Farmers' champion. (Elgin, Okla.) 1912-1922, 1913-09-11
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HNATE seems TO have decreed that,
In 1868. two great battles we're to
no fought tho American cont
ncnt, one In the east and the
other In the southeast
Whether or not Fate decrced
..cn thus. chance. accident and neces
sity. three elements that are pres
S07VI ent IN all great military opera
tions combined to produce tho
conflicts Of Gettysburg and Chickamauga.
Il IL a part OF the military history Of the
Umited States that neither Meade Lee
Intended that the battle that was to decide the
ossues between tho opposing forces OF tho
Union and the Confederacy In the east would
be fought at Gettysburg: but chance and acci-
Dent otherwise Fate. decreed that II should
~ decided there and Gettysburg ls a glorious
heritage In which all Americans are common
heirs
BevcntyRve days after the flames OF Got
0ysbuSg. two great armies Of Americans threw
themselves against each other Hike thunder
Colts Of death on the banks Of Chickamauga
creek, In the northwest corner Of the state OF
Georgia. ten miies south OF the city Of Chatta-
aooGa. Tenn. and the battlefield Of Chicka-
mauga ID q mOurnful but glorious testimonial
10 American valor for all time to come
Lake the conflict OF Gettysburg. the slaugh-
'eer Of Chickamausa was due largely. n not Who'll.
". 10 chance and accident Neither General
R0secraas nor General Bragg commanding the
Usioa and Confederate forces respectively. un-
1sss(ood or expected that a battle would be
oooSAt on that wooded plain
Af>es The Tulinhoma campaign Of the Union
asuy n middle Tennessee. which ended July 4,
loos. 0sasrs, Bragg moved tho army Of Tennes
80 70 Chattanooga. General Rosecrans about
~ Arst Of August. began moving the army OF
ehe Cumberland to the western slopes Of the
Cumberland mountains with the intention OF
ehsowlns his forces across the Lookout range
into the Chattanooga territory.
nnsA had fahll laA hoa aks..
oess at Winchester. Tenn. for the purpose Of d.
ssetins these MILITARY operations against Chatta-
ocoea Hts LEFT corps under Crittenden. was at
ncMtnnvIile. about Hfty miles north Of Winches
eer but the same distance from the western
base OF the Cumberands. The center OF his line
was at Decherd. under Gen. George r. Thomas.
who was destined to glorify his name at Snod-
srass Hill Mct'ook. commanding the goth corps.
ives at Winchester with ROsecrans. Minty's
cavalry was 10 the left Of Crittenden. n. NJ. Nc
Cooks division Of Mitchells cavalry corps was on
the right At 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.
etrtking tho valley about forty miles south Of
that city. Crittenden was dispatched to the Vi.
cInlty OF Chattanooga. the purpose being to en-
sage the attention Of Bragg until Thomas and
McCook could cross the mountains and place
ehelr corps between Chattanooga ana the Con.
federate base Of supplies to the south.
General Brasg, however not to be
caught In such a trap. On the night Of Septem.
Der and morning OF September 8 he quietly
evacuated Chattanooga marching south to IN
tercept Thomas and McCook. az they came down
from the mountains into the valley south Of
Chckamauga. The Confederate plan Of cam
pagn Ia clearly revealed In this movement. Gen
ersi Bragg saw opportunity to engage the
vfulss L. A.a.n
street was coming over from Ringgold. Ca. with
heavy reinforcements having Just reached that
point from Gettysburg. II was the golden Oppor-
unity Tor the Confederates. but slipped through
brasg's hands by failure the part Of corps
commanders TO carry out his orders.
General Crtttenden discovered that bragg had
evacuated Chattanooga on the morning Of Sep
tember .. and Immediately occupied the city.
Through the most unreliable information Gen
erai Rosecrans believed that Bragg was In full
retreat ON Rome. Ga. Acting upon this informa
uon he ordered pursuit through the Pigeon noun
eains crtttendens corps. with the exception OF
. garrison force. sent after Bragg They
found him at Lee Gordons mill on Chicka.
mauga creek. preparing for battle. with the
sorceS OF Thomas and McCoOk
Thers was now no lingering doubt that great
ostue was To be fought on the banks Of the
Cnicksmauea ON the morrow. On September 10.
which was Friday. General Braxton Bragg. reaiix
ing that his plan to engage hts antagonists In do
Ah ma miscarried. ordered a movement Of his
army down the Chickamausa to effect crossings
et number Of bridges and fords Late on the
evsains OF the 18th q sharp engagement occurred
u AleHanders bridge
The battlensId Of Chichamauga IVES q dsnss,y
veeoee plais With % occasional sisvstioa from
vt6ea tAo tAundestolts q vss could - huriel
49, AseW astilsssy.
~ vislees ts1av 10 The Asll os Chiehau uaveo
ws:slse sls:e - LAhyssts rcal. q osd hisA,