The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1913-09-12

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ATE seems TO have decrecd that
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W. i'm 1868 two great battles we're to
- be fought on the American CONT
II nent, one in the east and the
III other In the southeast
s@e- Whether not Fate decreed
es-sss-.-~s- thus, chance, accident and neces-
1$9.EGLE3E sity. three elements that are pres.
hl-AS ent In all great military opera
tlons, combined TO produce the
conflicts Of Gettysburg and Chickanauga
1t is part OF the military history Of the
United States that neither Meade nor Lee
intended that the battle that was to decide tho
issues between the opposing forces OF the
Union and the Confednracy in the east would
be fought at Gettysburg; but chance and acci.
dent, otherwise Fate decrced that It should
be decided there. and Gettysburg IS a glorious
heritage in which all Americans are common
heirs
Seventyfve 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 Chckamauga
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
mauga Is a mournful but glorious testimonial
10 American valor for all time TO come
Like the conflict of Gettysburg. the slaugh.
ter Of Chickamauga due largely, II not whol.
ly TO chance and accident Neither General
Rosecrans nor General Bragg commanding the
Union and Confederate forces, respectively. un.
derstood or expected that a battle would be
fought on that wooded plain
AFTER the Tullahoma campaign Of the Union
army in middle Tennessee, which ended July L.
1863, General Bragg moved the army OF Tenues-
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
hrpu no tha al. ont
into the Chattanooga territory.
General Rosecraus had established headquar
ters at Winchester, Tom. for the purpose OF di-
recting these military operations against Chatta
nooga. His left corps. under Critteudou was at
MCMinnyille, about Gfty miles north OF WinChcs-
ter. but the same distance from the western
base OF the Cumbcrlands. The center OF his line
was at Decherd. under Gen George n Thomas
who was destined TO glorify his name at Suod
grass Hill McCook, commandng the 2oth corps
was at Winchester with Rosccrans. Nlntvs
cavalry to the LEFT Of Crittenden. T. NJ Nc
Cooks division of MitchcUs cavalry corps was ON
the right of the Goth corps. General Sherddu's
division early in the month of August was ad
vanced 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. Crttcndcn was dispatched 20 the VI.
cinity of Chattanooga, the purpose being 20 en-.
gage the attention OF bragg unII IhnmdS ana
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 10 be
caught in such trap. ON the night OF Septcm.
Der and morning Of September ho quietly
evacuated Chattanooga, marching south TO In
tercept Thomas and McCook, rs they came down
from the mountains into the valley south OF
Chickam1uea. The Confederate plan OF cam.
paien is clearly revealed In this movement Gen.
eral Rragg saw an opportunity TO engage the
Union corps I'm detail and destroy them Long
street was coming over from RngCo'd. Ca with
heavy reiuforcemcnts. having just reached that
point from Gettysburg. II the golden cUpor.
tunity for the ConCedcrater. but slipped through
Braggs hands by failure tho part OF corps
commanders to carry ont his orders
General Critendon discovered that Bragg had
evacuated Chattanooga on the morning of Son.
tember g. and immediately occupied the city
Through the most unreliable information Cen.
oral Rosecrans believed that Bragg was I'm FUN
retreat on Rome Ca. Acting unon this nfo-,na.
tion he ordered pursuit through the Pigeon noun.
tains Cri,tcndcns corps with the exception Of
garrison force. was sent after BraCC. They
found him at Lee e Cordons mill on Chcka.
mauea creek preparing for battle with the
forces OF Thomas and NcCook
There now no lingering doubt that a great
battle was TO be fought the banks OF the
Cbickamauga the morrow. On September lS
which was Friday. General Braxtou PraEg. realiz
Ing that his plan 20 engage his antagonists I'm de-
tail had miscarried. ordered a movement of his
eruiy down the Chickamaugo TO effect crossings
2, number Of bridges and fords Late the
evening OF the 18th sharp engagement occurred
o. Alexardsrs bridge
The battlefield of Chickamauga was a densely
wooded plain with occasional elevation from
which the tbunderbolts Of war could be hurled
from heavy artillery
The visitor today to the field OF Chckamauga
Is wheeled along tho Lafayette road. old high
way nov we'll improved by the government. that
aid service before the for the country folk