The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1913-09-13

IBGGI sity three elements that are pres.
V"AUA% ent In all great military opera
tions. combined produce the
conflicts of Gettysburg and Chckamauga
II is a part of the military history of the
United States that neither Meade nor Lee
intended that the battle that decide the
issues between the opposing forces OF the
Union and the Confederacy in the would
be fought at Gettysburg; but chance and acci-
dent otherwise Fate, decreed that 1t should
be decided there. and Gettysburg is glorious
heritage in which all Americans
heirs
Scyenty-hye days after the flames OF Get
tysbure 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-
nooca Tenn. and the battlefield of Chicka-
mauga is mouruful but glorious testimonial
to American valor for all time to come
Like the conflict of Gettysburg the slaugh-
ter Of Chickamauga was due largely. II not Who'll
~. to chance and accident. Neither General
Rosecrans General Bragg commanding the
Union and Confederate forces. respectively. I'M
derstood or 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,
1868, 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
Cumberland mountains with the intention of
throwing his forces the Lookout range
into the Chattanooga territory.
General Rosecrans had established headuuar
ters at Winchester. Tenn. for the purpose of di
recting these military operations against Chatta-
His left corps, under Crttenden was at
McMinnville about fifty miles north OF Winches
ter, but the same distance from the western
base OF the Cumberlands The center OF his line
at Decherd, under Gen. George II Thomas
who was destined to glorfy his name at Snod
grass Hill. McCook. commanding the Goth CORPS
at Winchester with Rosecrans. Minty's
cavalry to the left OF Crttenden. f. NJ Nc
Cooks division OF Mtchell's cavalry corps
the right OF the goth corps. General Sherdan's
division early in the month of August ad-
vanced to Bridgeport and Stevenson. Ala. the
Tennessee river.
Thomas and McCook 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-
gase 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. 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
Union corps In detail and destroy them Long
street coming over from Ringgold. Ga. with
heavy retnforcements. having just reached that
point from Gettysburg 1t the golden oppor-
tun.ty for the Confederates, but slipped through
Braggs hands by failure the part OF corps
commanders to carry out his orders.
General Crttenden discovered that Bragg had
evacuated Chattanooga the morning OF Sep
tember g. and Immediately occupied the city.
Through the most unreliable Information. Cen
eral Rosecrans believed that Bragg in full
retrea. Rome. Ga. Acting upon this informa-
ton he ordered pursuit through the Pigeon noun
tains. Crittenden's corps. with the exception of
garrison force was sent after Bragg They
found him at Lee & Gordon's mill Chcka-
mauga creek. preparing for battle. with the
forces OF Thomas and McCook.
There now no lingering doubt that a great
battle was to be fought the banks OF the
Chfckamauga on the morrow On September 49,
ing that his plan to engage his antagonists in de-
tail had miscarried, ordered a movement of his
army down the Chickamau4a to effect crossings
al number OF bridges and fords. Late on the
evening of the 18th a sharp engagement occurred
at Alexanders bridge.
The battlefield OF Chickamauga was a densely
wooded plain with occasional elevation from
which the thunderbots OF war could be hurled
from heavy artillery.
The visitor today to the field of Chickamauga
la wheeled along the Lafayette road. old high
way now well improved by the government. that
did service before the for the country folk