Rocky Ford enterprise., 1913-09-12

kE4SI sity three elements that are pres
t~kQA$ ent in all great military opera
tions. combined to produce the
conflicts of Gettysburg and Chickamauga.
1t is a part of the military history of the
United States that neither Meade nor 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 are common
heirs
Seventy-five 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 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 mournful but glorious testimonial
to American vaor 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 General Bragg. commanding the
Union and Confederate forces respectively,
derstood 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 4,
1853. 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
Into the Chattanooga territory.
General Rosecrans had established headquar-
ters at Winchester. Tenn. for the purpose OF d.
recting these military operations against Chatta-
nooga. His left corps under Crittenden. at
McMinnville about fifty miles north of winches-
ter, but the same distance from the western
base OF the Cumberands 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,
at Winchester with Rosecrans. Minty's
cavalry to the left of Crittenden. z. NJ Nc
Cooks division of Mitchelrs 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, 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 dispatched to the VI
cinty of Chattanooga, the purpose being to en-
gage 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-
evacuated Chattanooga. marching south to In
tercept Thomas and McCook. as they came down
from the mountains into the valley south Of
Chckamauga. The Confederate plan of cam
paign is clearly revealed in this movement. Cen
eral Bragg opportunity to engage the
Union corps in detail and destroy them. Long
street was coming over from Rfnggold. Ga. with
heavy reinforcements, having Just reached that
point from Gettysburg 1t was the golden oppor-
tunity for the Confederates. but slipped through
Rragg's hands by failure the part of corps
commanders to carry out his orders.
General Crittenden discovered that Bragg had
evacuated Chattanooga on the morning of Sep
tember Q. and Immediately occupied the city.
Through the most unreliable Information. Cen
eral Rosecrans believed that Bragg in full
retreat Rome. Ga. Acting upon this informa-
tion he ordered pursuit through the Pigeon noun
tains Crittenden's corps. with the exception of
garrison force. sent after Bragg They
found him Lee G Gordons MILL Chicka-
manga creek. preparing for battle. with the
forces of Thomas and McCook.
There now no lingering doubt that great
battle to be fought the banks OF the
Chckamauga the morrow. On September IS.
which Friday. General Braxton Bragg. reallz-
ing that his plan to engage his antagonists in de-
tail had mscarried, ordered movement OF his
army down the Chckamauga to effect crossings
at a number of bridges and fords Late the
evening OF the 18th sharp engagement occurred
at Alexander's bridge.
The battlefield of Chickamauga was a densely
wooded plain with occasional elevation from
which the thunderbolts OF war could be hurled
from heavy artillery.
The visitor today to the field OF Chickamaugs
Is wheeled along the Lafayette road. old high.
way. now well improved by the government. that
did service before the war for the country folk