Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1913-09-12


II is part of the military history of the
United States that neither Meade Lee
intended that the battle that 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 acci-
dent otherwise Fate, decreed that 1t should
be decided there and Gettysburg is 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 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-
mauga is a 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
ly, to chance and accident. Neither General
Rosecrans nor General Bragg, commanding the
Union and Confederate forces, respectively,
derstood or expected that battle would be
fought that wooded plain.
After the Tullahona campaign of the Union
army in middle Tennessee, which ended July 4,
1863 General Bragg moved the army of Tennes-
see 10 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 al Winchester Tenn, for the purpose of d.
rectinc these military operations against Chatta-
nooea. His left corps. undor Crttenden, was at
McMiuryille. about fifty miles north of Winches-
ter hut the same distance from the western
base cNth" Cumhcriands. The center of his line
was at D ~cherd Under Gen. George H. Thomas,
who wH7 destined to glorify his ncne at Snod-
grass fin McCcok, commanding - Goth corps
Mt Wir@F ester with Rosecr1rs. Minty's
cavalr" 20 tie left of Crttendcn. e. NJ Nc
Cook divis'cn ci Ii+chell's cavrlrv corps was on
the rjoht Ct tho "''h ccrps Conc~al Sheridan's
divie~p carly in $50 month &C August was ad-
vanc' > Prdgc.~"' a"l Stevenson Ala, on the
Ter river.
T, -'r"e and ,~CcHh zero ser. trough the
mo- a9 nany lilies south Of Chattanooga
striking the valley about forty miles south of
that city. Crittenden 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, not to be
caught in such a trap. On the night of septem-
Der and morning of September he quietly
evacuated Chattarcoga marching south to in.
tercert Thomas and McCook. as they came down
from the mounteins into the valley south Of
Chickamauga. The Confederate plan of cam
paign is clearly revealed in this movement. Cen
eral Gragg saw an opportunity to engage the
Union corps in detail and destroy them. Long
street was coming over from Ringgold, Ga. with
heavy reinforcements having just reached that
point from Gettysburg. 1t was the golden oppor-
tunity for the Confederates, but slipped through
Brage's hands by failure on the part OF corps
commanders to carry out his orders
General Crittenden discovered that Bragg had
evacuated Chattanooga the morning of Sep
tember 8, and Immediately occupied the city.
Through the most unreliable information, Gen
eral Rosecrans believed that Bragg was in full
retreat Rome, Ga. Acting upon this informa-
tion he ordered pursuit through the Pigeon noun
tains Crittendens corps. with the exception of
n garrison force, sent after Bragg They
found htm at Lee 6 Gordons mill, Chicka-
manga su%ek, preparing for battle, with ihe
forces - Thomas and Mceook
There was lingering doubt that a great
battle to be fought the banks of the
Chickamauga on the morrow. On September IS.
which was Friday General Braxton Bragg reaz-
ing that his plan TO engage his antagonists In de-
tail had miscarried ordered a movement of his
army down the Chickamauga to effect crossings
at number of bridges and fords. Late on the
evening of the 18th sharp engagement occurred
at Alexander's bridge.
The battlefield of Chickamauga 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
Is wheeed along the Lafayette road. m old high
way, well improved by the government, that
did service before the for the country folk