas
who was destined to glorify his name at Snod
| grass Hill McCook commanding the goth CORPS
was at Winchester with Rosecrans. Minty's
| cavalry was to the left OF Crittenden. g. M. Nc
Cooks division of Mitchell's cavalry corps was on
the right of the goth corps. General Sheridan's
division early In the month of August was ad-
| yanced to Bridgeport and Stevenson, Ala. on 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 cross the mountains and place
| their corps between Chattanooga and the Con-
| federate base of supplies to the south.
| General Bragg however, was not to be
| caught in such trap. On the night or 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
| paiqn is clearly revealed In THIS movement Gen-
eral Bragg saw an opportunity to engage the
/ Union corps in detail and destroy them Long
street was coming over from Ringgold. Ca, with
heavy reinforcements, having Just reached tna'
point from Gettysburg 1t was the golden oppor
tuntty for the Confederates but slipped through
Bragg's hands tby failure on the part OF corps
commanders to carry out his orders
General Crittenden discovered that Bragg hac
evacuated Chattanooga on the morning OF Sep
tember g. and Immediately occupied the city
Through the most unreliable information. Gen
eraI Rosecrans believed that Bragg was In fui
retreat on Rome, Ga. Acting upon this tnforma
tim he ordered pursuit through the Pigeon noun
tains Crittenden's corps, with the exception
, n garrison force, was sent after Bragg Inc!
found him at Lee & Goraons mill. on Chicka
manga creek preparing for battle, with TN
forces Of Thomas and McCook
There was now no lingering doubt that grea
battle was to be fought on the banks OF tn
Chickamauga on the morrow. On September 10
which was Friday, General Braxton Bragg reanz
inc that his plan to engage his antagonists IN oe
tail had miscarried, ordered movement OF MI
army down the Chickamauga to erect crossing
, ar number of bridges and fords- Late on TN
evening of the 18th sharp engagement oecurre
} at Alexanders bridge.
The battlefield of Chickamauga was densel
wooded plain with occasional elevation iron
which the thunderbolts of war could be hurle
| from heavy artillery.
The visitor today to the field of Chickamaug
liz wheeled along the Lafayette road an ola nign
/ w,v. now well improved by the government, tina
did service before the war Tor the country ION