The state herald., 1913-09-12

i other In the southeast
Whether or not Fate decreed
y..a,o.o thus, chance accident and neces-
I&a4Sl sity, three elements that are pres.
k~k2A$I ent In all great military opera
tions combined ito produce the
conflicts OF Gettysburg and Chickamauga.
It is 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
he decided there. and Gettysburg is glorious
heritage in which all Americans common
heirs.
seventyfve 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 Chcka-
mauga is mournful 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.
y. to chance and accident Neither General
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.
1858, 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 purpos9 OF di.
recting these military operations against Chatta-
nooga His left corps. under Crittenden, was at
hnAf I1A .L.,,t
ter. but the same distance from the western
base OF the Cumberlands. The center OF his line
was AT Decherd under Gen. George II. Thomas.
who was destined to glorify his name at Snod.
grass nm. McCook. commanding the goth corps.
was at Winchester with Rosecrans. Mintys
cavalry was 10 the left OF Crittenden. + NJ. Nc.
Cooks division OF Mitches cavalry corps was on
the right OF the Goth corps. General sheridan's
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 10 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
Der 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
ChickPmauga. The Confederate plan OF cam.
paign IL clearly revealed In this movement Gen
era Bragg saw an opportunity TO engage the
Union corps In detail and destroy them. Long
street was coming from Rnggold Ga with
heavy reInforccments, having Just reached thn,
point from Gettysburg II was the golden opnor
tunity for the Confederates. but slipped through
Bragg's hands by failure on the part OF corps
commanders to carry out his orders
General Crittenden discovered that Drngg had
evacuated Chattanooga on the morning OF Sep.
iember .. and Immediately occupied tho city
Through the most unreliable information. Gen.
ernl Rosecrnns believed that Bragg was In full
retreat on Rome, Ga Acting upon this informn.
tion he ordered pursuit through the Pigeon noun.
tains crittenden's corps with the exception OF
n garrison force. was sent after Bragg They
found him nj zee a Gordon'a mill on chichn.
mauga creek. preparing for battle. with the
forces OF Thomas and Mecook
There was lingering doubt that great
battle Mnn TO be fought on the banks Of tho
Chickamauga on the morrow On September IS
which was Friday. General Braxion bragg roailr
INK that his plan TO engage hia antagonists In de-
tail had mscarricd. ordered a movement OF his
army down tho Chokamauga TO effect crossings
at number OF bridges and forda. Late on tho
evening OF the 18th sharp engagement occurred
st Aiexsnder'a bridge
The battlefield OF Chickamauga wAn n d.nseiy
wooded plain with mn occasional elevation from
which the thunderbolts Of war could bo hurled
from heavy artillery.
The visitor today 10 the rold OF chiokatnsus,
IL wheeled along the Lafayette road. an old high
way now Ael improved by the government, that
did service before the war for the country folk