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Mission ridge, four miles south of Chattanooga and six or eight north of Gordon's mill. But Negley's division watched Owen's ford, a mile or so to our right, where another and inferior road over Pigeon mountain crossed the creek near Crawfish spring; while Sherman's and Jeff. C. Davis's divisions of McCook's corps were posted intermediately on the right of, but far nearer, our main line, holding the road which, striking off from the main Lafayette road a little north of Gordon's mill, keeps straight up the cove on the west side of the Chickamauga. Gordon Granger, with his reserved corps, was posted two or three miles in the rear of our left, covering all the roads leading from the east and south-east into Rossville, and thus to Chatta

nooga.

Rosecrans had been deceived, and was taken at disadvantage, as many a good General had been before him. Instead of being warned, as he should have been, by Meade and Halleck, had their spies been worth a rush, that a heavy corps had been detached from Lee's army and probably sent against him, he had very recently received advices of an opposite tenor."

Minty, commanding our cavalry on the left, had been scouting nearly to Dalton, and had had several smart skirmishes" with the enemy's horse near that place, Ringgold, Lett's, and Rockspring church. As he still held

36 He had been favored, just before, with the following dispatch; which clearly proves that his rash pursuit of Bragg was dictated from, or at least expected at, Washington:

"WASHINGTON, Sept. 11, 1863. "Burnside telegraphs from Cumberland gap that he holds all East Tennessee above Loudon, and also the gap of the North Carolina mountains. A cavalry force is moving toward Athens to connect with you. After holding the moun

the left, after our concentration, being thrown across the Lafayette road, he was here attacked" in force, and compelled to give ground; showing that Bragg was massing heavily on his right, and crossing the Chickamauga below (north of) Gordon's mill.

Rosecrans was by this time aware that the matter threatened to be serious. The stubborn attack on Minty evinced a disposition to turn his left and cut him off from Rossville, Chattanooga, and any practicable line of retreat. The bulk of his army was too far up the valley for effective resistance to such a demonstration. The next day," therefore, was devoted by him to concentrating his force more compactly, and farther to the left; Bragg (whose renforcements from Virginia were just coming up from Dalton, where they had debarked from the cars), contenting himself with a fresh attack by Walker's division on Minty's and on Wilder's horsemen at Alexander's bridge, which was carried, but burned; our left being now fairly driven in to the Rossville and Lafayette road: though heavy clouds of dust were raised in front of our right also. All the fords. for miles below Gordon's mill were now in the hands of the enemy, who were firmly established across the creek. By night, Bragg was ready for the onset-a division of Longstreet's men, under Hood, being in position on his extreme right; though tain passes on the west, and Dalton, or some other point on the railroad, to prevent the return of Bragg's army, it will be decided whether your army shall move farther south into Georgia and Alabama. It is reported here by deserters that a part of Bragg's army is reenforcing Lee. It is important that the truth of this should be ascertained as early as possible.

"H. W. HALLECK, Commander-in-Chief."

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OPENING OF THE BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA.

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Longstreet himself did not come up act of concentration, noting its positill next morning."

Our army, now concentrated, was about 55,000 strong-seven divisions, under Wood, Van Cleve, Palmer, J. J. Reynolds, Johnson (R. W.), Baird, and Brannan, forming our main line -perhaps 30,000 strong, ranging from right to left from Gordon's mill northward; the residue posted on the right and in reserve, as has already been stated. Bragg's general plan of battle was the same as at Stone river, save that he now attempted to turn and crush our left as he then did our right. The Virginians, under B. Johnson, were on his extreme right, already across the creek, and were to flank and turn our left; while Walker was to cross at Alexander's (burned) bridge, just above, supported by Buckner (recently arrived with eight brigades from East Tennessee); the whole advancing upon and crushing our left by a left-wheel movement, while Polk was to press our front at Gordon's mill, fighting his way straight across, if possible; if not, then to veer to the right and cross at Tedford's or Dalton's ford, lower down; while Hill (D. H.) should cover his left flank, and assail in flank any force that should attempt to move down from the isolated divisions on our right to the support of our front and left. Wheeler's cavalry was assigned the easy task of holding the gaps in Pigeon mountain, covering the Rebel left and rear, and gathering up all stragglers from the front. From favorable points on Pigeon mountain, Bragg's scoutsin fact, whole brigades of his men -had looked down on our army as it moved generally northward in the Sept. 19.

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tions and the strength of each corps and division-theirs being all the time concealed from us. The advantage thus secured was a very great one, and explains, otherwise than by superior generalship, the fact that their troops were so disposed for and handled in action as to be more effective in proportion to their numbers than ours were. And thus, when night fell," two-thirds of Bragg's army was across the creek, holding firmly all the fords they cared for, save those directly at Gordon's mill, and had inflicted quite as much damage as they had suffered. True, the stream was often, if not generally, fordable; but its banks were in good part steep and rocky; so that, had they been skilfullly defended and firmly held, they could not have been carried without heavy loss.

Polk was in chief command on the Rebel right, as was Hood on the left; and the former was proceeding" to execute Bragg's order aforesaid for a general flanking movement; but Thomas, who held our left, confronting him, chose to strike first. He had only reached at daylight that morning the new position assigned him by Rosecrans, facing Reid's and Alexander's bridges or fords, when Col. Dan. McCook, commanding a brigade of the reserve corps, reported that he had been holding the front here during the night, and had discovered a Rebel brigade this side of the Chickamauga, apparently isolated, and which he thought might be cut off, as he (McCook) had destroyed Reid's bridge directly behind it. Hereupon, Thomas ordered Brannan "Friday, Sept. 18. Sept. 19.

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THE FIGHTING ON SEPTEMBER 19TH.

to advance with two brigades on the road to Reid's bridge, while Baird should throw forward the right wing of his division on the road to Alexander's bridge; thus attempting between them to capture or crush the Rebel brigade, if such there were where McCook located it.

It was now 9 A. M.; and, while Baird and Brannan were making the required movements, Palmer's division of Crittenden's corps came up and took post on Baird's right. By 10 A. M., Croxton's brigade of Brannan's division had become engaged, driving back Forrest's cavalry; when Ector's and Wilson's infantry brigades were sent in by Walker to Forrest's support. Croxton, of course, was brought to a dead halt; but now Thomas sent up Baird's division, and the Rebel brigades were hurled back, badly cut up. Hereupon, Walker in turn sent up Liddell's division, making the odds against us two to one; when Baird was in turn driven: the Rebels, charging through the lines of the 14th, 16th, and 18th U. S. regulars, taking two batteries; while Walthall's Georgia brigade captured the 5th regulars, 411 strong, and Govan's, charging by its side, took 100 more prisoners.

One of the batteries here lost was the 1st Michigan, formerly Loomis's; regarded by the whole army with pride, and by those who served in it with an affection little short of idolatry. It had done yeoman service on many a hard-fought field, and was fondly regarded as well nigh invincible. But now, abandoned by its supports, who recoiled before a Rebel charge in overwhelming force, with all its horses shot and most of its men killed and wounded, it could not be VOL. II.-27

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drawn off, and was doomed to be lost. Its commander, Lt. Van Pelt, refused to leave it, and died, sword in hand, fighting-one against a thousandby the side of his guns.

And now Johnson's division of McCook's corps, and Reynolds's of Thomas's, came up at quick step, and were instantly put in by Thomas— as was Palmer's division-on Baird's right, giving a clear superiority to our line, which for the moment outflanked the enemy, driving him back in disorder and with heavy loss on his reserves, posted near the creek; retaking our lost guns, and enabling Brannan and Baird to reform their disorganized commands. In resisting this advance, the Rebel Gen. Preston Smith was killed. The enemy's position on the creek was very strong, and it was not deemed wise to assault it: so our men rested on their arms, and there was a lull of an hour, or from 4 to 5 P. M.

Thomas well understood that the fight was not over, and made his dispositions accordingly; expecting that the next effort would be to flank his left, carry the road, and gain his rear (as was Bragg's original programme for the battle). But he judged that the enemy had had enough for the day, and had given orders for a concentration of his divisions on more favorable ground, somewhat to the rear of that to which they had advanced, pursuing their advantage; when his front was again charged by Liddell's and Gist's divisions-Reynolds being first struck on his right (Thomas having been looking for an attack on his left); then Johnson, then Baird, then Van Cleve-the Rebel charge being so impetuous and weighty as to throw our front

into disorder; but this was soon retrieved, and the enemy repulsed: Brig. Gen. W. Hazen, of Crittenden's corps, massing 20 guns on a ridge that commanded the Rossville road, forming an infantry support of such men as he could hastily collect-his own brigade not being at hand-and pouring a cross-fire of grape at short range into the enemy's charging column, till it recoiled in disorder, and the day was saved.

Another charge was made on Johnson's front just at sunset by Pat. Cleburne, (the Stonewall Jackson of the West,') with a division of Hill's corps, who pressed up to our very lines, and claim to have gained some advantage; but night soon fell, and the day's fighting was done either army resting without fires in the keen Autumn night air of that mountain region, on the field where it had so stoutly fought.

There had been some artillery practice during the day on our right, but no serious effort, till afternoon; when Stewart threw forward Brown's, Clayton's, and Bate's brigades by turns, charging one of our batteries and capturing three guns; but he was soon sent to the right about, and compelled to leave the guns where he found them. The attack at this point, though for some time persisted in, was a conceded failure.

sunset, when Bradley's brigade of Sheridan's division came to his aid, and he charged the enemy in turn, recapturing the battery (8th Indiana) that he had lost, taking quite a number of prisoners, and driving the enemy back across the road, (though Trigg's brigade of Preston's division came to his aid), and closing the day with decided advantage to our arms.

Superficially regarded, the net result of that day's combat was favorable. Our army had lost no ground for which it had contended, and claimed a net gain of three guns. Our losses in men had doubtless been less than those of the enemy. And, as we were standing on the defensive, we might fairly claim the result as a success.

But the truth was otherwise. Our soldiers were clearly outnumbered, and now they felt it. Every brigade but two of our army had been under fire-most of them hotly engaged— while the enemy had several yet in reserve. We had no rëenforcements at hand, and could expect none; while Hindman's division (three brigades) and McLaws's (two brigades of veterans, fresh from Virginia) came up during the night, and were posted just where experience had proved that they were most needed. And beside, Longstreet himself came up, and took command of their right wing-and he was worth at least a Hood, holding the Rebel left, hav- brigade. The best estimate that can ing cannonaded in the morning with be formed of their entire force on this no advantage, threw in, at 3 P. M., bloody field makes it 70,000; which, two of his divisions—his own, under on ground affording so little advanLaw, and Bushrod Johnson's-a-tage to the defensive, was a clear tacking Jeff. C. Davis's division of McCook's corps, pushing it back from the road, and capturing a battery; but Davis maintained a firm front against superior numbers till near

overmatch for Rosecrans's 55,000. And, though the profane axiom that 'God is on the side of the strongest battalions,' is not always and absolutely true, it is certain that, as be

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