Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-09-30

so. 1t was all a mistake. for Bran
mans division lay in the woods cover
ing that gap. The new gap made by
the withdrawal of Wood from his first
position was opened just as the Con-
federate General Longsrreet took up
the fight against AcCook to break
through the Federal line.
Longstreet's column, numbering eight
brfgades several lines deep. rushed
through the gap like an angry food.
General P. H. Sheridan had already
taken his division from McCook's front
to march over to Thomas.
Master Stroke by Longstreet.
When Longstreet found his march
through the gap almost unopposed he
turned to the right against Thomas-
McCook's remnant was cut OF, and
that luckless general could do nothing
except fee or rejoin Thomas. With
McCook were Rosecrans and Sheridan.
A mile or more in the rear Of Thorn
as right there was a second road par
allel to the one he was defending and
passing through McCook's old line
Rosecrans, McCook and Sheridan gath
cred up the remnants of the troops
and attempted to pass around to the
rear Of Thomas and come to his aid.
But Longstreet thrust his advance
westward across this second road also
and. then facing north, charged up the
height, which became famous that day
as the bloody Horseshoe ridge.
Rosecrans and the generals with him
rallied what they could OF McCook' s
broken line and drifted away toward
the village Of Rossville, where the
Chattanooga road passes through Mis-
sionary ridge. There Rosecrans deter
mined to make a stand. The divisions
of Brannan and Wood so strangely in
voIved in the hapless events of the day
rapidly swung about from the east
front to the south and formed the right
flank of Thomas line. Until Wood
brought him the news Thomas didn't
know that the troops climbing the
Confederates and not the reinforce
ments he had asked for from McCook
Here was a peril greater than that on
his left flank. He must fight in three
directions-north, east and south.
Death Grapple on Horseshoe Ridge.
The eager rush Of Longstreet's men
was first checked by Woods lire. The
river of blood" was rechristened But
the Confederate lines were endless,
their battalions inexhaustible They
passed beyond Woods flank and storm
ed Snodgrass hill, sQuarely in the rear
Of Thomas line at the breastworks,
| and captured his headquarters. 1t was
past midday when Longstreet's men at
last came to a halt on the crest of
Horseshoe ridge. The Confederate line
now described three-quarters Of q cir.
Gle. Thomas was almost surrounded.
Fortunately. at this time the Con
| federates made a fresh charge on
Thomas north front and were repulsed
with awful slaughter. Not knowing
how near the victory was, these beaten
troops fell back and gave up to Thomas
the road to Chickamauga. Three Fed
eral brigades rushed at double quick
I from the left d the right. now less
than mile apart. ready to meet any
fresh outbreak of Longstreet. The last
card in Thomas hand had been played
! his last man put in to save the army
! from being surrounded.
| A gap less than a mile in length re
manned to be covered by the Confed
crates TO make their circle complete
and they were rushing in from two di
/ rections. Longstreet was forming his
| ranks of gray upon a spur of Horse
/ shoe ridge to drive the charge home
His guns were unlimbering on a hill
where they could rake Thomas line
! lengthwise. If LOngstreet's men closed
the narrow gap behind Thomas the
way of retreat would be shuttle roaC
to Chattanooga through the mountain
| pass at Rossville. Back on the Ross
| vile road, four miles from the battle
field, General Changers reserve corp.
had been stationed some days before t.
guard the rear of the Federal army.
Reserves Save the Day.
Throughout the morning of the 2otl
the roar of battle warned Granger O.
! a ueICe Struggle on lnOIUdS line. hi
waited impatiently until II O'Clock
scanning the region with his field
glass. Then be declared, with al
oath, I'm going to Thomas. order
or no orders" and started with TIVE
brigades. Granger grasped Thomas b,
the hand as he stood anxiously watch
ing Longstreet's swelling ranks or
Horseshoe ridge.
} No time was wasted maneuverine
At the command Right face; forwar,
march" the brigades wheeled int
line with their division commander
General ]. B. Steedman. at their head
The enemy met the charge with shel
and canister and then with a murder
Gus rife fire. Steedman lost 1000 mel
out of $500, but Thomas line was nov
J planted on the ridge coveted by Long
street. The Confederates marche
} steadily up to within range of Steed
mans rifles and came to a halt as 1
undetermined to face more slaughte
on that ridge.
At shutdown Longstreet's men cam
J on again in last effort TO carry tn
ridge and drive Thomas from the field
The last cartridge had been fred, an,
/