The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-09-13
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ATE seems to have decreed that
In 1863 two great battles were to
be fought on the American CONT
nent, one I'm the east and the
other in the southeast
- Whether or not Fate decreed
acaos,o.oa thus, chance, accident and neces-
Ix7X2I sity, three elements that are pres
AAS ent In all great military opera
tions combined to produce the
conflicts of Gettysburg and Chickamauga
II Is part of the military history of the
United States that neither Meade nor Lee
intended that the battle that was 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 acct
dent otherwise Fate. decreed that It should
be decided there, and Gettysburg is a glorious
heritage in which all Americans are common
heirs.
Seventy-1ve 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-
manga is a mournful but glorious testimonial
to American valor for all time to come
Like the conflict OF Gettysburg the saugh-
ter OF Chickamauga was due largely II not Who'll
Rosecrans nor General Bragg commanding the
Union and Confederate forces. respectively. un.
derstood or expected that battle would be
fought 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
throwing his forces across the Lookout range
into the Chattanooga territory
General Rosecrans had established headquar-
ters at winchester, Tenn, for the purpose Of d.
rectlng these military operations against Chatta.
nooga His left corps. under Crttenden was at
McMinnvflle. about fifty miles north of Winches-
ter but the same distance from the western
base or the Cumberlands. 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
was at Winchester with Rosecrans Minty's
cavalry was to the left OF Crittenden E. NJ Nc.
Cooks division Of MitchelIs cavalry corps was on
the right OF the goth corps. General Sheridans
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. Crittenden was 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. was not to be
caught In such trap. On the night Of Septem.
Der Z and morning Of September s he quietly
evacuated Chattanooga marching south to in.
tercept Thomas and McCook, as 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.
eral Bragg 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 the golden oppor.
tunity for the Confederates. but slipped through
Braggs 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
ember 9. and Immediately occupied the CITY.
Through the most unreliable information. Gen.
'ral Rosecrans believed that Bragg was in full
'etreat on Rome, Ga. Acting upon this informa.
Ion he ordered pursuit through the Pigeon noun
ans Crfttenden's corps. with the exception of
garrison force, was sent after Bragg They
ound him at Lee & Gordons mill on Chicka.
nauga creek, preparing for battle, with the
orces OF Thomas and McCook.
There was now no lingering doubt that a great
'attle was to be fought on the banks of the
'hfckamauga on the morrow. On September 1S
Which was Friday. General Braxton Bragg realiz-
ng that his plan to engage his antagonists in de-
all had miscarried ordered a movement of his
rmy down the Chickamauga to effect crossings
number OF bridges and fords. Late on the
vening of the 18th sharp engagement occurred
Alexander's bridge.
The battlefield Of Chickamauga was densely
coded plain with an occasional elevation from
hitch the thunderbolts Of war could be hurled
-om heavy artillery.
The visitor today to the field OF Chickamauea
wheeled along the Lafayette road an old high
ay, now well improved by the government. tina,