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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/3686-8.txt b/3686-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a52d875 --- /dev/null +++ b/3686-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8853 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext The Army of the Cumberland, Henry M. Cist + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the laws for your country before redistributing these files!!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. + +Please do not remove this. + +This should be the first thing seen when anyone opens the book. +Do not change or edit it without written permission. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.06/12/01*END* +[Portions of this header are copyright (C) 2001 by Michael S. Hart +and may be reprinted only when these Etexts are free of all fees.] +[Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be used in any sales +of Project Gutenberg Etexts or other materials be they hardware or +software or any other related product without express permission.] + + + + + +Typist: Brett Fishburne (william.fishburne@verizon.net) +Proofer: Jennifer Francisco (seattle717@yahoo.com) +Proofer: Bob Redman (redmanb@mindspring.com) + + + + + +The Army of the Cumberland + +By Henry M. Cist, Brevet Brigadier-General U.S.V.; A. A. G. on the +staff of Major-General Rosecrans, and the staff of Major-General +Thomas; Secretary of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland. + + + + +Preface. + + + + + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext The Army of the Cumberland, Henry M. Cist + + + + +Preface. + + + + +The scope of this work precluded the entering into details as to the +minor operations of the troops in the commands named. It has even +been impossible to give the movements of troops on the battlefields +in lesser organizations than brigades. The rosters of the several +armies given in full in the appendices will enable those interested +to trace the movements of the minor commands. + +The subject is too great a one to be fully and justly treated within +the limitations, both of time and space, which have necessarily +been imposed here. Still, with the hope that the future student +of history may glean something of value in this volume not found +elsewhere, it is sent forth for the favorable consideration of its +readers. + +To the many friends who have kindly aided me in various ways, I +return my sincere thanks. To Col. R. N. Scott, U.S.A., I am under +special obligations for data furnished. + +The maps for this volume were prepared by permission from those of +Captain Ruger in Van Horne's "History of the Army of the Cumberland," +published by Robert Clarke & Co., Cincinnati. + +H. M. C. + + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + + + PAGE +List of Maps, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix + CHAPTER I. +Early Movements, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 + CHAPTER II. +Mill Springs, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 + CHAPTER III. +Concentration at Nashville, . . . . . . . . 21 + CHAPTER IV. +Morgan's and Forrest's Raids, . . . . . . . 31 + CHAPTER V. +Bragg's Advance into Kentucky, . . . . . . 48 + CHAPTER VI. +Battle of Perryville, . . . . . . . . . . . 61 + CHAPTER VII. +The Advance to Murfreesboro, . . . . . . . 87 + CHAPTER VIII. +The Battle of Stone's River, . . . . . . . 102 + CHAPTER IX. +In Murfreesboro, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136 + CHAPTER X. +The Advance on Tullahoma, . . . . . . . . . 154 + CHAPTER XI. +The Movement to Chickamauga, . . . . . . . 173 + CHAPTER XII. +The Battle of Chickamauga, . . . . . . . . 193 + CHAPTER XIII. +The Siege of Chattanooga, . . . . . . . . . 230 + CHAPTER XIV. +Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain, and Missionary + Ridge Battles, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243 + +Appendix, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263 +Index, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273 + + + + + +LIST OF MAPS. + + + + PAGE +General Map of the Campaign, . . . . . . . 1 +Mill Springs, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 +Battle of Perryville, . . . . . . . . . . . 64 +Battle-Map Stone's River, . . . . . . . . . 103 +Chickamauga Campaign, . . . . . . . . . . . 172 +Battle of Chickamauga, . . . . . . . . . . 194 +Battlefield of Chattanooga, . . . . . . . . 245 + + + + + +THE ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND. + + +CHAPTER I. + + + + +EARLY MOVEMENTS. + + +In Kentucky, during the spring of 1861, every shade of opinion +prevailed, from the most pronounced Union sentiment to the most +ultra secession sympathy. + +The Government at Washington wished to enlist Kentucky heartily +in support of the Union, while every effort was made by the rebel +leaders to secure the secession of the State from the Union, and +to have it join its fortunes to those of the South. These several +efforts enlisted the active support of those in the State in sympathy +with them, and Kentuckians became ultimately divided into two +sharply defined parties. Under the peculiar doctrine of "armed +neutrality" adopted by the local authorities, no serious infraction of +the peace of the State was had until the fall. With the invitation +given General Anderson to take command in Kentucky, by the State +Legislature, the doctrine of "armed neutrality" came to an end. While +it at times restrained prompt action on the part of the Union men +of Kentucky during the first six months of the war, and hampered +the Federal Government in the movement of troops in the State, still +in the end it was of immense benefit to the cause of the Union, +and enabled those in support of it in Kentucky to unite and perfect +their plans in comparative peace, unmolested by the rebels from +Tennessee and their own State. Under cover of "armed neutrality" +the Union men remained quiet until the time had arrived for prompt +and decided action, with men, and arms for their support, in the +measures they adopted to retain Kentucky in the Union. + +In accordance with a general plan of operations adopted by General +Albert Sidney Johnston, on September 18th, General Buckner broke +camp with the rebel forces at Camp Boone, Tenn., near the Kentucky +line, and marching north, occupied Bowling Green, throwing out his +advance as far as Elizabethtown. + +On receipt of reliable information as to Buckner's movements, +General Anderson sent General W. T. Sherman, second in command, +to Camp Joe Holt, with instructions to order Colonel Rousseau with +his entire command to report at once in Louisville. The "Home +Guards" were also ordered out, and they assembled promptly in large +force, reporting at the Nashville depot, and by midnight they were +started to the front by train. Rousseau's command followed at once, +General Sherman being in command of the entire force, amounting to +some three thousand men. The advance by train was stopped at the +Rolling Fork of the Salt River, about thirty-one miles south of +Louisville, at which point the railroad bridge had been burned by +the rebels. During the following day the troops under Rousseau +forded the stream, and pressing forward occupied Muldraugh's Hills +with its two trestles and a tunnel over fifteen hundred feet long. +The Home Guards were left in camp at Lebanon Junction, some two +or three miles in the rear, where Lieutenant-Colonel R. W. Johnson +of the Third Kentucky Cavalry reported later in the day with some +additional companies of Home Guards, and, by order of General +Anderson, assumed command of the camp. + +This disposition of troops caused Buckner to retire with his entire +command to Bowling Green, where he strongly fortified his position. + +The Kentucky State troops were under orders for ten days' service +only, and their place was then filled by several regiments from +the States immediately north of Kentucky. These troops were placed +in camp, and there received instruction in drill, discipline, and +camp regulations, waiting for orders for the advance. + +General Johnston, under his general plan of creating a defensive +line from Columbus on the west, running through Bowling Green east +to some point to be determined on, early in September sent General +Zollicoffer with a force numbering several thousand men to make an +advance into Eastern Kentucky by way of Knoxville, East Tennessee, +through Cumberland Gap to Cumberland Ford, threatening Camp Dick +Robinson. On the 19th of that month the advance of Zollicoffer's +command had a spirited skirmish with the "Home Guards" at Barboursville +Bridge. These troops were compelled to retire, which they did, +to Rock Castle Hills, where they were re-enforced by two Kentucky +regiments under Colonel T. T. Garrard, of the Seventh Kentucky Infantry, +who had received instructions from General Thomas to obstruct the +roads and to hold the rebels in check. Garrard established his +force at Camp Wildcat, behind temporary breastworks, where, on +October 21st, he was attacked by Zollicoffer with 7,000 troops. +Shortly after the attack General Schoepff [NOTE from Brett Fishburne +the correct spelling is "Schoepf" as I know because this is my +great-great-grandfather, but I have kept the spelling as in the +original book for subsequent references], with five regiments of +infantry, one of cavalry, and a battery of artillery, re-enforced +Garrard, and after a severe fight the enemy was repulsed. + +After Buckner's retreat to Bowling Green, Zollicoffer fell back to +Mill Springs, on the southern bank of the Cumberland River, and soon +afterward crossed the river to the opposite bank at Beech Grove, +fortifying this encampment with extensive earthworks. + +During the month of September, General George H. Thomas, who with +General Wm. T. Sherman had been ordered to report to General Anderson +for duty in Kentucky--at General Anderson's personal request of the +President--was placed in command of Camp Dick Robinson, relieving +General Nelson. The latter then established Camp Kenton in Mason +County, three miles from Maysville, near the spot where Simon +Kenton's station was erected in 1785. + +On the 7th of October General Anderson, on account of ill-health, +relinquished the command of the department, and General W. +T. Sherman on the following day succeeded him. At the same time +General A. McD. McCook was placed in command of the force that +[had] been ordered to the front under Sherman. + +During the month of October the rebel Colonel J. S. Williams was +organizing a force of some two thousand troops at Prestonburg, +on the Big Sandy River, intending to operate in Central Kentucky +through McCormick's Gap. General Nelson early in the month started +with all the troops of his command to drive the rebels out of their +encampment. Nelson ordered the Second Ohio under Colonel L. A. +Harris to move from Paris, and the Twenty-first Ohio under Colonel +Norton to advance from Nicholasville to Olympia Springs, where +the entire command was concentrated. From here he advanced to +McCormick's Gap, and then divided his command, sending the Second +Ohio, a section of Captain Konkle's battery, and a company of +Ohio cavalry under Captain McLaughlin--all under the command of +Colonel Harris--through West Liberty to unite with the command at +Salyersville. Nelson then moved forward with three regiments of +infantry, two detachments of Kentucky troops, and two sections of +Konkle's battery, with a battalion of cavalry, on the road to Hazel +Green. On the 23d Harris occupied West Liberty, after a brisk +skirmish. The command united at Salyersville and followed the +enemy to Prestonburg. At this point Nelson sent the Thirty-third +Ohio, with the Kentucky troops and a section of Konkle's battery +under Colonel Sill, by a detour to the right to flank the rebel +position at Ivy Mountain. Nelson on the next day then advanced +with his command on the direct road to Piketon, and encountered the +enemy in ambush on the mountain at Ivy Creek. Pushing forward at +once with the force under his immediate command, Nelson attacked the +enemy, and after a brisk engagement, lasting over an hour, routed +them from their cover and drove them in full retreat. + +Sill occupied Piketon on the 9th without much opposition. General +Nelson arrived there on the 10th, when the rebels leaving the State +and retreating through Pound Gap, he was ordered to report with +his command to General Buell at Louisville. + +On the retirement of General Anderson, as the ranking officer in +the department, General Sherman assumed the command. On the 9th +of November, by general order from the headquarters of the army, +No. 97, the Department of the Ohio was created, "to consist of the +States of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, that portion of Kentucky east of +the Cumberland river, and the State of Tennessee, and to be commanded +by Brigadier-General D. C. Buell, headquarters at Louisville;" and +General Sherman was relieved from command at his own request. + +Nelson's command being ordered out of East Kentucky, the rebel +forces again entered, and in small bands were depredating on Union +people in the Big Sandy Valley. The Fourteenth Kentucky under Colonel +L. P. Moore was ordered to move from Catlettsburg and advance up +the valley. General Buell finding that the rebel force had been +largely re-enforced by the advance of General Humphrey Marshall, one +of the ablest rebel generals in that part of the country, ordered +the Twenty-second Kentucky under Colonel Lindsay from Maysville to +join the Fourteenth, and Lindsay was placed in command of the two +regiments. Marshall was a graduate of West Point; he had served +in the Black Hawk War and had seen service in Mexico as a Colonel +of Kentucky cavalry, winning distinction at Buena Vista. He had now +entered the State from Virginia through Pound Gap, and had reached +a strong natural position near Paintville, where he was rapidly +increasing his army, with the intention of raising a sufficient +force--already some five thousand--to operate on General Buell's +flank and to retard his advance into Tennessee. The Forty-second +Ohio, just organized, was in a camp of instruction near Columbus, +Ohio, under its Colonel, James A. Garfield. While there, in +December, he was ordered by General Buell to move his regiment at +once to Catlettsburg, at the mouth of the Big Sandy River, and to +report in person to Louisville for orders. + +Starting his regiment eastward, from Cincinnati, Garfield, on the +19th of December, reported to General Buell, who informed him that +he had been selected to command an expedition to drive Marshall +and his forces from Kentucky. That evening Garfield received his +orders, which organized the Eighteenth Brigade of the Army of the +Ohio, and placed him in command. General Buell with these orders +sent a letter of instruction, giving general directions as to the +campaign, leaving all matters of detail and the fate of the expedition, +however, largely to the discretion of the brigade commander. The +latter reached his command on the 24th of December, at Louisa, some +twenty-eight miles up the Big Sandy. He then proceeded to concentrate +his troops, the main body consisting of his own regiment--the +Forty-second Ohio--the Fourteenth Kentucky, and a battalion of Ohio +cavalry under Major McLaughlin, which was with him; but these gave +only some fifteen hundred men for duty. + +The next largest portion of his command was stationed at Paris, +Kentucky, under Colonel Cranor, with his regiment, the Fortieth +Ohio, 800 strong. Cranor was ordered to join the main body as +expeditiously as possible, and to bring with him that portion of +Colonel Wolford's Kentucky cavalry stationed at Stanford, consisting +of three small battalions under Lieutenant-Colonel Letcher, and +to report at Prestonburg. The twenty-second Kentucky was ordered +from Maysville, and some three hundred men of that command reported +before Garfield reached Paintville. He was also joined by a battalion +of west Virginia cavalry under Colonel Bolles. After a toilsome +march in mid-winter, Garfield's command, on the 7th of January, +drove Marshall's forces from the mouth of Jenny's Creek, and occupied +Paintville. On the morning of the 9th, Cranor reported with his +command, footsore and exhausted, after a march of over one hundred +miles through the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. At noon of the 9th +Garfield advanced his command to attack Marshall with his cavalry, +pressing the rebels as they fell back. Reaching Prestonburg +some fifteen miles from Paintville, he learned that Marshall was +encamped and fortified on Abbott's Creek. Pushing on to the mouth +of the creek, some three miles below Prestonburg, he there encamped +for the night, a sleety rain adding to the discomfort of the men. +Intending to force the enemy to battle, he ordered up his reserves +under Colonel Sheldon from Paintville, with every available man. +As soon as the morning light enabled the command to move, Garfield +advanced, and soon engaged the rebel cavalry, which was driven in +after a slight skirmish, falling back on the main body some two +miles in the rear, strongly posted on high ground, between Abbott's +Creek and Middle Creek, at the mouth of the latter stream. It was +impossible to tell what disposition Marshall had made for his defence, +owing to the formation of the ground at this point concealing his +troops until our forces drew his fire. Throwing several detachments +forward, the entire command was soon actively engaged. The +engagement lasted for some four hours, commending at about twelve +o'clock. At 4 P.M., the reserves under Sheldon reached the field +of battle, and the enemy was driven from his position. Night coming +on prevented pursuit. + +Marshall's command fled down the valley, set fire to their stores, +and pressed forward in rapid retreat to Abington, Va. Garfield +with his command returned to Paintville, where it could receive +supplies. In February he received orders from Buell, directing +him to advance to Piketon, and drive the rebels from that place, +which he did, and later from Pound Gap. This freed Eastern Kentucky +of rebel troops, and relieved the Union men of that section of the +depredations that had been committed on them by the roving bands +of the enemy. The services of Garfield's command were recognized +by Buell, and the thanks of the Commanding General extended to +Garfield and his troops. Shortly after this Garfield received his +commission as Brigadier-General of Volunteers, to date from the +"Battle of Middle Creek." + +In the latter part of March General Garfield was ordered to leave +a small force in the Big Sandy Valley, and to report with the rest +of his brigade to General Buell at Louisville. + + + + + +Chapter II. + + + + +Mill Springs. + + +On September 10, 1861, General Albert Sidney Johnston, who had +resigned the Colonelcy of the Second United States Cavalry to engage +in the service of the Confederacy, was assigned to the command of +the Department of the West, embracing, with a large number of the +Western States, the States of Kentucky and Tennessee. On the 18th +Johnston directed Buckner to occupy Bowling Green, and ordered +Zollicoffer to advance from Knoxville to Cumberland Gap. The rebels, +under General Polk, occupied Columbus, Ky., September 7th, and the +line of operations of the Confederates, under General Johnston, +as then formed, had the Mississippi river at its extreme left, +Cumberland Gap at its extreme right, with Bowling Green as the centre. +With the force at his command, no point in advance of Bowling Green +could have been safely taken by the Confederate general, owing to +the disposition of the Union troops in Kentucky at that time. + +As we have seen, Zollicoffer with his command was driven from Rock +Castle Hills and Wildcat, and taking a new position nearer Bowling +Green, encamped at Beech Grove, where he fortified his position. + +General Zollicoffer was a civilian appointment, without military +training of any kind. He had been editor of a Nashville paper, +had held a number of minor State offices, and served two terms in +Congress prior to the war. Johnston, in ordering Zollicoffer to +the Cumberland River at Mill Springs, intended that he should occupy +a position of observation merely until he should be re-enforced, +or his troops be incorporated in the main command. He could not +have been located farther west without inviting the advance of +the Federal forces into East Tennessee or to Nashville, flanking +Bowling Green. Zollicoffer had no ability as a soldier to handle +troops, and General George B. Crittenden, of Kentucky, a graduate +of West Point, who had seen service in the Mexican War, and who held +at the outbreak of the rebellion, a commission as Lieutenant-Colonel +in the regiment of Mounted Riflemen, was, in November, assigned +to the command of the district as Major-General, with headquarters +at Knoxville. Great expectations were entertained in regard to +Crittenden's military abilities; and about the first of the year +1862 he assumed command in person of the rebel forces at Beech +Grove. The fact that Zollicoffer had established his camp on the +north side of the Cumberland, "with the enemy in front and the +river behind," was known to Johnston, and information given by him +to Crittenden. General Johnston had written Zollicoffer that the +interest of the service required him simply to watch the river, +and that he could do this better from Mill Springs without crossing +it. + +Zollicoffer, however, had crossed the river before he heard from +Johnston, and replied that, while from this letter he inferred that +he should not have done so, it was now too late, as his means of +recrossing were so limited that he could hardly accomplish it in +the face of the enemy. On his reaching the Cumberland with his +command, he had sent forward his cavalry to seize the ferryboats at +Mill Springs. In this they failed, and the crossing was effected on +one ferry-boat, seized lower down, and barges built by his troops. + +General Thomas was ordered in November to concentrate his command +in order to be prepared for any movement Zollicoffer might make, +and, if necessary, to attack him in his camp. General Carter with +his brigade was stationed at London, Colonel Hoskins was near +Somerset, and Colonel Bramlette at Columbia, all watching Zollicoffer's +movements, and reporting them to General Thomas, who endeavored to +stop his advance at the Cumberland River. Five hundred of Wolford's +Cavalry were ordered from Columbia to reinforce Colonel Hoskins; +and General Schoepff, with the Seventeenth Ohio, the Thirty-eighth +Ohio, and Standart's battery, to take position on the Cumberland +River at Waitsborough, where he could command the crossing. Here +he was to fortify and guard the river at this point and above and +below, to prevent the enemy from crossing, or from obtaining the +means for doing so. + +On December 2d, Zollicoffer, while building his ferries, sent some +troops to shell General Schoepff's camp. A brisk cannonading was +kept up for some time, when the rebels withdrew. Schoepff regarding +this as a feint, and anticipating a movement of Zollicoffer's +troops to cross the river, ordered two companies of cavalry under +Captain Dillon to guard the ford and to give timely notice of any +attempt to effect a crossing. He also ordered the Seventeenth Ohio +with three pieces of artillery and another company of cavalry, all +under the command of Colonel Connell, to support the cavalry under +Dillon. The latter proved wholly incompetent, and failed to comply +with his orders in any particular. He went into camp two miles +in the rear from where he was ordered, and neglected even to post +his men to guard the ford, whereby Zollicoffer was enabled to occupy +the north bank of the Cumberland without opposition and without +Dillon's even knowing that the movement had been made. This was +only discovered on the 4th, when the rebels drove back the Federal +cavalry and attacked Connell, who was advancing on a reconnoissance. +Connell, in ignorance of the movement of the enemy, had reached +the vicinity of the ford and found himself confronted by a strong +force of rebels, who had crossed the river, and who being rapidly +re-enforced rendered his situation one of extreme peril. He +withdrew under cover of the night beyond Fishing Creek, without +being molested. Schoepff, finding that the advance of the rebels +was supported by reinforcements and that Zollicoffer's entire +force was slowly crossing, which would make the enemy's force in +his front largely exceed his own, asked General Carter at London to +reinforce him. He also ordered Colonel Coburn with the Thirty-third +Indiana to move from Crab Orchard to his support; and on the 6th +established his camp in a strong position three miles north of +Somerset, where he was able to command both the Stanford and the +Crab Orchard roads. Here Carter reported with two regiments on +the 9th, Colonel Van Deveer's regiment, the Thirty-fifth Ohio, with +Captain Hewitt's battery having already arrived. On the 8th, the +rebel cavalry crossed Fishing Creek and reconnoitered the Federal +camps. They were fired on by Wolford's cavalry, which then fell +back; and after a brisk skirmish with the Thirty-fifth Ohio they +were driven back with a loss of two or three men on each side. + +General Buell had ordered Thomas to keep his immediate command +at Columbia, and had directed him not to send any more troops to +Schoepff at Somerset, considering that the latter had sufficient +force to drive the rebels across the Cumberland. Thomas was directed +to hold himself in readiness to make an immediate movement, when +ordered, from Columbia on the rebel General Hindman, who with some +seven thousand troops was operating in that vicinity, throwing +out his cavalry far in advance of his main column, and feeling +the position of the Federal forces. Hindman had been ordered by +General Johnston to make a diversion in favor of Zollicoffer; and +when Thomas from Columbia checked Hindman's advance, the latter +reported that the force under Thomas had not been weakened to +reinforce Schoepff, or to strengthen the main command at Bowling +Green, and that Zollicoffer was in no immediate danger. + +Schoepff with his entire command on the 18th made a reconnoissance +to determine the location and purposes of the rebel force. Pushing +his command forward he drove their cavalry pickets in and found that +Zollicoffer had been intrenching his camp, his line of fortifications +extending from the river to Fishing Creek and his camp being in the +angle formed by the junction of this stream with the Cumberland. +Having accomplished this, and not intending to bring on an engagement, +Schoepff returned with his command to their encampment north of +Somerset. + +Buell now finding that the only rebel force encamped in Eastern +Kentucky was that under Zollicoffer, and deeming it important that +he be driven from the State, modified his previous order to Thomas, +and on December 29th directed him to advance against Zollicoffer +from Columbia and attack on his left flank. He also ordered Schoepff +to attack him in front. Two days later Thomas started from Lebanon +with the Second Brigade, under command of Colonel Manson, and two +regiments of Colonel McCook's brigade, Kinney's battery of artillery, +and a battalion of Wolford's cavalry. Heavy rains, swollen streams, +and almost impassable roads impeded the movement of the troops so +that it was not until the 17th of January that they reached Logan's +Cross Roads, ten miles from the rebel encampment. At this point +Thomas halted his command and awaited the arrival of the Fourth +and Tenth Kentucky, the Fourteenth Ohio, and the Eighteenth United +States Infantry, detained in the rear by the condition of the road. +He communicated at once with Schoepff, and the same day the latter +reported in person. General Thomas directed Schoepff to send him +Standart's battery, the Twelfth Kentucky and the First and Second +Tennessee regiments, which were to strengthen the command on the +immediate front until the arrival of the regiments in the rear. +Thomas placed the Tenth Indiana, Wolford's cavalry, and Kinney's +battery on the main road leading to the enemy's camp. The Ninth +Ohio and the Second Minnesota were posted three-quarters of a mile +to the right on the Robertsport road. Strong pickets were thrown +out on the main road in the direction of the enemy, with cavalry +pickets beyond. Our pickets were fired on and had a skirmish +with the rebel pickets on the night of the 17th. On the 18th, the +Fourth Kentucky, a battalion of the Michigan Engineers and Wetmore's +Battery also reported to Thomas. + +Crittenden, on learning that Zollicoffer had crossed the Cumberland, +had sent at once an order by courier, post haste, directing him to +recross; but on his arrival at Mill Springs he found Zollicoffer +still on the north bank, waiting his arrival before retiring. +Crittenden gave orders at once for the construction of boats to +take his command across the river; but they were not ready when he +heard of the approach of General Thomas on January 17th. + +On the 18th, Crittenden reported to General Johnston that he was +threatened by a superior force of the enemy in his front, and that +as he found it impossible to cross the river, he should have to +make the fight on the ground he then occupied. + +His weekly reports showed eight infantry regiments, four battalions +(seventeen companies) of cavalry, and two companies of artillery, +making an aggregate of 9,417 men. His circular order of the 18th, +directing the order of march in his advance to attack, shows that +his army was on the day of battle composed of the same companies, +and that his force was about the same. + +At midnight, on January 18th, in a heavy winter rain, the Confederate +army marched out to battle with Bledsoe's and Saunders's independent +cavalry companies in advance. Zollicoffer's brigade of four +regiments, with Rutledge's battery of artillery, followed. Then +came General Carroll's brigade of four regiments, one in reserve, +with McClung's battery of artillery, Brauner's battalion of cavalry +on the right, and McClellan's battalion of cavalry on the left, with +Cary's battalions in the rear. After a six hours' march through +the rain and the mud, the advance struck our cavalry pickets at +six o'clock, in the early gray of a winter morning, two miles in +front of the Federal camp. Wolford's cavalry slowly fell back, +reporting the enemy's advance to Manson, who immediately formed +his regiment--the Tenth Indiana--and took position on the road to +await the attack. Manson then ordered the Fourth Kentucky, Colonel +Speed S. Fry, to support him; and reported to Thomas, in person, +the advance of the rebels in force, and the disposition he had made +of his troops to meet the attack. General Thomas directed him to +return to his brigade immediately, with orders to hold the enemy +in check until the other troops could be brought up. Orders were +given to the other commanders to form immediately, and in ten minutes +they were all marching to the battle-field, except the battalion +of Michigan Engineers and a company of the Thirty-eighth Ohio, +detailed to guard the camp. + +The rebels, in their advance, opened the attack with Walthall's +Mississippi and Battle's Tennessee regiments, which as they moved +forward, forming the right of the rebel line, encountered the Fourth +Kentucky and the Tenth Indiana, formed on the first line to resist +their attack in the edge of the woods to their front. The Tennessee +regiment endeavored to flank the Fourth Kentucky on the left, while +the latter regiment was resisting the rebel attack on the front in +a most obstinate manner. Carter's Tennessee brigade was ordered +up in position to meet this flanking movement with a section of +Kinney's battery; and the attempt of Battle's regiment was checked. + +Orders were sent to Colonel McCook to advance with the Ninth Ohio +and the Second Minnesota regiments. These regiments coming up +occupied the position of the Fourth Kentucky and Tenth Indiana, who +by that time were out of ammunition. As soon as this disposition +of these troops had been made the enemy opened a most determined and +galling fire, pressing our troops at all points. General Thomas's +command returned the fire with spirit, and holding their position +the contest was maintained for half an hour on both sides most +obstinately. + +At this time, General Zollicoffer, being in the rear of the Nineteenth +Tennessee regiment of his command, became convinced that the Fourth +Kentucky (Federal) regiment was a part of his brigade, ordered the +Tennessee regiment to cease firing, as they were shooting their +own troops. He then rode to the front, where he met Colonel Fry, +the commanding officer of the Fourth Kentucky. Zollicoffer stated +to Fry that both commands belonged to the same side, and that firing +should stop. To this Fry assented and started to order the Fourth +Kentucky to cease firing, when one of Zollicoffer's aids coming up, +seeing that Fry was a Federal officer, opened fire upon him with +a revolver, wounding his horse. Fry returned the fire, shooting +Zollicoffer through the heart. + +Shortly after, the First and Second East Tennessee regiments of +Carter's brigade and Hoskins's Kentucky regiment were placed on +the left of the Second Minnesota regiment, and opening a heavy fire +on the right flank of the rebel line caused it to give way. The +Second Minnesota regiment kept up a galling fire in the centre, +while the Ninth Ohio charged the enemy with fixed bayonets on the +left, turned that flank, and drove them from the field. The whole +rebel line then gave way, retreating in the utmost confusion and +disorder to their intrenchments at Beech Grove. Thomas ordered +an immediate advance, after supplying his troops with ammunition, +driving the rebels into their intrenchments. As these were approached +they were invested by the division deployed in the line of battle. +Cannonading was kept up until dark, firing being in the direction +of the ferry to defeat a crossing. During the night preparations +were made for an assault on the intrenchments on the following +morning. The Fourteenth Ohio, Colonel Steedman, and the Tenth +Kentucky, Colonel Harlan, reported after the fight, where placed +in the front of the advance, and were the first to enter the +intrenchments. Schoepff's brigade joined the command during the +evening, and was placed in position for the attack. + +At midnight Crittenden abandoned everything, and between that hour +and daylight escaped across the river by means of a steamer and +some barges at the landing, which he burned, leaving behind him +his badly wounded, all of his cannon--twelve pieces--with their +caissons packed with ammunition, a large amount of small arms, +with ammunition for the same, over one hundred and fifty wagons, +and more than one thousand horses and mules, with a large amount +of tools, stores, camp and garrison equipage. + +As all the boats were destroyed, it was impossible for Thomas to +cross his command in pursuit. General Thomas in his official report +of the engagement says: "Their command was completely demoralized +and retreated with great haste and in all directions, making their +capture in any number quite doubtful if pursued. There is no doubt +but that the moral effect produced by their complete dispersion +will have a more decided effect in re-establishing Union sentiments +than though they had been captured." + +The rebels suffered terribly by heavy marching through the rain, +mud, and cold, with insufficient food; frequently with nothing but +parched corn to sustain life. Crittenden finally took position at +Chestnut Mound, within reach of relief from Nashville. + +In the Life of Albert Sidney Johnston, speaking of Crittenden's +retreat, the author says: "During his retreat his army became +much demoralized, and two regiments, whose homes were in that +neighborhood, almost entirely abandoned their organization and went +every man to his own house. A multitude deserted, and the tide of +fugitives filled the country with dismay." + +The battle fought at Logan's Cross Roads, called by the rebels the +Battle of Fishing Creek, and by the Federals the Battle of Mill +Springs, was most disastrous to the enemy, and inflicted the most +severe blow they had up to that time experienced. The victory for +the Federal forces was the first complete success of the war, and +was hailed everywhere with joy and hope. An order was issued by +the President congratulating the troops on their success, and the +general in command conveyed his thanks to General Thomas and troops +for their brilliant victory. + +Thomas's command lost in the engagement 39 killed, and 207 wounded. +He reported the rebel loss at 122 killed, and the total loss at +349. The large proportion of killed to the wounded indicates heavy +fighting at close quarters, and also a superiority of either the +arms of the Federal troops or their firing. + +The body of General Zollicoffer was treated with great respect. +General Thomas had it embalmed and carried around by Lebanon. It +was then sent to General Buell through his lines under a flag +of truce. Zollicoffer's death was a very depressing event to the +Tennesseeans. He was their most popular leader, and his death was +felt by the people of Tennessee as a personal bereavement. + +Crittenden's attack and defeat were a great surprise to Johnston. +This force had been ordered to Mill Springs to maintain that point +of the general military line as a corps of observation merely. With +the attack and defeat Johnston found his line broken, his position +at Bowling Green liable to be turned on that flank, and an army on +which he counted demolished. This with his losses on his left in +Western Kentucky and at Fort Henry compelled his main command at +Bowling Green to abandon that place, and retire into Tennessee. +Thomas, after the battle of Mill Springs, concentrated his command +at Somerset, awaiting orders. He was ordered to Mumfordsville, +February 15th, to take part in the general advance against Bowling +Green. These orders were countermanded by reason of the evacuation +of that place, on the 14th; and on the 22d, Thomas was ordered +with his division to proceed by forced marches to Louisville, and +there embark for Nashville. The command arrived at Nashville on +the 2d, 3d, and 4th days of March. + + + + + +Chapter III. + + + + +Concentration at Nashville + + +Don Carlos Buell, who was placed in command of the Department +of the Ohio on Sherman's request to be relieved, had been serving +from the early summer of 1861 as Assistant Adjutant-General on the +staff of Brigadier-General E. V. Sumner, U.S.A., in command of the +Department of the Pacific. He had been promoted to the rank of +lieutenant-Colonel in the adjutant-general's department, May 11, +1861. His appointment as brigadier-general in the volunteer force +was made May 17, 1861. General Buell was a graduate of West Point, +and had been in the army all his life. He was a thoroughly trained +soldier, with great pride in his profession, a man of great integrity, +with abilities of the first order, animated by high principle. His +long training in the adjutant-general's department, added to his +natural faculty, made him a first-class organizer of an army. Under +his direction the soldiers of the Army of the Ohio received their +training in the drill of the camp, the discipline of the march, +and learned endurance under fire in the skirmishes and engagements +during his command. For all the soldierly qualities that the troops +of the later organization--the Army of the Cumberland--possessed, +they were indebted in large measure to their first commander in +the field, General Buell. He was constant in his endeavors for +the care of the troops, and insisted on their camps being carefully +selected and well drained. His highest aim was to make good +soldiers of his command, and everything that detracted from this, +as straggling, pillaging, disobedience of orders, he regarded as +unworthy of a soldier, and meriting prompt and stern punishment at +his hands. In the earlier days of the war, with the lack of the +knowledge that the stricter obedience to orders the better for the +soldier, General Buell seemed at times harsh and severe. But as +time brought hard campaigns and heavy fighting to the Army of the +Cumberland, the older soldiers who were under Buell saw that he +was actuated solely for their good and the good of the service in +all he did. + +The organization of the troops into brigades and divisions first +engaged Buell's attention on assuming command. On December 2d, +an order was issued creating this organization and designating it +the "Army of the Ohio," consisting of six divisions. The brigades +were numbered consecutively throughout the army, and not as they +were formed in the divisions. General G. H. Thomas was assigned +to the command of the First Division, consisting of four brigades. +The entire force of the First Division was at Nashville on March +4th. + +The Second Division was organized at Camp Nevin, a camp established +by General Rousseau, when left by Sherman in command after the +latter assumed the command of the department. General Alexander McD. +McCook, who had relieved Rousseau October 14, by order of Sherman, +was assigned to the command of this division, which consisted also +of four brigades. + +The Third Division was placed under the command of General O. M. +Mitchel, who had been in Cincinnati in command at the "Military +Department of Ohio," and who was relieved November 19th, after two +months' service there, superintending the forwarding of troops to +the armies in the field. This division consisted of three brigades. + +General William Nelson, on reporting at Louisville after his Eastern +Kentucky campaign, was placed in command of the Fourth Division, +consisting of three brigades. + +The Fifth Division, consisting of three brigades, was placed under +the command of General Thomas L. Crittenden, a son of John J. +Crittenden. + +In January, 1862, General Buell organized the Sixth Division, and +relieving General T. J. Wood from the command of the Fifth Brigade, +assigned him as commander of this division, which consisted of +three brigades. + +To each brigade was attached a battery of artillery. + +In this organization of the "Army of the Ohio," as the new regiments +from the North reported, additional brigades and divisions were +formed from time to time. Thus organized, the army under Buell, in +the early spring entered upon its first campaign. There had been +some slight skirmishing during the winter with portions of the command. +A detachment of the Thirty-ninth Indiana, under Lieutenant-Colonel +Jones, met a body of the rebel cavalry a few miles beyond Camp +Nevin, and routed it with slight loss to the enemy. + +On December 10th, General R. W. Johnson moved onward his brigade, +and occupied Mumfordsville, sending a detachment of the Thirty-second +Indiana to Green River, where a temporary bridge was constructed. +On the 17th, four companies of this regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel +Von Trebra, crossed and took position at Rowlett's Station. General +A. S. Johnston had sent Hindman with his brigade from Bowling Green, +with instructions to destroy the railroad as far north as Green +River. On the same day that the Thirty-second Indiana crossed the +river, Hindman reached Woodsonville. On the approach of Hindman, +Von Trebra threw out two companies as skirmishers. The enemy fell +back with the purpose of decoying the Federals to the point where +his main command of infantry and artillery was posted. The cavalry--a +squadron of the "Texas Rangers" under Colonel Terry--made a spirited +attack. The skirmishers rallied by fours to receive this charge. +After repeated charges from the cavalry, which were resisted by the +Thirty-second--in one of which Colonel Terry was killed--Colonel +Willich re-enforced Von Trebra with four additional companies. After +maintaining their position under fire for an hour and a half, the +Indiana troops repulsed the enemy in every charge, and Hindman's +force then withdrew. Colonel Willich had in the engagement only +the eight companies of his command, with Cotter's battery. The +enemy attacked with a force of 1,100 infantry, 250 cavalry, and 4 +pieces of artillery. The Thirty-second Indiana lost 8 men killed +and ten wounded. After the fall of Bowling Green, the Second +Division reached Nashville on March 3d. + +The Third Division in February was ordered to make a demonstration, +moving by forced marches against the enemy's position at Bowling +Green, to prevent troops being sent from there to reinforce Fort +Donelson. The rebels had commenced their retreat from this place +to Nashville prior to the arrival of Mitchel's command, but the +shells thrown by his artillery on the 14th into the city hastened +the movements of the rear guard of Johnston's army. Before their +retreat, the enemy burned both bridges over Barren River, and set +fire to a large quantity of military stores, railroad cars, and +other property. Turchin's brigade, capturing a small ferryboat, +crossed over the river, swollen above the high-water mark by the +heavy rains, entered the city at five o'clock the next morning, +and succeeded in extinguishing the fire and saving a portion of +the railroad cars. During the succeeding week Mitchel crossed the +greater part of his command over the river, and without his wagons, +reached Edgefield opposite Nashville on the evening of the 14th, +at the same time that General Buell arrived by rail, the latter +using some of the cars captured at Bowling Green. At Edgefield +Mitchel found both of the bridges into Nashville destroyed, and +his crossing was effected on the steamers that brought Nelson's +division to that place. + +The Fourth Division was ordered in February to reinforce the Federal +troops at Fort Donelson. Nelson, with two brigades, moved from +Camp Wickliffe to the Ohio River on February 13th, and there took +steamer for the Cumberland River. On his arrival at Fort Donelson, +he found it in possession of the Federal troops, and he then proceeded +by the boats with his command to Nashville, arriving there on the +25th. Nelson's Third Brigade reported a few days later, having +marched direct from Bowling Green. + +General Thomas L. Crittenden's command, organizing at Owensboro, +had a skirmish with a force of 500 rebels at Woodland. Colonel +Burbridge was sent with some three hundred troops of his own command +and a small force from Colonel McHenry's regiment. Attacking the +enemy, they routed him, inflicting a loss of some fifty killed, +wounded, and prisoners. On the 24th, the rebel General Breckenridge +made a demonstration with 4,000 men at Rochester, occupying Greenville +with his cavalry, Crittenden made such disposition of his troops +that the enemy, without risking an attack, returned to Bowling +Green. Early in February General Buell ordered Crittenden to send +Colonel Cruft with his brigade to report to General Grant. Cruft, +however, reached Fort Henry after the surrender, but his brigade +was incorporated into Grant's army, and rendered effective service +in the reduction of Fort Donelson. Later, the brigade was transferred +to General Halleck. Crittenden, soon after this, proceeded by +boat with the balance of his division, and reported at Nashville, +arriving there at the same time as Nelson's division. + +The Sixth division, after aiding in the repair of the railroad, +arrived at Nashville March 6, 1862. + +General A. S. Johnston, at no time prior to his retreat had sufficient +force to meet or to resist the advance of the Federal forces. His +long line, extending from Columbus to Knoxville, invited attack, +and wherever the attack was made his troops were not able to +successfully resist it. Concentrating his command at Bowling Green, +after Mill Springs and the fall of Fort Henry, he found that, to +save Nashville, it was necessary to make a determined stand at Fort +Donelson, and this he re-enforced with all his available troops. +The fall of Donelson compelled the evacuation of Nashville. To +the Southern people these reverses were a bitter blow to their high +hopes and boasting threats that the war was to be carried into the +North, and peace was to follow the first victories to their arms. +Duke, in his "History of Morgan's Cavalry," says: "No subsequent +reverse, although fraught with far more real calamity, ever +created the shame, sorrow, and wild consternation that swept over +the South with the news of the surrender of Fort Donelson. To some +in the South these reverses were harbingers of the final defeat +and overthrow of the Confederacy." + +With the fall of Donelson, after detaching the troops at Columbus, +Johnston's force was reduced to a little over one-half of his +total effective strength as reported by him at Bowling Green. In +a report to Richmond, he gave the total of his command as barely +forty-three thousand men. + +General Buell's army amounted to over seventy-five thousand men, not +all of these available for field duty, as a very large proportion +of the command was needed to maintain his line of supplies, and +the farther his advance the greater the drain on his command for +railroad guards. + +With the fall of Donelson, Johnston modified his plans of operations, +and then determined to relinquish the defensive, and to concentrate +all available forces of the Confederacy in the southwest for offensive +operations. He had, as early as January, 1862, contemplated the +possibility of the disasters that had taken place, and the retreat +consequent upon them, and at that time indicated Corinth, Miss., +as being the proper place to concentrate the troops. + +On January 3d General Buell wrote at length to General Halleck, +proposing a joint campaign against the enemy in "a combined attack +on its centre and flanks," moving the troops by water under protection +of the gunboats, striking for the railroad communications of the +enemy, and destroying his bridges over the Cumberland and Tennessee +Rivers, both of which were protected by batteries, the first at +Dover--Fort Donelson--and the other at Fort Henry, respectively +thirty-one and eighteen miles below the bridges. To this, on the +6th, General Halleck replied that, situated as he was, he could +render no assistance to Buell's forward movement on Bowling Green, +and advised the delay of the movement, if such co-operation by troops +sent to Cairo and Paducah should be deemed necessary to the plan +of the campaign, of which he knew nothing, and then adds: "But it +strikes me that to operate from Louisville and Paducah or Cairo, +against an enemy at Bowling Green, is a plain case of exterior +lines, like that of McDowell and Patterson, which, unless each of +the columns is superior to the enemy, leads to disaster ninety-nine +times in a hundred." + +On the 30th of January, Buell received a despatch from Halleck, +without particulars, saying that he had ordered an expedition +against Fort Henry. On the 15th of February Halleck telegraphed +Buell "to move from Bowling Green to Nashville is not good strategy. +Come and help me take and hold Fort Donelson and Clarksville, then +move to Florence, cutting the railroad at Decatur, and Nashville +must be abandoned precisely as Bowling Green has been." After the +fall of Fort Donelson, and the occupation of Nashville, General +Halleck directed a column of troops under General C. F. Smith to +proceed up the Tennessee River by steamer, and to operate as occasion +presented, either on Corinth, Jackson, or Humboldt, destroying the +railroad communications at these points. At this time Halleck had +no thought of the subsequent movement of the command, that Johnston +would concentrate at Corinth, or that the Armies of the Ohio and +Tennessee should unite at Pittsburg Landing. On the 15th General +Smith dropped down the river to Pittsburg Landing, and there placed +his troops in camp. On the 11th of March, President Lincoln, +by War Order No. 3, created the Department of the Mississippi, +consolidating the three departments under Generals Halleck, Hunter, +and Buell, and placed General Halleck in command. Halleck at once +ordered Buell to march his army to Savannah, and to execute the +movements that had already been agreed on by them. + +Buell immediately gave his attention to the preparation of his +command to carry out these orders. He directed O. M. Mitchel to +march south, strike, and hold the Memphis and Charleston Railroad. +Organizing the seventh division of his army, Buell assigned General +George W. Morgan to this command. This division was formed of four +brigades, out of a number of regiments gathered up from different +points in Kentucky. General Morgan concentrated his entire +command at Cumberland Ford, being directed to take Cumberland Gap +if possible and to occupy East Tennessee if able to enter. If not, +then to resist any advance of the rebels. + +General E. Dumont was placed in command of Nashville. The Twenty-third +Brigade under Colonel Duffield, composed of four regiments, was +ordered from Kentucky to garrison Murfreesboro, and protect the +road from Shelbyville to Lavergne. + +Buell designated the First Division under Thomas, the Second under +McCook, the Fourth under Nelson, the Fifth under Crittenden, and +the Sixth under Wood, to constitute the army under his personal +command, which was to join Halleck in the operations against the +enemy's position at Corinth. These divisions, with cavalry and +artillery attached made a force of 37,000 effective troops. In +addition to these, Buell had under his command 36,000 effective men +to defend his communications, maintain his line of supply, enforce +order within his lines, and to perform any special duty assigned +to them. The muster-rolls of his army showed that he had at this +time 92 regiments of infantry--not including those sent to Halleck +under Cruft. These regiments aggregated 79,334 men. He had 11 +regiments, 1 battalion, and 7 detached companies of cavalry, making +a total of 11,496 men, and 28 field, and 2 siege batteries, with +3,935 men. The grand total was 94,765 men. His effective force, +however, was 73,487 men, comprising 60,882 infantry, 9,237 cavalry, +and 3,368 artillery. + +Buell's army, after crossing Duck River, pressed rapidly forward. +The day before Nelson's arrival at the Tennessee River he was +informed by General Grant, to whom he had reported his movements by +courier, that he need not hasten his march, as he could not cross +the river before the following Tuesday, the 8th. Nelson's entire +division, with forced marches, reached Savannah April 5th, the other +division closely following. Ammen's brigade of Nelson's division +crossed the river on the afternoon of the 6th, and reported to Buell, +and was engaged in the battle of that day, aiding in resisting the +final attack of Chalmers on the left of Grant's command. Crittenden's +and McCook's divisions arrived on the field during the night of +the 6th, and took an active part in the fighting of the next day. +The rest of the command arrived on the field after the battle. + +The movements of the troops of the "Army of the Ohio" in the battle +of Shiloh and in the operations against Corinth are treated in +Volume II. of this series, and it is not within the purview of this +volume to enter further into the narrative of their service than +to give a few brief facts as to the disposition of the troops, in +order to follow the subsequent events in which the Army of the Ohio +was the main actor. + + + + + +Chapter IV. + + + + +Morgan's and Forest's Raids. + + +On April 11th, Halleck arrived at Pittsburg Landing and at once +reorganized the troops in his command, designating the divisions of +his army as the right wing, centre, left wing, reserves, and cavalry +under Major-Generals George H. Thomas, D. C. Buell, John Pope, and +J. A. McClernand and Brigadier-General A. J. Smith respectively. +Thomas's command comprised four divisions of the "Army of the +Tennessee," and his old division of the "Army of the Ohio." The +remainder of the army was under the command of Buell. After the +fall of Corinth, the enemy breaking his large force into several +smaller commands rendered necessary a similar disposition of the +Federal forces. Buell was ordered with his command to enter into a +campaign looking to the occupation of East Tennessee. One division +of his army under O. M. Mitchel left Nashville about the middle +of March under orders to proceed to Murfreesboro and repair the +railroad bridges burned by Johnston on his retreat. On Colonel +Duffield's reporting with the Twenty-third brigade, Mitchel pressed +forward to Shelbyville and from there by a rapid movement on the +7th of April he occupied Huntsville, Ala., with Turchin's brigade, +Kennett's Ohio cavalry, and Simonson's battery, capturing 170 +prisoners, 15 locomotives, and 150 passenger and freight cars, and +a large amount of army stores. On the 8th, Mitchel ordered Sill +with his brigade to proceed east along the line of the railroad +to seize Stevenson, the junction of the Nashville and Chattanooga, +and Memphis and Charleston Railroads, and directed Turchin with his +command to move west and take possession of Decatur and Tuscumbia. +This was successfully done, and Mitchel was in possession of over +one hundred miles of this important link connecting Corinth with +Richmond in the heart of the enemy's territory. He then posted +his troops at the more prominent points, ready to move to any place +threatened by the enemy. + +On April 29th, Mitchel, hearing of the advance of the force under +Kirby Smith from Bridgeport against the command beyond Stevenson, +moved as rapidly as possible by rail from Huntsville to resist him. +He found the enemy had attacked the detachment posted five miles +west of Bridgeport, and that his troops had driven the enemy's +advance back across Widow's Creek. The bridge over this creek had +been burned by the enemy on their retreat. Mitchel strengthened +the detachment and engaged the attention of the enemy by an apparent +effort to cross this creek, while with his main force he advanced +on Bridgeport by a detour by the left and drove that portion of +the enemy in the town across the Tennessee River. In their retreat +the enemy set fire to the bridge reaching from the west bank of +the river to the Island. This bridge Mitchel succeeded in saving, +but the bridge east of the Island was completely destroyed. General +Mitchel then turned his attention to that part of the enemy's force +at Widow's Creek, which he succeeded in capturing, taking in all +some three hundred and fifty prisoners. Early in May, Mitchel, +who had been placed in command of all the troops between Nashville +and Huntsville, ordered General Negley with the Seventh Brigade, +belonging to McCook's division--who had been left at Columbia +on the advance of the main army upon Savannah--to make an advance +against General Adams with a brigade of troops at Rogersville, Ala. +At the same time Mitchel sent Colonel Lytle from Athens, Ala., +to cooperate with Negley. On the 13th, the enemy learning of the +approach of the Federal forces, retreated across the Tennessee +River. This placed Mitchel in complete position of that portion +of Alabama north of that river. On May 29th, Mitchel concentrated +Negley's command from Columbia, Turchin's brigade from Huntsville, +and the Eighteenth Ohio under T. R. Stanley from Athens at Fayetteville +for an expedition against Chattanooga under the command of Negley. +These troops passed through Winchester, Cowen, and University Place +to Jasper. Advancing upon the latter place, the head of his column, +under Colonel Hambright, encountered a brigade of the enemy's troops +under General Adams. The enemy was driven from the place after a +sharp engagement, leaving his supply and ammunition trains. His +loss was 18 killed, 20 wounded, and 12 prisoners. Leaving Jasper, +Negley arrived on the north bank of the Tennessee, opposite +Chattanooga, on the 7th. Negley, on the evening of that day and the +morning of the next, bombarded Chattanooga, and made a demonstration +of crossing the river and attacking the town. General Duke says: +"The commandant of the place, General Leadbetter, had two or three +guns in battery and replied, when the gunners, who were the most +independent fellows I ever saw, chose to work the guns. The defence +of the place was left entirely to the individual efforts of those +who chose to defend it, and nothing prevented its capture but the +fact that the enemy could not cross the river." + +Negley then withdrew and encamped his command at Shelbyville. + +General G. W. Morgan, under orders from Buell, assumed command of +the forces in Eastern Kentucky early in April. Acting under his +orders he proceeded to Cumberland Ford and commenced operations at +once against Cumberland Gap. This gap is situated in the Cumberland +range on the boundary line between Kentucky and Tennessee, near the +Western Virginia line, is a deep depression in the mountain range, +making a natural roadway through it, and is the centre of all the +roads in that section of country. It is a stronghold protected by +nature with abrupt slopes on the mountains, frequently so steep as +to be almost perpendicular, with the ranges much broken by spurs, +knobs, and ravines, protected by parallel ranges of less height in +close proximity on the east and west. Morgan, after encountering +the enemy in several skirmishes, determined either to compel him +to fight or retreat. He sent General Spears with three brigades to +Pine Mountain, on the road to Big Creek Gap. General Kirby Smith, +commanding the enemy's forces in East Tennessee, placed General +Barton's command of two brigades of infantry in Big Creek Gap, +and then advanced with some eight thousand men under his immediate +command to cut Spears off, and to threaten the Federal forces at +Cumberland Ford. Morgan, under orders, withdrew Spears, but learning +a few days later from Buell of the operations of Negley's command +before Chattanooga, and that Kirby Smith had proceeded with a part +of his command to the relief of that place, resumed the advance. +Negley's movements had caused Smith to suspend his operations, +but when he heard of Negley's withdrawal he proceeded at once to +execute his plans against Morgan. On June 18th, the latter, finding +that Kirby Smith had taken his entire command away from Cumberland +Gap, marched his troops up Powell's Valley and late in the evening +of that day reached the fortifications, found the Gap empty, and +took possession. This natural stronghold had been extensively +fortified by the rebels, who regarded the position of their troops +such as to prevent the success of any attempt on the part of the +Federal forces to obtain possession without a battle. The enemy were +completely out-manœuvred, and General Morgan had the satisfaction +of occupying this fortress without the loss of any of his command. + +In the early part of May, the rebel Colonel John H. Morgan's command +of some five hundred men, in the neighborhood of Pulaski, Tenn., +captured a wagon train with about four hundred Federal troops, +mostly convalescents going to Columbia. On the night of the 5th, +Morgan reached Lebanon and quartered his entire force in houses in +the town. On the evening of the 6th, Dumont with his command from +Nashville, joined by that of Duffield from Murfreesboro, surprised +and attacked Morgan's troopers, completely routing them after +a severe engagement. Morgan with a few men under his immediate +command escaped after a chase of twenty-one miles from Lebanon, +crossing the Cumberland River on a ferry. Dumont had with him +detachments of Wynkoop's Seventh Pennsylvania cavalry, of Wolford's +First Kentucky cavalry and of Green Clay Smith's regiment of Kentucky +cavalry. Morgan's loss was 150 men captured, with the same number +of horses. The balance of his command was dispersed. Wolford +and Smith were both wounded, and the Federals lost 6 killed and 25 +wounded. On the 11th, Morgan with his men that had escaped, and +two new companies, made a raid on the Louisville and Nashville +Railroad at Cave City, captured a freight train of forty-eight +cars and burned it. He also captured a passenger train, which had +a few Federal officers on it. His object was to rescue the men of +his command taken prisoners at Lebanon, but in this he failed, as +they had been sent North by boat. + +From this place Morgan reported with his command at Chattanooga to +refit, prepatory to his first extended raid into Kentucky. Here +he was joined by two full companies of Texan cavalry under Captains +R. M. Gano and John Huffman, both native Kentuckians, who, on +reporting at Corinth, had asked to be ordered on duty with Morgan +and his command, enlarged from a squadron to a full regiment. After +he had obtained all the recruits he could at Chattanooga he set +out for Knoxville, to further increase his command and to re-arm. +It was at this place that he received the two mountain howitzers +which were used so effectively in the first raid into Kentucky, and +which just before his command started on the Ohio raid were taken +from it by Bragg's ordnance officers. This came near raising +a mutiny, and the only consolation that Morgan's men had was that +Bragg lost the guns within two weeks after they were taken away +from them. In the latter part of June, Colonel Hunt, of Georgia, +reported at Knoxville with a regiment of "Partisan Rangers," nearly +four hundred strong, ordered to accompany Morgan on his contemplated +raid, making the strength of his entire command 876 effective men. + +Morgan set out from Knoxville on the morning of July 4, 1862, +taking the road to Sparta, one hundred and four miles due west +from Knoxville, which was reached on the evening of the third day +of this march. The Union men of East Tennessee frequently gave +these raiders medicine of their own prescription, lying in wait +for them and firing upon them from the bushes. This was a new +experience for these freebooting troopers, who wherever they went +in the South were generally made welcome to the best of everything, +being regarded as the beau-ideals of Southern chivalry. On the 8th, +Morgan's command reached the Cumberland River at the ford near the +small village of Celina, eighteen miles from Tompkinsville, where +a detachment of the Ninth Pennsylvania, 250 strong, was encamped +under command of Major Jordan. Morgan learned at Knoxville the fact +that a Federal force was at this point, and was told the particulars +of it on his arrival at Celina, and he now wished to surprise and +capture the entire command. Sending a detachment under Gano by the +right to cut off Jordan's retreat, at five o'clock in the morning +of the 9th Morgan moved to the attack. Jordan posted himself on +a thickly wooded hill and fired several volleys at the rebels as +they advanced over an open field, but being outnumbered was routed +with a loss of four killed, six wounded, and nineteen prisoners. +The enemy's loss was several wounded, among them Colonel Hunt, +who died a few days later from the effects of his wound. Morgan +paroled the prisoners and then left for Glasgow, reaching there at +one o'clock that night, where they were received with open arms by +the citizens, breakfast cooked for the entire command, and three +days' rations prepared for them. From here the command marched +all night, and at eleven o'clock next morning was within a short +distance of Lebanon. Morgan, prepatory to an attack, despatched +one of his companies to destroy the railroad north of the town +to prevent the arrival of reinforcements. The company struck the +railroad at New Hope Church, and had just commenced their work of +destruction when a train came up with a number of Federal troops +on it, who drove the rebels off in confusion, but for some unknown +cause the train then returned to Louisville, leaving Morgan +unmolested at Lebanon, who advanced to the attack and drove in +the pickets. After a slight skirmish the place was surrendered +by Lieutenant-Colonel Johnson of the Twenty-eighth Kentucky, with +a small detachment of that command. Morgan destroyed some fifty +thousand dollars' worth of Government stores. He left Lebanon at +two o'clock in the afternoon, passed through Springfield without +halting the command, and pushed on for Harrodsburg, reaching +there at nine o'clock on Sunday morning. Here he sent Gano with +his squadron around Lexington to burn the railroad bridges on the +Kentucky Central Railroad, in order to prevent troops being sent +there from Cincinnati. Another detachment was sent to destroy +the bridge on the Louisville and Lexington Railroad, cutting off +reinforcements from Louisville. Morgan's design was to make it +appear that he intended to attack Frankfort, then turn suddenly to +the right and attempt the capture of Lexington. He had given out +everywhere in Kentucky that he was marching on the State Capital +with a force five thousand strong, and had succeeded in spreading +the utmost alarm. On the 15th Morgan reached Midway, captured +the telegraph operator and installed his own operator at the same +instrument, sent despatches in the name of Federal Generals, and +changed the orders for the movement of troops. He telegraphed in all +directions, without the slightest regard for truth, and succeeded +in creating the utmost confusion and alarm at Cincinnati, Louisville, +Lexington, and Frankfort. The command left Midway late in the +afternoon and started for Georgetown, which place they reached +at sundown, where they met a small force of Home Guards, who were +driven out of town. From here Morgan sent a force to burn the +bridges on the Kentucky Railroad between Lexington and Paris. Then +learning how strongly Lexington was garrisoned, he gave up all +thought of attacking it, and finding that the Federal forces were +closing in on him commenced his return south. On the 18th, Morgan +attacked Cynthiana, which was garrisoned by some five hundred men, +under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel John J. Landrum, of the +Eighteenth Kentucky. The fighting continued for two hours, when +the Federal force was driven from the town and nearly all captured. +Landrum and a few of his command escaped. The Federals lost +16 killed and 40 wounded, and 14 of the enemy were killed and 42 +wounded. The rebels claimed to have captured 420 prisoners, who +were at once paroled. The depôt, with a large amount of Government +stores, was burned. Morgan then left for Paris, where he arrived +late in the evening and rested there that night. About eight +o'clock in the morning his command was driven out of this place by +the troops under General Green Clay Smith, numbering some twelve +hundred men, who killed 2, wounded six, and captured several +prisoners. Morgan pushed through Winchester, reaching that point +about twelve o'clock, crossed the Kentucky River just at dark, and +arrived at Richmond at four o'clock in the morning. Here he rested +his command twelve hours, then marched toward Crab Orchard, arriving +about daybreak the next morning. It had been his intention to +make a stand at Richmond, but there were too many troops marching +to attack him. Besides General Smith's command, which was following +him closely, Colonel Wolford was collecting forces in the southern +part of Kentucky to intercept him, and troops were EN ROUTE from +Louisville to aid in the pursuit. Morgan left Crab Orchard at +eleven o'clock the same morning, and reached Somerset about sunset. +At these two places he captured 130 wagons, with large quantities +of Government stores, of which he loaded as much into wagons for +the use of his command as he wanted, and burned the rest. From +Somerset he marched to Stagall's Ferry on the Cumberland River, +and there crossed, reaching Monticello, twenty-one miles from the +river, that night, when all pursuit ended. + +Morgan's object in making this raid was to obtain recruits +and horses, to equip and arm his men, and to prepare for his fall +raiding trip. In his official report he says: "I left Knoxville +on the 4th day of this month with about nine hundred men, and returned +to Livingston on the 28th inst. with nearly twelve hundred, having +been absent just twenty-four days, during which time I have traveled +over a thousand miles, captured seventeen towns, destroyed all +the Government supplies and arms in them, dispersed about fifteen +hundred Home Guards, and paroled nearly twelve hundred regular +troops. I lost in killed, wounded, and missing of the number that +I carried into Kentucky, about ninety." + +When Buell received his orders to open the campaign in East +Tennessee, the key to that part of the State was Chattanooga, and +this was the objective point of his campaign. With the concentration +of the Southern forces in Mississippi, both Halleck and Buell thought +that a favorable time had arrived for this movement, anticipating +that no advance of the enemy's forces would be made to dispute the +occupancy of those portions of Kentucky and Tennessee already held +by the Federal forces. The great problem with Buell was to furnish +supplies to his army, now some three hundred miles away from its +base at Louisville, dependent during the greater part of the year +on one line of road, which was subject to being raided at any time, +bridges burned, the roadbed destroyed, and the entire road rendered +useless for months. To continue this line the many miles through +the enemy's country, subject to increased risks before Chattanooga +could be reached, was a matter that required a great amount of careful +thought and deliberation. Buell had tried infantry in stockades +at bridges, and was satisfied that this was not the proper solution +to the problem. He then made earnest and repeated application for +more cavalry, to protect his communications and to meet and repulse +the enemy's raiding parties before they could reach his line +of communication. If he was to move with his command into East +Tennessee, he regarded the line from Nashville to Chattanooga as +the proper road on which he should depend for his supplies, and to +which he should give his care and attention for this purpose. + +Halleck considered the line from Memphis to Chattanooga the one +over which the supplies for Buell's army should pass. The latter +objected to this, by reason of that road crossing the Tennessee +River twice, thus giving two long bridges to rebuild and protect, +instead of one, and for the additional reason that this road ran +for a considerable distance parallel with the front of the enemy, +and thus invited raiding parties. While the risks attending the other +road were great enough, Buell regarded the Memphis and Charleston +road far the more objectionable. Besides, he wished to move through +Middle Tennessee to McMinnville, and thence to Chattanooga, with +Nashville as his depot of supplies. In this Halleck overruled him +and directed that he march his command on the line of the Memphis +road, repairing the track as he advanced. + +While this matter was under consideration by the Federal commanders, +Bragg, who had been appointed to the position of General made vacant +by the death of General Johnston, and who had succeeded Beauregard +in the command in the West, put his columns in motion eastward to +occupy Chattanooga. Johnston, on the retreat from Nashville, sent +all surplus army stores to Chattanooga, and Bragg now regarded that +point as the proper place to refit his command, and from which to +assume the offensive, and open the campaign he had planned to free, +for a time at least, Tennessee from the control of the Federal +forces. + +With the start thus made by both commands for Chattanooga, +everything was in favor of Bragg, whose movements were unimpeded, +as his route was south of the Tennessee, through his own territory, +with his lines of communication open when he arrived at that place. +With Buell, the repairs of the railroad retarded his progress, +and the advance weakened his command by the increased number of +detachments required to guard his line as it lengthened. + +McCook's and Crittenden's commands were started eastward, the +first from Corinth, and the latter from Booneville. McCook reached +Florence on the 15th of June, where ferryboats had been provided by +Mitchel for the crossing of his division. A delay was occasioned +here by the report that Nelson had been attacked, but this was found +to be false; and, on the 26th, the divisions of McCook, Crittenden, +and Nelson crossed, and started at once for Athens, which place +they reached on the 29th. On the same day Buell established his +headquarters at Huntsville, Ala., and gave personal supervision to +the repair of the railroads, now extremely urgent. He placed his +troops by division upon the different sections of the line, under +orders to push repairs with all possible expedition. These troops, +as repairs were made, advanced from time to time, concentrating on +the line of the Nashville and Chattanooga road. The repairs to +this railroad were completed on July 28th, and on the Nashville +and Decatur road on August 3d. During the latter part of July the +last division of Buell's army, under Thomas, crossed the Tennessee +River, being relieved--on the line of the Memphis and Charleston +Railroad--by troops from Grant's army. Thomas established his +headquarters at Dechard. It was on this march with his brigade +that General Robert L. McCook was murdered by guerillas. He was +riding in an ambulance, ill at the time, and unarmed. + +Nelson's division had been sent to Murfreesboro about the middle +of July, to drive Forrest, who, with his cavalry, on the 13th, +attacked the Federal garrison in the town. The post was under the +command of General T. L. Crittenden, and the troops composting the +Twenty-third Brigade were under the command of Colonel Duffield. +There was, unfortunately, a disagreement between the ranking officers +at the post that led to the most unfortunate results. Colonel +Lester, of the Third Minnesota, during the absence of Duffield, +commanding the brigade, had, by reason of the unpleasant relations +existing between portions of the command, widely distributed them +in different parts of the town. On the return of Crittenden and +Duffield on July 11th, neither of them assumed command, and their +dignity, thinking more of their own personal importance than the +good of the service. With no one in command, there was no unity +or proper "esprit de corps" among the troops, and no disposition +for defence when Forrest made his attack. the latter had advanced +through McMinnville from Chattanooga, with about two thousand men, +and arrived at Murfreesboro about five o'clock on the morning of +the 13th, captured the pickets, and made disposition of his forces +for immediate attack. Forming his entire command into columns of +fours, with the Eighth Texas in front, Forrest moved forward on a +trot until he reached the Federal encampments, which Colonel Wharton, +with two regiments, charged. The Second Georgia dashed into the +town, captured the provost guard and all Federal officers and men +on the streets, seized and secured the supplies. + +Major Smith with the Kentucky troops was sent to the rear of the +Federal command to cut off the retreat. The Texans charged into +the camp of the Ninth Michigan, and reaching the tents, roused +some of the men from sleep. A portion of that regiment, however, +rallied by the officers, made a handsome stand and drove the Texans +off. Duffield was wounded while rallying his men. The Second +Georgia charged into the public square and surrounded the Court +House, occupied by a company of the Ninth Michigan, who twice +repulsed the attacking force. Reinforcements being brought forward, +the doors of the building were battered down and the company was +forced to surrender. Forrest now attacked the Third Minnesota on +the east bank of Stone's River, about a mile and a half from town, +which had just left their camp to join the force in the town, when +Forrest with three regiments moved to the attack. + +Colonel Lester formed his command in line of battle, with nine +companies of infantry and four pieces of artillery, and opened fire +on the rebels as they advanced. Forrest attempting to get to the +rear of his force, encountered the camp guard of some hundred men +left by Lester to protect his camp, posted behind a strong barricade +of wagons and some large ledges of rocks, difficult to carry. +Forrest at once ordered a charge which was twice made and repulsed. +Leading his men the third time, he succeeded in driving the guard +from their position to the main command, posted some six hundred +yards away. It was now one o'clock, and beyond the skirmishes +between the commands but little had been accomplished. + +Forrest's officers urged him to withdraw with the results obtained +up to that time. This he refused to do, and made disposition of +his command for further attack on the Federal forces occupying the +camp of the Ninth Michigan, which consisted of this regiment and a +company of the Second Kentucky cavalry. He dismounted two of his +regiments and threw forward skirmishers, directed them to open +brisk firing, and sent the Second Georgia dismounted to attack on +the left. After this he brought up the Eighth Texas and placed +them in position to charge on the left. + +Having made this disposition of his forces, he sent forward, under +a flag of truce, a written demand for the surrender of Duffield's +command, which was complied with at once. After this, Forrest +demanded the surrender of the Third Minnesota, which Lester, after +an interview with Duffield and a consultation with his own officers, +made, surrendering some five hundred infantry of his regiment and +two sections of Hewitt's battery of artillery. The entire forces +surrendered were seventeen hundred troops with four pieces of +artillery. Forrest captured about six hundred horses and mules, +and a very large quantity of stores and Government supplies, part +of which he carried away and the rest he destroyed, to the value +of nearly a million of dollars. + +This loss occurred the day after the opening of the road from +Nashville south, and very seriously interfered with the movements +at the front. Nelson endeavored to intercept Forest, but could not +successfully "chase cavalry with infantry." Forrest on Nelson's +approach withdrew to McMinnville, and from there made a dash on +Lebanon, some fifty miles distant, where he expected to find a force +of five hundred Federal cavalry. This force escaped him, and he +then swept around to the south of Nashville, captured 150 bridge +guards and burned four bridges. Learning that Nelson was again in +pursuit of him, Forrest returned to McMinnville. + +From this point he made repeated raids on the line of road south +of Nashville, leaving Morgan to operate against the Louisville and +Nashville Railroad. These raiders were able to move almost without +opposition, as Buell was without sufficient cavalry to cope with +them. The latter had been compelled to divide his cavalry into +small bands to run down the guerillas that had been operating on +his line of railroad. Now that Forrest's and Morgan's commands +had become so formidable, he was compelled to organize his cavalry +into united bodies for better defensive movements against these +raiders. The Second Indiana, Fourth and Fifth Kentucky, and +Seventh Pennsylvania cavalry regiments he formed into one brigade, +and on August 11th, he sent it under General R. W. Johnson against +Morgan, who had been ordered by Bragg to break the railroad between +Louisville and Nashville, in order to retard Buell's movement north +to Louisville as much as possible, and who was operating about +Gallatin, Tennessee, which he had captured with 200 prisoners. +Colonel Boone was in command of the Federal forces at this point. +Morgan hearing that Boone slept in the town away from the camp, +sent a small force to capture him, which was done, just as he had +dressed and was starting to camp. Morgan then destroyed a railroad +bridge south of Gallatin, and the tunnel six miles north, the roof +of which was supported with large beams on upright timbers. Running +some freight cars into the tunnel, they were set on fire and some +eight hundred feet of it destroyed, the roof caving in. + +Johnson sought to attack Morgan before he could unite with Forrest, +who was on his Lebanon raid at that time, but Morgan hearing that +Johnson had infantry and artillery supports, endeavored to avoid an +engagement. Johnson forced the fight, engaged Morgan with spirit, +and although repulsed three times, after the first and second +repulse formed promptly and renewed the attack. After the third +repulse the Federal forces commenced retreating, when Morgan followed, +attacked Johnson's retreating forces and drove the Federals some +three miles. Johnson reformed his lines twice, but the enemy +broke, and drove them each time. He then reformed the remnant of +his command and fought the enemy dismounted, when the latter charged +again, and Johnson, seeing that the greater part of his command +had scattered, surrendered. The force that was with him at this +time was only a small band of some twenty-five soldiers and a few +officers. His loss was 20 killed and 42 wounded. Duke in his +"History of Morgan's Cavalry," says: "A great deal of censure was +at the time cast upon these men"--Johnson's command--"and they were +accused of arrant cowardice by the Northern press. Nothing could +have been more unjust. They attacked with spirit and without +hesitation, and were unable to close with us on account of their +heavy loss in men and horses. I have seen troops much more highly +boasted than these were before their defeat, behave not nearly so +well." And of Johnson, Duke says: "His attack was made promptly +and in splendid style; his dispositions throughout the first fight +were good, and he exhibited fine personal courage and energy." + + + + + +Chapter V. + + + + +Bragg's Advance into Kentucky. + + +After Nelson's pursuit of Forrest on his raid around Nashville, he +was ordered by General Buell to McMinnville. Crittenden and McCook +with their divisions were at Battle Creek, Thomas and Wood were on +the line of the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, and Mitchel's +division, under the command of Rousseau, on the line of railroad +from Decatur to Columbia. Bragg had so well concealed his intention +as to his advance, that Buell was compelled to be in readiness +to meet him in the event of one of three movements, which it was +supposed he would make if he moved before Buell was ready to advance +upon him. + +The latter thought Bragg would either move by the left, pass +around into Northern Alabama, cross at Decatur, and press north +for Nashville. This he regarded as the most likely movement. Or, +second, more direct, crossing the mountains, pass through McMinnville, +and so on to Nashville. Or, third, to move by way of Knoxville +into Eastern Kentucky. The latter, up to the first of September, +Buell regarded as hardly a possibility, supposing Bragg's movements +all indicated an advance on Nashville. Thomas was ordered to assume +command of the troops at McMinnville, to repair the railroad from +Tullahoma to that point as he went, and to establish posts of +observation with signal stations on the mountains to watch Bragg's +movements. Thomas assumed command at McMinnville on the 19th +of August, on the same day that Bragg sent a column of three or +four thousand troops across the river at Chattanooga. Buell, in +anticipation of this being the advance of Bragg's entire army en +route for Nashville, despatched Wood to the vicinity of McMinnville, +to aid in resisting his advance. He then ordered McCook to move +from Battle Creek to the Therman road, where he was to hold the +enemy in check until re-enforced by Thomas. Crittenden's division +was sent up the valley through Tracy City, by the Altamont road, +to be within supporting distance of McCook, and to watch the road +from there to Chattanooga. Thomas was directed to hold his command +in readiness to move at a moment's notice, either on the Therman +or Dunlap road. On the 22d, Buell learned that Bragg's whole army +was north of the Tennessee, and he then, further to concentrate his +command, moved his supplies from the depôt at Stenvson to Dechard. +Thomas on the same day telegraphed from McMinnville to Buell that +he believed Bragg's movements meant an advance of his entire army +into Kentucky. Thomas reconnoitered thoroughly the front of his +position, and ascertained that the enemy was not there and not +as yet even in Sequatchie Valley. This he reported to Buell, and +suggested that Wood's division be posted at Sparta, to intercept +Bragg's advance, if made through that place; that another division be +left at Dechard, to watch any movement in that direction, and that +the remaining portions of the command be concentrated at McMinnville, +ready to offer battle to Bragg's army if it should advance on that +front. Thomas regarded Bragg's advance either on Nashville or +Louisville as possible only through McMinnville or Sparta, and he +proposed to attack before Bragg could reach either. On the next +day Buell, under advices that he regarded as reliable, ordered the +First, Second, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Divisions to concentrate +at Altamont, intending there to offer battle. He sent detailed +instructions to Thomas, in charge of the movement, as to the +disposition of his command, with orders in the event of defeat to +fall back, keeping his force between the enemy and Nashville. On +the 25th, Thomas reached Altamont, and finding no enemy nearer +than the Sequatchie Valley, and regarding Bragg's advance by way of +Altamont improbable, owing to the bad condition of the roads, and +lack of forage and water, returned to McMinnville with the Fourth +and Sixth Divisions. On the 30th, Buell gave orders concentrating +his entire command at Murfreesboro, still under the impression that +Bragg expected to strike for Nashville. The latter's movements +were so well guarded, and Buell had as yet so little reliable +information in regard to them, that he hesitated even after the +order was issued, and the next day asked Thomas's advice in regard +to it, in the light of any further information as to the movements +of the enemy. Thomas advised that the movement proceed, having +been commenced, and gave a plan of battle in the movement from +Murfreesboro. Thomas, on the 30th, captured a despatch that Bragg, +on the 27th, had sent to Van Dorn, in command in Mississippi, +conveying to him in full his plans in regard to his advance into +Kentucky, and informed him that Kirby Smith, re-enforced with two +divisions from this army, had turned Cumberland Gap, and was marching +on Lexington, Ky. + +Buell's army at Murfreesboro consisted of five divisions under +his immediate command, the troops being then on the line of the +railroad. In addition he had two divisions sent to him from the +Army of the Tennessee--General J. C. Davis' division, under General +R. B. Mitchell, which arrived at Murfreesboro on the 2d of September, +and General E. A. Paine's division, under the command of General J. +M. Palmer, which reached Nashville on the 10th. This concentration +of the army at Murfreesboro of course withdrew all troops from the +mountains, leaving Bragg unhampered in the selection of his route, +either west to Nashville, or north to Louisville. He made choice +of the latter, and pushed down the valley of the Cumberland to +Carthage, where he crossed, moving through Scottsboro and Glasgow, +to strike the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. Bragg entered +Kentucky with five divisions, making an army of some thirty-five +thousand men, divided between Generals Polk and Hardee. While at +Murfreesboro Buell first learned definitely of Bragg's movements, +and of his intended advance into Kentucky. The news of the movements +of Kirby Smith and of Nelson's defeat also reached him here. + +On August 16th, Buell had ordered Nelson to assume command +in Kentucky, and to make such dispositions of his troops as would +resist any movement by Kirby Smith, then threatening Cumberland +Gap. The plan of the rebels in their campaign, which was intended +to free the soil of the South from the Northern armies by carrying +the war into the North, was for Kirby Smith to move through Eastern +Kentucky to Lexington and thence to Cincinnati, and for Bragg to +push through Central Kentucky to Louisville. With these two cities +in the possession of their armies it would be a short step to enter +upon the rich fields of the Northern States, and with the large +number of new recruits gained en route their armies could resist +any Northern troops that would be brought against them. This had +been Sidney Johnston's plan to be worked out after he had achieved +the victory he contemplated at Shiloh, and Bragg as his successor +endeavored to carry out Johnston's plan of campaign. One was as +much a success as the other, and in both the hour of defeat trod +so quickly on their apparent victory that the campaign in each +instance ultimately resulted in failure. So far as the advance of +Bragg and Kirby Smith into Kentucky was concerned, by it the South +suffered a loss instead of a gain, and was compelled from that +time on to act upon a steadily lessening line of defence. Bragg's +report shows he took a smaller command out than he took into the +State. + +On the same day that Nelson's orders were dated, Stevenson appeared +with his division before Cumberland Gap. George W. Morgan in command +there immediately sent out cavalry to the adjoining gaps to watch +for further movements of the enemy. When a short distance from +Roger's Gap the cavalry struck the head of Kirby Smith's army +on its advance to Kentucky. Smith's forces were those of his own +command in East Tennessee, re-enforced by the divisions of McCown +from Mississippi, sent him by Bragg, and also the two fine brigades +of Cleburne and Preston Smith, ordered to report to him from +Chattanooga. Kirby Smith moved with his main command to Barboursville, +and ordered McCown to Cumberland Ford with a large force, which cut +off Morgan, in the Gap, from his base of supplies in that direction. +Leaving Stevenson in Morgan's front to engage his attention, Kirby +Smith with his entire force advanced into Kentucky, thus entirely +cutting off re-enforcements and supplies to Morgan's command. The +latter failing in his efforts to bring on an engagement, placed +his command on half rations, and after a council of war abandoned +the Gap, dismounting his siege guns and destroying what stores and +ammunition he could not remove, marched out with his entire command, +to the east of Kirby Smith's force, to the Ohio River. John Morgan's +cavalry annoyed the command for some days, without inflicting any +material loss. + +When Nelson reached Kentucky he found that a new department had +been created, with General H. G. Wright in command, embracing that +part of the State east of Louisville and the line of the Nashville +Railroad, taken from under Buell's command. Wright ordered Nelson +to proceed to Lexington and assume command of all the troops in +that locality, nearly all of them new regiments, principally from +Ohio and Kentucky, hastily gathered together, without drill or +discipline. Nelson concentrated these troops at Lexington, and +organized them into a division with Generals M. D. Manson, J. S. +Jackson, and Charles Cruft as brigade commanders. On August 23d, +Nelson sent a detachment of the Seventh Kentucky cavalry and Colonel +Child's battalion of Tennessee cavalry, under Colonel Metcalfe's +command, to Big Hill to resist the advance of the enemy. These +troops being attacked by a greatly superior force the Seventh Kentucky +broke and fled, leaving, however, about one-fourth of the command +with the Tennessee battalion, which, after fighting bravely, was +compelled to retire. Metcalfe rallied his men, but on the approach +of the enemy they again broke and ran, leaving the Tennesseeans +to resist the attack, which they so far succeeded in doing as to +secure a safe retreat to Richmond. The enemy pushed forward and +demanded the surrender of the town, but learning that re-enforcements +had arrived, retired. Nelson then ordered Manson's and Cruft's +brigades, under the command of the former, to proceed to Richmond. +On arriving there Manson went into camp south of the town and threw +out his pickets. The cavalry, on the 29th, reported an advance +of the enemy in large numbers, and that a heavy force of infantry +was driving in the pickets. Manson advanced to their support +with his own brigade, leaving Cruft with his command at Richmond. +Moving forward with his troops he drove the attacking party back +and formed his line of battle on each side of the road some two +miles from the town. The enemy attacked with infantry, artillery, +and cavalry, but was driven back with the loss of one field piece +and several men captured. Manson then occupied Rogersville, where +he remained in camp all night. In the morning he ordered Cruft to +join him, and moved out beyond the town to meet the enemy's advance. +After heavy fighting for over an hour the left of Manson's command +was fiercely assaulted, which being re-enforced, the right began +to give way in confusion. + +The troops were rallied on a new line a mile to the rear, but as this +was badly posted for defense, the command was withdrawn from this +position to the line occupied the day before, and from this--the +enemy attacking in heavy force--the Federal troops were again routed +and driven back to their camps, where the last stand was made and +the heaviest fighting took place. Nelson, arriving on the ground, +assumed command and endeavored to stem the tide of defeat. The +enemy advanced in such overwhelming numbers upon the position of +the Federal forces that they were driven in complete disorder at +all points from the field. Nelson was twice wounded, but was able +to reach Louisville with several detachments of his routed troops. +Here he assumed command and bent every energy to the organization +of new troops, forming the citizens in commands for the defence +of that city. Nelson's losses in the engagement at Richmond were +two hundred and twenty-five killed, six hundred wounded, and over +two thousand captured. He also lost nine guns. His entire command +consisted of some seven thousand troops. The enemy's force was +twelve thousand men and thirty-six pieces of artillery, and he +lost over nine hundred killed and wounded. Kirby Smith then pushed +his command north, occupying Lexington, and sent out detachments +threatening Louisville and Cincinnati. On the 6th of September, +General Heth with some six thousand troops advanced and took +position a few miles south of Covington. He was ordered by Kirby +Smith not to attack, but to hold his command in readiness to move +at a moment's notice to form a junction with Bragg, then marching +north through Kentucky. + +Smith, while waiting to form a junction with Bragg, was actively +employed in gathering supplies for his army in the richest part +of the State. He also sought to obtain recruits for his command, +but recruiting for the infantry service did not prove a success. +During the entire period the rebel army was in Kentucky not one +entire infantry regiment was raised. Individual enlistment was +constantly going on, but the leading officers of that army estimated +their entire gain was not over five thousand men, including three +regiments of cavalry recruited under Buford. Heth's advance alarmed +the three cities of Covington, Newport, and Cincinnati, spreading +consternation among all classes. Martial law was proclaimed, and +all able-bodied citizens were ordered to report for work on the +fortifications south of Covington. These works were manned by the +population of the surrounding country, coming to Cincinnati to +defend that city from pillage. Regiments of "Squirrel Hunters" +were formed, and a show of force was kept up until veteran troops +could be brought forward to take their place. Heth wished to attack, +but Kirby Smith would not permit this, as he anticipated a battle +with Buell, and that Bragg would have to fight his entire army, in +which event he would need every available man. Heth fell back in +a few days and on October 4th Smith reported with his command to +Bragg at Frankfort. + +Bragg's movements became clearly apparent to Buell while the +latter was concentrating at Murfreesboro. On September 7th, Buell +started with Ammen's, Crittenden's, McCook's, Wood's, Rousseau's, +and Mitchell's divisions in the race between the opposing armies +for Louisville. If Bragg moved energetically and with the intent +of taking Louisville without fighting a battle in Kentucky before +he reached that city, his start in the race and the shorter line +he was moving on gave him the decided advantage in the movement. +Buell's object was to overtake Bragg, and, if necessary, force the +fighting. This would compel the latter to move his army so closely +on the one road open to him that his movements would be necessarily +slow. Failing in this, Buell's plans were to press Bragg so hard +that if he refused to fight in Kentucky he must leave the State in +possession of the Federal forces before he could gain anything by +his advance. + +Buell, after reaching Nashville, crossed the river there at once +and pushed on with all possible speed. He left Thomas's, Palmer's, +and Negley's divisions, with Thomas in command, as the garrison +at this place. So important did Buell regard the holding of +Nashville, that he determined to weaken his immediate command and +leave this strong force under his most trusted subordinate, to +retain possession of that point. He considered his army in pursuit +of Bragg of sufficient strength to make the fight for the possession +of Kentucky, and in the event Bragg was driven from that State he +would concentrate in the vicinity of Nashville, where the battle +for that important position with Middle Tennessee would yet have to +be fought. In the happening of the latter event it was an absolute +necessity that the Federal army should hold Nashville as a point +at which to concentrate and move to the attack. If the result of +the movement in Kentucky should be the defeat of Buell, then it was +important that the general in command of the forces at Nashville +should be an officer of experience, to save the troops left there, +in their retreat to rejoin the main army. Buell regarded the +holding of Nashville by our forces as second only to the safety +of Kentucky, and made the disposition of his command accordingly. +With this view, on the 12th, he ordered R. B. Mitchell's division +to return to Nashville and form part of the garrison of that place. +Bragg, on the 8th, had reached the railroad, where he burned the +bridge at Salt River, and for some days in his northward march was +engaged in tearing up the railroad as he advanced. On the 13th, +his cavalry reached Munfordville beyond Green River. + +Buell, on the 10th, learning that additional forces of Bragg's command +were crossing the Cumberland at Gainesville, at once countermanded +the order to Mitchell, and directed Thomas to place Negley in +command of Nashville, and if he regarded it best to do so, to leave +Paine's division [Palmer in command] with Negley's to hold that +place. If Paine could be spared, then Thomas was to move forward +by forced marches with his division and Paine's, and unite his +command with the main army. Thomas, knowing that Bragg had left +a large force to threaten Nashville, ordered Paine's division to +remain there, and started at once with the first division to report +to Buell. + +Bragg, to reach Munfordville, had only sixty-eight miles to march +from his crossing of the Cumberland River, while Buell had one +hundred and five miles to travel before he could intercept him at +that place. Bragg's advance had reached and attacked Munfordville +before Buell's army had arrived at Bowling Green. On Bragg's +advance under General Chalmers, arriving at Munfordville, his +cavalry engaged the attention of the garrison there under Colonel +John T. Wilder, while the artillery and infantry were being placed +in position. On the 13th, demand was made of Wilder to surrender. +This he refused to do. With the early light of the next day an +assault was made by the enemy, which was repulsed with heavy loss. +Two detachments reported during the day, reinforcing Wilder's command. +One of them was under Colonel Dunham from Louisville, who, being +Wilder's senior in rank, assumed command. On the following day a +second demand for surrender was made by Chalmers, who represented +his command sufficiently large to capture the place. Dunham +refused to comply with this demand, and the enemy then withdrew, +going north. Two days later the rebels made another attack on the +works and were again repulsed. In the afternoon Bragg appeared in +person before the town, and sent, under a flag of truce, another +demand for the surrender of the command, as the garrison of the +place was surrounded by an entire army, and to assault would only +be a needless sacrifice of human life. This was declined, but with +the request from Colonel Dunham that Bragg suspend hostilities to +give time for consultation. This Bragg agreed to do until nine +o'clock in the evening. Dunham, who had succeeded in opening +communication with General Gilbert at Louisville, telegraphed him +the facts, and added that he feared he would have to surrender. +Gilbert telegraphed back an order placing Dunham in arrest, and +ordering Wilder to assume command. At the Council of War that +was held by Wilder it was determined that the place should not be +surrendered without personal inspection by the commanding officer +that Bragg's statements as to his force and situation were true. +Wilder, under Gilbert's orders, assumed command at seven o'clock in +the evening, and notified Bragg of the result of the consultation, +proposing, with Bragg's permission, to satisfy himself as to the +truth of his statements. Remarkable as it appears, this proposition +was agreed to by Bragg, and Wilder, under escort, investigated the +enemy's lines prepared for assault, and counting forty-five cannon +in position, supported by 25,000 men, he concluded it was impossible +to further successfully defend the place. He reported the facts +to the Council of War, and the demand for the surrender was acceded +to at two o'clock in the morning of the 17th. Under the terms of +the capitulation the troops marched out with the honors of war at +daylight, retained their sidearms and private property, and were +at once paroled. This attack on Munfordville by Bragg established +the fact that it was not his intention to press on to Louisville, +and the advantage Buell derived from the delay attending this attack +was in a measure some compensation for the loss of the place. + +Bragg then took position at Prewitt's Knob, where Buell moved with +his entire army, Thomas having reported on the 20th. The two armies +confronted each other at this point for three days, and disposition +was made for battle. On the 21st, while the troops were being placed +in position by Thomas, under order of Buell, the enemy retreated, +marching for a short distance toward Louisville, then turned to +the right, and took position near Bardstown. Bragg claimed in his +official report that after manœuvring unsuccessfully for four days +to draw General Buell into an engagement, he found himself with +only three days' rations on hand for his troops "and in a hostile +country," that even a successful engagement would materially cripple +him, and as Buell had another route to the Ohio, to the left, he +concluded to turn to the right, send to Lexington for supplies to +meet him in Bardstown, and commenced the movement to that place. +This gave Buell an open road to Louisville, of which he immediately +availed himself, and on the 29th, the last division of the Army +of the Ohio reached that city. The place was under the command of +Gilbert, who had nothing but new levies of inexperienced troops. +These Buell incorporated with the brigades of his Army of the Ohio, +and on the morning of the 30th, after furnishing his command with +needed supplies, moved his army out of Louisville against the enemy. +The movement was delayed by a day, by Halleck's order relieving +Buell and placing Thomas in command. The latter remonstrated +against this order, and at his request it was withdrawn. The next +day Buell again assumed command, with Thomas announced in General +Orders as second in command, and commenced the advance movement of +his army in five columns. + + + + + +Chapter VI. + + + + +Battle of Perryville + + +The main portion of the army had been organized into three corps, +designated the First, Second, and Third, under McCook, Crittenden, +and Gilbert, respectively. General Sill, in command of two divisions, +was ordered to move on the left toward Frankfort, to hold in check +the force of the enemy under Kirby Smith at that place. The other +columns marched by different routes upon roads converging upon +Bardstown, through Shepardsville, Mount Washington, Fairfield, and +Bloomfield. Each column engaged the enemy's cavalry and artillery +in a series of skirmishes from within a short distance of Louisville. As +the army approached Bardstown the resistance constantly increased, +retarding Buell's advance, and enabling Bragg to effect his withdrawal +from that place, which was accomplished eight hours before the +arrival of Buell's army. A sharp cavalry engagement occurred at +this place between Buell's advance and Bragg's rear-guard, when the +whole of Bragg's command retired, taking the road to Springfield. +At Bardstown Buell received information that a junction of Bragg's +and Kirby Smith's commands would be made at Danville. He ordered +McCook to advance from Bloomfield on the Harrodsburg road, and +directed Thomas to move with Crittenden's corps on the Lebanon road, +which passes four miles south of Perryville, with a branch to the +latter place, while he accompanied Gilbert's corps, which moved +on the direct road to Perryville. After leaving Bardstown, Buell +learned that Kirby Smith's force had crossed to the west side of +the Kentucky River, near Salvisa, and that Bragg was concentrating +either at Harrodsburg or Perryville. He at once ordered McCook +to change his line of march from the former road, and to proceed +direct to Perryville. On the afternoon of October 7th, Buell, +with Gilbert's corps, arrived in front of the rebels in strong +force three miles from Perryville, where he immediately drew his +troops up in line of battle. Advancing the cavalry and artillery, +supported by two regiments of infantry, the rear guard of the enemy +was pressed to within two miles of the town, when it was discovered +that the rebels were concentrating for battle. Orders were sent by +Buell to Crittenden and McCook to march at 3 o'clock on the morning +of the 8th, and for them to take position as early as possible on +the left and right of the centre corps respectively, the commanders +themselves to report in person their arrival, for orders, the +intention being to make the attack that day if possible. + +McCook did not receive this order until 2.30 o'clock, and was on +the march at five. Owing to the difficulty of finding water for +his command where the troops were expected to encamp, Thomas, on +the night of the 7th, moved off the direct line of march some six +miles and was delayed several hours in reaching his position on +the field. During the night some pools of water were discovered +in small creek about two miles and a half from Perryville. Colonel +Dan McCook with the Thirty-sixth Brigade was ordered forward, and, +after a sharp engagement, secured possession of the pools, and a +supply of bad water for Gilbert's troops was obtained. + +On October 1st, Bragg, leaving Polk in command at Bardstown, under +orders to slowly retire to Bryantsville, started for Lexington. +Here he ordered Kirby Smith with all his forces to Frankfort, to +assist in the installation services of the rebel Provisional Governor +of Kentucky at the capital of the State. At Lexington, on the 2d, +learning of Buell's movements from Louisville, Bragg ordered Polk +in writing--sending two copies to him--to advance at once, "with +his whole available force, by way of Bloomfield, toward Frankfort, +to strike the enemy in the flank and rear." Polk was informed in +the order that Kirby Smith would at the same time attack the front. + +On the 3d, Polk received the orders, and, submitting them to a +council of war, decided not to obey them, but to move as originally +ordered. Of this Bragg was notified in time to prevent the attack +on Buell's front with Smith's command alone. Giving orders for +the supplies that had been accumulated in Lexington to be sent to +Bryantsville, Bragg, on the 6th, proceeded to Harrodsburg, where +he met Polk at the head of his column that had left Bardstown on +the 3d. On the 7th, Bragg ordered Polk to move Cheatham's division +back to Perryville, and to proceed to that point himself, to attack +the Federal force, immediately rout them, and move rapidly to join +Kirby Smith. These orders were given under the impression that +Buell's command was so separated that his right and left were sixty +miles apart. Bragg also sent Wither's division to Kirby Smith at +Frankfort, who reported himself threatened by a large force on his +front--the troops under Sill. + +Early on the morning of the 8th an attempt was made by the enemy +to drive Colonel McCook from his position at the creek. He was +supported by Mitchell's and Sheridan's divisions, who were ordered +up and directed to hold the position until the entire army was +prepared to attack. The assault was made with great spirit on Colonel +McCook, but the enemy was handsomely repulsed. Buell anticipated +an attack on Gilbert's corps in its isolated position in the early +morning, but nothing occurred until after the arrival of McCook's +corps on the Maxville road, between 10 and 11 o'clock, when he +at once formed his command, of Rousseau's and Jackson's division, +in line of battle on the left of Gilbert, Rousseau on the right, +and sent his cavalry to the front to make a reconnoissance toward +Perryville. Thomas arrived and took position with Crittenden's +corps about twelve o'clock. + +On McCook getting his command into position, he reported to General +Buell in person, who ordered him to send out a force to the Chaplin +River, and find out the position of the enemy in his front. During +McCook's absence Rousseau had advanced the right of his line a +half mile to obtain a supply of water, for which the troops were +suffering. On seeing this, the rebels opened a heavy fire with +some twenty pieces of artillery. Rousseau moved his other troops +to support his right, and, posting Simonson's and Loomis's batteries, +returned the enemy's artillery fire. + +When McCook returned to his command, seeing that a good position on +high ground could be occupied by our troops on the left and front +of Rousseau's new line and near the river, he at once sent skirmishers +into the woods at that point, to find out if the enemy held the +position. He also directed Jackson to form a new line of battle +with his division nearer the stream, and sent the skirmishers +forward to the river as soon as this was done, where they obtained +the needed supply of water. On the formation of the new line, as +no heavy force of the enemy had been encountered, McCook, at about +half-past one o'clock, rode to the right of his line. About half +an hour later, Hardee, in command of three divisions, under Cheatham, +Buckner, and Anderson, some sixteen thousand strong, advanced to +the attack on McCook, driving back the skirmishers, first striking +those posted in the woods. McCook had formed his line of battle, +with Rousseau's right near a barn on the right of the Maxville +road, extending to the left and across that road on a ridge through +a cornfield to the woods where the skirmishers were. The right of +Jackson's line was holding a wooded elevation, running off to the +left in rear of Chaplin River, while his left, north of Maxville +road, was thrown back in a northwesterly direction, forming an +obtuse angle, deflected about thirty degrees along broken heights +from their centre and right, the point of the angle being near where +the Maxville road crosses Doctor's Creek. The enemy considered +the key of McCook's position to be at this crossing, and directed +their main attack on that point. McCook had posted Starkweather's +brigade in the rear of the left as support to Jackson, with Stone's +and Bush's batteries of Rousseau's division, and had placed Webster's +brigade of Jackson's division in rear of Rousseau's line. The enemy +opened the attack on the extreme left of the Federal force posted +in the angle. This was a very strong position, by reason of the +character of the ground, which enabled these troops to sweep their +front with a heavy fire. The troops here were protected by being +posted behind stone fences, and were supported by batteries in the +rear. In the attack on the left Jackson was killed by the first +fire. Terrill's troops--nearly all new--were driven back, and +McCook's left turned. In falling back, Terrill endeavored to rally +his command near the batteries posted in his rear. While gallantly +doing so, he fell, mortally wounded, and died in a few hours. +McCook sent to Sheridan, asking him to protect his right, and sent +to Gilbert for reinforcements. + +The advance of the enemy was checked by Starkweather's brigade, with +Stone's and Bush's batteries, all well posted to meet the assault +after Terrill's brigade had been driven back. The enemy made +repeated assaults with fresh troops at this point, but was driven +back each time with heavy loss until the troops and batteries were +out of ammunition, when they fell back to the original line, and +obtaining a supply renewed the fight. + +On the right in Rousseau's front the enemy under Anderson made +a vigorous charge on Lytle's and Harris's brigades, attacking in +greatly superior numbers. They were however handsomely repulsed. +After fighting until their ammunition was exhausted, these troops +retired on the line with Starkweather's command. The rebels then +pushing forward under heavy fire from their batteries drove Lytle's +brigade from the new line. Sloan's battery getting into position +opened on the rebels with canister and checked their advance. +Colonel Gooding's brigade from Mitchell's division of Gilbert's +corps, with Penney's Fifth Wisconsin Battery, was ordered up, and +after a brisk engagement the enemy was driven back and the original +line of battle reoccupied. Steedman's brigade of Schoepff's division +also came up, and attacking the enemy aided in the final repulse. + +When the heaviest attack was made on Rousseau the enemy assaulted +Sheridan's division in the advanced position which he occupied +after forcing back their line earlier in the day. He now withdrew +his troops, and posting them in a more favorable position on the +original line, opened on the rebels with heavy musketry fire and +canister. The enemy pressing him very hard at this point, he called +on Gilbert for support, who re-enforced him with Carlin's brigade +from Mitchell's division. As the enemy moved forward in strong +force to the attack, Carlin immediately ordered his troops to +charge, which they did, and drove the rebels before them through +Perryville, capturing in the town two caissons, fifteen wagons +loaded with ammunition, and a guard of 138 men under command of +three officers. Sheridan also drove the enemy for some distance, +but did not consider it prudent to advance too far, leaving McCook's +right exposed. He then directed his artillery fire on the enemy +at his left, and aided in checking the advance in that quarter. +Wagner's brigade of Wood's division became engaged, and did good +service on the right of Mitchell's division. The rest of Crittenden's +corps was not engaged in the action. Thomas, on arriving on the +battlefield with this corps, was directed to take position in the +line of battle on the right and wait for orders. Here he waited +during the entire day, and received none. Only part of Gilbert's +corps was engaged in the fight, the heavy blow striking McCook's, +which he failed to report to Buell until after two hours' fighting. +The battle was closed by night coming on, and a general engagement +was anticipated the next day. Thomas was directed to move Crittenden's +and Gilbert's corps forward in the morning at six o'clock, and +attack the enemy's front and left flank. + +Buell ordered McCook during the night to close the opening between +his right and Gilbert's left. His orders for the following day +were to hold his position and take advantage of any opportunity +that the events of the day might present, the main attack to be +made by the other corps. On the following morning, the advance +being made in accordance with these orders, it was discovered that +the enemy's main body had retired during the night, and was falling +back on Harrodsburg, with indications that he would there make a +stand. Bragg left his dead and wounded on the field, but retired +leisurely and in good order. + +Buell reported the strength of his command before the engagement at +58,000 effective men. Of these he claimed 22,000 were raw troops, +not drilled, and undisciplined. Less than one-half of this entire +force was in the action. His reports show a loss of 4,348, being +916 killed, 2,943 wounded, and 489 missing. Nearly all the losses +were from McCook's command, which bore the brunt of the heavy +fighting. Bragg referring to his loss in his official report says: +"In such a conflict our own loss was necessarily severe, probably +not less than 2,500 killed, wounded, and missing." During the +campaign General Buell captured nearly five thousand prisoners. + +The enemy's troops engaged in the battle were under the immediate +command of General Polk. Bragg had been with Kirby Smith at Frankfort, +where these active operations found him engaged in superintending +"the ceremony of installing the Provisional Governor into office." + +In his official report of the battle of Perryville, made from +Bryantsville, October 12, 1862, Bragg says: "After consulting with +the General (Polk) and reconnoitering the ground and examining his +dispositions, I declined to assume the command, but suggested some +changes and modifications of his arrangements, which he promptly +made." In a subsequent report of Perryville, made while he was at +Shelbyville, of date May 20, 1863, he reflects very severely upon +Polk's movements at Perryville. He says that he ordered the attack +to be made by Polk on Gilbert early in the morning of the 8th, that +he waited until 10 A.M., and hearing no firing started to see Polk +and have an explanation of the delay. Here he was "informed that +it was determined not to attack, but to assume the 'defensive +offensive.'" Bragg gave orders for some changes in the line of +battle, restoring certain portions of the command that had been +withdrawn, and again ordering Polk to bring on the engagement. The +execution of this order was delayed by Polk, and Bragg, becoming +"impatient at the delay after this order," "despatched a staff +officer to repeat it to the General, and soon thereafter followed +in person and put the troops in motion." + +Bragg's intention was not to fight a general engagement at Perryville, +but merely to check the advance of Buell's army, thereby gaining +time to gather his supplies and men together and leave the State. +Bragg had been urged, by leading Kentuckians in his command and +others, to undertake the campaign in Kentucky with the promise of +immense numbers of recruits and large quantities of supplies. He +anticipated that his coming would be hailed as that of a deliverer, +and that the young men of the State would flock to his banners +and fill up his army, so that he could attack Buell at any point. +Bragg's entire command in Kentucky was estimated at thirty-five to +forty thousand. He anticipated enlisting twenty thousand recruits, +and took arms to Kentucky for that number of new troops. Buell's +command, with his losses and the garrison at Nashville was less +than this, but at Louisville he received some twenty-two thousand +new troops. The number of infantry recruits for Bragg's army was +very small, for he says in his first official report of the battle +of Perryville--when he at that time was preparing to leave the +State--"with ample means to arm twenty thousand men and a force +with that to fully redeem the State, we have not yet issued half +the arms left us by casualties incident to the campaign." + +General Buell waited for Sill to join him with his division, leaving +Dumont at Frankfort. On the march Sill's advance was attacked by +a portion of Kirby Smith's command, which he repulsed and arrived +at Perryville on the 11th. Buell then moved forward, expecting Bragg +to give battle at Harrodsburg, and throwing out a strong force to +reconnoitre, discovered the enemy in force some three miles south +of that place. During the day Bragg continued his march south, +his rear guard being driven out of the place with the loss of +considerable stores and about twelve hundred prisoners, in the main +sick and wounded. On the next day Buell made a strong reconnoissance +to the crossing of Dick's River, and there ascertained that Bragg +had crossed his entire army. + +Learning on the 13th that the enemy was retreating south, Buell +ordered pursuit to be made immediately, for the purpose of overtaking +Bragg, or of intercepting him if he should attempt to pass toward +Somerset. Wood's division marched at midnight, and engaged the enemy +at Stanford at daylight the next morning. The rest of Crittenden's +and McCook's corps followed on the same road; Gilbert marching on +the Lancaster road. The enemy was steadily pressed on the road to +Cumberland Gap, but could not be brought to an engagement. McCook's +and Gilbert's corps were halted at Crab Orchard, while Crittenden, +with W. S. Smith's division, was sent in pursuit as far as London +on the direct road to the Gap. It now appearing that Bragg did not +intend to fight in the State, and the country beyond Crab Orchard +being extremely barren and rough--no supplies existing in it--the +pursuit was discontinued, and the Army of the Ohio was turned toward +Bowling Green and Glasgow, preparatory to the advance to Nashville. +McCook's and Gilbert's corps were concentrated at the former place, +and Crittenden's at the latter. This movement of the troops was +made by Buell, who was confident that Bragg would concentrate in +the vicinity of Nashville, and seek to recover that place, and to +fight his great battle for the possession of Kentucky. + +The military affairs of the nation at this time were unfortunately +in charge of General Halleck, who had been called to Washington as +Commander-in-Chief. On the retreat of Bragg from Kentucky, Halleck +insisted that Buell should make a campaign into East Tennessee, a +distance of two hundred and forty miles, over mountain and river, +without any communication to the rear, except by wagon train, over +almost impassable roads, the advance to be made in the face of the +enemy, who, operating on his line of communications could move his +entire command to defeat our advance in detail. Buell reported +to the War Department that it was impossible to make the campaign +as ordered, and knowing the necessity of protecting Nashville, he +directed the concentration of his troops on the line of the railroad +to that place. That road had been repaired up to Bowling Green, +after the destruction of two months before, and here the troops +received their needed supplies. On the 30th of October, Buell was +relieved of the command of the Department of the Ohio, and Major-General +William S. Rosecrans was, by the direction of the General-in-Chief, +assigned to the command of the troops. The designation of the +command being changed to that of the Department of the Cumberland. + +It is a somewhat singular fact, that the campaign in Kentucky +should have caused the most intense feeling in the opposing armies +against their respective commanders. In the Federal army, after +Buell allowed Bragg to move north from Munfordville without an +engagement, the expressions of the troops against their commanding +general were open, bitter, and almost universal, from the lowest to +the highest. However, there was one who never for a moment lost +faith, soldierly trust, and esteem for his commander, and he was +of all persons in the command most competent to judge. This was +General Thomas. He knew the great difficulties of Buell's position, +how his place had been interfered with by Halleck, under whose +command it was his misfortune early in the year to be; and later, +how he was made to feel the power of this same man as a personal +matter. Halleck, invested by the Administration with supreme powers, +planned a campaign into East Tennessee, on paper in Washington, and +ordered Buell to execute it. This, the latter, with full knowledge +of the situation, refused to do, and quietly ordering his troops +to the line of the railroad from whence they could be moved with +the least delay, as needed, waited for the order he knew was pending +for his removal. + +General Buell was right in refusing to attack Bragg at Munfordville, +or in fact at any time until he had placed his army north of the +enemy, and received his own reinforcements from Louisville. Then +this point was safe, and Nashville could not be imperiled by the +defeat of our army. Buell made three dispositions for an engagement +during the Kentucky campaign, but each time Bragg drew off except +at Perryville, and here there was no design of the latter to fight, +beyond checking Buell's advance, and gaining time for his troops +to make their retreat from the State with all stores and material. +Bragg, from his closing remarks in his first report of the battle +of Perryville, certainly did not consider--so far as the Confederacy +was concerned--that the State was worth fighting for. Had he +received the 20,000 new troops he was promised, instead of General +Buell having his army increased by that number, then he would have +struck quick and sharp. He left the State deeply disgusted with +Kentucky, and took every occasion after that to show it. The account +was even, however, as Bragg was not a favorite in that State. + +At Perryville Buell labored under the same disadvantage in the +organization of his command that made itself felt on the first +two great battlefields of the Army of the Cumberland. That was +the inefficiency of his corps commanders. Of Gilbert it is only +necessary to say, that a worse appointment as a corps commander +was not made during the war. Fortunately, the battle of Perryville +was his first and only appearance in that position. Buell, after +expressing his thanks for McCook's services on that field and in +the campaign, in his official report says: "It is true that only +one serious battle has been fought, and that was incomplete, and less +decisive than it might have been. That this was so is due partly +to unavoidable difficulties which prevented the troops, marching +on different roads, from getting on the ground simultaneously, but +more to the fact that I was not apprised early enough of the condition +of affairs on my left. I can find no fault with the former, nor +am I disposed at this time to censure the latter, though it must be +admitted to have been a grave error. I ascribe it to the too great +confidence of the general commanding the left corps (Major-General +McCook), which made him believe that he could manage the difficulty +without the aid or control of his commander." Buell was not notified +of any attack by the enemy on his left until over two hours after +the engagement was begun. He then hurried to the field, and sent +the necessary supports forward, at once checking the enemy, and +made disposition of his troops for battle. + +With a willingness to lay down command that characterized all +the commanders of the Army of the Cumberland when the authorities +in Washington regarded the good of the service as requiring it, +Buell placed the new commander in full possession of all plans and +information that he possessed, and without a word left the troops +that were to win undying fame on other battle-fields, largely by +reason of the training he had given them during the period of his +command, half a month less than one year. + +The Comte de Paris, in his "History of the Civil War in America," +in writing on the battle of Shiloh, where he refers to the massing +of the artillery by Grant's Chief of Staff, Colonel Webster, says: +"The fate of the day depends upon the preservation of these heights, +whence the enemy could have commanded Pittsburg Landing," and on +the following page adds, "Nevertheless, at the sight of the enemy's +battalions advancing in good order, the soldiers that have been +grouped together in haste, to give an air of support to Webster's +battery, became frightened and scattered. It is about to be carried, +when a new body of troops deploying in the rear of the guns, with +as much regularity as if they were on the parade-ground, receives +the Confederates with a fire that drives them back in disorder into +the ravine. This was the brigade of Ammen, belonging to Nelson's +division, that rushed forward so opportunely." In speaking of +the second day's fight he says: "At a signal given by Buell, his +three divisions, under Nelson, Crittenden, and McCook, put themselves +in motion at the same time. The soldiers of the Army of the Ohio, +constantly drilled for the year past by a rigid disciplinarian, and +trained by their long marches across three States, are distinguished +by their discipline and fine bearing. The readiness with which +they march against the enemy wins the admiration of the generals, +who, like Sherman, have had to fight a whole day at the head of +raw and inexperienced troops." + +The greatest service that General Buell rendered to his country +was as the organizer and disciplinarian of the mass of the raw, +undrilled troops that were hurried to the front under the need of +the hour, and who, unaccustomed to military or other restraint, had +all the freedom that characterizes the American sovereign both in +speech and action. To take these troops by the thousands and make +an army of fifty to seventy-five thousand trained skilled soldiers, +who, in later days, were to do as splendid fighting as the world +ever saw, was a stupendous undertaking. General Buell not only +did this, but accomplished the task in time to bring some of these +soldiers that he was justly proud of to the field of Shiloh, where, +under his eye, they met the enemy like veterans. Buell's military +training and habits of life led him, however, to one error. He +was so good a soldier himself, that he failed to recognize the +distinction between the regular soldier in garrison during times +of peace and the thinking volunteer during the active campaigns +of the rebellion. The latter could not and would not be made the +mere machine the former becomes, and Buell's failure to appreciate +this caused great ill-feeling against him at the time in his army. +Then, again, Buell's earlier military training in the bureau +office he held so many years unfitted him for the handling, on +the battle-field, of the large number of troops which composed his +command. But very few generals during the rebellion were able to +successfully handle on the battle-field as large an army as was +under Buell. In fact, the general who has sufficient talent as a +good organizer and drill-master to enter into the details necessary +to bring an army out of raw troops, has not the military genius +required to handle a large army in fighting and winning great +battles. But Buell rendered many valuable services, in the camp +and on the field, to his country. It was Buell who planned the +Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, and Nashville campaign, which Halleck +put under his hat, and proceeded to carry out as HIS original idea, +being careful to say nothing in regard to his plans until they +were so far executed as to render any action on the part of Buell +and his command simply that of a supporting column. Then to Buell +is due the credit of the second day's fight at Shiloh. That day's +battle was the fight of the Army of the Ohio with Lewis Wallace's +division, General Grant giving Buell largely his discretion in +the movements of the troops. Whitelaw Reid says of him, in "Ohio +in the War," "He came into that action when, without him, all was +lost. He redeemed the fortunes of the field, and justly won the +title of the 'Hero of Pittsburg Landing.'" + +The order placing Rosecrans in command--General Order No. 168, War +Department, of date October 24, 1862--created the Department of +the Cumberland, embracing that portion of the State of Tennessee +lying east of the Tennessee River, and such portion of Georgia and +Alabama as should be occupied by the Federal troops. The troops +in the field were designated in the same order as the "Fourteenth +Army Corps." + +General Rosecrans assumed command on October 30th at Louisville. +On November 2d he arrived at Bowling Green, and on the 7th he +announced, in General Orders, the division of his army organization +into "the Right Wing," "the Centre," and "the Left Wing," under the +command respectively of McCook, Thomas, and Crittenden, with five +divisions in the centre and three in each wing. He instructed +Thomas to advance Fry and Dumont's divisions to Gallatin, and to +push rapidly forward the repairs of the railroad to Nashville. + +Up to this time the movements of Bragg's army remained undeveloped, +and no disposition of the Federal forces could be safely made +without the knowledge of what Bragg's plan of operation would be. +That he would ultimately attempt the capture of Nashville or force +a battle for it there could be but little doubt. Not to fight for +Nashville was the abandonment of Tennessee. Kentucky surrendered +without a blow produced such demoralization in Bragg's command that +to have given up Tennessee without a struggle would have either +compelled a change in the commanding officer of that army or a +disbandment of it, so far as the Kentucky and Tennessee troops were +concerned. + +General Halleck's brilliant paper campaign into East Tennessee again +was produced and aired with a show of the most profound wisdom, +based on the extreme ignorance of the situation and surroundings. +Buell's forethought in concentrating the army within supporting +distance of Nashville became apparent on the appearance of the +advance of Bragg's army at Murfreesboro, reinforcing Breckinridge's +command, which had been left in Tennessee to enforce the "blockade +of Nashville." This was another grievance the Kentucky troops had +against Bragg. All the Kentucky infantry troops under Bragg were +in Breckenridge's command, and they were exceedingly anxious to +return to the State with Bragg's army to visit their friends and +relatives and aid in recruiting that army. Bragg's distrust of +these troops was such that he refused to allow them this privilege, +and his action in holding them in Tennessee, just out of Kentucky, +did not materially increase his popularity with them. Breckinridge +had established his headquarters at Murfreesboro and assumed chief +command, with about ten thousand troops under him, over one-third +of which were cavalry under Wheeler and Forrest. With this force +Breckinridge endeavored to enforce the siege of Nashville, using +his cavalry to prevent the gathering of forage and supplies by our +troops from the surrounding country. These foraging parties were +constantly sent out, going as far at times as ten miles on these +expeditions. The main deprivation the garrison suffered during +the six weeks of the siege was in having nearly all communication +cut off from their friends in the North, and while they received +nothing, they embraced every opportunity of sending letters by +citizens returning north. The garrison was not willing to remain +entirely on the defensive. Besides the numerous raiding parties +sent out for forage which were uniformly successful, on the night +of the 6th of October, Negley sent Palmer with some twenty-eight +hundred troops to attack General S. R. Anderson, who had established +his camp at Lavergne with some three thousand men, principally new +recruits. Palmer with the artillery and about four hundred infantry +to support it, moved directly on Lavergne, some fifteen miles from +Nashville, while Colonel John F. Miller with about twenty-four +hundred men in his command moved on the road to the right to make +the attack on the rear of the enemy. Miller marched his command +during the night, captured the enemy's pickets at daylight and +moved on the encampment. Palmer opened with artillery as soon as he +heard Miller's musketry firing and the latter, pushing his troops +rapidly forward, after an engagement lasting half an hour, had the +enemy in full retreat on the road to Murfreesboro with a loss of +80 killed and wounded and 175 prisoners. He also captured three +pieces of artillery, and the regimental colors of the Thirty-second +Alabama. Palmer's command then returned to Nashville. + +During the siege of Nashville skirmishing between our pickets and +the scouting parties of the enemy was constantly occurring, and the +garrison of Nashville was indebted for its safety to the services +of Lieutenant-Colonel Von Schrader of the Seventy-fourth Ohio, +Inspector of Negley's division, as much as any one thing. Von +Schrader was an educated Prussian officer and a thorough soldier. +He established a system of pickets, strongly posted, with block +houses for their protection, and then gave his personal attention +to it that the pickets performed their entire duty. There was no +determined assault on the place at any time during the siege. The +only appearance of an attack in force was on the 6th of November, +by a body of some eight thousand troops, equally divided between +cavalry and infantry, under General Roger Hanson. Forrest, +knowing that the Federal force at Nashville was not a very strong +one and that by the pursuit of Bragg by Buell's army, Nashville was +completely cut off from any immediate support or relief, obtained +General Breckinridge's permission to make an attack with his cavalry, +numbering over four thousand men, in concert with the infantry +under Hanson, numbering a little less than Forrest's command. The +enemy's cavalry moved in columns on the Charlotte, Franklin, and +Nolinsville turnpikes from the south, while Forrest in person with +1,000 cavalry and Hanson's infantry, pushed rapidly forward on the +Murfreesboro pike, arriving at the Lunatic Asylum, six miles from +Nashville, by daylight. Our pickets and cavalry were driven in, +and Hanson was in readiness to make the attack with the infantry +when a peremptory order from Breckinridge was received, directing +further operations to cease, under express orders from Bragg. +After skirmishing with his cavalry around the city at the different +outposts, Forrest withdrew, greatly incensed at being ordered to +desist from the attack when confident of success. + +Bragg in leaving a large number of men in middle Tennessee merely +to watch the post of Nashville--thus crippling his army to that +extent--committed a great mistake. He needed every available man +in his army to make the Kentucky campaign a success. With these +10,000 troops, if Buell had left Negley's and Paine's divisions +as garrisons at Nashville, Bragg's force would have outnumbered +Buell's command before he reached Louisville three to two. With +the defeat of Buell, Nashville would have been worse than worthless, +proving an incumbrance instead of a benefit. On the other hand, +with Bragg driven out of Kentucky, and opening the struggle for +that State in Tennessee, the possession of Nashville as a second +base of supplies for our army was an absolute necessity. Bragg, +however, was correct in refusing to allow the place to be attacked +by Forrest, for even in the event of success the non-combatants +and sympathizing friends of the South would have suffered in person +and property to an extent far beyond what the temporary occupation +of the city by the Southern forces would have compensated. + +Nashville was re-enforced by the arrival of the advance of the army +concentrating there on the 17th of November, and a few days after +Rosecrans arrived and established his headquarters in that city. +The first thing that demanded the attention of the new commander +was that which had given the most serious trouble to General Buell, +viz.: the safety of his communications in the rear to his base +of supplies. The repair to the tunnel just south of Mitchelville +occupied a large force several weeks to complete. During this time +all supplies for troops at Nashville were with the greatest labor +hauled fifty-five miles by wagon train. The railroad from Louisville +to Nashville was re-opened on the 26th of November, and for one +month every effort was made to forward supplies, so the troops could +have new clothing issued to them, and that they could be provided +with ammunition. The depôts at Nashville were filled with needful +supplies to provide against the interruption of communication arising +from raids on the railroad by rebel cavalry. Since the middle of +November Bragg had been concentrating his forces at Murfreesboro, +and anticipating that the Federal forces would go into winter +quarters at Nashville, had placed his troops in quarters for the +winter in the vicinity of the former place. He had sent nearly all +of his cavalry to raid on the lines of the Federal communication--Morgan +into Kentucky and Wheeler into West Tennessee. With this knowledge, +Rosecrans, on the 26th of December, ordered his army to move out +of Nashville to attack the enemy on his front. + +While the army was being refitted at Nashville, Morgan's cavalry +was raiding the surrounding country. On the 7th Morgan's command +captured the Ninety-ninth Brigade under Colonel A. B. Moore, at +Hartsville, where he had been posted by Thomas to guard the ford of +the Cumberland River, and to watch the enemy on the Lebanon road. +The brigade consisted of three infantry regiments, a battalion of +cavalry, and a section of artillery, making a force of about two +thousand effective men. The command was badly posted, and the +commanding officers of the infantry regiments failed to cooperate, +or to obey orders. It was, in the main, a repetition of the +disgraceful affair at Murfreesboro, when Forrest captured that +place during the previous summer. Moore was surprised in his camp +early in the morning. No warning was given by the pickets, and +before any disposition could be made of the troops, Morgan's men +were upon them. Morgan's command consisted of his cavalry, and two +regiments of infantry. Moore threw out a skirmish line to resist +the advance of Morgan's infantry and dismounted cavalry in line. +The rebels pressed steadily forward to a ravine at the foot of the +hill on which Moore had formed his line, and under shelter of this +poured such a destructive fire upon the Federal troops, that he +ordered a new line to be formed in the rear. In this movement the +whole line was thrown into confusion, and being attacked on their +right and rear by the rebel cavalry, who had, up to this time not +been engaged, Moore's command was crowded one on the other into a +narrow space where the fire of the enemy proved terribly effective. +Moore's troops being unable to return the fire, and he not being +able to make another disposition of them, the white flag was raised, +and the entire command surrendered. Colonel Tafel, in command of +the One Hundred and Sixth Ohio, becoming separated from the other +troops, made some further resistance, but, being overpowered, he +also surrendered. The contest only lasted a little over an hour. +Moore's loss was 150 killed and wounded, his entire command +captured, with all army and camp equipment, trains, and two pieces +of artillery. Morgan's loss was 125 killed and wounded. + +General D. S. Stanley, on reporting to Rosecrans from the Army of +the Tennessee, had been assigned to the position of Chief of Cavalry +to the Commanding General. On the 12th he attacked and drove the +enemy out of the town of Franklin, killing five and capturing twelve +men, with a large number of horses and stores. He destroyed the +mills at that place, with a great quantity of valuable property. + +After the capture of Hartsville by Morgan, his services were +recognized by his superiors to the extent that Mr. Davis, who was +on a visit to Murfreesboro shortly after this engagement, signed +and handed him his commission as Brigadier-General. General Hardee +urged that the appointment be made as Major-General, but this was +refused. Morgan's command had increased so that it was unwieldy +as one body, and he decided to form it into two brigades. His +command consisted now of seven regiments,--an aggregate force of +over four thousand men. This he divided, placing three regiments +under Colonel Basil W. Duke, in the first brigade, with a battery +of four guns. The second brigade was placed in command of Colonel +W. C. P. Breckenridge, and was composed of four regiments, with one +three-inch Parrot gun and the two mountain howitzers. This force, +trained as it had been, had no superior for the work it was ordered +to do--raiding in the rear, destroying bridges, trestleworks, and +capturing bridge-guards. So accustomed had they become to hardships +of every nature, that it was almost incredible the amount of rough +riding, scant fare, and loss of sleep these men endured. Proud of +their past success, and emboldened by it to the belief that they +were able to defeat any force that could overtake them, they at +last found the country south of the Ohio too confined for them, +and, aiming at grander feats, they passed north of that river, +and, entering upon an entirely different kind of warfare, met with +complete disaster. + +On the morning of the 22d the command of Morgan took the road again +for Kentucky. Bragg ordered the railroad in Rosecrans's rear to be +broken, and his communication with Louisville destroyed. Morgan and +his men were in most excellent spirits at the prospect of another +raid into that State. He had with him the pick of the youth of the +State of Kentucky. On the 24th Morgan's command had their first +skirmish with a battalion of Michigan troops, which resulted in +the loss to Morgan of seventeen of his men and two of his officers. +On the 25th Colonel Hobson had an engagement with Johnson's regiment +near Munfordville, in which the rebels suffered a loss of some +fifty men killed and wounded. Morgan then attacked the stockade at +Bacon Creek, held by a force of 100 men, who made a most stubborn +and determined resistance, inflicting severe loss upon the attacking +party, and demonstrating the worth of a stockade properly built and +efficiently manned. These stockades were built with heavy upright +timber ten or twelve feet high. They were surrounded by ditches +and pierced for musketry. Assailants, when right at the base, +were still far from taking them. It was supposed that they would +not resist artillery, and, in fact, they were not built with the +expectation of doing so. If the garrison of the stockade succeeded +in driving off the guerilla parties that swarmed through the country, +it fully accomplished its purpose. This stockade successfully +resisted the heavy artillery firing brought to bear upon it, even +when a number of shells exploded within the work. After making +such a brave defiance, it is to be regretted that they did not hold +out to the last, and refuse to surrender at all. The commanding +officer had rejected a number of demands made on him to surrender; +when Morgan came up in person, and in his own name offering them +liberal terms, they surrendered. Morgan then burnt the bridge +across Bacon Creek, and pressed on to Nolin, fourteen miles beyond, +where the stockade was surrendered without a fight. The bridge here +also was destroyed. Morgan's division, on the 27th, captured +Elizabethtown, after a severe engagement with the command +of Lieutenant-Colonel Smith--a detachment of some six hundred +infantry. Smith sent Morgan a demand for him to surrender, which +Morgan declined, and returned the compliment by making the same +demand on Smith, who also declined. After an engagement lasting +some six hours, Morgan's artillery rendered the building Smith's +command was fighting in untenable, and he then surrendered. The +next day Morgan, moving along the railroad, destroyed it thoroughly. +The principal object of the expedition was the great trestleworks +at Muldraugh's Hills, only a short distance apart. The garrison +defending the lower trestle, 600 strong, was captured by the Second +Brigade. The First Brigade captured the garrison at the upper +trestle--200 strong. These trestles were respectively 80 and 90 +feet high, and each of them 500 feet long. They were thoroughly +destroyed. Thus was accomplished the objects of the raid, but +the destruction of these bridges--trestle and railroad--did not +accomplish the design contemplated by Bragg. Rosecrans's prompt +movement from Nashville on the rebels encamped at Murfreesboro, +and the result of that campaign, rendered Morgan's raid a failure +in the main, as Bragg intended the road should be so thoroughly +destroyed as to prevent the further occupation of Nashville by our +army. The loss to the Federals was an exceedingly severe one, and +had Rosecrans remained at Nashville inactive all the winter of 1862, +Bragg's designs would have met with a greater degree of success. + +On the 29th, Colonel Harlan with his brigade attacked and routed +Morgan's troopers at Rolling Fork of Salt River, and drove them to +Bardstown. While Morgan was moving around Lebanon, Colonel Hoskins's +command attacked him and captured 150 men. Morgan passed between +the forces sent against him, showing again that it is impossible +to catch cavalry with infantry. Morgan then commenced his retreat +form the State. On the morning of January 1, 1863, as his command +was passing Columbia, 115 miles in an air-line from Murfreesboro, +his men reported hearing distinctly the roar of heavy cannonading +in that direction. On the 2d Morgan crossed the Cumberland, and +felt safe once more from all pursuit. + +On December 21st, General Carter moved with three regiments of +cavalry toward East Tennessee, from Lebanon, Ky., to raid on the +rebel line of communication. Crossing the Cumberland Mountains forty +miles northeast of Cumberland Gap, he passed through Southwestern +Virginia and Tennessee to Carter's Station, destroying the Holston +and Watauga bridges and several miles of railroad. He then leisurely +returned to Kentucky by the same route he had advanced. + + + + + +Chapter VII. + + + + +The Advance to Murfreesboro. + +On December 22d, General Thomas moved his headquarters from Gallatin +to Nashville, and there concentrated the divisions of Rousseau +and Negley, and Walker's brigade of Fry's division. Of the five +divisions composing the Centre, that of J. J. Reynolds was guarding +the Louisville and Nashville railroad; and on the same duty were +the remaining two brigades of Fry's division. R. B. Mitchell +was assigned to the command of Nashville with his division as the +garrison. This left, under the immediate command of Thomas, the +two divisions and the brigade as above, as his only available force. +McCook with three divisions under Johnson, Davis, and Sheridan, +and Crittenden, also with three divisions under Wood, Palmer, and +Van Cleve, were in camp in front of Nashville, on the Franklin, +Nolinsville, and Murfreesboro turnpikes. + +The position of the enemy under Bragg was fully known to Rosecrans. +Two corps under Polk and Kirby Smith were at Murfreesboro with +strong outposts at Stewart's Creek and Lavergne. The corps under +Hardee was on the Shelbyville and Nolinsville pike, between Triune +and Eaglesville, with an advance guard at Nolinsville. Rosecrans, +on the morning of the 26th, directed the advance movement to commence +in the following order. McCook was to move his command of three +divisions direct on the Nolinsville pike to Triune. Thomas was +to advance his command of two divisions and a brigade on McCook's +right by the Franklin and Wilson pikes, threatening Hardee's left, +and on his falling back was then to cross over on country roads +and occupy Nolinsville. Crittenden was ordered to move his command +direct on the Murfreesboro pike. On the arrival of Thomas at +Nolinsville, and being in a position to support, McCook was to attack +Hardee at Triune, and if the latter was re-enforced and McCook's +advance resisted, Thomas was to go to his aid. If Hardee fell back +to Stewart's Creek, five miles south of Lavergne, and the enemy +made a stand there, then Crittenden was to attack him at once, and +Thomas was to come in on his left flank, while McCook was to bring +his forces in supporting distance of Thomas and Crittenden as +needed, after sending a division to watch Hardee and to pursue him +if retreating. + +Davis took the advance of the Right Wing with the First Division. +He moved from camp at 6 A.M. on the Edmondson pike, on which he was +ordered to move to Prim's blacksmith shop, from whence he was to +march direct on a country road to Nolinsville. The Third Division +under Sheridan moved on the Nolinsville pike, followed by the Second +under Johnson. The advance of both these columns encountered the +cavalry pickets of the enemy, within two miles of the Federal picket +line. As these commands advanced, there was constant skirmishing +until the heads of each of these columns reached Nolinsville. +About one mile south of the town the enemy made a determined stand +in a defile, and upon the hills through which the pike ran at this +place, known as Knobb's Gap. This was a favorable position for +the rebels, well guarded by their artillery, which opened fire at +long range upon Carlin's lines. Davis then brought up two batteries +and opened fire upon the enemy, while Carlin charged their position, +capturing two guns and several prisoners. Davis's other brigades +carried the enemy's position on the right and left. His divisions +then bivouacked for the night. McCook's loss that day was about +seventy-five killed and wounded. + +Early on the morning of the 27th, McCook's command pressing +forward, encountered the enemy in force. A dense fog prevailed at +the time, rendering it hazardous in the extreme to open an engagement +at that time, as McCook's troops could not distinguish friend from +foe at one hundred and fifty yards, and his cavalry had been fired +on by his infantry. On learning that Hardee was in position and +had been in line of battle since the night before, McCook ordered +a halt until the fog lifted. This it did about noon, when Johnson's +division was pushed rapidly forward, followed by that of Sheridan. +As the command approached Triune they found the enemy had burned +the bridge across Wilson's Creek and retired, leaving a battery +of six pieces with cavalry supports to hold the crossing. As the +skirmishers of Johnson's command advanced, the battery withdrew, +and with the cavalry moved off rapidly on the Eaglesville road. +Johnson's division then repaired the bridge, crossed and went into +camp beyond Wilson's Creek. + +On Sunday the 28th, there was no general movement of the troops. +McCook, however, sent Willich's brigade out on reconoissance, to +learn whether the enemy had retired to Murfreesboro or Shelbyville. +Willich went several miles on the Shelbyville road and found that +the force in his front had turned to the left and moved toward that +former place. Stanley with the cavalry also made a reconoissance, +and reported that Hardee had retreated to Murfreesboro. + +On the 29th, McCook, leaving Baldwin's brigade at Triune to cover +the extreme right, moved forward with the remainder of his command +on a country road known as the Bole Jack road toward Murfreesboro. +The command did not reach their encampment until late in the +evening, when from the movements of the enemy it was concluded that +he intended to give battle at Murfreesboro, and every disposition +of troops was made with reference to this. That night McCook's +command was encamped in line of battle with two brigades of Johnson's +division watching the right, Woodruff's brigade guarding the bridge +at Overall's Creek, Davis on the right of the Wilkinson pike, with +Sheridan on the left of that road. The brigade that McCook had left +at Triune was ordered up and assumed its position with the troops +on the 30th. McCook's entire command on the morning of that day +advanced down the Wilkinson turnpike until the head of the column +encountered the enemy's pickets. The line of battle was at once +formed with the division deployed in a line running to the right in +a southeast direction with the left of Sheridan upon the Wilkinson +pike immediately on Negley's right. Davis's division was at once +thrown into line of battle with his left resting on Sheridan's +right, and Johnson's held in reserve. Covering the front with a +strong line of skirmishers, McCook moved his men slowly forward, +the enemy stubbornly contesting every foot of ground. McCook's +skirmishers soon became sharply engaged with those of the rebels. +The ground was very favorable to the enemy, they being under cover +of heavy woods and cedar thickets. At 12 o'clock part of the +enemy's line of battle was determined, McCook's skirmishers being +then about five hundred yards from it. The resistance to Davis's +advance was especially stubborn, and the losses of the day footed +up seventy-five in Sheridan's division and some two hundred +in Davis's. Shortly before sunset the rebel position was plainly +discernible from Davis's front, and was formed diagonally across +the old Murfreesboro and Franklin road. In the afternoon, McCook +learned from a citizen who had seen the enemy's line of battle and +the position of his troops, that they were posted with the right +of Cheatham's division resting on the Wilkinson pike; Wither's +division on Cheatham's left, with his left resting on the Franklin +road; the entire of Hardee's corps to the left of that road extending +toward Salem pike. This formation of the enemy's line placed the +right of McCook's line as then formed directly in front of the +enemy's centre. Information was at once sent to Rosecrans, and +McCook informed his three division commanders of this fact and +then placed two brigades of the reserve division under Willich and +Kirk--two of the best and most experienced brigade commanders in +the army--on the right of Davis, to protect the right flank and +guard against surprise--that of Kirk with his left resting on Davis's +right, with his right refused, Willich on Kirk's right and in a +line nearly perpendicular to the main line, thus covering the right +flank. The third brigade of Johnson's division was held as reserve. +McCook's line of battle as thus formed was broken in several +points. The general direction of Sheridan's line was to the east +and south, facing nearly at right angles with Negley, that of Davis +was to the west, facing south, nearly at right angles to Sheridan, +Kirk's brigade to Davis's right faced more to the east, while +Willich's faced due south. The general direction of McCook's line, +however, conformed to the line of the enemy in its front, except +the latter had no breaks in the line and that its left division +under McCown had its left extended due south. The main portion +of the enemy's battle-line faced northwest. Breckinridge on the +right of the line was facing nearly north while McCown on the left +faced due west. The enemy awaiting attack--acting on the defensive--had +as far as practicable located its line in the cedars, with open +ground in the front. McCook considered his line a strong one, +with "open ground in the front for a short distance." Rosecrans, +on being informed by McCook of the location of his line of battle, +expressed himself against it, saying: "I don't like the facing +so much to the east, but must confide that to you, who know the +ground. If you don't think you present the best position, change +it." At six o'clock in the evening McCook received an order from +Rosecrans to have large and extended camp-fires made on the right, +extending far beyond the right of the line, to deceive the enemy +and make him believe that troops were being massed there. Fires +were built extending nearly a mile beyond the right of McCook's +line. In this position the right wing rested in the cedars the +night before the battle. The troops, cutting cedar boughs for +beds, and officers and men, wrapping themselves in their blankets, +slept in the frosty night air with the silent stars looking down. + +On the 26th, Thomas's command, "the Centre," with Negley's division +in the advance, moved out promptly to Brentwood on the Franklin +pike, and from there turned to the left and advanced on the Wilson +pike to Owen's store, where the troops were to encamp for the night. +But on arriving there, Negley left his train and pushed on at once +with his troops to Nolinsville, from whence the sound of Davis's guns +had reached him, to his support. Negley encamped at Nolinsville, +Rousseau at Owen's store, and Walker's brigade at Brentwood. A very +heavy rain during the night rendered the country roads impassable, +and it was not until the night of the 27th that Rousseau's command +reached Nolinsville. On the morning of the 27th, Negley's train +coming up, his division moved to the east, over an extremely rough +by-road, to the right of Crittenden on the Murfreesboro pike, +taking position at Stewartsboro. Walker was sent back by Thomas +from Brentwood, to take the direct Nolinsville pike. On the 28th, +Rousseau, under order, marched to Stewartsboro, where he joined +Negley's division. On the 29th Negley crossed Stewart's Creek at +the ford southwest of, and two miles above the turnpike bridge, and +marched in supporting distance of the head of Crittenden's command +on the Murfreesboro pike. Rousseau was ordered to remain in camp +at Stewartsboro, detaching Starkweather's brigades with a section +of artillery to the Jefferson pike, to watch the movements of the +enemy. Negley's division moved eight miles that day and took position +within three miles of Murfreesboro. Walker reached Stewartsboro +from the Nolinsville pike about dark. Early in the morning, +Crittenden's command moved into line of battle on the left, under +a brisk fire, while Negley's division, by an oblique movement to +the right, took position on the right of Palmer's division, and +was then advanced through a dense cedar thicket several hundred +yards in width to the Wilkinson cross roads, driving the enemy's +skirmishers steadily, and with considerable loss. Rousseau's +division, with the exception of Starkweather's brigade, was ordered +up from Stewartsboro, reached the front, and bivouacked on the +Murfreesboro pike in the rear of the centre. Thomas during the +night ordered Walker's brigade to take a strong position near the +bridge over Stewart's Creek, and to defend it against any attempt +of the enemy's cavalry to destroy it. Rousseau was ordered to +take position in rear of Negley's division, with his left on the +Murfreesboro pike, and his right extending into the cedar thicket +through which Negley had marched to take position. The troops held +every foot of ground that had been won from the enemy and remained +in line of battle during the night. + +The "Left Wing" under Crittenden advanced on the 26th to Lavergne, +Palmer's division in the front. He was engaged in a short time +with heavy skirmishing, which increased as the command moved south. +The advance of the column was over a rough country, intersected +with forests and cedar thickets. Crittenden was ordered to delay +his movements until McCook reached Triune, in order to determine +the direction in which Thomas should move as support; Crittenden's +command encamped that night four miles north of Lavergne. On the +27th Wood's division was placed in the advance of Crittenden's +column. Hascall's brigade drove the enemy from Lavergne with +a loss of twenty men wounded, and pushing rapidly on, forced them +south of Stewart's Creek, five miles beyond. At this place the +enemy set fire to the bridge, which Hascall's advance reached in +time to save. Hazen's brigade of Palmer's division was sent down +the Jefferson pike to seize the bridge over Stewart's Creek at the +crossing of that road. That night the "Left Wing" went into camp +at Stewartsboro, and remained there over the next day, Sunday. +On the 29th, Crittenden's command crossed Stewart's Creek by the +Smyrna bridge, and the main Murfreesboro pike, and advanced that +day--Palmer's division leading--to within two miles of Murfreesboro, +driving back the enemy after several severe skirmishes, saving two +bridges on the route, and forcing the enemy into his intrenchments. + +Rosecrans, about three o'clock in the afternoon, received a +signal message from Palmer at the front, that he was in sight of +Murfreesboro, and that the enemy was running. Rosecrans then sent +an order to Crittenden to send a division to occupy Murfreesboro, +camping the other two outside. Crittenden received this order +as he reached the head of his command, where Wood and Palmer were +gathering up their troops prepatory to encamping for the night. +These divisions were in line of battle,--Wood on the left and Palmer +on the right,--with the rebels in sight in such heavy force that +it was evident that they intended to dispute the passage of the +river, and to fight a battle at or near Murfreesboro. On receipt +of the order, Crittenden gave the command to advance. Wood was +ordered to occupy the place, and Palmer to advance in line of battle +until the passage of the river had been forced. Wood on receiving +the order objected greatly to carrying it out, saying that it was +hazarding a great deal for very little, to move over unknown ground +in the night, instead of waiting for daylight, and that Crittenden +ought to take the responsibility of disobeying the order. This +the latter refused to do. After Wood and Palmer had issued their +orders to advance, they both insisted that the order should not +be carried out. The order was then suspended an hour, so that +Rosecrans could be heard from. During this interval the general +himself came to this portion of the front, and approved of the +action of Crittenden, as the order had been issued on the report +that the enemy had evacuated Murfreesboro. Under the order, before +it was suspended, Harker with his brigade had crossed the river at +a ford on his left, where he surprised a regiment of Breckinridge's +division, and drove it back on its main lines, not more than five +hundred yards distant, in considerable confusion. He held this +position until it was dark, with Breckinridge in force on his +front, when Crittenden ordered his return. Hascall's command was +fording the river, advancing when the order was suspended. Harker +succeeded in recrossing the river in the face of this strong force +of the enemy without any serious loss. Crittenden placed Van Cleve's +division, which had reported marching from the Jefferson turnpike +to the Murfreesboro road, in reserve behind Wood. During the 30th +there was but little change in the position of the Left Wing, while +the other troops were moving into position on the line of battle. +Palmer's division was advanced a short distance, the enemy contesting +stubbornly. + +The pioneer brigade had prepared the banks at three places for the +fording of the river. Wood's division covered two, and the pioneer +brigade, under Captain St. Clair Morton, covered the lower one. +At night Crittenden's corps with Negley's division bivouacked +in order of battle, being on seven hundred yards from the enemy's +entrenchments. The left of Crittenden's command extended down the +river some five hundred yards. + +The first movement of Rosecrans's advance was made known to Bragg +as soon as it had reached a point two miles beyond the Federal +picket-line, where the heads of the several columns encountered +the rebel cavalry pickets. For all Bragg had placed his army in +winter quarters, and presumed that Rosecrans had done the same, +his experience with the matter of surprise to an army led him to be +well prepared to know and take advantage of the slightest change +in his immediate front. By the night of the 26th Bragg knew +that Rosecrans's entire army was moving out to force him to fight +or compel his retreat. He at once selected his line of battle +at Stone's River, and directed his three cavalry brigades, under +Wheeler, Wharton, and Pegram, supported by three brigades of infantry +with artillery, to check the advance of the several columns until +he could unite this army. He then gave the necessary orders for +the concentration of his command and the formation of his line of +battle. + +Murfreesboro is situated on the railroad to Chattanooga, thirty miles +southeast of Nashville, in the midst of the great plain stretching +from the base of the Cumberland Mountains toward the Cumberland +River, and is surrounded by a gently undulating country, exceedingly +fertile and highly cultivated. Leading in every direction from +the town are numerous excellent turnpikes. Stone's River--named +after an early settler--is formed here by the middle and south +branches of the stream uniting, and flows in a northerly direction +between low banks of limestone, generally steep and difficult to +cross, emptying into the Cumberland. At the time of the battle the +stream was so low that it could be crossed by infantry everywhere. +The Nashville Railroad crosses the river about two hundred yards +above the turnpike bridge. At some five hundred yards beyond, it +intersects the Nashville turnpike at a sharp angle, then runs some +eight hundred yards between the pike and the river, when the stream +turns abruptly to the east and passes to the north. Open fields +surrounded the town, fringed with dense cedar-brakes. These +afforded excellent cover for approaching infantry, but were almost +impervious to artillery. + +The centre of Bragg's army was at Murfreesboro, under Polk. The +right was at Readyville, under McCown, and the left at Triune and +Eaglesville, under Hardee. Polk's command consisted of Cheatham's +and Wither's divisions. These divisions and three brigades of +Breckenridge's division of Hardee's corps were at Murfreesboro. +Cleburne's division and Adams's brigade of Breckinridge's division +were under the immediate command of Hardee, near Eaglesville, about +twenty miles west of Murfreesboro. McCown's division of Kirby +Smith's corps was at Readyville, twelve miles east of Murfreesboro. +Each of the two divisions of Hardee's corps consisted of four +brigades of infantry. To this corps Wheeler's brigade of cavalry +was attached. The brigade of T. R. Jackson--which was in the rear, +guarding the railroad from Bridgeport to the mountains--Bragg also +ordered up. On Sunday, the 28th, Bragg formed his line of battle, +placing Breckinridge's division on his extreme right, across Stone's +River, to protect that flank and cover the town. Adams's brigade +rested on the Lebanon road, about a mile and a half from town. +Breckinridge's division formed the first line, facing north, and +was posted in the edge of the forest, with Cleburne's division in +the second line, 800 yards to the rear. To the left of Adams the +line was broken by an intervening field, about three hundred yards +in width, which was apparently left unoccupied, but was covered by +the Twentieth Tennessee and Wright's battery, of Preston's brigade, +which swept it and the fields in front. The remainder of Preston's +brigade rested with its right in the woods, and extended along +the edge with its left toward the river. On the left of Preston, +Palmer's brigade was formed, and on his left Hanson's completed that +portion of the line. Jackson's brigade reported to Breckinridge +and was placed on the east side of the Lebanon road, on commanding +ground, a little in the advance of the right of Adams. On the +other side of the river the right of Withers's division rested at +the bank, near the intersection of the turnpike with the railroad, +and was slightly in advance of Hanson's right. It extended +southwardly across the Wilkinson pike to the Triune or Franklin +road, in an irregular line adapted to the topography of the country. +In the rear of Withers's division that of Cheatham was posted as +a supporting force. McCown's division was placed in the rear of +these divisions as the reserve. This was Bragg's first disposition +of his troops for battle. On Monday, the 29th, no change of +importance was made, the troops remaining in line of battle. In +the evening, when Harker's brigade crossed the river, Bragg thought +this was a movement to occupy a hill situated about six hundred +yards in front of Hanson's centre. This commanded the ground sloping +to the river south and west, and from it the right of Withers's +division across the river could be enfiladed. Hanson's brigade +was sent out, and, on Harker's return, the hill was occupied by the +batteries of the enemy. On Monday Bragg, finding that Rosecrans +was extending his line on his right,--as Bragg supposed to operate +on that flank--threw his reserve division under McCown on Withers's +left. Hardee was ordered to take command of McCown's division, and +to move Cleburne from the second line in the rear of Breckinridge, +and place him on the left as support to McCown. Cleburne was brought +forward and placed five hundred yards in rear of the latter. Bragg's +main line of battle was in the edge of the woods, with open ground +to the front. His troops were formed in two lines, the first line +protected by intrenchments, and his second line formed some six +hundred yards to the rear. He awaited the attack of Rosecrans on +the 30th, and not receiving it, on Tuesday made his arrangements +for an advance and attack in force on the morning of the 31st. His +troops remained in line of battle, ready to move with the early +dawn of the coming day. The two armies were now arrayed only some +five hundred yards apart, facing each other, and eager for the +conflict of the morrow. + +At nine o'clock on the evening of the 30th, the corps commanders +met at Rosecrans's headquarters, in the cedars near the Murfreesboro +pike, to receive their final instructions and to learn the details +of the plan of battle for the next day. McCook was directed with +his three divisions to occupy the most advantageous position, +refusing his right as much as practicable and necessary to secure +it, to await the attack of the enemy, and in the event of that +not being made, to himself engage and hold the force on his front, +Johnson's division held the extreme right of his line; on Johnson's +left was Davis's division, and on Davis's left Sheridan's was +posted. Thomas was instructed to open with skirmishing and engage +the enemy's centre with Negley's division of his command and Palmer's +of Crittenden's corps, Negley's right resting on Sheridan's left, +and Palmer's right on the left of Negley, Rousseau being in reserve. +Crittenden was ordered to move Van Cleve's division across the river +at the lower ford, covered and supported by the pioneer brigade +and at once advance on Breckinridge. Wood's division was to +follow--crossing at the upper ford and joining Van Cleve's right--when +they were to press everything before them into Murfreesboro. This +gave a strong attack from two divisions of Federal troops on the +one of Breckinridge's, which was known to be the only one of the +enemy's on the east of the river. As soon as Breckinridge had been +dislodged from his position, the artillery of Wood's division was +to take position on the heights east of the river and open fire on +the enemy's lines on the other side, which could here be seen in +reverse, and dislodge them, when Palmer was to drive them southward +across the river or through the wood. Sustained by the advance +of the Centre under Thomas crushing their right, Crittenden was to +keep advancing, take Murfreesboro, move rapidly westward on the +Franklin pike, get on their flank and rear and drive them into +the country toward Salem, with the prospect of cutting off their +retreat and probably destroying their army. Rosecrans called the +attention of the corps commanders to the fact that this combination, +which gave to him such a superiority on the left, depended for its +success upon McCook's maintaining his position on the right for at +least three hours, and if compelled to fall back that he should do +so in the same manner he had advanced the day before, slowly and +steadily, refusing his right. McCook was asked if he could hold +his position for three hours, and replied that he thought he could. +The importance of doing so was again impressed upon him, and the +officers then separated. + +As will be seen, the plan of battle as formed by Rosecrans +contemplated a feint attack by his right, which in the event of a +repulse was to fall back slowly, contesting the ground stubbornly, +while the main attack was to be made by the forces on the left, +followed up the advance of the centre, the right to be temporarily +sacrificed for the success of the general plan. Rosecrans knew +that Bragg had weakened his right to support his left, looking to +offensive movements on his part, and that the vital point in his +own plan was the ability of McCook to hold the enemy in check on +his front. + +During the 30th, Bragg formed his plan of battle, which, singular +as it appears, was the exact counterpart of that of the Federal +commander. Hardee on the left, with McCown's and Cleburne's +divisions, was to advance against the Federal right, which being +forced back, Polk and Withers's and Cheatham's divisions were then +to push the centre. The movement made by a steady wheel to the +right on the right of Polk's command as a pivot. Bragg's plan +was to drive our right and centre back against our left on Stone's +River, seize our line of communication with Nashville, thus cutting +us off from our base of operations and supplies, and ultimately +securing the objective of his campaign, Nashville. Bragg's plan +was equally as bold as that of his opponent--whose command was +slightly inferior in strength to the rebel force--and the success +of either depended very largely on the degree of diligence in +opening the engagement. Rosecrans's orders were for the troops +to breakfast before daylight and attack at seven o'clock. Bragg +issued orders to attack at daylight. + + + + + +Chapter VIII. + + + + +The Battle of Stone's River. + +With early light, on the morning of the 31st, the movement in each +army began. Rosecrans had established his headquarters in the rear +of the left, in order to direct in person the forward movement of +that portion of his army which was to cross Stone's River, sweep +all resistance before it, and swing into Murfreesboro. The command +was given, and at once Van Cleve advanced two brigades, making the +crossing of the river at the lower ford without opposition. Wood's +division had reached the river bank prepared to make the crossing +and support Van Cleve. Everything on the left appeared to be working +satisfactorily, when the opening sounds of the enemy's attack on +the right reached the left. This was as intended, and went to show +that if Bragg's left was fully occupied he then could give the less +attention to his right, engaged by our army. with high hopes the +troops then pressing forward continued to cross the river. Within +an hour after the opening of the battle, one of McCook's staff +officers reported to Rosecrans that the Right Wing was heavily +pressed and needed assistance. Rosecrans was not told of the rout +of Johnson's division, nor of the rapid withdrawal of Davis, made +necessary thereby. Rosecrans, sending word to McCook to make a +stubborn fight, continued his own offensive movement. Everything +was working well as far as he knew. His strong force on the left +was not yet engaged. This he could hurl at the enemy's line of +communications and strike on the flank of Bragg's army that was +flanking him. Soon after another staff officer from McCook arrived +and reported that the entire Right Wing was being driven, a fact +that manifested itself by the troops from the broken divisions +pouring forth from the cedars in alarming numbers, and by the rapid +movement of the noise of the battle to the north. Then Rosecrans +saw the necessity of abandoning his own movement, of recalling the +left, and of proceeding at once to the right to save what was left +of that corps as speedily as possible. He ordered back his left +from across the river, and calling on his staff to mount, rode full +gallop over to the right to reform that command on a new line and +save his army. Now that he was on the defensive, after McCook's +disaster, it was impossible to carry out his original plan of +battle. + +On the 30th, McCown in posting his division placed Ector's and +Rains's brigades in the first line, and McNair's brigade in the +second. Hardee ordered McCown at once to change this so as to +bring McNair on the front line. This order was not obeyed until the +morning of the 31st, when the movement was made, causing, however, +some delay in the advance of Hardee's command on our right. At +half past six o'clock, McCown's division in the front line with +Cleburne's division in the second swinging around by a continuous +change of direction to the right, advanced on to the right of McCook. +McCown did not properly execute the movement as intended, and was +carried so far west as to leave a gap in the rebel front between +Withers's left and McCown's right. Into this gap Cleburne immediately +threw his division, and advanced, filling the interval in the front +line between McCown and Polk. This gave Hardee double the length +of front originally contemplated, and made it a single line instead +of a double with division front. These two divisions thus formed +then struck McCook's right flank--Johnson's division. McCook's line +was very weak and poorly posted. It was thin and light, without +reserves, with neither the troops nor commanding officers in their +places, as they should have been, under Rosecrans's orders of the +evening before. + +Every soldier on that field knew when the sun went down on the 30th +that on the following day he would be engaged in a struggle unto +death, and the air was full of tokens that one of the most desperate +of battles was to be fought. In the face of all this, Johnson, the +commander of the First Division on the right, was not on the line +nor near enough to his troops to give orders to them, his headquarters +being a mile and a half in the rear. General Willich the commander +of the Second Brigade, which had been posted for the express purpose +of protecting the extreme right of our army, was absent from his +command at division headquarters. His brigade was not even in line, +as they had been ordered to get their breakfast. The batteries of +the division were not properly posted, and in some cases the horses +were away from the guns to the rear for water. All this was criminal +negligence--a failure in the performance of duty--for which some +one should have suffered. To the faulty position of the line and +to the unprepared condition of the troops is to be attributed the +almost overwhelming disaster that overtook our army on that day. +As the two divisions of the enemy advanced, Kirk threw forward the +Forty-fourth Illinois to support the skirmish line, and called on +Willich's brigade for help. This brigade being without an immediate +commander, no effort was made to support Kirk. The contest was +too unequal to be maintained for any great length of time, and +Johnson's division, after a sharp and spirited but fruitless contest, +crumbling to pieces, was driven back with a loss of eleven guns. +Kirk was mortally wounded and Willich was captured, returning to +his command as it was driven back. Kirk's brigade lost 473 killed +and wounded, and had 342 captured. Willich's brigade had a few +less killed and wounded, but more than twice that number captured. + +Baldwin in reserve near headquarters was too far from the front +to aid in supporting either of the other brigades of Johnson's +division. Stragglers from Kirk's and Willich's brigades gave the +first information to Baldwin of the disaster on the right. Hastily +forming his troops, he had barely time to post them in line of battle +before the enemy in immense masses appeared on his front at short +range, their left extending far beyond the extreme right of his +line. Opening at once a destructive fire upon their dense masses +with his infantry and artillery, Baldwin succeeded in checking +their advance in his front, but their left continued to swing around +on his right. Here four pieces of Simonson's battery posted near +the woods in the rear of the first position opened with terrible +effect. The enemy came on in such overwhelming numbers, that after +half an hour's stubborn resistance Baldwin was compelled to retire, +not however until the enemy had flanked his right and were pouring +in an enfilading fire. As it was he barely made his escape, since +in a moment longer his entire command would have been surrounded +and captured. At the edge of the woods Baldwin endeavored to make +another stand, but before he could form his line he was again forced +back. Retiring slowly, with several halts in the cedars, Baldwin +with his brigade reached the railroad where the rest of the division +was being reformed. + +The right flank being driven from its position by the left of the +enemy, Davis's division then felt the full force of the victorious +sweep of the rebel troops, flushed with success and aided by the +forces immediately in his front. Davis, as soon as the disaster +on his right had fully developed, at once changed front and formed +a new line, with his right brigade under Post nearly at right angles +to its former position, and made all necessary disposition of his +troops to receive the attack. Baldwin's brigade had hastily taken +position and had already felt the force of the enemy's concentrated +attack. Still the advancing lines of the enemy greatly overlapped +the extreme right of Baldwin. Hardly had the troops been placed +in this position before the enemy swept down in heavy masses upon +both the flank and front, charging with the rebel yell. The two +divisions of McCown's and Cleburne's troops which had driven Johnson, +hurled themselves upon Baldwin's and Post's brigades, while the +fresh troops of Withers's division, composed of Manigualt's and +Loomis's brigades, rushed upon those of Davis, under Carlin and +Woodruff, and upon that on the right of Sheridan's line under Sill. +The change of position of Post's brigade gave to the two remaining +brigades of Davis's division, and Sill's brigade of Sheridan's +command, the length of division front, and on this the enemy made +a united attack. After Baldwin had been compelled to retire, Post +repulsed the attack on his brigade, and Carlin, Woodruff, and Sill +in the front drove back the assaulting column of the rebels with +heavy loss. The enemy then reformed his lines, strengthened them +with his reserves under Vaughan and Maney of Cheatham's division +and once more pressed forward. Again these heavy lines struck +Carlin, Woodruff, and Sill, and were again handsomely repulsed; +Sill gallantly charging the rebels and driving them into their line +of intrenchments. In this charge, General Sill was killed. His +brigade then slowly retired and formed anew in line of battle. +Cleburne at the same time charged down on Post's brigade, and he +too was a second time repulsed. + +The formation of the battle-front of Davis's two left brigades under +Carlin and Woodruff was almost perpendicular to that of Sheridan's +division, and the left of Woodruff's with the right of Sill's +brigade formed the apex of a right triangle. This position was +at once observed by the enemy, who saw that if he could take this +extreme point of the angle he would be in position to enfilade both +lines at once. For the possession of this point every effort was +made, and a third attack was ordered upon it with four brigades, +under the immediate command of Cheatham, in double lines. Hardee +had gathered his command together again for another attack on Post's +position. Pressing forward with the victorious troops of McCown's +and Cleburne's divisions--the troops that had swept Johnson from +the field--he enveloped both flanks of Post's brigade, and compelled +him to fall back, with the loss of one gun, to the Nashville pike, +where he also reformed his command. + +On the withdrawal of Post's brigade, Carlin's right was left exposed +to the enemy, who with renewed vigor pressed forward in overwhelming +numbers on converging lines, massing as they advanced. Circling +around on their right the rebels swept down on the remaining brigades +of Davis's division in dense columns. In the previous charge the +attack had been so heavy upon the angle formed by Woodruff's left +and Sill's right, that in the new formation--after the second +repulse--the line at this point was somewhat broken, and after +Sill's death the right of the brigade was reformed somewhat to the +rear of the former line, the better to support the battery attached +to it. In the heavy fighting of the morning the position of all +the brigades had been more or less changed, and in several instances +the commanding officer of each brigade considered his command as +being without support on either flank. On the third assault both +Carlin and Woodruff thought this to be the case with their commands, +and in the attack then made upon their brigades they became almost +surrounded. Carlin stubbornly resisted every effort to drive him +from his position until by his remaining longer the loss of his +entire brigade became imminent. His regiment on the left gave way +and he then retreated across open fields in the rear to the edge +of the woods, where Davis was attempting to reform his line, having +placed Hotchkiss's battery just within the timber. Woodruff then +fell back, but being closely pressed, turned and with a determined +charge sent the enemy beyond his original position. Being unsupported +he was compelled to retire into the cedars. Before Woodruff reached +the new lines that Davis was trying to form, Carlin's troops opened +fire on the advancing enemy, when he was informed that Davis had +ordered a farther withdrawal. He then fell back across the Wilkinson +pike, where he rallied his men, who however, on the advance of +the enemy, fired one volley and broke to the rear without orders. +Carlin then went with them through the lines of reserves, halting +at the railroad, where he reformed his command. After reaching the +cedars Woodruff charged a second time, and compelled the enemy to +fall back, but his ammunition giving out, his troops passed to the +rear, resisting every effort to rally them until they reached the +Murfreesboro pike. + +Davis's division had up to this time protected Sheridan's right, +and these divisions unitedly had resisted two assaults. After the +charge of the enemy that broke Davis's division and sent it through +the cedars, Sheridan was compelled to change his line and to protect +the right flank of his command from the enemy, now pressing that +part of his position, as well as his front, in increasing numbers, +as the line became shortened. Hastily withdrawing Sill's brigade, +with the reserves sent it as support, he directed Roberts, with +the left brigade, which had changed front and formed in columns +of regiments, to charge the enemy in the cedars from which he had +withdrawn Sill's brigade and the reserves. This charge was at once +made by Roberts, and the enemy's advance checked sufficiently to +give Sheridan time to form his troops on the new line, which he +at once did by placing Sill's and Shafer's brigades on a line at +right angles to his first one, and ordered Roberts to return and +form his command on this same line. Sheridan now attempted to +form the broken troops of the other division on the right of his +new line, but in this he was not successful. After making a gallant +fight with his division, finding the right of his new line turned, +Sheridan was directed by McCook to advance to the front and reform +his troops to the right of Negley's division of the Centre under +Thomas. Throwing forward his left to join Negley's right, he +placed Roberts's brigade in position at right angles to Negley's +line, facing south, and then placed his two other brigades in the +rear, and at right angles to Roberts, so as to face westward and +to cover the rear of Negley's lines. In the angle of these lines +on the right of Negley, he placed his artillery. Here he was again +fiercely assaulted by the enemy, and one of the fiercest and most +sanguinary contests of the day ensued. Massing the four divisions +of Hardee's and Polk's corps--each of four brigades--Bragg hurled +them against the divisions of Sheridan and Negley, and at the same +time the enemy opened fire from the intrenchments in the direction +of Murfreesboro. Here the fighting was terrific. Five batteries +were posted with these two divisions, the artillery range of the +respective forces being not to exceed two hundred yards. Three +times in dense masses the enemy charged on these divisions, and +three times were they repulsed. Here Colonel Roberts was killed. +Sheridan's troops having now exhausted their ammunition--Shafer's +brigade being entirely out and nearly all his horses killed--then +gave way, after over four hours of some of the hottest fighting of +the day. Sheridan lost in falling back from this position eight +guns. Nearly all the remainder of his artillery was drawn by his +men through the cedars. On arriving at the Murfreesboro pike, +Sheridan reformed his command in an open space near the right of +Palmer. + +Before assisting in the gallant fight on the right of the center +with Sheridan in his new position, Negley's division, after +repelling all assaults made on it, had been engaged in heavy fighting +on its front since the middle of the morning. On the withdrawal +of Sheridan, Negley's division found themselves surrounded by the +enemy in swarms. Rousseau's division in reserve, and Palmer's +on the left, had retired to the rear of the cedars, to form a new +line. Falling back through the cedar-brakes in the rear of the +division, under a concentrated fire of musketry and artillery at +short range, the rebels were driven back in front and checked in +the rear. Miller's and Stanley's brigades on reaching the woods +reformed their lines, faced to the rear and fired several volleys +into the enemy, then advanced over the open fields across which +these brigades had just retired. In passing through the cedars +the enemy pressed so closely on the division that in some parts of +Miller's brigade the lines of the opposing armies seemed commingled. +The division then reformed on the new line, as directed by Thomas, +near the Nashville pike. + +Early in the day, with the breaking up and retreat of the two fine +divisions of McCook's corps, the extent of the disaster to the right +was forced upon Rosecrans with terrible earnestness. Realizing at +once that upon him devolved the task of making such disposition of +his command as would ensure the safety of his army, he immediately +gave the necessary orders for the movement of the troops. Hurriedly +galloping to the centre, where he found Thomas, he at once ordered +Rousseau's division--held as reserve heretofore--to be sent to the +support of what was left of McCook's line into the cedar-brakes to +the right and rear of Sheridan. Rosecrans then ordered Crittenden +to suspend Van Cleve's movement across the river on the left, to cover +the crossing with one brigade, and to move the other two brigades +westward across the fields toward the railroad for a reserve. He +also directed Wood to suspend his preparations for his crossing +and for him to move at once to the new line on the right and hold +Hascall in reserve. Up to this time Rosecrans had hoped that +McCook, notwithstanding the disaster to the right, might stay the +onset with his own troops. With the volume of stragglers and the +detachments from the broken commands swarming to the rear through +the cedars Rosecrans soon became satisfied that McCook was routed. +He then ordered Van Cleve to be sent in to the right of Rousseau, +and Wood to send Colonel Harker's brigade farther down the Murfreesboro +pike with orders to go in and attack the enemy on the right of Van +Cleve. The pioneer brigade had been posted on the knoll of ground +west of the Nashville pike and about four or five hundred yards +in the rear of Palmer's centre, supporting Stokes's battery. On +Negley's division being compelled to retire, Thomas ordered him +with Rousseau to form their divisions along a depression in the +open ground in rear of the cedars, as a temporary line, until the +artillery could be posted on the high ground near to and west of +the Murfreesboro pike. Rousseau's division, cutting its way through +the enemy in falling back from the cedars, took position on this +temporary line with all its batteries posted on the knoll a short +distance to the rear. Here the severest engagement of this day of +heavy fighting was had, almost hand to hand. At this point the new +line had open ground in front of it for some four or five hundred +yards. Rousseau, while his batteries were unlimbering, requested +Van Cleve to move with Colonel Samuel Beatty's brigade of his +division to form on his right, check the rebel advance and drive +it back. Van Cleve instantly moved his troops on the double quick +and reached the desired position in good season. Upon these troops +in this new line the rebels charged in dense masses, flushed with +the victory of the early morning and elate with the hope of continued +success to the end. They had swept everything before them thus +far, and felt that with renewed effort the successful issue of the +battle was within their grasp. Emerging from the cedars with yell +after yell, firing as they came, they rushed forward four lines +deep in the attempt to cross the open field and drive back this +new line that stood in their pathway to final victory. At once +Rousseau's division and Beatty's brigade opened fire upon the +advancing columns, while Guenther's and Loomis's batteries added +effect to it by sending double shotted canister into their thick +ranks. The rebels moved on for a time, but the fire proved too +terrible and they were driven back with great slaughter. On reaching +the cedars these troops were rallied by their officers, and with +fresh troops as supports they advanced once more, with a determined +effort to carry our position at this point. But again they were, +after a more desperate struggle, driven back. Again and again they +returned to the assault, in four deliberate and fiercely sustained +efforts, each time to meet with a repulse. The brigade of regulars +under the command of Colonel Shepherd sustained the heaviest blows +of this assault. They had the efficient support of Scribner's and +John Beatty's brigades, of Loomis's and Guenther's batteries, and +of the pioneer brigade under Captain St. Clair Morton, with Stokes's +battery. Sheppard's command lost in killed and wounded in this +short and severe contest, 26 officers and 611 enlisted men, making +a total loss of 637 out of 1,566 effectives. The centre succeeded +in driving back the enemy from its front, gallantly holding its +ground against overwhelming odds, while the artillery concentrating +its fire on the cedar thickets on their right drove the enemy far +back under cover of the woods. + +While the right and centre had been thus actively engaged, the left +had also borne its full share of the heavy fighting of the day. +Palmer's division was posted in line of battle with his right +resting on Negley's left. His line was formed with Cruft's brigade +on the right, connecting with Negley, and his left extending across +a point of woods to the right of Hazen's brigade, which was formed +in two lines with his left resting on the Nashville pike, while +Grose's brigade was in reserve some two hundred yards to the rear, +formed in two lines nearly opposite the interval between the brigades +in line of battle. On the withdrawal of the troops of the left +from across the river, Wood ordered Wagner with his brigade to hold +his position in the woods on the left of the Murfreesboro pike at +all hazards, this being an exceedingly important point, protecting +our left front and flanks and securing command of the road leading +to the rear. Hascall's and Harker's brigades were withdrawn, and +the latter, under an order from Rosecrans, was moved to the right +and rear. In the heavy fighting of the general movement on the +right and centre, the left gradually became engaged, and with this +Hascall was ordered by Wood to take position between Wagner and +Hazen on Wagner's right. With the general advance of the enemy, +moving on the right of Polk's corps as a pivot, Palmer and the +two brigades of Wood's division on the left became engaged. Cruft +early in the morning had been ordered by Palmer to advance, keeping +in line with Negley, the latter having sent word to Palmer that he +intended to advance his division to attack the enemy. Cruft was +advanced in two lines, two regiments in each line with Miller's +brigade of Negley's division on the right and Hazen's brigade on +his left. After Cruft had advanced about a hundred yards, Palmer +discovered that Negley had thrown back his right so that his line +was almost perpendicular to Cruft's and to his rear. After Cruft +had driven the enemy's skirmishers in, the rebels advanced in great +force in four ranks with double lines, Chalmers in the front line +with Donelson's brigade following. This charge Cruft repulsed, +inflicting severe loss on the enemy. Chalmers was so severely +wounded by the bursting of a shell as to disqualify him for further +duty on the field. Advancing once more, the rebels again attacked +Cruft's line, when a very severe engagement ensued, and after some +thirty minutes' firing the enemy was again repulsed. When Negley's +division went back through the cedars, Cruft was left without +support on his right and he then withdrew to the wood, the enemy +following him closely and pressing him hard. While Cruft was thus +engaged on the front, Palmer found that the right and centre had +been driven from the first line, and that the enemy in Negley's +front was forcing his way into the open ground to his rear. He +then changed Grose from front to rear, retired his new left so as +to bring the rebels under the direct fire of his line, and opened +on them with great effect, holding his ground until the enemy was +driven back. Hazen was ordered to fall back from the advanced +position he then held, and to occupy the crest of a low wooded +hill between the pike and the railroad, and there resist the attack. +This was about eleven o'clock, and all of Palmer's command was +engaged with the enemy--Hazen on the railroad, one or two detached +regiments to the right, Cruft still farther to the right, actively +engaged, while Grose to the rear was fighting heavy odds. Grose +shortly after this changed to the front again, the enemy being +driven back from his rear, and moved to the left to co-operate +with Hazen. After aiding in the repulse of the troops that struck +Cruft's lines, Hazen with constant firing maintained his position +on his left at the railroad, retiring his right to place his troops +behind the embankment at that place. General Palmer had ordered +Grose to co-operate with Hazen, and part of Grose's troops reporting +to him, they were placed in position on the front. Here was held +what was considered by the enemy to be the key to our position, +known as the "Round Forest." This was attacked by the right of +Donelson's brigade, but the attack was met with a fire that mowed +down half its number, one regiment losing 207 out of 402. In +another regiment the loss was 306 out of 425. Polk finding that +his troops had been so severely punished that they were not able +to renew the attack on the extreme left of our line, and that the +new line on the right as formed by Rosecrans resisted every attack, +applied for an order from Bragg directing four brigades from +Breckenridge's command to be sent to him to drive our left from +its line, and especially to dislodge us from our position in the +"Round Forest." These brigades were sent to him, arriving in two +detachments of two brigades each. Adams and Jackson's brigades +first reported, under Breckinridge in person. Those of Preston +and Palmer reported about two hours later. About two o'clock in +the afternoon Adams and Jackson's brigades assailed our left with +determined energy, but after a severe contest they were compelled +to yield and fall back. They were rallied by Breckenridge, but +were too badly cut up to renew the attack. About four o'clock, on +the arrival of the brigades of Preston and Palmer, the assault on +the left was renewed and again repulsed, when the enemy withdrew and +made no further attack upon that position. When this last attack +was made, Rosecrans, anxious as to this vital point of his lines, +hurried there with his staff to assist in the repulse. It was here +that a shell grazing the person of Rosecrans carried off the head +of his chief of staff, the lamented Garesché. + +The new line formed by Rosecrans to protect his communication extended +from Hazen on the Murfreesboro pike in a northwesterly direction, +Hascall supporting Hazen, Rousseau filling the interval to the +pioneer brigade, Negley in reserve, Van Cleve west of the pioneer +brigade, McCook's corps refused on his right and slightly to the rear +on the Nashville pike, with the cavalry at and beyond Overall's +Creek. After the formation had been completed later in the afternoon, +with a wild yell the enemy debouched from the cedar thickets, and +forming into line, advanced as if to charge once more. At once a +terrific fire of artillery and infantry opened on them, and their +broken ranks went back over the fields driven in great confusion; +the batteries Rosecrans had placed on the commanding ground near +the railroad inflicting a heavier loss on Polk's brigade than it +had suffered in all the previous fighting of the day. This attack +was in the main repulsed by Van Cleve's division, aided by Harker's +brigade, and the cavalry under General Stanley. This was the last +assault on the right and centre, and with the repulse of Breckinridge's +command on the left, the fighting for the day was over; and on the +field where death had reaped such a heavy harvest, on the last day +of 1862, the troops slept on their arms, waiting for what the next +day might bring forth. The night was clear and cold. The armies +maintained their relative positions, with some picket firing +occurring during the night. Rosecrans gave orders that all the +spare ammunition should be issued, and it was found that there was +enough for another battle, the main question being where the battle +was to be fought. During the night Rosecrans, in order to complete +the new formation of his lines, withdrew the left from the advanced +position it occupied, and placed it in line some two hundred and +fifty yards to the rear, on more advantageous ground, the extreme +left resting on Stone's River above the lower ford and extending +to the railroad. Late in the afternoon the brigades under Colonels +Starkweather and Walker, that had been on duty in the rear, arrived +at the front and were posted in reserve on the line of battle, the +former in rear of McCook's left, and Walker in rear of the left of +Sheridan's division near the Murfreesboro pike. On the morning of +the 1st they were placed in the front line, relieving Van Cleve, +who then returned to his position on the left. + +The extent of the disaster on the right was appalling and seemed +at one time about to envelop the entire army. As the storm of +battle passed down the line it reached Thomas, who cool, calm, and +self-sustained, stood the test of one of the fiercest contests of +the war. It was to him that Rosecrans first turned in the hour of +disaster and in him he trusted most. The commander of the army, +too, was sorely tried. He had come to win victory, but in place +of it defeat seemed almost inevitable. Reforming his lines and +bravely fighting, he had hurled back Bragg's army before it had +achieved any decisive success. Rosecrans knew that his losses had +been extremely heavy, but those of the enemy had been still more +severe. He felt that on a question of endurance his army would +come out first, although the dash and onset of the rebels had at +the opening been able to sweep all before them. In the face of +an earnest effort on the part of some of his general officers to +persuade him to fall back to Nashville and then throw up works and +wait for reinforcements, Rosecrans determined to await the attack +of the enemy in the positions of his lines late Wednesday afternoon. +He sent for the provision trains, ordered up fresh supplies +of ammunition, and decided that if Bragg should not attack before +these arrived, that he himself would then resume offensive operations. + +During the morning of January 1, 1863, the rebels made repeated +attempts to advance on Thomas's front in the centre, but were driven +back before emerging from the woods. Crittenden was ordered to +send Van Cleve's division across the river, to occupy the position +opposite the ford on his left, his right resting on high ground +near the river and his left thrown forward perpendicular to it. +The rebel right, under Polk, kept up a brisk skirmish fire on their +front. Chalmer's brigade was ordered to occupy the ground in front +of the "Round Forest." Bragg, anticipating an attack on his right +under Breckinridge on the morning of the 1st, during the night +ordered two brigades of that division to recross to the east side +of the river. But none was made. About two o'clock in the afternoon +the enemy showed signs of movement, by massing large numbers of +his troops on our right at the extremity of an open field a mile +and a half from the Murfreesboro pike. Here the rebels formed in +lines six deep, and passed thus heavily, remained without advancing +for over an hour. Gibson's brigade and battery occupied the woods +near Overall's creek, while Negley's was placed as support on +McCook's right. The evident design of Bragg during the day was +simply to feel the lines of our army to find out if Rosecrans was +retreating. Satisfied of this, he felt that while he could maintain +his position he was not in condition to attack, after the heavy +hammering his army had received the day before. + +At daylight the next day Bragg gave orders to his corps commanders +to feel our lines and ascertain Rosecrans's position. Fire was +opened from four batteries on the centre, and a demonstration of +force was made by his infantry, followed by another on McCook; but +at all points meeting with a heavy artillery fire, he concluded that +our army still occupied the battle field in force. Bragg ordered +Wharton's and Pegram's brigades of cavalry to cross to the right +bank of Stone's River immediately in Breckinridge's front. Soon +after this a number of his staff officers discovered for the first +time that Van Cleve's troops, sent over the day before, had quietly +crossed unopposed, and had established themselves on and under cover +of an eminence from which Polk's line was commanded and enfiladed. +It was an evident necessity either to withdraw Polk's line or to +dislodge Van Cleve's. The first alternative was not to be entertained +until the failure of an attempt to accomplish the latter. Polk was +at once ordered to send over to Breckenridge the remaining brigades +belonging to his division still with Polk, and Breckenridge, reporting +to Bragg, received his orders. The attack was to be made with the +four brigades of Breckinridge's command, the cavalry protecting +his right and co-operating with him. The crest of ground near the +river, where Van Cleve's division was in position, was the point +against which the main attack was to be directed. This taken, +Breckinridge was to bring up his artillery and establish it on the +high ground, so as to enfilade our lines on the other side of the +river. Polk was to open with a heavy fire on our left as Breckinridge +commenced his advance. The signal for the attack was to be one gun +from the centre, and four o'clock was the hour set for the firing +of this gun. + +Breckinridge drew up his division in two lines, the first in a +narrow skirt of woods, the other some two hundred yards in rear. +General Pillow, after the first day's fighting, reporting for +duty, was assigned to the command of Palmer's brigade. Pillow's +and Hanson's brigades formed the first line, Preston's and Adams's +brigades the second. The artillery was placed in rear of the +second line, and in addition to that of his brigade, ten Napoleon +guns--12-pounders--were sent to aid in the attack. + +Van Cleve's division was under the command of Colonel Samuel Beatty, +with Price's brigade on the right next to the river, Fyffe's brigade +on the left. Grider's brigade formed Beatty's support, while a +brigade of Palmer's division was placed in position on the extreme +left to protect that flank. Drury's battery was posted in the +rear. In front of Breckinridge's line was an open space some six +hundred and fifty yards in width, with a gentle ascent which it +was necessary for his troops to cross before reaching our lines. +Several hundred yards in the rear of the latter was the river, +increasing the distance as it flowed beyond our left. + +General Rosecrans had ordered Crittenden to send Beatty's division +across the river as protection to the troops on the left and centre, +as from the high ground near the river the enemy, by an enfilading +fire, could sweep these portions of our line. During the morning +of the 2d Negley's division was ordered from the right, and placed +in position on the west bank of the river, in the rear of Beatty's +division, as reserves, being here on the left of Hazen's and Cruft's +brigades of Palmer's division. + +As soon as Breckinridge's command entered the open ground to his +front, the artillery massed on the west bank of the river by order +of Crittenden, consisting of all the guns of the left wing, together +with the batteries belonging to Negley's division and Stoke's +battery, making 58 guns in position, opened a heavy, accurate, +and destructive fire. Large numbers of the enemy fell before they +reached Beatty's infantry lines. Pressing forward without waiting +to throw out a skirmish line, Breckinridge's command swept onward, +reckless of the artillery fire and that of the infantry, and struck +Price's and Grider's brigades, broke their lines, drove them from +their position on to their support in the rear, which also gave +way, when the entire division retreated in broken ranks across +the river, taking refuge behind the line of Negley's division, and +there reforming. Breckenridge reports that he "after a brief but +bloody conflict routed both the opposing lines, took 400 prisoners +and several flags, and drove their artillery and the great body +of their infantry across the river." His success, however, was +exceedingly short-lived. Colonel John F. Miller, commanding the +right brigade of Negley's division, had, in the absence of Negley +in the rear, ordered the troops of his division to lie down under +cover of the bluff of the river bank, and hold their fire until +our troops from the other side crossed over and moved to the rear. +As soon as the last of Beatty's men had passed through Miller's lines, +he commanded the division to rise and open fire on Breckinridge's +troops. Miller's fire was so effectively given as to cause the +enemy at once to recoil, Breckenridge's command being also under +the artillery fire on the left, enfilading his ranks. His division +soon wavered, and then began falling back. At this Miller-Negley +still not appearing--ordered the division to charge across the +river, and to drive the enemy from their line of intrenchments, +which they did. While crossing, Miller received word from Palmer +not to cross his command, but as the greater part of his troops +were over the river driving the enemy, Miller pressed on in person, +and hurried the troops last to cross, up to the support of those in +the advance. He was then ordered by Palmer to recross the river, +and to support the artillery on the hill on the west bank. The +troops under Miller were then advancing through the cornfield, +driving the enemy, and as his right flank was fully protected, he +had no inclination to turn back, and he ordered the troops forward. +One of the enemy's batteries was posted in a wood just beyond the +cornfield to the front. It was keeping up a brisk fire on Miller's +advance, when he ordered his men to charge this battery, which +they did, capturing three guns. At the time of the charge the +Twenty-sixth Tennessee was supporting the battery. This regiment +was broken by the assault, a large number of them captured, with +the colors of the command. Sending the prisoners, guns, and colors +to the rear, Miller reformed his line so as to hold the ground +until relieved by other troops. These being crossed over the river +under Hazen, together with Davis's division, Miller's command +returned to the west bank of the river and there reformed the +division in line, and took position for the night. Negley himself +was not across the river with the command during the engagement. + +Bragg was deeply chagrined at the failure of Breckinridge's movement. +In his report of the action he says, "The contest was short and +severe, the enemy were driven back and the eminence gained, but +the movement as a whole was a failure, and the position was again +yielded. Our forces were moved, unfortunately, to the left so far +as to throw a portion of them into and over Stone's River, where +they encountered heavy masses of the enemy, while those against +whom they were intended to operate had a destructive enfilade on +our whole line. Our reserve line was so close to the front as to +receive the enemy's fire, and returning it took their friends in +the rear. The cavalry force was left entirely out of the action." +Bragg immediately sent Anderson's brigade across the river, which +formed in line on the front of Breckinridge's command, and remained +there in position during the night. He also sent Cleburne's +division over, and placed Hardee in command of that side of the +river. Rosecrans ordered Davis to take and hold the line occupied +by Beatty's division. Later, all the troops of Crittenden's corps +crossed the river and occupied the crests, intrenching themselves +in this position. + +During the morning of the 3d Bragg ordered a heavy and constant +picket firing to be kept up on his front, to determine whether our +army still confronted him. At one point in the wood to the left of +the Murfreesboro pike the rebel sharpshooters had all day annoyed +Rousseau, who requested permission to dislodge them from their +supports, coving a ford at that place. About six o'clock in the +evening two regiments from John Beatty's brigade of Rousseau's +division, co-operating with two regiments of Spear's brigade of +Negley's division, under cover of a brisk artillery fire, advanced +on the woods and drove the enemy not only from their cover, but +also from their intrenchments a short distance from the rear. + +At noon Bragg, on consultation with his generals, decided to retreat, +leaving the field in possession of his opponent. At 12.15 of the +night of the 2d, after Breckinridge's failure, Cleburne and Withers +had sent a communication to Bragg's headquarters, through Polk, +stating that there was but "three brigades that are at all reliable, +and even some of these are more or less demoralized from having +some brigade commanders who do not possess the confidence of their +commands." They expressed their fears of great disaster which +should be avoided by retreat. This was endorsed by Polk at 12.30 +A.M., January 3d, "I send you the enclosed papers as requested, and +I am compelled to add that after seeing the effect of the operations +of to-day, added to that produced upon the troops by the battle of +the 31st, I very greatly fear the consequences of another engagement +at this place on the ensuing day. We could now perhaps get off with +some safety, and with some credit if the affair was well managed; +should we fail in the meditated attack, the consequences might be +very disastrous." + +By 11 P.M. the whole of Bragg's army, except his cavalry, was in +retreat in good order to a position behind Duck River. His cavalry +held the front at Murfreesboro until Monday morning, when they +fell back and covered Bragg's immediate front. Sunday the 4th was +spent in burying the dead, and the cavalry was sent to reconnoitre. +On the 5th Thomas's entire command, preceded by Stanley's cavalry, +marched into Murfreesboro, and encamped on the Manchester and +Shelbyville road. + +The cavalry under Stanley rendered very efficient service on the +advance from Nashville. Dividing these troops into three columns +he sent the first brigade under Colonel Minty with Crittenden's +corps; the second brigade under Colonel Zahm moved to the right, +protecting McCook's right flank; the reserve Stanley commanded in +person, and moved with the head of McCook's command on the Nolinsville +pike. Colonel John Kennett, in command of the cavalry division, +commanded the cavalry on the Murfreesboro pike. There was constant +skirmishing between the enemy's cavalry and artillery and each +of the columns up to the 31st, as the army advanced, getting into +position. At midnight on the 30th, Stanley moved with part of his +command to Lavergne, where the enemy's cavalry was interfering with +the trains. At 9.30 he was ordered by General Rosecrans to hasten +to the right and cover McCook's flank. On reaching there he found +McCook's new line formed on the Nashville road, when the enemy's +skirmishers advanced and drove Stanley's dismounted cavalry out of +the woods to the open field. Here he was re-enforced, and charging +the rebels routed them, driving them back to their lines. On the +1st Zahm's brigade was sent to Lavergne to protect the wagon trains +being sent to Nashville. He had several skirmishes with Wheeler, +but finally secured the safety of the train and repulsed every +attack of the rebel cavalry. + +On the 2d and 3d of January the cavalry was engaged in watching +the flanks of our position. On the 4th Stanley discovered that +the enemy had fled. Collecting his cavalry he moved to the fords +of Stone's River, in readiness to cross, and on the 5th, preceding +Thomas, they entered Murfreesboro. Zahm's command went out on the +Shelbyville pike six miles, meeting with no opposition. Stanley +with the rest of his cavalry marched down the Manchester pike, +encountering the enemy's cavalry strongly posted at Lytle's Creek in +heavy force. Fighting here until sundown, the rebels were driven +from one cedar-brake to another until Spear's brigade came up, when +they were driven from their last stand in disorder. The cavalry +returned and camped at Lytle's Creek to recuperate, after nine +days of active campaigning. During this time the saddles were only +taken off the horses to groom them, and were immediately replaced. + +Bragg in his retreat left in his hospitals all his wounded in +Murfreesboro. By this some 2,500 prisoners fell into our hands to +be cared for. + +Thus, after seven days' battle, the Army of the Cumberland rested +in Murfreesboro having achieved the object of the winter campaign. +The final battle for Kentucky had been fought by Bragg and lost. +Nashville, too, was now beyond his hopes, and for the great victory +of the 31st, which he claimed, Bragg had but little to show. + +In the heavy skirmishing prior to the 31st, success attended every +movement of the Federal army. The heavy fighting of the early part +of the 31st was all in Bragg's favor up to the time his advance +was checked by our centre and the new line on the right. From that +time to the occupation of Murfreesboro every movement resulted in +favor of the army under Rosecrans, and the retreat of Bragg after +the defeat of Breckinridge gave the halo of victory to our army +as the result of the campaign. In his retreat Bragg admitted that +he had gained nothing but a victory barren of results, at the cost +of him of 10,125 killed, wounded, and missing, 9,000 of whom were +killed and wounded, over twenty per cent of his command. Bragg's +field return of December 10, 1862, shows an effective total of 51,036, +composed of 39,304 infantry, 10,070 cavalry, and 1,662 artillery. +By reason of Morgan and Forrest being absent on their raids, Bragg's +cavalry was reduced to 5,638. This gave an effective force of +46,604, which was the strength of the army with which Bragg fought +the battle. + +Rosecrans's force on the battle-field was: Infantry, 37,977; +artillery, 2,223; cavalry, 3,200; total, 43,400. His loss was: +killed, 1,553; wounded, 7,245. The enemy captured about 2,800 men. +Making his total loss about twenty-five per cent. of his force in +action. Rosecrans lost twenty-eight pieces of artillery and a large +portion of his wagon train. Bragg lost three pieces of artillery. + +Why did Rosecrans's plan of battle miscarry so fatally and Bragg's +come so near absolute success? The fault was not the plan as +conceived by the former. The near success of the latter proved a +vindication of that. The originator of the plan was not at fault +personally, for at no time during the battle did he falter or prove +unequal to his command. When called on to give up his plan of the +offensive and assume the defensive to save his army, the wonderful +power of Rosecrans as a general over troops was never displayed +to a greater advantage. With the blood from a slight wound on his +cheek, in a light blue army overcoat, through the mud and rain of +the battle-field, he rode along the line inspiring his troops with +the confidence he felt as to the final result. To Rosecrans there +was but one outcome to the battle at Stone's River, and that was +victory. When some of his general officers advised retreat to +Nashville, not for an instant did he falter in his determination to +"fight or die right here." The demoralization of one of his division +commanders was so great, that on Thursday afternoon, when the +rebels were massing on Rosecrans's right, this general, commanding +a division, announced to his brigade commanders that in the event +of the anticipated assault resulting disastrously, he proposed to +take his division and cut his way through to Nashville. To his +troops--the greater part of whom had never seen Rosecrans under +the enemy's fire--when on the return from the cedars, they formed +anew in front of the Nashville pike--seeing the Commanding General +of the army riding fearlessly on the extreme front, in the heat +of battle, cool and collected, giving orders and encouraging his +men--his mere presence was an inspiration. His personal bravery +was never more fully shown than when he rode down to the "Round +Forest" with his staff, under fire, at the time Garesché was killed +by a shell that only missed the chief by a few inches. In this +ride Rosecrans had three mounted orderlies shot dead while following +him. When the entire extent of McCook's disaster in its crushing +force was revealed to him, he felt the full burden of his responsibility, +and rising to the demands of the hour he was superb. Dashing from +one point to another, quick to discern danger and ready to meet +it, shrinking from no personal exposure, dispatching his staff on +the gallop, hurrying troops into position, massing the artillery +and forming his new lines on grounds of his own choosing, confident +of ultimate success, and showing his troops that he had all confidence +in them, it was worth months of ordinary life-time to have been +with Rosecrans when by his own unconquered spirit he plucked victory +from defeat and glory from disaster. + +But if the plan was not at fault, what was? Rosecrans started from +Nashville for an offensive campaign, and before his plan of battle +had met the test, he was compelled to abandon it, and assume the +defensive. Where was the fault and who was to blame? The fault +was McCook's defective line, and in part Rosecrans was responsible +for it. He ought never to have trusted the formation of a line +of battle so important to the safety of his whole army to McCook +alone, and he certainly knew this. Rosecrans gave his personal +attention to the left, but he should at least have ordered the +change his quick eye had detected as necessary in McCook's line, +and not trusted to chance and McCook's ability to withstand the +attack with his faulty line. No one who saw him at Stone's River +the 31st of December will say aught against the personal bravery +and courage of McCook under fire. All that he could do to aid in +repairing the great disaster of that day he did to the best of his +ability. He stayed with Davis's division under fire as long as +it held together, and then gave personal directions to Sheridan's +troops, in the gallant fight they made against overwhelming odds. +As Rosecrans himself says in his official report of McCook, "a +tried, faithful, and loyal soldier, who bravely breasted the battle +at Shiloh and Perryville, and as bravely on the bloody field of +Stone's River." But there is something more than mere physical +bravery required in a general officer in command of as large a +body of troops as a corps d'armee. As an instructor at West Point, +McCook maintained a high rank. As a brigade and division commander +under Buell, there was none his superior in the care and attention +he gave his troops on the march, in camp, or on the drill-ground. +His division at Shiloh as it marched to the front on the second +day did him full credit, and in his handling of it on that field he +did credit to it and to himself. What McCook lacked was the ability +to handle large bodies of troops independently of a superior officer to +give him commands. This was his experience at Perryville, and it +was repeated at Stone's River. With the known results of Perryville, +McCook ought never to have been placed in command of the "right +wing." Rosecrans at Stone's River, of necessity was on the left, +and being there he should have had a general in command of the right +with greater military capacity than McCook. Rosecrans's confidence +was so slight in his commander of the left that he felt his own +presence was needed there in the movement of the troops in that +part of the plan of battle. + +Rosecrans in his report repeatedly speaks of "the faulty line of +McCook's formation on the right." But he knew this on the 30th, +and told McCook that it was improperly placed. McCook did not +think so. Rosecrans told him that it faced too much to the east +and not enough to the south, that it was too weak and long, and +was liable to be flanked. Knowing all this and knowing McCook's +pride of opinion, for McCook told him he "did not see how he could +make a better line," or a "better disposition of my troops," it +was the plain duty of Rosecrans to reform the line, to conform to +what it should be in his judgment. The order to McCook to build +camp fires for a mile beyond his right was another factor that +brought about the combination that broke the line on the right. +Rosecrans was correct in his conception of this, in order to mislead +Bragg and cause him to strengthen his left at the expense of his +right. Had Bragg awaited Rosecrans's attack, this building of fires +was correct--if it took troops away from the right to reinforce the +left; but this it did not do. Bragg moved McCown and Cleburne's +divisions from his right to his left on Tuesday, but after this +Bragg brought none of his forces across the river until Wednesday +afternoon. The building of the fires caused Bragg to prolong his +lines, lengthening them to the extent that before Hardee struck +Kirk's and Willich's brigades, he thought our line extended a +division front to their right. Finding this not to be the case, +he whirled his left with all the force of double numbers on to the +right of McCook. The rebels then swinging around found themselves +in the rear of Johnson's division before they struck any troops +on their front. Of course it is mere guess-work to say just what +the outcome might have been of any other formation of the line, +but it is safe to say that had the left instead of the centre of +Hardee struck the right of McCook, there would have been a better +chance for the troops on the extreme right of his line to have shown +the spirit that was in them, before they were overpowered by mere +superiority of numbers. + +Then there were some minor mistakes that aided in a great degree the +bringing about of that mishap which imperiled the safety of the +entire army. Even granting that Johnson was not in any way responsible +for the position occupied by his troops on the front line of +battle, still it is hard to find any excuse or even explanation for +a general officer in command of a division who, knowing the enemy +were in force on his front, and intending to attack his command +at daylight the next morning, would place his headquarters a mile +and a half in the rear. This too, when he knew that the post of +honor and responsibility for the safety of the entire army had been +committed to his keeping. What then shall be said for him when +it appears by the report of the commanding officer of his reserve +brigade that when it returned from the support of a cavalry +reconnoissance, the general commanding the division ordered this +brigade, on the eve of the battle, to take position in the woods, +"near the headquarters of the division," instead of in supporting +distance of the front line? He could not have thought that the +division headquarters needed the support of the reserve more than +the line of battle. It is safe to say that had the line of Johnson's +division been properly formed, so as to give the most strength to +the command--short and well centered, with a good brigade like that +of Baldwin's in reserve, with all officers in their places--these +troops would have given a very different account of themselves when +the blow struck the right. There was no commanding officer in the +front with Johnson's division, of greater command than a regiment--save +General Kirk. The troops of Willich's brigade on the right flank +refused to come to his assistance, because there was no one there +to give them orders. Johnson says in his official report that "In +consultation with Major-General McCook, late in the afternoon of +December 30th, he informed me that he had reliable information to +the effect that the centre of the rebel line of battle was opposite +our extreme right, and that we would probably be attacked by the +entire rebel army early on the following morning." Johnson then +coolly adds: "His prediction proved true." Yet with these facts +staring them in the face, McCook and Johnson made no other efforts +to strengthen the right of the line, and Johnson, on the arrival +of his reserve brigade later, posted it in the woods a mile and +a half from his front "near his headquarters." General Kirk was +mortally wounded in the attack on his command, but lived long enough +after the battle to make a report of the part taken in the engagement +by his brigade. He states in his report, that he suggested to +Johnson to send his reserve brigade to support the main lines, and +that Johnson declined to do so. + +The location of Johnson's headquarters, and Johnson being there, +makes him responsible for the capture of Willich, and the breaking +up of that brigade. Willich had been on the line for an hour before +daylight with his brigade under arms, and from what he heard of +the movements of the enemy to his front, he was satisfied that a +change should be made in the position of his division, and started +to Johnson's headquarters to communicate with him. Before he +could return to his troops, the enemy was upon them, and drove them +from the position they held, without their making a stand. Being +without either division or brigade commander, they drifted to the +rear. Willich had a horse shot under him, and was captured without +giving an order, before he reached his command. + +When the artillery was posted in line of battle on the 30th, +roads were cut through the cedars to allow the batteries to reach +the front line. The heavy loss of guns, reported by Rosecrans, +was occasioned by these batteries being unable to reach the roads +through the cedar thickets in the retreat, and in many instances +guns were abandoned in the woods, through which it was impossible +to haul them. + +Bragg alleges in his official report that our troops were surprised, +and cites the fact that his men passed through the camps where +breakfast was being prepared. He was right as to this fact, but +wrong about his deduction. Willich's brigade was the only one that +was not through the morning meal, and this was by reason of his +troops being under arms for nearly two hours prior to this time, +after which Willich gave them orders to prepare their meal. Kirk's +brigade had been under arms since five o'clock in the morning, ready +for action an hour before the battle commenced, and in Post's brigade +the men were in order of battle for an hour before the first dawn +of light. The front of all these brigades was covered with heavy +picket lines well thrown out. General Sill reported to General +Sheridan at two o'clock in the morning, "great activity on the part +of the enemy immediately in his front, with movements of troops +to their left," and from four o'clock in the morning until seven, +Sheridan's troops were standing under arms, and the cannoneeers +were at their places. + +It is difficult to determine which to admire more, the heavy, +quick, decided onset of the rebels, as with ranks well closed up, +without music, and almost noiselessly, they moved in the gray light +of the early December morning, out of the cedars, across the open +fields, hurling the full weight of their advancing columns upon +our right, with all the dash of Southern troops, sweeping on with +rapid stride, and wild yells of triumph, to what appeared to them +an easy final victory; or, later in the afternoon, when our troops +that had been driven from the field early in the morning, were +reformed under the eye of the commanding general, met and threw +back from the point of the bayonet, and from the cannon mouth, the +charge after charge of the same victorious troops of the earlier +portion of the day. One was like the resistless sweep of a whirlwind +in its onward course of destruction, the other the grand sturdy +resistance of the rocky coast, which the waves only rush upon to +be dashed to pieces. In each of these, the two armies displayed +their distinctive feature to the best. Under Thomas, the Centre +of the army evinced, in a marked degree, the staying qualities +of that commander, which afterward were shown so conspicuously at +Chickamauga. + + + + + +Chapter IX. + + + + +In Murfreesboro. + +During the first six months of 1863, the military operations of the +Army of the Cumberland were of a minor character. The exhaustion +attending the severe fighting of the last week of the previous +year, kept that army in camp for some time to restore the losses +of arms and material, to reclothe the army, to recruit the strength +of the troops, to forward the needed supplies, and to build +the necessary works to fortify Murfreesboro as a new base. The +rebuilding of the Muldraughs Hills' trestleworks, and the heavy +repairs elsewhere needed on the railroad north of Nashville, +together with having the road from Nashville to Murfreesboro placed +in proper order, all required time and were necessary to be done, +to supply the wants of the army in the immediate present. But +the future was what demanded the greatest thought and most careful +planning. The problem that gave Buell the greatest trouble to +solve--the protection of his lines of communication and supplies--was +now forced upon Rosecrans. The enemy with more than one-half of +his cavalry force absent during the battle of Stone's River, under +Morgan in Kentucky and Forrest in West Tennessee, outnumbered that +arm of the service of the Army of the Cumberland during the battle +almost two to one. These troopers were nearly all old veterans, +accustomed to the severest hardships of service, and it was wonderful +the rapidity with which they got over ground and the amount of +fatigue they could undergo. To afford perfect protection to his +line supplying the army from its base at Louisville, as against +these raiding bands, if infantry was to be employed, Rosecrans's +entire force was needed, posted by brigades at the vulnerable points. +To make an advance and thus lengthen his lines, simply increased +the present difficulties. Without making the necessary preparation +to protect his line of supplies, Rosecrans would hamper his forward +movement and retard and cripple his advance when commenced. The +only proper force to meet the enemy's troopers was cavalry. In +the early days of the Army of the Ohio, under Buell, a number of +unsuccessful attempts were made to chase and fight cavalry with +infantry, and in every instance the effort was crowned with failure, +the only result being the discomfort and complete exhaustion of +the marching troops. + +The repair of the most complete wrecking the Louisville road ever +suffered, demanded Rosecrans's attention the first thing after +the Battle of Stone's River. When the army left Nashville, on the +advance to meet Bragg, the supplies in that city were very limited. +With the disabling of the road it was impossible at that time to +forward sufficient supplies to meet the wants of the command, and +for the first few weeks while the army remained at Murfreesboro the +troops were on half rations, and many of the articles constituting +the "ration" entirely dispensed with, leaving but three or four on +the list. The surrounding country for miles was scoured for forage +and provisions. Everything of that kind was gathered in by raiding +parties, not leaving sufficient for the actual necessities of the +inhabitants. To such an extent did this go, that to the officers +with means to purchase such provisions as were to be had, potatoes +and onions became luxuries. The whole army was threatened with +scurvy. + +The number and extent of these raids, and the damage sustained by +the Louisville and Nashville Railroad during the year from July 1, +1862, is concisely set forth in the report of the superintendent +of that road. His report shows that during this time "the road has +been operated for its entire length only seven months and twelve +days;" "all the bridges and trestleworks on the main stem and +branches, with the exception of the bridge over Barren River and +four small bridges, were destroyed and rebuilt during the year. +Some of the structures were destroyed twice and some three times. +In addition to this, most of the water stations, several depôts, +and a large number of cars were burnt, a number of engines badly +damaged, and a tunnel in Tennessee nearly filled up for a distance +of eight hundred feet." + +By reason of this condition of things, Rosecrans determined to +increase the cavalry arm of his army, so that he could meet the +ten or twelve thousand cavalry of the enemy in their detached raids +on more of an equal footing. From the commencement of operations +in Tennessee under Buell, the enemy's cavalry had been steadily +increasing in numbers and in efficiency, until at this time it was +a greater problem how to meet this arm of the enemy's force than +his infantry. Rosecrans made repeated urgent applications to the +department at Washington for additional cavalry; for horses and +improved arms for those already under his command. He detailed +infantry to be mounted and armed as cavalry, organizing a brigade +of "mounted infantry" under Colonel John T. Wilder. + +On Bragg's retreating from Murfreesboro, he took position with a +portion of his army and established his headquarters at Shelbyville. +He then ordered part of his command to move to Tullahoma, and there +intrench, throwing up extensive earthworks and fortifications. +Later, he placed his troops in winter quarters. In addition to the +cavalry that had formerly been under Bragg, Van Dorn in February +reported to him with his command of three brigades of cavalry, +about five thousand effective troops. Bragg placed Van Dorn and +Wheeler to protect the front and flanks of his army, assigning the +former to the left, with his headquarters at Columbia, and directing +the latter to take position on the right, constituted each command +a corps. To Wheeler's command he assigned Morgan's, Wharton's, and +Martin's divisions. Forrest's command was assigned to Van Dorn. +Some important events took place during the first six months of 1863, +that had a bearing on the fortunes of the Army of the Cumberland. + +On January 9th, in recognition of the services of that army, by General +Order No. 9 of the War Department, that command was reorganized, +and the Centre, Right, and Left were constituted corps d'armee, with +the designation of Fourteenth, Twentieth, and Twenty-first Corps, +under the same commanders, who were thus advanced to this higher +command. During this month, Steedman, in command of Fry's old +division, was ordered from Gallatin to the front, and posted at +Triune and La Vergne. Reynold's division was ordered from Gallatin +to Murfreesboro. A slight change was also made in the boundaries +of the Department. On the 25th, by order of the War Department, +the commands of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson were transferred from +the department under Grant, to that under Rosecrans, and later Fort +Heiman. To Rosecrans was then committed the care and control of +the Cumberland River, his second and secondary line of communication +and supplies connecting his two principal depots. + +On January 26th, Bragg ordered Wheeler on an expedition to capture +Fort Donelson. Wheeler directed Forrest to move his brigade with +four guns on the river road, via the Cumberland Iron Works, to +the vicinity of Dover, which was the real position occupied and +fortified by Federal forces, and not the old site of Fort Donelson, +while Wheeler with Wharton's command of some twenty-five hundred +men moved on a road to the left. Rosecrans, hearing from his scouts +that this movement was contemplated, ordered Davis in command of +his division and two brigades of cavalry under Minty, to march by +the Versailles road, and take Wheeler in the rear. Steedman was +directed to watch Wheeler's movements by way of Triune. Davis +despatched Minty to move with his cavalry around by way of Unionville +and Rover, while he moved with the infantry direct to Eaglesville. +At Rover, Minty captured a regiment of some three hundred and fifty +men. Davis and Steedman's forces united at Franklin, the latter +marching by way of Nolinsville. Wheeler, advancing rapidly, passed +between the troops in pursuit, and, on February 3d, his entire +force attacked the post at Dover, occupied by Colonel Harding with +the Eighty-third Illinois, some six hundred men in the command. +The rebels opened fire at once, and made vigorous assault in force +upon Harding's position. His little command repulsed the enemy +with heavy loss. Again they advanced, making a more determined +assault than before, but again they were driven back with still +greater loss. In this last repulse Harding ordered his men to charge +beyond his works, which they did with great gallantry, capturing +forty-two of the rebels. Wheeler then withdrew with a total loss +of one hundred and fifty killed, four hundred wounded, and one +hundred and fifty captured. Colonel Harding lost sixteen killed, +sixty wounded, and fifty captured. Efforts were made to cut off +the retreat of Wheeler's force by Davis's command, re-enforced by +five hundred cavalry, which went as far west as Kinderhook and Bon +Aqua Springs, but Wheeler took the road through Centreville, where +he crossed Duck River. + +In the latter part of the engagement at Dover, Harding was aided +by the fire from six gunboats which were acting as convoys for a +fleet of transports conveying reinforcements to Rosecrans's command, +consisting of eighteen regiments of infantry, with four batteries +of artillery that had been serving in Kentucky under the command +of General Gordon Granger. The troops forming this column were +under the immediate command of Crook, Baird, and Gilbert. After +the danger at Dover had passed, the fleet steamed up to Nashville, +and there the troops disembarked. During February Crook was sent +with his command to take post at Carthage, on the Cumberland River, +and watch the movements of the enemy from there to Rome, and Gilbert +was ordered to proceed with his brigade to Franklin. + +On March 4th, Gilbert at Franklin ordered Colonel Coburn, with five +regiments of infantry, four detachments of cavalry under Colonel +Jordan, and Aleshire's battery, the whole command nearly three +thousand strong, to proceed south from Franklin with a wagon-trail +of one hundred wagons, ostensibly on a foraging expedition, but +also to reconnoitre the enemy's front toward Columbia. Coburn's +command some twelve miles south of Franklin, was to meet a force +moving from Murfreesboro toward Columbia, and these commands were +to co-operate and determine the position of the enemy. Unknown to +Gilbert, Van Dorn, on assuming command in Columbia, in February, +determined to establish outposts and picket-lines within sight of +Franklin and Triune, and to move his headquarters north of Duck +River to Spring Hill. Jordan's cavalry struck the enemy only three +miles from town, formed in line of battle. Opening with artillery, +Jordan advanced, and, after a sharp conflict, the enemy retreated +to Spring Hill. That night Coburn notified Gilbert that he was +confronted by a largely superior force, and suggested that he fall +back. Gilbert, however, ordered him to advance. Proceeding next +morning, the column met the enemy drawn up in line of battle a short +distance from Thompson's Station. Forrest's command occupied the +extreme right, with a battery of artillery on the left of this, +and some paces retired was Armstrong's brigade. On the left of his +command and in line with it was the Texan brigade under Whitfield, +with two guns on each side of the Columbia turnpike, making a force +of 10,000 men under Van Dorn. It was about half-past nine o'clock +in the morning when Coburn struck these troops in line. He +immediately deployed his infantry across the pike and to the right, +and ordered his command to advance. The enemy's battery posted at +the pike opening fire, Coburn's troops charged it handsomely, his +entire command moving in line of battle down the pike. When within +one hundred and fifty yards, Armstrong's and Whitfield's brigades +sprang forward and opened a destructive fire. Coburn's troops held +their lines for over half an hour under heavy fire, replying with +the same, when he ordered his command to fall back. Finding this +large force in his front, he directed Jordan with his cavalry to +cover his retreat. Van Dorn now advanced his line, pressed forward +his right and left to surround Coburn and capture the entire force. +Jordan formed two detachments, dismounted behind a stone fence to +check the advance of Forrest and enable the artillery to escape. +Forrest made two sustained attempts to dislodge these detachments +from their position, but he was repulsed each time; on a third +attempt they were surrounded and captured. The regiment in charge +of the train with the artillery and cavalry now moved off rapidly +on the pike to Franklin, and Coburn, being surrounded by the rebels +in overwhelming numbers, and finding his ammunition exhausted, +surrendered. His loss was 40 killed, and 150 wounded, and 2,200 +prisoners, including his wounded. The enemy's loss was 35 killed +and 140 wounded. The rebels lost heavily in officers, several of +the most valued of Forrest's falling in the repulses of his command. + +The surrender of Coburn weakened the forces at Franklin, and revealed +the enemy in such strong force on the immediate front, that Gordon +Granger at once ordered Baird to proceed by rail to Franklin, and +moving his own headquarters there, assumed the command in person. + +On the 7th, Sheridan's division was ordered to the front to +reconnoitre the enemy's position. He reached Franklin, and the force +at that place was further increased by the arrival of a brigade from +Nashville. On the 9th, Minty's brigade of cavalry also reported, +and on the day following, Granger with his troops advanced from +there upon Van Dorn's encampment at Spring Hill. In support of +Granger's movement on Van Dorn, Rosecrans ordered Davis to move +with his division from Salem to Eaglesville, with R. S. Granger's +brigade in supporting distance, posted at Versailles. Gordon +Granger drove Van Dorn from Spring Hill, and the next day compelled +his entire command to retire south of Rutherford's Creek. On +account of the high water the pursuit was not continued further. + +During March the rebel cavalry under Morgan met with one of the +most decisive repulses yet experienced by that command. On the +18th of March Colonel Hall with his command, the second brigade +of Reynolds's division, was sent from Murfreesboro after Morgan. +Starting northeast from that place he advanced beyond Statesville, +when hearing that Morgan was advancing on him he retired toward +Milton, posted his command on some high ground near that place and +awaited the attack. Morgan endeavored first to turn the right and +then the left of Hall's command, but in each of these attempts he +was driven off with heavy loss. He then dismounted the main portion +of his command and ordered an attack to be made on the front. A +vigorous assault was at once made with a heavy force, but this +was also repulsed, Morgan losing a large number of men. After an +engagement lasting some four hours, in which Hall's brigade fought +with the utmost determination, Morgan's command, being repulsed +at all points and in every assault, withdrew from the field with a +loss of some ninety-five killed, three hundred and fifty wounded, +and twenty prisoners. + +Early in April, Morgan's troopers were defeated with great loss. +On the 2d of April Stanley advanced with his cavalry to Liberty, +where Morgan met them with his entire command. The two forces +encamped within two miles of each other. On the morning of the 3d, +Stanley advanced, intending to engage Morgan's command at once, but +found that he had retreated to what he regarded as a very strong +position at Snow Hill. Morgan, however, had left a strong force +at Liberty to watch Stanley's movements. As Stanley advanced, +he struck this force and quickly drove upon it with part of his +command, sending a portion around to the right, which turned the +enemy's left flank. Pressing Morgan's command from both positions, +it soon gave way at all points, and was in full retreat. Morgan's +officers tried to rally their men, but the latter were thoroughly +demoralized and had no fight in them. The teamsters became +panic-stricken and added to the general rout. It was two weeks +before Morgan succeeded in getting his men together again. + +Early in April, Rosecrans ordered Colonel Streight to the command +of a brigade he had organized for the purpose of making a raid on +the lines of communication of the rebels, and to move through the +country south and southeast, destroying as he went all property of +use to them. Streight's command started from Nashville, partially +mounted, going by way of Clarksville to Fort Henry, at which place +he took steamer from Eastport, Miss. En route to Fort Henry his +command secured as many animals as they could, but only four-fifths +of the men were mounted, and they poorly. The animals were nearly +all mules, and very few of them were fit for the service required. +It was expected that the command would capture enough good animals +to carry the expedition successfully through, but this was not +realized. Leaving Eastport on the 21st, he passed through Tuscumbia +three days later, and reached Moulton on the 26th. From here on +the 28th he pressed forward through Day's Gap on Sand Mountain, +in the direction of Blountsville. In the gap their rear guard was +overtaken and attacked on the 30th by the enemy's cavalry under +Forrest, who had pressed forward, riding night and day. Selecting +the best mounted of his men, he pushed at once to Streight's camp. +Here coming upon the rear of Streight's force as it was leaving +camp, Forrest opened with artillery firing. Dismounting his men, +Streight formed his command on the crest of a hill on each side +of the road and awaited the enemy's attack. As Forrest advanced, +Streight ordered a charge to be made which drove the enemy at all +points, capturing their two pieces of artillery. Forrest lost in +killed and wounded seventy-five men, a large percentage of whom +were killed. Streight's loss was twenty-one killed and wounded. A +good many of horses were captured from the enemy, on which Streight +mounted a number of his men. On the same afternoon the enemy +attacked again, but was driven back with considerable loss, after +a severe engagement lasting from three o'clock until dark. On May +1st, the Federal forces reached Blountsville at noon. Here all +the wagons save one were burned, and the ammunition placed on pack +mules, after distributing to the men all that they could carry. +At three o'clock Streight started again, and skirmishing commenced +at once on their rear. Pressing on, the command marched until +twelve o'clock that night. Resuming their march in the morning, +the rear skirmished all the forenoon of the 2d with the rebels. +Arriving at Gadsden, Streight remained long enough to destroy a +large quantity of provisions in store there for the enemy. It was +expected at this place that a small steamer would be found, upon +which a detachment of men could be sent to capture Rome. In this +Streight was disappointed. From this point Streight's animals became +much exhausted, and the men were falling to the rear and getting +captured. To prevent this the command had to go much slower. Forrest +coming up about one o'clock on the 2d, attacked the command while +the horses were being fed at Blount's farm. Here Colonel Hathaway +fell, shot through the breast. Again the rebels were repulsed, +but they constantly pressed upon the rear of Streight's command, +keeping up a brisk skirmish fire. The enemy were kept in check at +Blount's farm until after dark. In the meantime the main command had +crossed the Coosa. Here the river was so high that the ammunition +was damaged by being wet. From this place Streight sent a detachment +to burn the Round Mountain iron works, one of the principal +manufactories of munitions of war in the South. It was burned to +the ground and all the machinery destroyed. On arriving at the +other branch of the Coosa a bridge was found, and, as soon as the +command had crossed, it was destroyed. On the morning of the 3d, +as the men were preparing their breakfast, the enemy again attacked. +Shortly afterward Forrest sent in a flag of truce, demanding the +surrender of the entire command. This was at first refused, but +on consultation with his officers, and considering the damaged +condition of his ammunition and the complete exhaustion of his +command, Streight, after making a personal inspection of Forrest's +artillery, finally yielded, and the entire force of 1,466 officers +and men was surrendered. + +On April 20th, Thomas sent J. J. Reynolds with three brigades of +infantry and Minty's brigades of cavalry, together with Wilder's +brigade of mounted infantry, to proceed to McMinnville, capture what +force was there, destroy the railroad from Manchester to McMinnville, +and co-operate with a force to move from Carthage against Morgan. +Reynolds made a successful raid on the railroad and nearly destroyed +it; burned all the bridges, trestle-work, cars, and locomotives on +the road, also the depôt in McMinnville, and several cotton mills. +A large amount of supplies was captured, some one hundred animals +picked up. The command from Carthage failed to aid in the expedition, +and Morgan's command in the main effected their escape. + +Colonel Lewis D. Watkins on the 27th made a gallant charge on the +Texas Legion, encamped close to Van Dorn's main command near Spring +Hill. Dashing in upon the enemy early in the morning, he was among +them before they could rally for defence, capturing one hundred +and twenty-eight prisoners, over three hundred animals, and their +camp equipage without the loss of a man. + +It was during the six months waiting at Murfreesboro that the +unfortunate controversy arose between Rosecrans and the authorities +at Washington, represented by General Halleck, as Commander-in-Chief, +and Mr. Secretary Stanton of the War Department. The Army of +the Cumberland, during the period of the active movements of that +command, congratulated itself that the field of operations was so +far removed from Washington City, that it did not come under the +influence of the authority that seemed to paralyze every effort of +the commands immediately around the seat of war at the East. But +in this they were mistaken. The future student of the history of +the war, in the light of the full official records, will wonder most +at the fact that, under the orders from Washington, the commanders +in the field were at all able to finally crush the rebellion. It +was only when the armies at the East were placed under a general +who was practically untrammeled in the exercise of his power, and +who conducted his campaigns upon military principles, and not as +the result of orders from Washington that the beginning of the end +of the rebellion in the East began to dawn. In Tennessee we have +seen how Halleck gave Buell orders and then attached such conditions +to them as to render their proper execution absolutely impossible. +There was nothing to prevent Buell from occupying Chattanooga in +June, 1862, as he was directed, while Bragg with his command was in +Northern Mississippi, except the utterly useless condition attached +to his orders, that he should repair the Memphis and Charleston +Railroad as he moved east. Buell urged, in forcible terms, the +foolishness and even impropriety of this delay, but Halleck, who knew +much of the theory of war as learned from books, and in a general +way wished to apply these principles to the practical movements +of troops, overruled Buell. The latter knew that the enemy in +his front always resolutely refused to be bound in his operations +by such rules in conducting campaigns. The result of Halleck's +wisdom soon became manifest when Bragg started for Kentucky, after +the waste of Buell's time in repairing this railroad, which, when +completed, was at once turned over to the enemy in good condition +for immediate use against our own forces. On Buell fell the force +of the blow that some one had to bear for this failure to take +advantage of a patent opportunity. Buell's obedience to Halleck's +orders rendered Bragg's advance into Kentucky possible, while Buell's +failure to bring Bragg to a decisive action in Kentucky, and his +refusal to follow Bragg into the mountains of Eastern Kentucky +and Tennessee, was deemed sufficient cause by Halleck to issue the +order removing him from his command. If Halleck's order to Buell +to repair this railroad had never been issued, Bragg's campaign in +Kentucky would never have been made. Halleck's removal of Buell +was the direct result of the latter's obedience to orders received +from the former. On Rosecrans assuming command, almost the first +order he received from Halleck was one directing him to advance into +East Tennessee after Bragg. With a full knowledge of the military +situation obtained from Buell, Rosecrans proceeded at once to protect +the line established by Buell, and await the advance of Bragg in +the vicinity of Nashville. The battle of Stone's River was for the +time sufficient to prove, even to Halleck, that Buell and Rosecrans +were correct, and Rosecrans was allowed for the time to attend to +his command without being interfered with. During the encampment +at Murfreesboro, the first object of Rosecrans was to properly +mount and equip his cavalry. In this he received at first faint +encouragement, which soon ceased altogether. + +On March 1st Halleck, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armies of the +United States, wrote a letter, sending a copy to Rosecrans and +Grant, offering the position of the then vacant major-generalship +in the regular army, to the general in the field who should first +achieve an important and decisive victory. Grant very quietly folded +up the letter, put it by for future reference, and proceeded with +the plans of his campaign, saying nothing. To Rosecrans's open, +impulsive, and honorable nature, engaged with all his powers in +furthering the interests of the Government and the general welfare +of his command, this letter was an insult, and he treated it +accordingly. On March 6th he prepared his reply, and forwarded +it to Washington. In this letter he informs the General-in-Chief +that, "as an officer and as a citizen," he felt "degraded at such +an auctioneering of honors," and then adds: "Have we a general +who would fight for his own personal benefit when he would not for +honor and for his country? He would come by his commission basely +in that case, and deserve to be despised by men of honor. But are +all the brave and honorable generals on an equality as to chances? +If not, it is unjust to those who probably deserve most." + +The effect of this letter was to widen the breach between the +authorities at Washington and Rosecrans. Halleck's letter and +Rosecrans's reply were both characteristic of the men. Halleck, fresh +from the results of a large law practice in California--principally +devoted to the establishment of the validity of land grants in favor +of his clients, in the success of which large contingent fees were +gained--saw nothing improper in such an offer to an officer of +sufficient ability and standing to be in command of one of the armies +of the United States. With Rosecrans, all the honest, generous +impulses of a high-principled, honorable gentleman, who had +imperiled his life on many a battlefield, fighting solely from a +sense of duty to his country, led to the expression of his contempt +for the author of such an offer. The mistake that Halleck made was +in thinking that what would prove a tempting offer to a man like +himself, would be so to Rosecrans. No one will attempt to maintain +the wisdom of Rosecrans's course as a matter of policy, however +much they may sympathize with and admire the spirit of his letter. +It was an impolitic letter, and one that aided in drawing the ill-will +and resentment of Halleck and Stanton upon him in full force later. + +From this time forward, all the requests of Rosecrans for the +improvement of the efficiency of his army were treated with great +coolness, and in many instances it was only after the greatest +importunity that he was able to secure the least attention to his +recommendations for the increased usefulness of his command. His +repeated applications for more cavalry, and that they be armed +with revolving rifles, were treated with little attention. In the +meantime nearly every communication from Washington intimated that +he was unnecessarily delaying his advance upon Bragg in his works +at Shelbyville and Tullahoma. Grant, on his Vicksburg campaign, +became very anxious for the advance of the Army of the Cumberland, +to engage Bragg and prevent reinforcements being sent from him to +Pemberton or Johnston, operating on his front and rear; and urged +Rosecrans to move, and wrote to Halleck, requesting him to direct +an advance of the Army of the Cumberland on Bragg's position. +Rosecrans regarded it for the best interest of the country for his +army to remain constantly threatening Bragg, in order to hold the +entire army of the latter in his immediate front, and also in the +event of the defeat of Grant, and a concentration of the enemy on +Rosecrans's position, that he should be close to his base, his army +being then the reserve. If an advance succeeded in driving Bragg +from Tullahoma, a greater danger than his remaining inactive on +our front might ensue. To Bragg, the occupancy of Middle Tennessee +was of sufficient importance to justify him in remaining inactive +with his entire command, waiting for the advance of Rosecrans some +six months. If driven from Tennessee, his troops were ready to +unite with the command in Mississippi and defeat Grant's movements. +If Bragg could be held in Tennessee after until after Grant's success +was assured, then, by waiting at Murfreesboro with his army quiet, +Rosecrans could render better service than by moving on the enemy. +This was a matter of military judgment, on one side espoused by +Rosecrans and all his corps and division commanders, who were on +the ground, and on the other by Halleck, Stanton, and Grant; and +this question served to increase the feeling against Rosecrans in +those quarters. Bragg also considered that his presence on the +front of the Federal army would prevent any troops from it being +sent to aid Grant. And thus the year wore away until early summer. +Still another consideration with Rosecrans, was the character of +the soil in Tennessee from a short distance south of Murfreesboro +to the foot of the Cumberland Mountains. This was a light sandy +loam, that in winter and spring, during the rains of those seasons, +became like quicksand, allowing the artillery and wagon to sink +almost to the hub, and rendering the rapid movement of a large army +absolutely impossible. + +During the early part of June, Rosecrans commenced placing his +troops in position, preparatory to a general advance. He ordered +the brigade that had been encamped at Gallatin, under General Ward, +to Lavergne, and despatched Gordon Granger to take post at Triune, +moving his command from Franklin up to that place. Crook was +ordered from Carthage to report to Murfreesboro, and on his arrival, +was placed in Reynolds's division. Rosecrans organized a reserve +corps, consisting of three divisions designated as First, Second, +and Third, under Baird, J. D. Morgan, and R. S. Granger, respectively, +and he assigned Gordon Granger to the command of this corps. + +Early in June, Garfield, then Chief-of-Staff of the General +commanding, urged Rosecrans to make an advance movement, both as a +military and political measure with reference to the sentiment of +the North. General Rosecrans had matured his plans for an advance, +but decided to refer the question to his general officers in command +of corps and divisions. The matter being submitted to them, the +universal sentiment of these officers was that the movement should +be further delayed. However, on the 23rd of June, Rosecrans having +made all necessary arrangements for his command, according to his +plans, and learning of the favorable prospects at Vicksburg, and +of the movement of the force under Burnside into East Tennessee +to take and hold Knoxville, issued the necessary orders for the +advance of his army on that of the enemy. + + + + + +Chapter X. + + + + +The Advance on Tullahoma. + +At the time of the advance of the Army of the Cumberland, Polk's +corps of Bragg's army occupied the main position at Shelbyville, +strongly intrenched behind heavy works thrown up during the six +months of waiting. These added to the natural strength of the +position, and extended from Horse Mountain on the east, to Duck River +on the west, and were covered by a line of abattis. The town was +noted for the strong Union sentiment of its inhabitants, of which +fact the rebels took full advantage to the loss and distress +of the people. It is situated about twenty-five miles south of +Murfreesboro, and some twenty miles North of Tullahoma, on a branch +railroad from the main Nashville line, starting west from Wartrace. +Bragg's right was posted at Wartrace, with Hardee's corps occupying +the passes at Liberty, Hoover, and Bellbuckle Gaps. These gaps +were all held by strong forces of the enemy, supported by the main +command. Polk had an advance in Guy's Gap with his entire command +in supporting distance. Bragg's extreme right was protected +by cavalry with headquarters at McMinnville, while his cavalry on +the left, under Forrest, had headquarters at Columbia, threatening +Franklin. + +At this time the main base of supplies of the enemy was at +Chattanooga, to which the entire country south of Duck River had +been made tributary. From Duck River, south, the country is rough, +with rocky ranges of hills, which divide the "barrens" from the +fertile parts of Middle Tennessee. These "barrens" constitute a +high rolling plateau of ground between the ranges of hills at Duck +River and the Cumberland Mountains. It is here that the soil during +a rainy season offers the greatest obstacle to active campaigning. +Situated on the "barrens," at the junction of the McMinnville +branch with the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, was Tullahoma, +a small straggling village, where Bragg had established his main +depot and made a large intrenched camp. The defiles of Duck River, +a deep, narrow stream with but few fords or bridges, covered its +front, with a rough rocky range of hills immediately south of the +river. The principal roads as they passed through these hills +bore southwardly toward the line of the enemy's communications and +Tullahoma. The Manchester pike passed through Hoover's Gap and +reached the "barrens" by ascending a long, difficult cañon called +Matt's Hollow. The Wartrace road passed through Liberty Gap, and +from there it ran into the road along the railroad through Bellbuckle +Gap. The direct road to Shelbyville goes through Guy's Gap. + +Rosecrans was satisfied from the information he had received that +Bragg intended to fight in his intrenchments at Shelbyville, in +the event of the army advancing in that direction. The "effective +total present," as reported by Bragg as the strength of his army +on June 20, 1863, at Shelbyville, was 43,089, of all arms. If he +were attacked at Shelbyville and beaten, he would then be in good +position to retreat to his strong intrenchments at Tullahoma, and +on his retreat could so retard Rosecrans's advance through the narrow +winding roads leading up to the "barrens," as to fully protect his +own line of retreat and inflict severe loss on the advancing force +without exposing his own troops. Rosecrans's plan of campaign was +to render useless Bragg's intrenchments by turning his right, and +then if possible secure his line of retreat by moving on the railroad +bridge at Elk River. Bragg by this means would either be forced +to accept battle on ground chose by Rosecrans, or be compelled to +beat a retreat on a disadvantageous line, neither as direct nor by +as good roads as he would have from Shelbyville and Tullahoma due +south. To carry out this plan it was necessary to impress Bragg +with the idea that our advance would be in force on Shelbyville, +and, if possible, to keep up this impression until the main body +of our army reached Manchester. The success of this would keep +Bragg's attention on the movement on his front at Shelbyville, and +enable our army to pass through the dangerous defile of Hoover's +Gap, a narrow passage-way three miles long, between two hills, and +so on through Matt's Hollow, an equally dangerous defile, being a +gorge two miles long with hardly room anywhere for wagons to pass +each other. These passes were only eight miles from Hardee's +headquarters and sixteen from Shelbyville. + +The plan then of Rosecrans in the advance on Tullahoma, was to make +a feint with Granger's corps and the main portion of the cavalry, +on Polk's command in his strong position at Shelbyville, and to +mass the three main corps on Bragg's right at Wartrace. The army +being all ready for the opening campaign, on the 23d of June General +R. B. Mitchell with his command--the First Cavalry Division--commenced +the advance from Triune on the Eaglesville and Shelbyville pike, +in the feint on Polk's command, made a furious attack on Bragg's +cavalry and drove in his infantry guards on their main force, +pressing the whole line on that front. Granger with the three +divisions of his corps and Brannan's division of Thomas's corps, +on that day moved with three days' rations from Triune to Salem. + +On the same day, Palmer's division and a brigade of cavalry marched +to the vicinity of Bradyville, for the purpose of seizing with +his advance the head of the defile leading over an obscure road by +Lumley's Station to Manchester, and so up to the "barrens." All +the other troops were supplied with twelve days' rations of bread, +coffee, sugar, and salt, with six days' pork and bacon, and six +days' meat on hoof, and were held in readiness to move southward. +These movements being made, the next day the entire army pressed +forward on the advance. + +In the evening of the 23d, the corps commanders met at army +headquarters. The plan of the campaign was fully explained to them, +and each one received in writing his orders as to his part in the +movement. + + +"Major-General McCook's corps to advance on the Shelbyville road, +turn to the left, move two divisions by Millersburg, and advancing +on the Wartrace road seize and hold Liberty Gap. The third division +to advance on Fosterville and cover the crossing of General Granger's +command from the Middleton road, and then move by Christiana to +join the rest of the corps. + +"General Granger to advance on the Middleton road, threatening that +place, and cover the passing of General Brannan's division of the +Fourteenth Corps, which was to pass by Christiana and bivouac with +the rear division of the Twentieth Corps. + +"The Fourteenth Corps, Major-General Thomas, to advance on the +Manchester pike, seize and hold with its advance, if practicable, +Hoover's Gap, and bivouac so as to command and cover that and +the Millersburg road, so that McCook and himself could be within +supporting distances of each other. + +"Major-General Crittenden to leave Van Cleve's division of the +Twenty-first Army Corps at Murfreesboro, concentrate at Bradyville +with the other two, and await orders." + + +One brigade of cavalry under Turchin was sent with Crittenden to +establish a lookout toward McMinnville. All the remaining cavalry +under Stanley was to meet Mitchell as he came in from Versailles +and at once attack the rebel cavalry at Middleton. + +These movements were all promptly executed in the midst of heavy +drenching rains, as it only could rain in the mountains and hills +of Tennessee, whenever the Army of the Cumberland made a forward +movement. The ground was so softened on all the dirt roads as to +render them next to impassable. + +The Twentieth Corps, consisting of Johnson's, Davis's, and Sheridan's +divisions, started on the Shelbyville pike, and by different cross +roads moved to the left to Millersburg, where Davis's and Sheridan's +divisions encamped for the night. Johnson's division was advanced +up to Liberty Gap, with the Thirty-ninth Indiana, under Colonel +Harrison, thrown forward to skirmish. Harrison developed the +enemy in front of the Gap. Willich's brigade was moved forward, +and drove the skirmishers in the rebel front back upon their main +line, placed on the crest of the hills, on each side of the entrance +to the gap. Here the enemy was too strongly posted to attack his +front. Another brigade under Colonel John F. Miller, who had been +transferred from Negley's division to Johnson's, was then brought +forward. These two brigades were at once deployed in line, making +a front of such length as to envelop both flanks of the enemy's +line, and advancing, these brigades gallantly drove the rebels +through the defile, a distance of two miles. After clearing the +gap, the troops returned to the north end of it and there bivouacked. +On the following day, late in the afternoon, an attack was made +on Willich's and Miller's brigades, to drive them out of the north +end of the gap. Johnson's failure to hold the southern entrance +enabled the enemy again to enter it, and to secure it entirely they +made this attack. The engagement opened with a heavy fire on the +centre of the command, the enemy attacking in force. They were +handsomely repulsed. Renewing the attack, Hardee then endeavored +to secure positions on the hills to the right and left, so as +to command Johnson's flanks with his fire, but each movement was +met by Johnson's troops, supported by Carlin's brigade of Davis's +division, and every attack was repulsed. Beaten at every point, +late in the evening the enemy withdrew entirely, taking position +at Bellbuckle. The fighting at Liberty Gap was the most severe +of the campaign, and in this attack Johnson's command, including +Carlin's brigade, lost two hundred and thirty-one killed and +wounded. The enemy's loss was still greater. It was in repelling +one of the attacks on the left that Colonel Miller fell severely +wounded with a minie ball through his left eye while leading his +brigade. + +On the 24th, General Thomas moved direct on the Manchester pike +from Murfreesboro, Reynold's division in advance, starting at +4 o'clock in the morning, under orders, if possible, to seize and +hold Hoover's Gap. At 7 A.M., Rousseau's division followed in support +of Reynold's division, which encountered the mounted videttes of +the enemy a few miles beyond our picket station, forced them upon +their reserve, and then resolutely pressing on drove the entire +force on the run, through Hoover's Gap and beyond McBride's Creek. +Wilder, finding the enemy about to attack him with two brigades +from the division of Fairfield, occupied a strong position on the +hills at the southern entrance of the gap. Reynolds at once moved +his two infantry brigades forward and occupied the gap in the rear +of Wilder's command, prepared to resist the enemy on the front. +Wilder's brigade was immediately attacked by the enemy's force. +Reynolds supported him at once with his other brigades, which were +posted on the ridge of woods on the extreme right to prevent the +enemy turning our right flank, then heavily engaged by a superior +force. With these reinforcements the enemy was driven back out +of the woods, and three regiments were posted on the right, making +that position secure. Major Coolidge, commanding the brigade of +regulars of Rousseau's division, was ordered to reinforce Reynolds, +and every preparation was made for an attack on the following +morning. The other brigades of Rousseau's command, with Negley's +division, occupied the gap in the rear of Reynolds during the night. +Early on the morning of the 25th, Scribner was ordered with his +brigade to the front, in support of the batteries and to form a +picket line on the extreme left. + +On the 24th, Crittenden, with Wood's and Palmer's divisions, +marched to Bradyville, leaving Van Cleve's division to garrison +Murfreesboro. Granger, with his three divisions and Brannan's, +advanced from Salem to Christiana. Turchin's division of cavalry +under Stanley moved on the Woodbury pike to Cripple Creek, and +thence through Salem. During the day Mitchell advanced from Rover +through Versailles to Middleton, where he had a sharp engagement +with the enemy's cavalry. + +The plans of the enemy not being yet fully developed, and in view +of the uncertainty that existed whether he would fall on McCook's +front, or mass on Thomas near Fairfield, Rosecrans issued the +following orders for the 25th: + + +"Major-General Crittenden to advance to Lannon's Stand, six miles +east of Beech Grove, and open communications with General Thomas. + +"General Thomas to attack the rebels on the flank of his advance +position at the forks of the road, and drive the rebels toward +Fairfield. + +"General McCook to feign and advance, as if in force, on the Wartrace +road by the Liberty Gap passes. + +"General Stanley, with his cavalry, to occupy their attention at +Forsterville, and General Granger to support him with his infantry +at Christiana." + + +In the event that Thomas succeeded in his attack and drove the enemy +toward Wartrace, he was then to cover that road with a division, +and taking the remainder of his troops was to move rapidly on +Manchester. McCook was then to move in and take Thomas's place at +Beech Grove, holding Liberty Gap with a division, and was finally to +withdraw that and follow Thomas with his entire command to Manchester. + +The same day that Crittenden's command marched to Holly Springs, +Brannan's division reached the main command of Thomas, and went +into camp with Rousseau at Hoover's Mills. Reynolds had a slight +skirmish with the enemy on his front. On the night of the 25th, +Rousseau was ordered up with his division to take position immediately +in the rear of Reynolds, preparatory to an attack on the enemy's +position at Beech Grove the next morning. Minty's brigade of +cavalry pressed forward at all points and drove the enemy to Guy's +Gap. Long took position at Lumley's Station. The remainder of +Turchin's division moved in the advance with General Crittenden. + +The incessant rains that had fallen since the opening of the campaign +delayed the advance, by preventing Brannan joining the Fourteenth +Corps as soon as was expected. During the night of the 25th +it rained so continuously that it was almost impossible for the +troops to move, but by extraordinary exertions the divisions were +all in position by 10.30 A. M. At 4 o'clock in the morning Brannan's +division moved up to take part in the attack. At 8 A. M. Negley's +division took position to support the attack of the other divisions. +If the enemy's position at Beech Grove was carried, then Rousseau +and Brannon were to push on to Manchester that night if possible. +At 10.30 A.M. the advance was ordered. Moving forward on the +rebels in force on the heights north of Garrison Creek, our army +drove them steadily and rapidly toward Fairfield, Rousseau and +Brannan operating on their left flank from the hills north of the +Fairfield road, while Reynolds advanced against their front and right. +The enemy had prepared for an obstinate resistance, and attempted +to enfilade Thomas's troops from the high ground on his right. This +was effectually prevented by a gallant charge of Walker's brigade +and the regulars under Major Coolidge, who drove the enemy from +this position. Thomas pushed forward his troops, driving the rebels +in the direction of Fairfield, who covered their retreat with two +batteries of artillery, occupying positions behind strong lines +of skirmishers flanked by heavy cavalry force. The rebels thus +retired to Fairfield, near to which place our pickets were advanced. +Reynold's division and the baggage moved forward during the night +toward Manchester. Late in the afternoon Wilander's brigade +seized Matt's Hollow, and thus secured that passage. Thomas placed +his divisions in line of battle extending from the Fairfield road +to within five miles of Manchester. McCook remained in camp at +Liberty Gap during the day, while Granger rested at Christiana. +Crittenden's command pressed forward as rapidly as possible on +toward Manchester, struggling over almost impassable roads. + +Rosecrans's headquarters, on the 27th, reached Manchester. The advanced +position secured by Thomas's command rendered the concentration of +the whole army on the enemy's left, through Hoover's Gap, at this +time an easy matter. With this done, Bragg would either be forced to +fight in resisting the further advance of the army under Rosecrans, +or abandon Middle Tennessee altogether. Early on the morning of the +27th, Reynolds's advance brigade--Wilder's mounted infantry--took +possession of Manchester, capturing forty prisoners, a guard at +the railroad depot, and taking the town completely by surprise. +Reynolds's entire division reached Manchester during the morning. +General Thomas then moved Rousseau's and Brannan's divisions +in pursuit of the enemy, driving him as far as Fairfield, and +ascertained at that place that the rebels had retreated entirely. +These two divisions then turned into the Fairfield and Manchester +road, Brannan's reaching the latter place at 10 P.M. and Rousseau's +at midnight. Negley's division had, during the day, been moving +in support of these two divisions toward the Fairfield road, by +way of Noale Fork, and arrived at Manchester at 8 P.M. Thomas's +corps being now together, it was manifest that the enemy must leave +his intrenchment at Shelbyville, and that our army must be prepared +to meet him at Tullahoma, only twelve miles distant. Rosecrans +gave the necessary orders at once to the other corps commanders +to close up their columns on Manchester, and be prepared for the +contest. + +On the extreme right our cavalry, on the 27th, did brilliant work. +Supported by the reserve corps under Granger, Stanley advanced +from Christiana to Guy's Gap, where the advance of the rebel army +under Wheeler, with Martin's and a portion of Wharton's divisions, +was encountered. Charging down on them with Minty's brigade, closely +followed by Mitchell's division, Stanley routed and drove them +out of the gap into their intrenchments just north of Shelbyville. +Here they again made a stand. Dashing ahead, Minty encountered them +in their works, and drove them in disorder from their intrenchments +into Shelbyville. While Minty was pushing them on the front, +Mitchell came up, turned their right, cutting off their direct +line of retreat, and both forces united in driving them beyond the +town, completely defeated. Wheeler lost all his artillery and some +five hundred prisoners. A large number of the rebels were driven +into Duck River and drowned while attempting to cross. The flight +was so hurried that Wheeler himself only escaped by swimming the +river. This successful movement established the fact that Bragg +had abandoned his strong line of defence at Shelbyville, and the +question now to be answered was whether he would accept battle at +Tullahoma, or retire with his entire command across the Cumberland +Mountains and the Tennessee River, fighting as he fell back. + +While the concentration of his command at Manchester was being +effected, Rosecrans determined to break the line of railroad in +the rear of Bragg's army, if possible. On the morning of the 28th +Wilder, with his brigade of mounted infantry, started at reveillé +by way of Hillsboro, to burn Elk River bridge, and to destroy the +railroad between Dechard and Cowan. John Beatty, with his brigade +of infantry marched to Hillsboro for the purpose of covering and +supporting Wilder's movement. The latter reached Elk River and +crossed his command, floating his mountain howitzers on a raft made +of an old saw-mill. He then moved on to Dechard, where, after a +slight skirmish with a detachment of the enemy, he destroyed the +depot full of commissary goods, the water tanks, the railroad bridge +over the Winchester road, and tore up some three hundred yards of +the railroad. Earlier in the day Wilder sent part of his command, +under Colonel Munroe, to destroy the railroad bridge over Elk River. +Withers's division of Bragg's army reached this point only a few +moments ahead of Munroe, and prevented the burning of the bridge. +Finding that the enemy was in pursuit of him at all points, Wilder +next moved to Tantalon and Anderson with detachments of his command, +but was compelled to retire, as these points were strongly guarded +by heavy forces of the enemy's infantry. Crossing the mountains +that night on his return over the Tracy City road, and so on to +Pelham, the troops slept at the foot of the mountains, and started +the next morning just in time to escape Forrest, who was in pursuit +with ten regiments of cavalry. Wilder reached Manchester at 1 P.M. +of the 30th. + +Sheridan's division of McCook's corps reached Manchester on the +29th. The command--troops and animals--suffered severely on their +march over the heavy roads. Crittenden's command, which had been on +the road since the 26th, reached Manchester also on the 29th, after +marching with all speed, badly worn, by reason of the terrible rains +and fearful roads. The condition of the latter may be inferred from +the fact that it required four days of incessant labor for Crittenden +to advance the distance of twenty-one miles. The concentration +of the entire army being effected, orders were given for the final +movement on the 30th, as follows: + + +"The Fourteenth Corps to occupy the centre at Concord Church and +Bobo Cross Roads, with a division in reserve. + +"The Twentieth Corps to take the right on Crumpton's Creek, two +divisions in echelon retired, one in reserve. + +"The Twenty-first Corps to come up on the left near Hall's Chapel, +one division in front and one in reserve." + + +The rain had rendered the roads over which this movement was to be +made as soft and spongy as a swamp, into which the wagons cut to +the hubs, and even horses could only pass over with the greatest +exertion. The troops on the 30th were compelled to drag along the +artillery through the mud into position. While the orders for the +movements of the troops were being executed on the 30th, Thomas +sent Steedman's brigade of Brannan's division, and two regiments +of Negley's division on separate roads to reconnoitre the enemy's +position, and Sheridan sent Bradley's brigade of his own division +on another road, for the same purpose. These reconnoissances all +returned, and reported having found the enemy in force within a +mile or two of Tullahoma, on all roads except the one leading to +Estill Springs. Scouts coming in confirmed this, adding that it +was the general belief that Bragg would not leave his intrenchments +at Tullahoma without a fight. + +On the same day Rosecrans ordered his topographical engineers +to ascertain the nature of the ground, in order to determine the +practicability of moving by columns in mass in line of battle from +the position in front, to gain the rear of the rebel position. +Their report being favorable, all arrangements were completed, and +the second division of Crittenden's corps was moved into position. + +On July 1st, Thomas, hearing from a citizen that the enemy were +evacuating Tullahoma, ordered Steedman with his brigade, supported +by two regiments of Reynolds's division on the left, to advance +cautiously and ascertain if the report was true. Pushing forward his +advance, Steedman, meeting with no opposition, entered the place at +noon, capturing a few prisoners. Rosecrans being at once notified +of this, immediately ordered Rousseau's and Negley's divisions in +pursuit. Pressing forward with all possible haste by Spring Creek, +these divisions overtook the rear guard of the enemy late in the +afternoon at Bethpage Bridge, two miles above the railroad crossing, +where, after a sharp skirmish, in which a good many of our men +were wounded, the rebels were driven steadily back, until darkness +prevented further pursuit. The enemy, occupying the heights south +of the river, commanded the bridge with their artillery, which they +had placed behind epaulements. + +On the 2d, the ammunition was brought forward, and McCook, with +Sheridan's and Davis's divisions, was ordered in pursuit on the +roads west of the railroad. Sheridan, on arriving at Rock Creek +Ford, found Elk River so swollen with the heavy rains of the past +week as to be barely fordable for cavalry. On the south bank of +the river the enemy had posted a force of cavalry to resist the +crossing. Sheridan opened fire at once on them, drove them away, +and occupied the ford. During the night the enemy burned the bridge +on the line of advance of Thomas, who found equal difficulty in +crossing. Here the river was very deep, and he ordered Rousseau's, +Brannan's, and Reynolds's divisions up the river to Jones's Ford. +Hambright's brigade was thrown across the river, and the other +troops went into camp on the north bank. Hambright captured several +rebel prisoners, who told him that Bragg's army was in full retreat +by way of Pelham and Cowan, across the Cumberland Mountains. Turchin, +with a small brigade of cavalry, moved forward from Hillsboro on +the Dechard road. On reaching the fords of Elk River at Morris +Ferry he found the rebel cavalry strongly posted. He attacked them +at once, re-enforced by Mitchell's command, and forced a passage +of the river after a sharp fight. Night closed the pursuit. + +On the 3d, Sheridan succeeded in crossing Elk River, supported by +Davis's division, and pursued the enemy to Cowan, where he learned +that Bragg had crossed the mountains with part of his artillery +and infantry by the University and Sweden's Cove, sending Hardee's +corps into Sequatchie Valley, and covering his retreat with his +cavalry. Thomas crossed Rousseau's and Brannan's divisions at +Jones's Ford and ordered them to take position on the Winchester +and Hillsboro road. He directed Negley and Reynolds to cross their +divisions at the ford on the Winchester and Manchester pike. On +the 4th, Rousseau was ordered to march to the Dechard and Pelham +roads, and to take up position at Brackenfield's Point toward +the University. Reynolds encamped at Penningtown, and Brannan's +division at Taite's. The cavalry sent from Sheridan's position, +and by Stanley from the main column, developed the fact that the +enemy was entirely across the mountains, and the troops were now +ordered into camp to await supplies from the depot at Murfreesboro. + +Bragg's army reached Chattanooga the first week in July. Here +he established his headquarters with Polk's corps retained in and +around town for the purposes of observation, with the exception +of Anderson's brigade of Withers's division, which was ordered +to Bridgeport, at the crossing of the Nashville and Chattanooga +Railroad over the Tennessee River. Hardee's corps was distributed +along the line of the Knoxville Railroad, with Tyner's Station as +the centre. At Chattanooga Bragg at once commenced fortifying his +position, which work he steadily prosecuted for some weeks, awaiting +the development of Rosecrans's plans. He also threw up defensive +works at each of the crossings of the Tennessee as far north as +Blyth's Ferry. Forrest was sent to Kingston, on the north bank of +the Tennessee River, with orders to picket the approaches to the +river from Sequatchie Valley, as well as the various crossings of +the river, and to maintain a watchful observation of Burnside's +movements in East Tennessee. + +The Tullahoma campaign, with the exception of the one immediately +following, which placed the Army of the Cumberland across the +Tennessee and terminated in the battle of Chickamauga, was the most +brilliant of the great strategic campaigns carried to a successful +issue by General Rosecrans. The movements of the army occupied +nine days, during which time the enemy was driven from two strongly +fortified positions, with a loss in prisoners captured of 1,634, +eleven pieces of artillery, and a large amount of stores and supplies. +The result of this campaign gave to Rosecrans possession of Middle +Tennessee, and placed the armies back in the relative positions +occupied by them prior to Bragg's advance into Kentucky, a little +less than one year previous. The campaign was conducted throughout, +in one of the most extraordinary series of rain-storms ever known +in Tennessee at that season of the year. This, with the resistance +interposed by Bragg at our advance at Hoover's Gap, retarded operations +thirty-six hours, and in front of Manchester a detention of sixty +hours occurred. These delays and the storms prevented us getting +possession of Bragg's communication and forcing him to a very +disastrous battle. General Rosecrans in his official report of +this campaign says: "These results were far more successful than +were anticipated, and could only have been obtained by a surprise +as to the direction and force of our movements." + +Bragg made no official report of the Tullahoma campaign, but in a +statement to General J. E. Johnston of his operations at that time, +he says that he offered battle behind his works at Shelbyville to +Rosecrans, which was refused; that the latter passed to his, Bragg's, +right on two occasions, threatening his rear. He being not able +to cope with the Federal army retreated to the Tennessee. Bragg +adds: "The Tennessee will be taken as our line." + +During these nine days of active campaigning the Army of the +Cumberland, numbering less than sixty thousand effective men, with +a loss of 560 killed, wounded, and missing, compelled the army under +Bragg, numbering something less than forty-five thousand effective +men, to retreat a greater distance and out of far stronger positions +than the united armies under Sherman were able to compel the same +army with but slight additional strength under General Joe Johnston, +to fall back, in four months of active field campaigning, with a +very much larger relative loss. The proportion of the forces of +the opposing armies during the Tullahoma campaign was far nearer +equal than that on to Atlanta, while the natural and military +obstacles to be overcome were largely the greater in the Tullahoma +campaign. To Bragg the forward movement of the Federal army in +full strength was a surprise, but to find that army so far in his +rear and so near to cutting his line of communications was a much +greater surprise. These might not have been guarded against, but +nothing displayed the marked superiority of Rosecrans over his +opponent, as a great strategist, so much as the grand success of +the final movement of the campaign, from Manchester south. The +general who--as even the rebels, in their worship of their leader +General Lee, admitted--was able in Western Virginia to completely +outgeneral Lee, on the Tullahoma campaign again demonstrated his +ability as the greatest strategic general of the war. + +Brilliant campaigns, however, without battles, do not accomplish the +destruction of an army. A campaign like that of Tullahoma always +means a battle at some other point. This was true after the Atlanta +campaign, where Sherman got the glory and Thomas did the fighting. +This was equally true as to the Tullahoma, and the fact that these +two armies were yet somewhere to meet and engage in deadly strife, +was apparent to the commanders of both armies. Where and when that +meeting was to be was the problem that engaged the minds of both +these commanders. In the Tullahoma campaign the elements were on +the side of Bragg's army, both in preventing the rapid movements of +the Federal army, and in furnishing a perfect barrier to a successful +pursuit when the retreat was under way, by the high water in the +swollen streams, the bridges over which Bragg destroyed as he fell +back. + +The concluding line of Bragg's letter to Johnston, that "The +Tennessee will be taken as our line," demonstrated that, to his +mind at least, his Kentucky movement of the year before did not +meet with the success he anticipated. Here now he was waiting his +opportunity to contest his last foothold on the State of Tennessee +at the far corner in Chattanooga. With Rosecrans, his army required +after these days of hard campaigning a rest to repair the wear +and tear of the heavy marching, and the resupplying of his entire +command. The railroads in his rear required his attention first. +These were placed in order up to his army, and the repairs on the +road to the front were then to be pushed to the Tennessee River. In +three weeks time these were completed, and on the 25th, the first +supply train was pushed through to the Tennessee River. Then Rosecrans +established his new depot of supplies at Stevenson, Alabama, and +hastened, as rapidly as he could, the accumulation of supplies at +that point. + + + + + +Chapter XI. + + + + +The Movement to Chickamauga. + + +The withdrawal of the army under Bragg to Chattanooga again made +that point the objective of a campaign. But several things had to +be taken into consideration before this was entered into. Burnside +had been ordered from Cincinnati to East Tennessee through Kentucky, +and it was necessary to know the force and position of his command. +If Knoxville and Cumberland Gap were under his control, then it +would be reasonably safe to follow out a plan of operations looking +to flank Bragg's left by a movement across the Tennessee over the +ranges of mountains of Northern Georgia. But to do this, part +of the force under Grant, now inactive after Vicksburg, should be +ordered up at least as far east as the Tennessee, to protect the +line of supplies and prevent any movement of the enemy to the rear +on that flank of Rosecrans's army. Another weighty consideration +was that of forage for the animals of the command. By the middle +of August, corn in the valleys of Southern Tennessee and Northern +Alabama would be ripe, and subject to the wants of the army. It +was General Rosecrans's plan to wait until these movements could +be accomplished and until the corn had ripened, and knowing the +difficulties in the way at the best, of his successfully accomplishing +his plans for the campaign, he wished at least to have that best +in his favor. + +In making his final preparations for his operations against +Chattanooga, General Rosecrans considered two plans. One was to +appear on the front of Chattanooga and attempt a direct attack on +the town and reduce it by a lengthy siege. The other was to flank +Bragg out of Chattanooga, as he had been compelled by the movement +on the Tullahoma campaign to abandon his strongholds one by one. + +The first plan could hardly be entertained, as Bragg was at his +base, with but short lines to all important points under control +of the rebel government, and at a place where in a very short time +heavy reinforcements could be sent him, while Rosecrans in front +of Chattanooga would be in a rough, sterile country, far away from +his base of supplies, with a long wagon-haul over rocky mountain +ranges from his nearest depôt. To attempt the movement on the left, +or through Sequatchie Valley, would concentrate Bragg's entire +army at the contemplated point of crossing the Tennessee. This +plan Bragg was prepared for, and was resting, quietly awaiting the +movements of our army carrying it into effect. But it was not the +purpose of Rosecrans to meet this expectation of his opponent. The +genius of Rosecrans contemplated one of the most brilliant military +movements of the war to obtain possession of this great stronghold +of Nature, the gateway to East Tennessee and Northern Georgia, +Chattanooga. At that time this place was of the utmost importance +to each of the contending forces, and the highest prize in a military +point of view that the Army of the Cumberland ever contended for. + +To properly understand the magnitude and importance of the +campaign that Rosecrans was now entering on, it is necessary that +the topography of the country should be considered. The position +of our army after the Tullahoma campaign was on the northwester base +of the Cumberland range, in camp occupying McMinnville, Tullahoma, +Dechard, and Winchester, with Chattanooga south of east. Immediately +in front was the first great barrier in the advance movement--the +Cumberland Mountains--a lofty range of rocks dividing the waters +flowing into the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers. The range rises +far to the north and extends to the southwest into Alabama. North +of Chattanooga the mountains are much bolder, more difficult to +cross, with almost sheer declivities on each of the sides. + +Beyond the main range, in the direct road to Chattanooga, running +south, flows the Sequatchie River through the valley of that name, +formed by another range jutting off slightly to the east from the +main range, and between it and the Tennessee River. This spur +is known by the name of Walling's Ridge [NOTE from Brett and Bob: +This is probably what is now known as Walden's Ridge which was +named after a Mr. Walling or Wallen as subsequently described. This +Ridge was quite sparsely populated with an estimate of 11 families +at the time of the civil war, so it's history is not exactly +well documented. Subsequent references use Walling's Ridge to be +consistent with the original text.], after an early settler and +Indian hunter. It abuts close on the Tennessee in precipitous +rocky bluffs. + +South of the Tennessee, and separated from the mountain ranges +north by this river, are the two ranges known as Sand and Lookout +Mountains. The northern extremity of the former is called Raccoon +Mountain. Here the river cuts its channel as a great chasm through +these mountain ranges, so sharply defined that the masses abut +directly upon the water in heavy palisades of rock. + +The tops of all these mountain ranges are of poor soil but generally +with considerable timber; rough, with but few roads, and these +almost impassable for wagons and nearly destitute of water. The +western slope of Sand Mountain reaches nearly to the Tennessee +River. Between this latter range and Lookout Mountain is Lookout +Valley with the creek of that name flowing through it into the +Tennessee a short distance below Chattanooga. This valley is also +known as Wills Valley, and at that time was traversed by a railroad +branching from the Nashville road at Wauhatchie, terminating at +Trenton. + +Beyond this was Lookout range, 2,400 feet above the sea, with +almost perpendicular sides, heavily wooded and with little water, +abutting abruptly on the Tennessee, some two miles south of the +town, with only three practical wagon roads over it--one close to +the river, one at Johnson's Crook, and the third at Winston's Gap, +twenty-six and forty-two miles respectively south of Chattanooga. + +To the east of Lookout Mountain is Chattanooga Valley with the town +at the head of it and the creek of that name flowing through, with +Dry Creek as a branch emptying its waters into the Tennessee just +south of the town. Beyond this to the east is Missionary Ridge, +and parallel to it and just beyond is Chickamauga Valley, with +the creek of that name running through it emptying into the river +above Chattanooga, formed by East, Middle, and West Chickamauga +Creeks, uniting with Pea Vine Creek between the latter two as a +tributary. Chattanooga and West Chickamauga Creeks have a common +source in McLemore's Cove, which is formed by Pigeon Mountain on +the east, jutting to the north as a spur of Lookout Mountain, with +the latter on the west, Missionary ridge running out as it enters +this cove. The wagon road from Chattanooga to Rome, known as the +La Fayette road, crosses Missionary Ridge into Chickamauga Valley +at Rossville and proceeds thence nearly due south, crossing +Chickamauga Creek at Lee and Gordon Mills, thence to the east of +Pigeon Mountain, passing through La Fayette some twenty-two miles +south of Chattanooga; it then continues on to Summerville, within +twenty-five miles of Rome, and so on to the latter place. + +Beyond these ranges is Taylor's ridge, with a number of lesser +ranges between it and the Atlanta Railroad, running through Dalton. +Both Pigeon Mountain and Taylor's Ridge are very rough mountain +ranges, with but few roads, and these only through gaps. At Dalton +is the junction of the East Tennessee with the Atlanta Railroad, +in the valley of the head waters of the Coosa River, which valley +is here some ten miles wide and is the great natural passage-way +into East Tennessee from the south. + +To follow Bragg to Chattanooga and to cross the Tennessee above +that place involved moving the army either to the north of the +Sequatchie Valley by Dunlap or by Therman and Walling's Ridge, some +sixty-five to seventy miles through a country poorly supplied with +water, with no forage, and by narrow and difficult wagon roads. This +route would take Rosecrans further away from his base of supplies +and line of communication than that south of the river. It was +over this northern route that Bragg anticipated the onward movement +of the Army of the Cumberland. This would enable him to make a +protracted defence of the town and retard the advance for weeks, +if not months. But Rosecrans's plan of the campaign contemplated a +much more hazardous movement and a far speedier one for the possession +of Chattanooga. To accomplish this, however, it was necessary +to cross the Cumberland Mountains with subsistence, ammunition, +a limited supply of forage, and a bridge train; then to cross his +army over the Tennessee River, after that over Sand or Raccoon +Mountain into Lookout Valley, and from there to cross Lookout +Mountain, and finally the lesser ranges--Missionary Ridge--if he +went directly to Chattanooga, or to cross Missionary Ridge, Pigeon +Mountain, and Taylor's Ridge, if he struck the railroad at Dalton +or south of it. This involved the carrying by his army of ammunition +for two great battles and twenty-five days' subsistence. + +As soon as the repairs were made on the main line to Stevenson, +Rosecrans ordered Sheridan's division to make an advance movement +with two brigades to Bridgeport and one to Stevenson. Van Cleve +had been ordered up with his divisions from Murfreesboro and was +posted at McMinnville. On August 8th, stores being accumulated at +the front, orders were issued to corps commanders to supply their +troops, as soon as possible, with rations and forage sufficient +for the general advance. + +The movement over the Cumberland Mountains began on August 16th, +and the troops were ordered to move as follows: + + +"Crittenden's corps in three columns to move through the Sequatchie +Valley. Minty's cavalry to move on the left by Sparta, and after +covering the left flank of Van Cleve to proceed to Pikesville. + +"Thomas to move Reynolds and Brannan from University by way +of Battle Creek, where they were to take post, concealed near its +mouth. Negley and Baird to go by way of Tantallon and halt on Crow +Creek between Anderson and Stevenson. + +"McCook to move Johnson by Salem and Larkin's Ford to Bellefont. +Davis by Mount Top and Crow Creek to near Stevenson. The three +brigades of cavalry by Fayetteville and Athens to cover the line +of the Tennessee from Whitesburg up." + + +These orders were complied with, and the movements completed by +the evening of August 20th. Crittenden sent Hazen's brigade on +a reconnoissance to Harrison's Landing, where he found the enemy +throwing up works. On the next day Hazen took post at Poe's +cross-roads. Wilder was sent to reconnoitre from Harrison's +Landing to Chattanooga. On reaching Chattanooga, he was supported +by Wagner's brigade, and both commands opened fire on the next day, +shelling the town from across the river. This bombardment of the +place caused it to be evacuated by the rebel troops, to points +beyond range outside, and the withdrawal by Bragg of his stores +to points of convenience on the railroad to the rear. Bragg then +ordered Anderson's brigade to withdraw from Bridgeport. + +The feint under Crittenden was so well timed that Bragg concentrated +his immediate command at and above Chattanooga, leaving the crossing +of the river by the main portion of our army later, unobstructed. +Rosecrans had posted his army so that demonstrations were made +simultaneously from Whitesburg to Blythe's Ferry, a distance of +one hundred and fifty miles, and Bragg did not know just where to +look for his real advance, but definitely concluded that it would +NOT be made anywhere in the vicinity of Bridgeport. On the 26th, +five days after the surprise at Chattanooga, Burnside's advance +into East Tennessee was announced by the presence of his cavalry in +the vicinity of Knoxville. Bragg then ordered Buckner to evacuate +Knoxville, and occupy Loudon. The demonstration at Blythe's Ferry +on the Tennessee, opposite the mouth of the Hiawasse, caused Bragg +to order him to retire to Charleston, and soon thereafter to +Chattanooga. On the 30th, information was given General Thomas +that Johnston, with 15,000 men from Mississippi, had re-enforced +Bragg. + +Under cover of the apparent activity of the left of our army in front +of and above Chattanooga, Rosecrans effected safely the crossing +of the first great barrier to the objective point, and reached the +banks of the Tennessee opposite the enemy, concealing as far as he +could the movements of his troops, and the position of his pontoons +and trains. He then had the river reconnoitered, that the best +points might be selected and the means at once provided for the +crossing. As soon as the crossings had been determined on, the +proper dispositions were made to begin the movement. + +The Tennessee River, at the various points where our army was to +cross, is very wide; and, swollen by recent rains, was quite high +for that season of the year. The troops crossed the river at four +points. As there were not enough pontoons for two bridges, Sheridan +had commenced trestlework for part of one at Bridgeport. Reynolds +advanced to Shellmound, seizing the place. Here he captured a +number of boats, and with these and other material picked up, he was +enabled to cross at that point, while Brannan crossed his division +from the mouth of Battle Creek on rafts. The main crossing of +McCook's corps was at Caperton's Ferry, about forty miles below +Chattanooga, where the pontoon bridge was laid by Davis's division, +after driving a detachment of rebel cavalry from the opposite side. + +The movement across the river was commenced on August 29th, and +completed on September 4th. Baird, in command of a division of +Thomas's corps, crossed the river at Bridgeport after the repairs +were completed to the bridge. Negley's division crossed at Caperton's +Ferry. The four divisions of Thomas's corps with great difficulty +crossed Sand Mountain, and concentrated near Trenton in Will's +Valley, east of Sand Mountain. On September 6th Negley's division, +being in the advance, reached Johnson's Crook where Beatty's brigade +was sent at once up the mountain to seize Steven's Gap. Before +proceeding far he met the enemy's pickets, and, night coming on, +he went into camp just west of the gap. The Eighteenth Ohio went +a short distance on the road to the top of Lookout Mountain, met +the enemy's pickets and withdrew. The next day, Baird's division +supporting Negley, the latter with two brigades, moved forward, +and with his advance gained possession of the top of the mountain, +and secured the forks of the road. The entire of Negley's division +reached this point on the 9th, at the head of Johnson's Crook, +and with one brigade held the pass while another was sent a short +distance north on the mountain to seize Cooper's Gap, with a regiment +in the advance to occupy and hold the entrance on the east. Another +regiment was sent forward to hold Stevens's Gap, which was found +heavily obstructed with fallen timber. Negley still being in the +advance, moved the day following across Missionary Ridge, and took +up a position in McLemore's Cove on the road through Dug Gap. Here +he found the enemy's cavalry drawn up in line, and learned from +citizens that the rebels were in strong force concentrated in his +front in Dug Gap, with infantry, artillery, and cavalry. Baird's +division was in supporting distance of Negley. + +Early in the morning of the 9th Reynolds sent the Ninety-second +Illinois (mounted infantry) to make a reconnoissance along the +top of Lookout Mountain, to discover the enemy's movements and to +determine the rumors in regard to the evacuation of Chattanooga. +At 11 A.M. the regiment entered the town as the rear of the enemy's +column was leaving the place. The next day the four divisions of +the Fourteenth Corps were in supporting distance of each other, +with Negley still in front of Dug Gap, the enemy holding the east +entrance with a heavy force, and the Gap full of obstructions. +Negley discovered early on the following day that his situation +was critical, and that he was in danger of losing his train. He +determined to fall back to a strong position in front of Stevens's +Gap, which movement he proceeded to execute, and succeeded in the +face of the enemy by his energy and skill, with the prompt co-operation +of Baird, in securing his position in front of the gap without the +loss of a single wagon. The next day the location of Bragg's army +at La Fayette with Johnston's reinforcements was fully determined, +and Thomas's corps now awaited the movements of the other troops +with reference to the concentration of the army. + +In the meantime Davis's and Johnson's divisions of McCook's corps, +crossing the river at Caperton's Ferry, moved over Sand Mountain +into Will's Valley, and thence--Davis being in the advance--moved +into and seized Winston's Gap, some twenty-five miles from Caperton's +Ferry, and about forty-two from Chattanooga. Sheridan's division +crossed the river at the railroad bridge, moved through Trenton, +and on the 6th encamped twelve miles from Winston's Gap. McCook +sent several detachments on the 8th and 9th to different points, +reconnoitering the enemy. One went to Alpine and two into Broomtown +Valley, but nothing was discovered of Bragg's whereabouts. On the +evening of the 9th Rosecrans sent orders to McCook, stating that +the enemy had evacuated Chattanooga and were retreating southward, +and directing him to move rapidly upon Alpine and Summerville in +pursuit, to intercept his line of retreat, and to attack on his +flank. The day following McCook reached Alpine, where he discovered +the situation. The enemy had not retreated very far from Chattanooga, +the exact location as yet unknown. McCook learned that he could +not communicate with Thomas, as his couriers could not pass through +the valley, occupied as it was by the enemy in force, and that +his corps was entirely isolated at Alpine. That, had he gone +to Summerville, he would have been exposed to an attack from the +entire rebel army, which his reconnoissance later determined was +concentrated in force near La Fayette. On the following day McCook +remained in camp waiting for Thomas to move up on him. He, however, +sent his wagon-train back to the summit of Lookout Mountain. On +the 12th McCook waited in camp for reports from the cavalry as to +the position and movements of the enemy. + +Crittenden's corps had during the time moved down the Sequatchie +Valley, in readiness for an active campaign. He then crossed the +river at Bridgeport, Shell Mound, and Battle Creek, and on September +4th his entire corps was across the river. He was ordered to move +up the valley of Running Water Creek and Whiteside, leaving one +division on the line of the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, +and to push forward as near as possible to Chattanooga, threatening +the enemy in that direction. At 6 A.M. on the 9th Crittenden was +informed by a despatch from Rosecrans that Chattanooga had been +abandoned by the enemy, and that he was to push forward at once +with five day's rations and make a vigorous pursuit. During the +morning Crittenden with Wood's division occupied the town, and +Wood was placed in command. Palmer's and Van Cleve's were turned +off south after they passed the spur of Lookout Mountain, and +encamped at Rossville, five miles south of Chattanooga. In the +afternoon of the same day Crittenden was ordered to leave a brigade +at Chattanooga, and with the balance of his command to pursue the +enemy with the utmost vigor, the line of march to be through Ringgold +and on to Dalton. The next day Crittenden left Wagner--who had +crossed the river from the front of the town during the night--in +command, and ordered forward Palmer's, Van Cleve's, and the two +brigades of Wood's division in pursuit, marching on the Rossville +and Riggold road. During the afternoon Palmer reported the enemy's +cavalry strong on his front, that he had only been able to march +six miles, had encamped at Chickamauga Creek, and that his advance +had been checked by a charge of the rebel cavalry. That night +Crittenden received several reports from his front that the enemy +was in force near La Fayette, and threatening to retake Chattanooga. + +During the 11th, Wood, with his two brigades, was on a reconnoissance +at Gordon's Mills, and Crittenden was ordered to occupy Ringgold +and report. These movements determined to Rosecrans's satisfaction +the position of the enemy in force in the vicinity of La Fayette. +He immediately ordered Crittenden to close his entire command +upon Wood, crossing as quickly as possible to the Rossville and La +Fayette road, to some point near Lee and Gordon's Mills. Early on +the morning of the 12th, Wilder was ordered back to Ringgold and +directed to follow on the line of march of the infantry, covering +the left flank. Crittenden succeeded during the day in effecting +a concentration of his command at Lee and Gordon's Mills, which +point Wilder's brigade reached after a severe skirmish during the +day near Leet's tanyard, where he lost thirty men killed and wounded. +With the knowledge that Bragg was concentrating his forces awaiting +reinforcements behind Pigeon Mountain, in the vicinity of La Fayette, +and that his own army was scattered a distance of thirty miles from +flank to flank--from Lee and Gordon's Mills to Alpine--Rosecrans felt +that it was a matter of life and death to effect the concentration +of his army in the shortest possible space of time. + +During these movements of the army under Rosecrans, what was Bragg +doing? On August 20th, the movement of our army over the Cumberland +Mountains was reported to Bragg, and he then knew that he might +look for an immediate advance. The movement of our army across the +Tennessee was also reported to Bragg by his scouts, but was regarded +by him as incredible. These reports were soon after confirmed by +the news that our cavalry had occupied Trenton and had advanced +up the Will's Valley Railroad as far as Wauhatchie, within seven +miles of Chattanooga, as a covering force under which Rosecrans's +columns of infantry were advancing. Our army was now as near the +line of communication of the rebel army, as the latter was to the +line to Nashville, and with less risk in its advance movements +should Bragg commence operations to the north. Bringing his cavalry +forward at once, Bragg soon ascertained that the general movement +of our army was toward his left and rear in the direction of Dalton +and Rome, keeping Lookout Mountain between the armies. He then +determined to meet our army as its columns debouched from the defiles +of the mountains. To hold Chattanooga would require at least two +strong divisions, and he felt that his force would not permit this +and make a successful attack also. Bragg put his army in motion on +September 7th and 8th, and took up position from Lee and Gordon's +Mills to La Fayette, on the road running south from Chattanooga, +with the front to the east side of Lookout Mountain, and on the +east bank of Chickamauga Creek, establishing his headquarters at +the former place. + +The positions of our detached corps was fully known to Bragg on +the 8th. Learning of Negley's movement of the 9th into McLemore's +cove, Bragg rightly interpreted it to mean that a hurried pursuit +was being made after his force, under the idea that he was in full +retreat. With his own force concentrated in front of the centre, +Bragg at once saw how Rosecrans had exposed the corps of his army +to be attacked and defeated in detail, and that evening he gave +order to Hindman to prepare his division to move against Negley, +and ordered Hill to send or take Cleburne's division, join Hindman, +and immediately move upon Negley. On receipt of these orders, +Hill replied that his part of the movement was impracticable, as +Cleburne was sick, and that both gaps--Dug and Catlett's--had been +closed by felling timber which would require twenty-four hours to +remove. Hindman having marched during the night of the 9th some +ten miles, was now in position, some three miles from Negley in +the cove. Bragg not wishing to lose so favorable an opportunity +of striking his opponent's force, ordered Buckner with his command +to move from Anderson and join Hindman in the cove, which he did +during the afternoon of the 10th. After these commands had united, +the commanders held a consultation and determined that a change in +the plan of operations should be made. Bragg having removed his +headquarters to La Fayette, "so as to secure more prompt and decided +action in the movements ordered against the enemy's centre," now +directed Polk to send his remaining division to support Hindman +during the operations in the cove. Despatching an officer to Bragg +with a report as to this change of plans, Hindman and Cleburne +waited his return. Bragg refused to make any change, and sent a +verbal order to Hindman to proceed at once to carry out his previous +instruction. Bragg at the same time sent written orders by courier +to Hindman, notifying him of the movements of our forces, that Polk +had been directed to cover his rear, and ordered him to attack and +force his way through Negley to La Fayette at the earliest hour +in the morning, and adds "Cleburne will attack in front the moment +your guns are heard." Walker's reserve corps was also ordered to +move promptly, join Cleburne's division at Dug Gap and unite in +the attack. All obstructions were removed from Dug and Catlett's +Gaps, and Breckenridge's division of Hill's corps was kept in +position south of La Fayette to check any movement of our troops +from that direction, thus putting 30,000 troops in position to crush +Negley and Baird. Bragg shortly after daylight joined Cleburne, +where they waited nearly all day for Hindman's guns to open--when +Cleburne was to attack--on the flank and rear of Negley and +Baird's divisions. After waiting long past noon in great anxiety +for Hindman's attack, about the middle of the afternoon his first +gun was heard. Cleburne at once pressed forward and discovered +that Negley had fallen back to Steven's Gap. + +Bragg, finding his attempt against Thomas's corps a failure, then +determined to hurl his columns upon Crittenden's divided corps, +approaching from Chattanooga, by withdrawing the troops engaged +in the movement on Thomas's command to La Fayette, and directing +Polk's and Walker's corps to move immediately in the direction of +Lee and Gordon's Mills. Bragg knew Crittenden's corps was divided, +but supposed only one division had been sent to Ringgold. At six +o'clock on the evening of the 12th, Bragg wrote again to Polk, +notifying him of Crittenden's position of the 11th, and stated: "This +presents you a fine opportunity of striking Crittenden in detail, +and I hope you will avail yourself of it at daylight to-morrow. +This division crushed, and the others are yours. We can then turn +on the force in the cove. Wheeler's cavalry will move on Wilder +so as to cover your right. I shall be delighted to hear of your +success." Later in the evening two additional orders were issued +to Polk, urging him to attack promptly at "day-dawn," on the 13th; +that our army was concentrating, and that it should be quick and +decided." At eleven o'clock that night Polk sent a dispatch stating +that he had taken a strong position for defense and asked that he +be heavily re-enforced. Bragg sent him an immediate order not to +defer his attack, as his command was numerically superior to the +opposing force, and told him that to secure success, prompt and +rapid movements on his part were necessary. Early on the morning +of the 13th, Bragg, at the head of Buckner's command, went to the +front, and found no advance had been made by Polk as ordered, and +that Crittenden had united his forces and recrossed the Chickamauga. + +Again the attempt to strike our army in detail had failed, and now +Bragg gave orders to his commanders to concentrate along the east +bank of Chickamauga in position for battle, and as soon as his +reinforcements under Longstreet from Virginia were up to attack +with the entire command. Wheeler, with two divisions of cavalry +on the extreme left, was ordered to engage the attention of Thomas +in McLemore's Cove, covering the main movement of the rebel army; +Forrest with his own and Pegram's divisions of cavalry covered +the right and front. Bragg ordered B. R. Johnson's brigade from +Ringgold, where he had been stationed protecting the railroad, +to take position near Reed's bridge on the extreme right of his +line. Walker's corps was then formed on Johnson's left, opposite +Alexander's Bridge. Buckner's corps was formed on the left +of Walker, near Ledford's Ford. Polk's corps was placed in line +opposite Lee and Gordon's Mills on Buckner's left, with Hill on the +extreme left. Two brigades that had just arrived from Mississippi +were placed under Johnson on the right, making his command a +division of three brigades strong. To this division in the earlier +movements three brigades of Longstreet's corps from Virginia were +temporarily attached. On the 18th, Hood reporting, was placed in +command of this column on the right. + +The rebel army on the 17th were in position, and that evening +Bragg issued his orders for his forces to cross the Chickamauga, +commencing the movement at six o'clock on the morning of the 18th. +Bragg's plan of battle for the 18th was for the column under +Johnson--later under Hood--to cross in force at Reed's Bridge, +rapidly turn to the left by the most practicable route, and sweep +up the Chickamauga toward Lee and Gordon's Mills. Walker's corps +next on the left, crossing at Alexandria Bridge, was to unite in +the movement, pressing our army vigorously on flank and rear, in +the same direction. Buckner, crossing at Ledford's Ford, was to +join in the movement to the left, pressing our army back up the +stream from Polk's front. The latter to push forward to the front +at Lee and Gordon's Mills, and if not able to cross there, to bear +to the right and cross at Dalton's Ford or Alexander's Bridge, +and unite in the attack wherever he could find an opposing force. +Hill, to cover the left flank of the rebel army from an advance by +our forces in the cove, to ascertain by pressing his cavalry to the +front if we were reinforcing our corps at Lee and Gordon's Mills, +and if so to attack on the flank. This plan contemplated the +destruction of the left of our army, the seizing of the La Fayette +road, and, if possible, occupying and holding the roads in Chattanooga +Valley, cutting off all access from Chattanooga. These movements +were not executed as rapidly as was contemplated by Bragg, owing to +the resistance made by our cavalry and Wilder's mounted infantry, +and the difficulties arising from bad and narrow roads. Johnson +was repeatedly urged to commence the movement on the right, but he +delayed his advance until late in the afternoon, when Hood arrived +and effected the crossing. Walker moved up to Alexander's Bridge, +at which point Wilder hotly contested his crossing, and finally +broke up the bridge. Walker moved down the creek to Byron's Ford, +where he crossed and joined Hood on the right during the night. +On Walker's crossing, Wilder was compelled to fall back. + +The concentration of our army continued on the 13th, Thomas held +his position of the 12th, with Negley's, Baird's, and Brannan's +divisions remaining in camp, waiting the arrival of McCook, who +had been ordered to close up to the left. Reynolds's division was +concentrated on the road from Cooper's or Frick's Gap to Catlett's +Gap, and the next day moved forward and took position at Pond +Spring, with his two infantry brigades, and was joined here by +Wilder. Reynolds sent Turchin to make a reconnoissance with the +Ninety-second Illinois mounted infantry, to the mouth of Catlett's +Gap, driving the rebel cavalry pickets from Chickamauga Creek +to the gap, where he found the enemy posted with strong reserves. +Brannan on the same day reconnoitered the position of the enemy +toward Dug Gap, sending a brigade to Chickamauga Creek, east of +Lee's Mills, one mile to the right and south of Reynolds, at Pond +Spring. Turchin made another reconnoissance on the 16th toward +Catlett's Gap, and found the enemy strongly posted there with +infantry and artillery. The next day Thomas moved his entire +corps and closed upon Crittenden's right along Chickamauga Creek, +and was joined at night by McCook on his right. The four divisions +of Thomas's command on the afternoon of the 18h moved to the left +to Crawfish Springs. Here Rosecrans, anticipating the movement +of Bragg to secure the road to Chattanooga, and recognizing the +importance of holding it, ordered Thomas with his corps to march +on the cross-road leading by the Widow Glenn's to the Chattanooga +and La Fayette road, and take position on that road near Kelly's +farm, connecting with Crittenden's corps on his right at Gordon's +Mills. During the entire night of the 18th the troops of Thomas's +corps were moving to the left, and at daylight on the 19th the +head of the column reached Kelly's farm; Baird's division in the +advance, taking position at the forks of the road, facing toward +Reed's and Alexander's Bridges over the Chickamauga. Wilder had +been driven across the State road to the heights east of Widow +Glenn's house the evening before, by the advance in force of the +enemy over these bridges, and Baird's right rested close to Wilder's +brigade. Baird's division was closely followed by Brannan, who was +placed in position on the left of Baird, on the two roads leading +to the bridges. + +Orders were received by McCook at midnight on the 13th, directing +two divisions of his corps to move to Thomas's support, and that he +send his train back under guard of his remaining division. McCook +moved his command, by way of Valley Head, up the mountain at Alpine +on the night of the 13th, and down on the 14th into Lookout Valley, +except one brigade from each division forming his train guard +under command of Lytle, encamped at Little River in the mountains. +Sheridan's marched down Lookout Valley to Johnson's Crook, while +Johnson's and Davis's divisions were sent from Valley head on the +direct road to Stevens's Gap. General Lytle was ordered to make +a reconnoissance with two brigades toward Dougherty's Gap at the +head of McLemore's Cove, and on the night of the 18th General Lytle +joining the corps with two of his brigades, McCook's command was +closed up on the Fourteenth Corps, except Post's brigade of Davis's +division, ordered by General Rosecrans to hold Stevens's Gap at +all hazards. + +Crittenden on the 13th, under orders from headquarters, posted +Wood's division in a strong position at Lee and Gordon's Mills, under +orders to resist any advance of the enemy to last, and in case of +extremity, if Granger was not in position to support, then to fall +back to some point where he could guard the road to Chattanooga and +the one around the point of Lookout Mountain, and hold both roads, +as long as he had a man under him. The next day Crittenden moved +the two remaining divisions of his corps to a position on the +southern spur of Missionary Ridge, his right communicating with +Thomas, where he was to remain, covering the road in Chattanooga +Valley. Finding no movement of the enemy on his front, on the 15th +Crittenden was ordered to return with his command and take position +near Crawfish Spring, with Van Cleve on the left and Palmer on +the right. During the day Minty with the cavalry made an extended +reconnoissance on the front, finding the enemy in force at all points. +Wood, holding position on Chickamauga Creek, at Lee and Gordon's +Mills, on the morning of the 18th reported the enemy advancing with +strong line of skirmishers on his left and asked for supports. Van +Cleve was placed on Wood's left and Palmer then took Van Cleve's +position on Wood's right. Wilder in the afternoon reported +Minty's cavalry driven back after being re-enforced with two of his +regiments; that the enemy was flanking him and that he would fall +back on Wood. Palmer later in the day was placed on the left +of Van Cleve's new position on the line of Chickamauga Creek, his +last brigade reaching its position at four o'clock on the morning +of the 19th; Wood holding his position on the creek at Lee and +Gordon's Mills, which at this point runs between steep rocky bluffs +in an eastwardly course, with the road to Chattanooga via Rossville +crossing it at right angles; Van Cleve on his left and Palmer +on the left of Van Cleve; the general course of the line being +northeasterly along the Chickamauga and Rossville road. + + + + + +Chapter XII. + + + + +The Battle of Chickamauga. + + +Colonel Dan. McCook, of Granger's reserve corps, who had been posted +on the road leading to Reed's Bridge, on the evening of the 18th, +made a reconnoissance to Chickamauga Creek as far as Reed's Bridge, +which he burned. On the 19th, meeting Thomas, he reported that an +isolated brigade of the enemy was on the west side of the creek, +and as the bridge was destroyed a prompt movement in that direction +might succeed in capturing the entire force. Thomas ordered Brannan +to post a brigade on the road to Alexander's Bridge as support +to Baird, and with his other brigades to reconnoitre the road +to Reed's Bridge in search of this brigade of the enemy. Brannan +moved at nine o'clock A.M., and Baird, under orders from Thomas, +threw forward his right wing so as to get into line with Brannan. +Baird was also ordered to keep a sharp outlook on his right flank +and watch the movements of the enemy in that quarter. Shortly after +these movements a part of Palmer's division reported to Thomas and +was placed in position on the right of Baird. Rosecrans, when he +sent Thomas to the left--the critical point--told him that he was +to hold the road to Rossville, and if hard pressed, that he should +be re-enforced with the entire army. + +Under Bragg's orders, Walker's corps on the 18th crossed the west +side of Chickamauga a little below Alexander's Bridge and then moved +up the stream opposite this point. Bushrod Johnson's command the +same day crossed at Reed's bridge, and then marched up the stream +some three miles and took position on the morning of the 19th. +Walker resumed his movement to his left up the stream, under the +impression that our centre was still at Lee and Gordon's Mills, +Bragg's plan being to mass Walker's and Johnson's commands and +attack our left flank. The advance movement of Brannan's division, +Croxton's brigade in front, about ten o'clock encountered the enemy, +being the cavalry under Forrest with Wilson's and Ector's brigades +of infantry, and drove them nearly half a mile, when it met with +obstinate resistance. This reconnoissance of Brannan in pursuit +of the brigade reported by Dan. McCook developed the relative +position of the opposing contending forces, which up to this time +was unknown to the respective commanders of each. It gave to Bragg +the knowledge that his right was greatly overlapped by Thomas on +our left, and that his flank was in danger of being turned. It +compelled him at once to halt Walker's command on its march, and to +direct it to retrace its steps and reinforce Forrest, now engaged +with Croxton, whose movement brought on the battle of Chickamauga +before Bragg had his troops in the position ordered. + +Thomas then ordered Baird's division forward to Croxton's support. +Moving at once with two brigades on the front, with Starkweather's +in reserve, Baird and Croxton drove the enemy steadily for some +distance with great loss, capturing many prisoners. Croxton's +brigade having exhausted its ammunition in the severe fighting of +over an hour, was then moved to the rear, and Brannan's and Baird's +divisions with united forces drove the enemy from their immediate +front. Here the line was halted and readjusted. Baird learning +from his prisoners that the rebel army was in heavy force on his +immediate front, gathering for an attack in mass, drew back his +right wing and waited the assault of Bragg's right on his line, +which was made in heavy force by Walker, who had reached his new +position. Before Baird had completed the reforming of his line, +Walker's corps, in overwhelming numbers was upon him, assaulting +Scribner's and King's brigades, and driving them back in disorder. + +McCook, early on the morning of the 19th, had taken position with +his corps at Crawfish Spring, and was now beyond the extreme left +of the rebel army, massing his troops at this point and waiting +for orders. At a little after ten o'clock in the morning he was +directed to take command of the right and the cavalry on that flank. +This included Negley's division of the Fourteenth Corps, which was +watching the fords of Chickamauga near Crawfish Spring, one brigade +of his command being then engaged with the enemy. The same order +directed McCook to send Johnson's divisions to the left to report +to Thomas, and following this came another one from Rosecrans +directing McCook to send Davis's division also to Thomas. On Baird +being driven back, General Thomas ordered Johnson's and Reynolds's +division of his own corps--both of whom had opportunely arrived by +this time--immediately to advance and drive the enemy back. Johnson +arriving first was ordered at once to advance his left, connecting +with Baird's right, Palmer was immediately placed on Johnson's +right and Reynolds still to the right of Palmer, with one brigade +of his division in reserve. As soon as the line was thus formed +the troops advanced, attacking Walker's corps on the flank with +great vigor, driving it in confusion back to its first position, +while Brannan's division, fighting them on the front, drove back +the head of the column and retook the artillery which had been +captured from Baird when he was driven back. Bragg then ordered +up Cheatham's division, which had been in reserve, reinforcing +Walker. With these two commands united, the rebels pressed forward +with loud yells, determined on the destruction of our left. As +these two commands advanced, a gap was made in their lines, into +which Bragg threw Stewart's division. As they encountered our +line, these troops moved forward. Striking Johnson first, they +drove him from his position in disorder, then Palmer was compelled +to retire, when Van Cleve coming to his support was also beaten +back. Reynolds then in turn was overpowered and the rebels seemed +to be sweeping every thing before them as at Stone's River. By +this time Davis had reported with his division, and moving at once +to the front checked the rebel advance, when Wood coming up to his +assistance, our lines were reformed, and Cheatham's, Stewart's, and +Walker's troops were driven in rapid retreat back to their original +line. Sheridan, under orders, had left Lytle's brigade to hold +Lee and Gordon's Mills on our extreme right, and moved to our left +in support of the new line near Wood's and Davis's divisions. He +reached the position opportunely and aided in driving back the +rebels, Bradley's brigade recapturing the Eighth Indiana battery +previously taken by the enemy. A large number of prisoners were +captured belonging to Longstreet's corps. + +Bragg, finding that his plan of battle was discovered by his +opponent, and that the latter intended to dispute to the end for +the possession of the Rossville and Chattanooga road, ordered Polk +to cross the creek with his remaining division at the nearest ford +and to assume command in person on their right. Hill with his +corps was also ordered to move across the Chickamauga below Lee +and Gordon's Mills and to join the line on the right. + +The rebels made another desperate assault at about half past two +o'clock on our right. Hood's corps, with Bushrod Johnson's division +from the enemy's centre, moved forward in heavy masses, assaulting +furiously Reynolds's and Van Cleve's divisions. Here they met with +fearful loss from the heavy infantry and artillery fire, portions +of six batteries opening with canister on their advancing columns, +but still on they came. Soon the roar of battle was heard approaching +near to the Widow Glenn's house, where Rosecrans's headquarters +were. Our right centre now was pierced and the enemy was on the La +Fayette road. Negley, from the right under McCook, was immediately +ordered up with his division, Brannan from Thomas's left joining +him. These two divisions were at once sent in to the fight. Moving +rapidly forward to the attack, with cheer on cheer, they hurled +back Hood and Johnson, steadily driving them until darkness ended +the combat, our troops re-occupying their old positions. + +Thomas, wishing to reform his lines--which had become greatly extended +in driving the rebels--and concentrate them on more commanding +ground in the rear preparatory to the engagement to be renewed +on the morrow, selected a new position for Baird's and Johnson's +divisions, the former on the extreme left. These positions were +designated to them and were occupied at once. Palmer and Reynolds +were ordered into position in line on the right of Johnson, with +Brannan to the rear and right of Reynolds as reserve. While these +movements were being made, Cleburne with his fresh division of +Hill's corps, who had been ordered to the extreme right by Bragg, +under orders to attack immediately, advancing in full force, +supported by Cheatham, assaulted Johnson first and then Baird with +tremendous force. The onset was so determined that some confusion +in the line resulted, but in a few minutes our troops rallied and +the enemy was repulsed in fine style. This conflict lasted for some +time after dark with heavy losses on both sides, the heavy firing +lighting up the struggle. At this point our artillery was again +used with good effect. Wilder's brigade had occupied a position +during the day on the La Fayette road about a mile north of Lee and +Gordon's Mills, with Minty close by. The latter was now ordered +to report to Granger at Rossville, to hold in check the enemy's +cavalry operating on their right. Granger, with his reserves +protected the roads to the rear toward Rossville and covered our +left flank. + +With night the fighting ceased, and the troops, worn out after the +marching of the night before--moving from the right to the extreme +left--and the heavy fighting of the day, slept on their arms, awaiting +the heavier conflict of the morrow. Though weary, the troops were +in most excellent spirits, and confident of final victory. It was +known throughout the army that we had been fighting during the day +largely superior forces. That Bragg had been heavily re-enforced +from Mississippi and East Tennessee, and by Longstreet's command +from Virginia, and that the enemy was fighting most desperately. +Bragg's great aim had been to conceal his main attack on our left +by the feint on the centre, and supposed that our centre on the +morning of the 19th was still at Lee and Gordon's Mills. Presuming +this to be the case, Bragg had massed heavily on our left, intending +to repeat his movement made on our right at Murfreesboro. His plan +contemplated the breaking of our left, sweeping it before him in +broken masses, crushing our centre, and destroying our right, and +then occupying the road to Chattanooga in force he would have the +Federal army completely in his power. The movement made by Croxton +compelled Bragg to open the battle in heavy force on the left, +before his troops had secured the positions assigned them, and then, +to his surprise, he found that during the night our left had been +greatly prolonged, and that Rosecrans was in force, occupying a +position far to the north of what he had been led to expect. During +the night Bragg ordered up by forced marches all reinforcements +arriving by railroad. Three brigades of fresh troops reached the +enemy during the night, and were placed in line early in the morning +of the 20th. These, with the troops ordered late the day before +from the east bank of the Chickamauga, gave Bragg a large number +of fresh troops, which he placed in line of battle on the 20th. +During the night Bragg summoned his generals to meet him at his +camp fire, and there gave them orders for the following day. He +divided his entire force into two commands, to which he assigned +his senior Lieutenant-Generals Longstreet and Polk. The former--who +had reported during the night--to the left, composed of six divisions +where his own troops were stationed, and the latter continuing in +his command of five divisions on the right. Bragg's plan of battle +for the 20th was for Polk to assault in force, with Breckinridge's +division on his extreme right at day-dawn, when the attack was to +be taken up rapidly in succession by the divisions to his left. +The left wing was to await the movement on the right, and when the +attack was made there to take it up promptly. When the entire line +became engaged it was to move forward vigorously and persistently +throughout its entire length, the whole army wheeling on Longstreet's +left as a pivot, but constantly pressing our left to get possession +of the road to Chattanooga. + +The battle of the 19th was a series of brilliant charges and +counter-charges, in favor of first one side and then the other. +During the day our troops, at times broken and driven by the enemy, +always promptly rallied and drove the rebels in disorder to their +lines by brilliant and effective dashes, moving to the attack with +vigor and determination. In the main the results of the day were +in our favor. Bragg had been forced to fight before he was in +position, and had been foiled in his attempt to secure the roads, +which on the evening of the 19th remained even more securely in +our possession than before, fully protected on both flanks by our +cavalry. As this was the object of the severe conflict of the 19th, +that day's fighting was a success for our arms, both the Rossville +and the Dry Valley roads being firmly held by our troops that night. + +But the battle was not yet over. During the night Rosecrans +assembled his corps commanders at his headquarters at the Widow +Glenn's house, and after a consultation with them on the state and +condition of their commands, gave orders for the disposition and +movements of the troops for the next day. The divisions of Thomas's +corps, with those which had re-enforced him, to hold the road to +Rossville, in the same position as then occupied by them in line +of battle, with Brannan in reserve. McCook, with Sheridan's and +Davis's divisions was to maintain his picket line until it was +attacked and driven back. His left division--Davis's--was to close +on Thomas, and to have his right refused covering the position at +Widow Glenn's house. Crittenden was to hold two divisions, Wood's +and Van Cleve's, in reserve near where the line of McCook and Thomas +joined to reinforce the front line as needed. + +During the night Thomas received word from Baird on the extreme +left, that the left of his division did not reach the road to Reed's +Ridge, as had been anticipated. Thomas immediately requested that +Negley's division be ordered to report to him to take position on +Baird's left and rear, securing this flank from assault. At daylight +Rosecrans, riding the line, ordered Negley to join Thomas at once, +and directed McCook to relieve Negley, who was on the front line. +He also ordered McCook to adjust his right, as it was too far out +on the crest, and to move Davis's division to the left, and close +it up compactly. Crittenden was also directed to move his two +divisions to the left and Palmer, on Thomas's line, was instructed +to close up his front. On reaching the left Rosecrans was convinced +that the first attack would be made on that flank, and returned at +once to the right to hurry Negley over to Thomas. Arriving there +he found that this division had not moved, and that McCook's troops +were not ready to relieve him. Negley was then ordered to send +his reserve brigade under John Beatty, and to follow with the other +two when relieved from the front. Impatient at McCook's delay in +relieving Negley, and anticipating momentarily the attack of the +enemy on our left, Rosecrans ordered Crittenden to move Wood's +division to the front, to fill the position occupied by Negley of +which McCook was notified by Rosecrans in person. Rosecrans, when +first at McCook's line, was greatly dissatisfied with McCook's +position. He now called McCook's attention to the defects in his +line, that it was too light, and that it was weakened by being +too much strung out, and charged him to keep well closed up on the +left at all hazards. Leaving McCook, Rosecrans then returned to +Negley, and found to his surprise that the brigades in front had +not yet been relieved and started to Thomas after his repeated +orders, as Wood's division had only reached the position of Negley's +reserve. Greatly irritated at this, Rosecrans gave preemptory +orders and Wood's division was at once placed in front, closed up +on the right of Brannan. + +A heavy fog hung over the battlefield during the early morning. +Bragg, before daylight with his staff, took position immediately +in the rear of the centre of his line, and waited for Polk to begin +the attack, waiting until after sunrise with increasing anxiety and +disappointment. Bragg then sent a staff officer to Polk to ascertain +and report as to the cause of the delay, with orders urging him to +a prompt and speedy attack. Polk was not found with his troops, +and the staff officer learning that he had spent the night on the +east side of Chickamauga Creek, rode over there and delivered his +message. Bragg, impatient at the delay, proceeded in person to +his right wing and there found the troops wholly unprepared for +the movement. Messengers were sent for Polk in hot haste, and on +his reporting he was urged to a prompt execution of his orders and +to make a vigorous attack at once. + +During the night our troops threw up temporary breastworks of logs +and rails. Behind these Thomas's command awaited the attack. After +Bragg had sent for Polk, he ordered a reconnoissance in his front +on the extreme left of our line, and crossing the main road to +Chattanooga developed the fact that this position so greatly desired +by him was thus feebly held. At half past eight o'clock the rebel +attack opened on our left with skirmish firing. Pushing forward +with a heavy line of skirmishers to develop Baird's position, with +Breckenridge's division on the right and Cleburne to his left, the +rebels made, about an hour late, a tremendous assault. Beatty's +brigade of Negley's division being now in line on Baird's left, +received the full force of the blow from the brigades of Adams and +Stovall on the right of Breckinridge's division, and was driven back +in disorder. Helm's brigade and Cleburne's division, advancing on +the front of Baird, encountered the troops behind their breastworks +but were here met with a terrific fire of canister and musketry, +and their advance checked so thoroughly that it was not regarded +as safe to send the two brigades now overlapping Baird to attack +his rear. These brigades, however, had reached and crossed the +La Fayette road. Beatty in falling back was relieved by several +regiments of Johnson's division, which were placed in position by +Baird. These regiments were joined by Van Derveer's brigade of +Brannan's division and a portion of Stanley's brigade of Negley's +division, which had been hurried to the left and thrown into action. +These forces advancing checked the assault of the enemy and then +drove him entirely from Baird's left and rear. Immediately following +the attack on Baird, the enemy's assault, being taken up by the +divisions on Breckinridge's left, pressed on and struck Johnson, then +Palmer and Reynolds successively with equal fierceness, maintaining +the attack for two hours, the enemy in repeated assaults bringing +fresh troops constantly to the front was each time met and hurled +back by the splendid fighting of our troops. Here Bragg exhausted +his utmost energies to drive in the centre and to dislodge Thomas's +right, and failing in this after repeated attacks fell back and +occupied his old position. + +McCook, early in the morning, on going to the front found that Wood's +division, not having the battle-front of Negley's, did not occupy +the entire of the rude barricade thrown up by Negley's troops, and +that portion of it on Wood's right was not occupied by any of our +forces. Wood, on meeting McCook, explained to him that his left +was well protected, resting on Brannan's right, and that his orders +were to keep well closed up on Brannan. On the right of this gap +to the right of Wood, McCook had posted Wilder with his brigade, +who had been ordered to report to McCook and receive orders from +him. McCook then directed Sheridan to bring forward one of his +brigades and occupy with it the space between Wood's right and +Wilder. As McCook started to leave this portion of the line, he +met Davis's division marching toward this vacant space. Davis was +directed at once to post one of his brigades in this part of the +line, holding the other in reserve. When the brigade Sheridan +sent arrived, McCook placed it in column as support to Davis on his +right and rear. At this time Thomas again reporting that he needed +reinforcements and the right as yet not being actively engaged, +Rosecrans concluded that Bragg's efforts were still looking to the +possession of the roads on our left, and that he was massing his +troops on his right, thus prolonging his line on that flank. He +then, at 10.10 A.M., ordered McCook to withdraw as far as possible +the force on the right and reinforce Thomas, stating that "the left +must be held at all hazards, even if the right is withdrawn wholly +back to the present left." Five minutes after the receipt of this +order McCook received one dated 10.30 A.M., directing him to send +two brigades of Sheridan's division at once with all possible +dispatch to support Thomas and to send the third brigade as soon +as it could safely be withdrawn. McCook immediately sent Lytle's +and Walworth's brigades of Sheridan's division on the double quick +to the support of Thomas. + +The battle increasing in fury and volume was gradually approaching +the centre from the left, but Thomas still sustaining the brunt of +the fight was compelled to send again and again for reinforcements. +Beatty's and Stanley's brigades of Negley's division had been sent +from the right. Van Derveer with his brigade of Brannan's division +also reported. Barnes's brigade of Van Cleve's division had also +been ordered to Thomas, and now the two of Sheridan's divisions +were under orders to proceed to the left. About this time +Lieutenant-Colonel Von Schrader of Thomas's staff, who had been +riding the lines, reported to Thomas that there were no troops on +Reynolds's right, and a long gap existed between Reynolds and Wood; +not aware that Brannan's division although not in front line was +still in position, retired in the woods a short distance back, but +not out of line. This information was at once sent by Thomas to +Rosecrans, who immediately directed Wood to close up the line on +Reynolds and support him, and sent word to Thomas that he would be +supported if it required all of McCook's and Crittenden's corps to +do so. + +On receipt of this order--impossible for him to execute literally--Wood +undertook to carry it out by withdrawing his entire command from +the front, leaving a gap of two brigades in the line of battle, +moving to the rear past Brannan's division, to where Reynolds was +posted in line. Into the gap thus made by Wood, Davis attempted +to throw sufficient force to hold that portion of the line thus +vacated, by posting his reserve brigade. + +Just at this time the order of battle on the enemy's lines had +reached Longstreet's command, who, seeing this gap, ordered his +troops, formed in heavy columns, to advance. Into this gap there +poured Stewart's, Hood's, Kershaw's, Johnson's, and Hindman's +divisions, dashing impetuously forward, with Preston's large division +as supports. Our right, disabled as it was, was speedily turned, +the line of battle on the enemy's front extending nearly from +Brannan's centre to a point far to the right of the Widow Glenn's +house, and from the front of that portion of the line Sheridan's +brigades had just been taken. McCook, to resist this fierce +assault, had only Carlin's and Heg's brigades of Davis's division +and Laibold's brigade of Sheridan's division. On finding the rebel +troops pressing through the space vacated by Wood, McCook ordered +Lytle and Walworth to change front and return to assist in repelling +the enemy. Wilder and Harrison closed in on Sheridan with their +commands as speedily as possible, and aided in resisting the enemy's +attack. Davis, being overpowered by the immense numbers of the +rebels, was compelled to retire to save his command. Laibold was +in turn driven back in confusion, and the tide of battle then struck +Lytle and Walworth, who contended nobly against the overpowering +columns, and for a time checked the advance of the enemy on their +immediate front. The rebel troops swarming in, turned the left +of these brigades, and they were compelled to withdraw to escape +being surrounded. At this point the gallant Lytle was killed. Here +our army lost several thousand prisoners, forty guns, and a large +number of wagon-trains. + +Once more the right of the army was broken all to pieces, and five +brigades of that wing cut off entirely from the rest of the command. +In the meantime Bragg, determined to turn Thomas's left, and cut +him off from Chattanooga, was making his preparations for a second +assault on his right in heavier force. Bragg directed this movement +in person. Extending his right by moving Breckinridge's division +beyond its former position, he ordered Walker's corps in line on +Breckinridge's left, and connected to Cleburne's right on the left +of Walker. Bragg's plan was for Breckenridge to advance, wheeling +to the left, and thus envelop Thomas's exposed left flank, striking +it in the rear. Breckinridge, advancing, was soon in position on +the Chattanooga road, partly in rear of Thomas. But he was now +detached from the main body of the rebel troops engaged in the +movement, and, making a bold assault on the rear, he was here met +by the three reserve brigades under Van Deveer, Willich, and Grose, +and hurled in rout back on his original line. On reaching it he +there found the other troops that had taken part in this charge, and +that they had been repulsed at every point by Baird's, Johnson's, +and Palmer's divisions. + +Beatty, just prior to the repulse of the enemy on the left by Thomas, +applied in person to the latter for at least a brigade to support +him in the attack of the rebels he was then expecting. Thomas sent +an aid to hurry Sheridan up. This officer returned soon afterward, +and reported that he had encountered a heavy force of the enemy in +the rear of Reynolds's position, which was advancing slowly, with +a strong line of skirmishers thrown out; that he had met Harker, who, +with his brigade posted on a ridge a short distance to Reynolds's +rear, was watching this force approaching, and was of the opinion +that these troops were Sheridan's coming to Thomas's assistance. +Thomas then rode forward to determine the character of the advancing +troops, which he soon did, and ordered Harker to open fire upon them, +resisting their farther advance. Thomas then selected the crest +of the commanding ridge, known as "Horseshoe Ridge," on which to +place Brannan's division in line, which--on Longstreet's sweeping +McCook's lines from the right--had been struck in the flank on the +line of battle. On the spurs to the rear he posted his artillery. +On Thomas leaving Harker, the latter opening fire with skirmishers, +then posted his right to connect with Brannan's division and +portions of Beatty's and Stanley's brigades of Negley's division, +which had been ordered over to his point from the extreme left. +Thomas then went to the crest of the hill on the front, where he +met Wood with his division, who confirmed him in the opinion that +the troops advancing were those of the enemy. Thomas was not +aware at that time of the extent of the disaster to the right. He +ordered Wood to place his division in line with Brannan's, and to +resist as long as possible the advance of the enemy. On receipt +of this order Wood immediately threw his troops on the left of +Brannan, and had barely time to form his lines when the enemy was +upon them in a heavy, fierce assault like those early in the day. +This, however, was handsomely repulsed, the enemy charging again +and again with fresh troops, but their efforts were successfully +resisted. These were Bushrod Johnson's men, with Patton Anderson's +brigade on his right, which had been formed on the brow of the +secondary spur of the ridge, and at about two o'clock moved forward, +making a most determined assault on our forces. Part of his line +reached the crest held by Wood, but was hurled back to its original +position under as determined a counter-charge. + +Away off at Rossville Gordon Granger with three brigades of reserve +corps was stationed. He had heard during the morning heavy firing +from the front, in the direction of Thomas, and as the firing +increased in volume and intensity on the right, he judged that the +enemy were pressing him hard. He then determined, although contrary +to his orders, to gather what troops he could and go to Thomas's +assistance. Ordering Whittaker's and Mitchell's brigades under +the immediate command of Steedman to move to his front, he placed +Dan McCook's brigade at the McAfee church, to cover the Ringgold +road. Thomas was at this time heavily engaged on "Horseshoe +Ridge," between the La Fayette and the Dry Valley roads, about three +miles and a half from Granger's headquarters. Pushing forward his +troops rapidly, Granger moved past a detachment of the enemy some +two miles out, and ordered Dan McCook forward to watch the movements +of the rebels, to keep open the La Fayette road, and to cover the +open fields on the right of the road intervening between this point +and Thomas's position. McCook brought up his brigade as rapidly +as possible, took and held his position until late that night. +Granger moving to the front arrived with his command about three +o'clock, and reported at once to Thomas, who was then with this part +of his command on "Horseshoe Ridge," where the enemy was pressing +him hard on front and endeavoring to turn both of his flanks. To +the right of this position was a ridge running east and west nearly +at right angles with it. On this Bushrod Johnson had reformed his +command, so severely repulsed by Wood. Longstreet now strengthened +it with Hindman's division and that of Kershaw, all under the +command of Hindman, who formed it in heavy columns for an attack +on the right flank and rear of Thomas's troops. Kershaw's division +had possession of a gorge in this ridge through which his division +was moving in heavy masses, with the design of making an attack in +the rear. This was the most critical hour of this eventful day. +Granger promptly ordered Whittaker and Mitchell to hurl themselves +against this threatening force. Steedman gallantly seizing the +colors of a regiment, led his command to the charge. Rushing upon +the enemy with loud cheers, after a terrific conflict, only of some +twenty minutes' duration, with a hot infantry and artillery fire, +Steedman drove them from their position and occupied both the +ridge and gorge. Here the slaughter was frightful. The victory +was won at a fearful cost, but the army was saved. After Hindman +was driven back, Longstreet about four o'clock, determined to +re-take the ridge. Asking Bragg for reinforcements from the right, +he was informed by him "that they had been beaten back so badly +that they could be of no service to me." Longstreet then ordered +up his reserve division of fresh troops under Preston, four brigades +strong, supported by Stewart's corps, and directed him to attack +the troops on the ridge. Advancing with wild yells, confident of +success, Preston dashed boldly up the hill, supported by Kershaw's +troops with Johnson's--part of Hindman's--and later on by those of +Stewart's. But once more the enemy was driven back with frightful +slaughter, and thus was charge and counter-charge at this part of +the field, lasting for nearly two hours, the day wore away until +darkness settled down, night finding Thomas's command--the troops +under Brannan, Wood, and Granger--still holding the ridge. Some +unauthorized person had ordered Thomas's ammunition train back +to Chattanooga, and the supply with the troops on the field was +running very low. The ammunition that ranger brought up with him +was divided with the troops on that part of the field where his +command fought--Brannan's and Wood's divisions--but this supply +was soon exhausted. The troops then gathered what could be found +in the cartridge-boxes of the slain, friend and foe being alike +examined. With the fresh charges of the enemy, the troops were +ordered to use their bayonets and give the rebels cold steel, and +in the final charges the enemy was met and repulsed in this way. + +In the breaking up of our right, two brigades of Davis's division, +one of Van Cleve's, and the entire of Sheridan's division was caught +in the whirl and sent adrift from the main command, the enemy in +heavy columns completely controlling all access to Thomas and the +remaining divisions with him, except by way of the Dry Valley road +across the ridge and on to Rossville, thence back on the La Fayette +road to Thomas's left. The troops of Sheridan's and Davis's divisions +were rallied a short distance in the rear of the line, and taking +the Dry Valley road, endeavored to unite with Thomas's command. +They were placed in position on the Rossville road leading to +the battlefield. [Note from Bob: In fact, Sheridan continued to +withdraw his division away from the battlefield.] + +Rosecrans was watching on the rear of Davis's right for McCook to +close up his line to the left when Longstreet's men poured through +the gap left by Wood's withdrawal. Seeing that some disaster had +occurred, Rosecrans hurried in person to the extreme right, to +direct Sheridan's movements on the flank of the advancing rebels. +But it was simply impossible to stem the tide and our men were +driven back as the enemy advanced. Leaving orders for the troops +to be rallied behind the ridges west of the Dry Valley road, +Rosecrans endeavored with Garfield, his chief of staff, and a few +others of his staff, to rejoin Thomas by passing to the rear of +the broken portions of the right. Riding down in this direction, +some two or three hundred yards under a heavy fire, he found the +troops that had been driven from the right far over toward the left, +and from all indications it appeared doubtful if the left had been +able to maintain its position. He then concluded to go to Rossville +and there determine whether to join Thomas on the battlefield +or whether his duty called him to Chattanooga, to prepare for his +broken army if his worst fears should be realized. On reaching +Rossville it was determined that Garfield should go to the front +to Thomas and report, and that Rosecrans should go to Chattanooga +and make the necessary dispositions for the troops as they came +back in rout. + +Rosecrans on arriving at Chattanooga at once sent out orders +to Thomas to assume command of all the troops at the front, and +with Crittenden and McCook to take a strong position and assume +a threatening attitude at Rossville, where ammunition and rations +would be sent to meet him. Thomas determined to hold his position +until nightfall, if possible, before withdrawing. He then distributed +ammunition to the commands and ordered the division commanders +to hold themselves in readiness to fall back as soon as ordered. +Reynolds at half-past five was notified to commence the movement. +Leaving the position he had held near Wood, Thomas started to meet +Reynolds and show him the position he wanted him to occupy, forming +the line covering the retirement of the troops on the La Fayette road +on the left. Just before meeting Reynolds, Thomas was informed of +a large rebel force in the woods ahead of him, drawn up in line and +advancing toward him. This was Liddell's division on the extreme +rebel right, under orders from Bragg, moving to a third attack on +Thomas's left. Reynolds arriving at this time, Thomas ordered him +to at once change the head of the column to the left, form lines +perpendicular to the road and to charge the enemy then in his +immediate front, while the artillery opened a converging fire from +the right and left. Turchin charged with his brigade upon the +rebel force and drove them in complete rout far beyond Baird's left. +Robinson's command--King's brigade--closely supporting Turchin, was +posted on the road leading through the ridge to hold the ground, +while the troops on our right and left retired. + +Shortly after this Willich with his brigade was placed in position +on commanding ground to the right of the ridge road, and assisted in +covering the withdrawal of our troops. Turchin's brigade, having +cleared the front, returned and took position on this road with +Robinson and Willich. + +Thomas having made this disposition of the troops, ordered Wood, +Brannan, and Granger, to fall back from their positions. These +troops were not molested, but Baird and Johnson as they were retiring +were attacked. By the exercise of care and foresight they retired +without confusion and with but slight loss. This attack was led +by L. E. Polk's brigade, but the rebel lines had become so changed +that they formed an acute angle and their troops were firing into +each other in the dark. So quietly was the army withdrawn that it +was not until after sunrise on the 21st that Bragg discovered that +Thomas had retired. Having effected the withdrawal of his troops, +General Thomas, accompanied by Granger and Garfield, proceeded to +Rossville and placed the command in position at that place, ordering +one brigade of Negley's division to hold the gap on the Ringgold +road with the other two brigades posted on the top of the ridge to +the right, joining on the brigades in the road, with Dan McCook's +brigade in reserve. On the right of Negley Reynold's division took +position, reaching to the Dry Valley road, with Brannan's division +as a reserve in rear of Reynolds's right. On the right of the Dry +Valley road, extending to the west, McCook's corps was placed, his +right extending to Chattanooga Creek. Upon the high ground to +the left of the Ringgold road the entire of Crittenden's corps was +placed. As a reserve Steedman's division of Granger's corps was +posted on his left, while Baird's division was also in reserve and +in support of the brigade of Negley's division holding the gap. +Thrown out on the Ringgold road, a mile and a half in advance of +the gap, Minty's brigade of cavalry held the road at that point +during the night. Here the weary troops rested undisturbed the +night after the heavy fighting and nothing was seen of the enemy +until about nine o'clock of the 21st, when their advance appeared +in heavy force of infantry and cavalry on Minty's front. Thomas, +withdrawing Minty through the gap, posted his command on our left +flank and directed him to throw out strong reconnoitering parties +across the ridge, watching the enemy's movements on our left and +front. There was no object in attempting to hold the position +at Rossville Gap, beyond the gaining of a day to select the final +position for the troops at Chattanooga on their retirement to that +place, the location of the lines, and the preparation for throwing up +earthworks. This was all accomplished on the 21st and preparations +made to fall back. All wagons, ambulances, and surplus +artillery-carriages were sent to the rear before night and the +troops were held in readiness to move at a moment's notice. The +orders to withdraw reached Thomas about six o'clock P.M., and the +movement commenced about nine P.M. + +Brannan's division was posted at six P.M. on the road about half +way from Rossville to Chattanooga, covering the movement. Orders +were sent by Thomas for each division commander to throw out a +strong skirmish line, to be withdrawn at daylight, concealing the +movement to the rear. This line was to be supported by Baird's +division and Minty's brigade of cavalry, which was to retire after +the skirmishers were withdrawn. During the night the movement was +completed without the loss of a single man, and at seven o'clock on +the morning of the 22d, the Army of the Cumberland, again united, +was in position, holding the coveted prize, still strong enough to +prevent the enemy from attempting further to dispute our possession +of the town. The temporary works were strengthened from day to +day until all apprehension of an attack from the enemy on the front +was at an end. + +Taking all the surroundings into consideration, the campaign from +the western slopes of the Cumberland Mountains, ending in the battle +of Chickamauga, was the most brilliant one of the war, made as it +was, in the face of the strong column of the enemy, whose business +it was to watch every movement, and as far as possible to retard +and cripple the advance. Rosecrans, with his masterly manœvering, +in every instance deceived his opponent down to the withdrawal +of Bragg from Chattanooga. While recognizing the genius of the +military leader who could plan the campaign that was made from the +time of the crossing of the Cumberland Mountains, Bragg regarded +the obstacles to be overcome on such a campaign so stupendous that +he was incredulous that any movement south of the Tennessee was +contemplated by the Federal leader. Every preparation was made by +Bragg to meet the crossing of our army over the Tennessee north of +Chattanooga on the advance of Crittenden, he threw open the gateway +for Rosecrans's advance. When the full scope of the movement +dawned upon him, Bragg abandoned Chattanooga and gathered his troops +wherever he could reach them from all quarters to concentrate for +the destruction of our army. Bragg never intended his withdrawal +from Chattanooga to be permanent; all the indications he left behind +him pointed that way. None of the bridges were destroyed as he +retired. All storehouses, hospitals, and other buildings used by +his army were left standing, and Rosecrans's mistake was in construing +Bragg's withdrawal to be a demoralized retreat and in ordering his +army to pursue before this was definitely determined. However, +all advices that Rosecrans had were to the effect that the rebels +were in hasty flight and would not stop anywhere north of Dalton, +and that their probable destination was Rome. This information +was sent to him from Washington, and Bragg aided in confirming this +belief by sending numbers of his soldiers as "deserters" into the +Federal lines with the same report. + +As late as the 11th, Halleck telegraphed Rosecrans that after he +occupied "the mountain passes to the west of Dalton" it would be +determined what his future movements would be; and on the 13th, +Halleck telegraphed Rosecrans that if Bragg should go to Alabama +he must not be allowed to re-enter Middle Tennessee. On the 13th, +Foster, at Fortress Monroe, telegraphed Halleck that trains of cars +had been running day and night southward for the past thirty-six +hours. On the following day Foster sent Halleck another despatch, +that Longstreet's corps was reported going south, which Meade on the +same day confirmed. Then Halleck sent urgent messages to Hurlbut +and Burnside to move to Rosecrans's support. But it was too late. +These commands were many days' marches away, and at that moment +the Army of the Cumberland was engaged in the earlier movements of +the life and death struggle it was peremptorily ordered by Halleck +to encounter alone with its old enemy, under Bragg, heavily +re-enforced, while large numbers of Federal troops which might have +been within helping distance, had orders been given in due season, +as asked for by Rosecrans, remained inactive. + +It was not until McCook had received and partly executed his orders +to occupy Alpine that the actual facts as to Bragg's movements +were developed, and that he was concentrated at La Fayette, there +waiting for reinforcements, but strong enough without them to +crush the Army of the Cumberland in detail. Rosecrans, when aware +of Bragg's movements, grasped the situation at once. Bending +every energy to the concentration of his army before Bragg should +strike, on the 12th he issued orders for McCook's immediate return, +and despatched the same in all haste by courier. Hearing nothing +definite from McCook, on the next day Rosecrans repeated his orders +and duplicated them in the afternoon of that day. Still learning +nothing positive as to McCook's movements, on the 14th repeated +orders were sent to him urging him to consummate his rearward movement +with all possible haste. After a sleepless night, Rosecrans on +the 15th left Chattanooga for the front, to hasten, if possible, +McCook's movements. After another sleepless night, information +was had from McCook as to the position of his command, and on the +17th the concentration of the army was effected in McLemore's Cove, +five days after McCook's first orders were dated. + +The delay attending McCook's movements was almost fatal to the Army +of the Cumberland. Had Bragg received his promised reinforcements +at the date he expected them, our army would in all probability +have been completely annihilated in detail. McCook claims that his +delay was only incident to the route he was compelled to take to +join Thomas. This took him back over Lookout Mountain, to Valley +Head, then down that valley, crossing the mountain again at Cooper's +Gap, and then up and down Missionary Ridge into McLemore's Cove, a +long, difficult road, nearly all of it over rough mountains. This +route, McCook from the information received, regarded as the better +one to take, as between it and the one on which he was ordered to +move, which was a road on the mountain into the head of McLemore's +Cove, through Dougherty's Gap. + +The battle for Chattanooga would never have been fought at Chickamauga +had not the safety of McCook's corps demanded it. Could the Army +of the Cumberland have been withdrawn in safety to Chattanooga and +there concentrated behind earthworks, as it was later, while Bragg +doubtless would have made his attack there, yet the surroundings +would have been far more favorable for our army, especially as the +troops afterward sent might have reached Rosecrans in time to have +defeated Bragg, as he was later at the battle of Missionary Ridge. +But the reinforcements that were hurried from all points AFTER +the disaster, by the officials at Washington were not to benefit +Rosecrans. + +While the battle of the 19th was severe at times, and some slight +advantages were gained by the enemy, still nothing had been +accomplished to mark that day's fighting as a great, distinctive +battle. The delay on the part of Negley in reporting as ordered, +to Thomas on the left, placed that position in extreme peril, had +Polk made his attack as ordered at day-dawn on the 20th. Fortunately, +Polk slept outside of his lines that night--not as he was accustomed +to--and was not awakened as early as he would have been had he +remained in camp. For this reason the attack, was not made until +after Beatty's brigade had reached Baird's left. While this was +too weak to successfully resist the attack, still with this command +rallied after it was driven back and aided by the troops sent to +its support, Thomas was able to repulse Breckinridge's first charge +of the morning. The delay from six o'clock until after nine was +of great service to the Army of the Cumberland. Negley's delay in +reporting at an early hour with his entire division was owing to +Wood's failure to relieve him. Sheridan had at an earlier hour been +ordered to Negley's position on his front, but Thomas representing +the urgency of the movement, Crittenden was ordered to send Wood, +who was only a short distance from Negley. Wood, on receiving his +orders to relieve Negley, simply moved forward and occupied the +position that had been vacated by Negley's reserve brigade, already +started for Thomas's left. On Rosecrans's return from the extreme +right, he found that Negley had not yet reported to Thomas, +although more than an hour had elapsed since he was so ordered and +then discovered that Wood had failed to relieve him on the front. +Repeating his orders in such plain English that there could be no +further misapprehension of them, Rosecrans moved Wood's division +into position, relieved Negley at once, and started him in all haste +to Thomas. Negley did not reach the left until after ten o'clock. +Rosecrans, impatient at the delay that occurred in the execution +of his order, expressed himself very forcibly to Wood, much to the +dissatisfaction of the latter. After seeing Negley was at last en +route to Thomas, Rosecrans then went to the right and was watching +the movements of the troops when the word reached him of the supposed +gap to the right of Reynolds, on the left of Wood. Rosecrans's +plan of battle being to keep his line well closed up on the left, +he directed an aid to send Wood an order to close up on Reynolds, +which he did as follows. + + +Headquarters of the Army of the Cumberland. + +Brigadier-General Wood, Commanding Division: + +The General Commanding directs that you close up on Reynolds as +fast as possible, and support him, + +Respectfully, etc., + +FRANK S. BOND, +Major and Aid-de-Camp. + + +This order was written by an officer who had no military experience +prior to the war, and, as the order shows on its face, embraced much +more than the General Commanding intended it should. The orderly +who carried this order to Wood reported on his return that "General +Wood on receipt of the order remarked that he 'was glad the order +was in writing, as it was a good thing to have for future reference.' +That he carefully took out his note-book, safely deposited the order +in it, and then proceeded to execute it." Wood's official report +contains the order written out in full. He says that it was eleven +o'clock when it reached him. "General McCook was with me when +I received it. I informed him that I would immediately carry it +into execution, and suggested to him that he should close up his +command rapidly on my right, to prevent the occurrence of a gap in +the line. He said he would do so, and immediately rode away." + +McCook says, in reference to the movement of Sheridan to the aid of +Thomas, which he had just ordered, "Simultaneously with this movement, +and much to my surprise, Wood's division left the position it had +in line of battle on Davis's left, marching by the left flank, +leaving a wide gap in the line." Wood also says in his official +report that when he started to execute the order he met Thomas, +and told him of his order. He says, "I exhibited my order to him, +and asked him whether he would take the responsibility of changing +it. He replied he would, and I then informed him that I would move +my command to the support of General Baird." The first mention +Thomas makes in his official report of seeing Wood is when in riding +"toward the crest of the hill," coming from the left, he met Wood +on the way, and directed him to take position on Brannan's right. +Later, he says, "About the time that Wood took up his position, +General Gordon Granger appeared," etc. This was over three hours +after what General Wood styles "the disastrous event of the right" +occurred. It seems strange, if Wood was properly executing an order +from the Commanding General, that he should try so hard to shield +his action by the authority of these two corps commanders, especially +when he was under the direct command of neither of them. + +General Wood was a graduate of West Point, had been in the army all +his life, and knew the full meaning of all technical terms used to +describe military movements. The order bore on its face a direction +to him to make a movement with his front in line of battle, and +at the same time to occupy a position in the rear of the division, +on which he was ordered to join his left in line on the immediate +battle-front. He knew he could not execute the order literally as +given, and from the wording of it must have known that there was +some mistake about it. Instead of sending a short distance to +the rear, or going himself to Rosecrans and finding out just what +was meant by the order, he chose to give it a meaning that it was +never intended to convey, and moved to the rear from the front of +battle, when he knew, as he says in his report, "although I had not +been seriously engaged at any time during the morning, I was well +satisfied the enemy was in considerable force in my immediate front." +Wood says in his official report, "Reynolds's division was posted +on the left of Brannan's division, which in turn was on the left +of the position I was just quitting; I had consequently to pass +my command in the rear of Brannan's division to close up on and go +into the support of Reynolds." If "Reynolds's, division was posted +on the left of Brannan's division," then there was no gap, and no +place for Wood to place his division as ordered, and he knew it. He +could support Reynolds, but to do this he was compelled to disobey +the first part of his order, which IN ITS SPIRIT AND INTENT WAS TO +KEEP HIM ON THE LINE OF BATTLE, simply moving his division to the +left. This space by his own official report he shows was occupied +by Brannan's division, and with this knowledge he undertook to +execute an order that directed him to make an impossible movement +rather than ask an explanation of it from his commanding officer. +No wonder he wanted to keep his order safe where he could produce +it if occasion required. Wood, irritated at the reprimand of +Rosecrans earlier in the day, intent on maintaining his dignity, +chose rather to undertake to carry out an order in the execution +of which he felt safe, so long as he had it in writing and where +he could produce it if occasion demanded it, than to suspend its +execution long enough to ride a short distance to the rear, and find +out just what the order meant; AND TO THIS EXTENT HE IS RESPONSIBLE +for the great disaster which swept the right wing of the Army of +the Cumberland from the field of battle on the 20th. That Wood +must have known that there was a mistake in regard to the order is +plain, from the fact that he himself says that his troops had not +been seriously engaged that morning. It was hardly possible that +Reynolds's division, which was only a division front from his, could +be so hardly pressed as to need supports, and that his division +should "not be seriously engaged." In fact, when Wood undertook +to carry out this order, he says he met Thomas and was told by him +that Reynolds did not need supports, and that he, Wood, "had better +move to the support of General Baird, posted on the extreme left, +who needed assistance," showing that the conflict had as yet not +reached down the line to Reynolds. The spirit in which General +Wood fought the battle of Chickamauga is shown by the following +extract from his official report, where, in speaking of Garfield's +arrival on the battlefield later in the afternoon of the 20th, he +says, "After the disastrous event of the right, General Garfield +made his way back to the battlefield, showing thereby that the road +was open to all who might choose to follow it where duty called." +After Wood reported to Thomas there was no more splendid fighting +done on that field of terrific conflict on the 20th than was done +by Thomas J. Wood and his division. To the last he aided Thomas +in holding Horseshoe Ridge, and was one of the last divisions to +retire. + +In the tide that swept down the Dry Valley road, Rosecrans was caught +with the members of his staff. He breasted this for a while, and +endeavored to join his left and centre under Thomas by a direct +route. After riding along a short distance, under the heavy fire +of the rebels with both artillery and musketry, he discovered that +the road was effectually closed by the enemy in strong force. He +then started over the ridge to the Dry Valley road, and made his +way as rapidly as possible through the swarming masses of broken +troops from the right of the battlefield to Rossville, with the +intention of joining Thomas from that place down the La Fayette +road if the left and centre were not also in rout, and on the road +to Chattanooga. On reaching Rossville, Rosecrans and Garfield +halted in the midst of the driving masses of teamsters, stragglers, +and fugitives from Thomas's command, all striving in hot haste to +be among the first to reach Chattanooga. Making inquiry of these +men as to the condition of affairs at the front, they were informed +"that the entire army was defeated, and in retreat to Chattanooga." +"That Rosecrans and Thomas were both killed, and that McCook and +Crittenden were prisoners." Asking a small detachment of troops +the command they belonged to, Rosecrans was informed Negley's +division. He then asked as to the whereabouts of Negley. He was +informed that he was a short distance from Rossville, though some +distance from the battlefield, "rallying stragglers," and that the +entire division "was knocked all to pieces." Knowing that one of +the last orders he had given on the battlefield was for Negley's +division to report to Thomas to take position on his extreme left, +Rosecrans was satisfied that if these soldiers reported truly the +left and centre were routed and that the whole army as a broken +mass would be back in Chattanooga very shortly. At this time there +was a lull in the firing at the front. Dismounting from their +horses, Rosecrans and Garfield placing their ears to the ground, +endeavored to determine from the sound as it reached them the truth +of the reported rout. Hearing no artillery firing, and detecting +only what appeared to be a scattering fire of musketry, the conclusion +was forced on Rosecrans that his army was entirely broken. His +information prior to the battle led him to believe that the rebels +outnumbered him two to one, and if this proved true, the disaster +in part could be accounted for. Conferring with Garfield as to +what was the best thing to be done under the circumstances, Garfield +told him that if these reports were true that then his, Rosecrans's, +place was in Chattanooga, where he could receive and reorganize, +if possible, his army on its reaching that place. That he, of all +persons, had more influence with the army, and if it was broken +that his duty was to go to that place and make such disposition of +the troops as might possibly save the army from complete destruction. +That he, Garfield, would ride to the front, try and find Thomas, +if alive, and would report immediately to Rosecrans at Chattanooga +as to the condition of affairs at the front. Unfortunately, this +plan was carried out. The reverse of this should have been done. +Rosecrans should at once have gone to the front, and by his +presence there aided, as he did at Stone's River, more than any +other thing to retrieve the fortunes of the day, and pluck victory +from disaster. Had Rosecrans gone to the front, and discovered +from a personal observation the true condition of affairs, and +the spirit and morale of the troops there, the chances are that he +never would have ordered their retirement to Rossville the night +of the 20th. That was the turning-point, and his hour had arrived. + +On reaching Chattanooga, General Rosecrans rode up to Department +Headquarters there, and was helped from his horse into the house. +He had the appearance of one broken in spirit, and as if he were +bearing up as best he could under terrible blow, the full force and +effect of which he himself did not at that time clearly perceive +and only partly felt. This was about four o'clock in the afternoon. +He had been in the saddle all day from before daylight, with nothing +to eat since then. Rarely has mortal man been called on to undergo +the terrible mental strain that had been on him during the week +just past, of which for two nights in succession his anxiety for +McCook was so great as to prevent his sleeping. During the past +week the peril of his army had weighed on him to the extent that +his nervous system was stretched to its utmost tension. When he +saw the rout of his right, supposing that it extended to his entire +army, the blow was so strong that it staggered him. A short time +after Rosecrans arrived, McCook and Crittenden, also caught in the +drift from the right, reached headquarters. While seated in the +adjutant-general's office comparing notes with each other as to +the events of the day, Rosecrans received a despatch from Garfield, +who had reached the front. Hastily reading it over he exclaimed, +"Thank God!" and read the despatch aloud. In it Garfield announced +his safe arrival at the front, that he was then with Thomas, who had +seven divisions intact with a number of detachments, that Thomas +had just repulsed a heavy assault of the rebels, and felt confident +that he could successfully resist all attacks against his position. +Waving this over his head Rosecrans said, "This is good enough, +the day isn't lost yet." Turning to McCook and Crittenden he said, +"Gentlemen, this is no place for you. Go at once to your commands +at the front." He then directed Wagner, in command of the post, +to take his entire brigade, stop the stragglers and all others +from the front on the edge of the town, and ordered rations and +ammunition for his troops to be at once sent out to meet them at +Rossville. + +During the heavy fighting of the 20th, Thomas was the only general +officer on the field of rank above a division commander. Learning +some time later in the day of the disaster on our right, he gathered +his troops together from all parts of the field to the position +selected by himself after the break on the right. Here in a more +marked degree even then Stone's River, he displayed his great staying +qualities. Posting his troops on the lines he designated, he, so +to speak, placed himself with his back against a rock and refused +to be driven from the field. Here he stayed, despite the fierce +and prolonged assaults of the enemy, repulsing every attack. And +when the sun went down he was still there. Well was he called the +"Rock of Chickamauga," and trebly well for the army of the Cumberland +that George H. Thomas was in command of the left at that battle. +On the 20th, when the hour of supreme trial came and he was left +on the field with less than one half of the strength of the army +that the day before had been barely able to hold its own against the +rebel assaults, he formed his 25,000 troops on "Horseshoe Ridge," +and successfully resisted for nearly six long hours the repeated +attacks of that same rebel army, largely re-enforced until it +numbered twice his command, when it was flushed with victory and +determined on his utter destruction. There is nothing finer in +history than Thomas at Chickamauga. + +All things considered, the battle of Chickamauga for the forces +engaged was the hardest fought and the bloodiest battle of the +Rebellion. Hindman, who fought our right at Horseshoe Ridge, says +in his official report that he had "never known Federal troops to +fight so well," and that he "never saw Confederate soldiers fight +better." The largest number of troops Rosecrans had of all arms on +the field during the two days' fighting was 55,000 effective men. +While the return of the Army of the Cumberland for September 20, +1863, shows 67,548 "present for duty equipped," still taking out the +troops guarding important points within the Department, the actual +force was reduced to the figure just given. Of Gordon Granger's +nine brigades, only two were on the battlefield. Wagner, of Wood's +division, was in Chattanooga, and Dan McCook was holding Rossville. +Post's brigade was guarding the wagon trains and was not in the +action. Rosecrans's losses aggregated killed, 1,687; wounded, 9,394; +missing 5,255. Total loss, 16,336. Bragg during the battle, when +his entire five corps were engaged, had about 70,000 effective troops +in line. Among Bragg's troops were large numbers of prisoners of +war captured at Vicksburg and Port Hudson, who had been falsely +declared by the rebel authorities as exchanged and released from +their parole, and in violation of the cartel were again placed in +battle. His losses, in part estimated, were 2,673 killed, 16,274 +wounded, and 2,003 missing, a total of 20,950. A full report of +the rebel losses was never made. + +To the enemy the results of the engagement proved a victory barren +of any lasting benefits, and produced no adequate results to the +immense drain on the resources of his army. In a number of places +Bragg's official report shows that his army was so crippled that +he was not able to strengthen on portion of his line, when needed, +with troops from another part of the field, and after the conflict +was over his army was so cut up that it was impossible for him +to follow up his apparent success and secure possession of the +objective point of the campaign--Chattanooga. This great gateway +of the mountains remaining in possession of the Army of the Cumberland, +after Bragg had paid the heavy price he did at Chickamauga, proves +that his battle was a victory only in name, and a careful examination +of the results and their cost will show how exceedingly small it +was to the enemy. + + + + + +Chapter XIII. + + + + +The Siege of Chattanooga. + + +On taking position at Chattanooga, after the battle, the Army of +the Cumberland, between the rebel troops in front and the forces +of Nature in the rear, was practically in a state of siege. The +lines around the town were held by our troops behind extensive +rifle-pits, strengthened with heavy earthworks covering all +approaches on the front. Bragg's army moved up immediately, and +invested our lines, throwing up rifle-pits within a short distance +of those of our army. To the rear of these Bragg threw up two other +lines of intrenchments and on the right of his command erected a +more permanent line of earthworks on the crest of Missionary Ridge, +massing however, the bulk of his troops in Chattanooga Valley +on our immediate front. As our army retired within its works at +Chattanooga, the troops holding the road over Lookout Mountain were +withdrawn, and this point was immediately occupied by the enemy and +strengthened by extensive works, Bragg sending Longstreet's corps +into Lookout Valley to occupy the extreme left of the besieging +line, and to cut off all communication with Bridgeport, on the south +bank of the Tennessee River. The lines were now fully occupied +from the river on the north to the bank south of the town, and the +rebel army in force on our front. To the rear the only road that +was open was over Walling's Ridge, through Sequatchie Valley, down +to Bridgeport, a distance of sixty miles; the short road on the +north side down to Bridgeport being closed by the rebel batteries +and sharp-shooters, while their troops holding the road to the south +of the river compelled all supplies of every kind to be hauled over +these sixty miles of road. To thus supply the army during good +weather was a very great undertaking, even with the teams of the +various commands in good condition, but with the rainy season that +soon set in, and the incessant hauling wearing out the mules, the +daily rations for the army were constantly growing less and less. +On October 1st, Wheeler crossing the Tennessee with Martin's and +Wharton's divisions of cavalry moved up the Sequatchie Valley upon +our line of supplies at Anderson cross-roads. Here he captured a +large number of trains loaded with rations for the front, burned +over three hundred wagons, and killed a large number of animals. +Colonel E. M. McCook with his cavalry division, moving rapidly +from Bridgeport, overtook Wheeler on the 2d, and drove him with +great loss in a sabre charge from the trains, recapturing some +eight hundred mules. After this Wheeler was driven from Shelbyville +on the 6th by Mitchell's cavalry, and on the 8th from Farmington +by Crook, and from here he re-crossed the Tennessee with a small +portion of his command, the rest having been killed or captured. +This loss in wagons, with the roads becoming almost impassable by +reason of the heavy rains and the growing weakness of the animals, +lessened daily the amount of supplies brought into the town, +so that our troops were suffering for food and were in danger of +being starved out of Chattanooga. This was what Bragg was quietly +waiting for. To supply an army some forty thousand strong, by +wagon transportation over rough mountain roads a distance of sixty +miles, Bragg knew was an impossibility, and that unless other lines +were opened up, the evacuation of the place was only a question of +time, and he could then walk in and take undisturbed possession. +As the forage became reduced, the artillery horses, for which there +was no immediate need, had their rations cut off, and they died in +large numbers, starved to death. The supplies grew so small that +parts of crackers and corn dropped in handling packages were eagerly +seized and eaten to stay the demands of hunger, and still the pressure +was growing daily, and no one knew how it would ultimately end. +However, not for an instant was the idea entertained of abandoning +the town, to say nothing of the extreme hazard of attempting that, +in the face of the strong force of the enemy on our front. The +Army of the Cumberland had won Chattanooga and there they proposed +remaining. + +Immediately after the battle of Chickamauga, the authorities at +Washington sent hurried orders to Burnside, Hurlbut, and Sherman +to move forward without delay to Rosecrans's assistance, and +on September 24th the latter was informed that "Hooker, with some +fifteen thousand men," was en route from the East as fast as rails +could take him, and that he would be in Nashville in about seven +days. While reinforcements were the thing needed before the battle, +now the pressing demand of the hour was the opening of the line of +communication to the rear, over which adequate supplies could be +forwarded to the troops at the front. To add to the number of men +there simply increased the difficulties of the situation. + +On the arrival of Hooker with the Eleventh and Twelfth Army Corps +at Nashville, Rosecrans directed him to take position on the line +of the Chattanooga Railroad, securing that road from the attacks +of the rebel cavalry while supplies were being accumulated at +Stevenson awaiting the opening of communication with the army at +Chattanooga. Without driving back the entire of Bragg's army in +Lookout and Chattanooga Valleys, it was impossible to use the railroad +from Bridgeport east in bringing up supplies. The wagon-trains +could no longer be depended on, and, under the spur of necessity, +Rosecrans was preparing a plan to utilize the river with boats. +A new one had been built at Bridgeport and another captured at +Chattanooga had been repaired. By thus using the river he could +secure his supplies over a wagon-road of only eight miles from +Kelley's Ferry, via Brown's Ferry. The course of the Tennessee +River at Chattanooga is due west; after passing the town it flows +south to the foot of Lookout Mountain, from which point it then +sweeps, after a short curve to the northwest, due north, forming +here what is known as "Moccasin Point." Crossing the river at +the town, a road leads southwest across this point on to the other +side, where the river, as it sweeps north, is reached at Brown's +Ferry. Shortly after passing Brown's Ferry, the river again makes +a sharp bend to the south, forming another point of land running +northwardly. Across this point on the east bank, as the river passes +south, is Kelley's Ferry. At the extreme angle of this bend the +river rushes through the mountains, which here crowd down closely, +forming a narrow channel through which the waters rush headlong. +This chasm is known as the "Suck." The velocity of the water is so +great that steamers in high water cannot stem the current at this +point, which necessitated the landing of supplies at Kelley's Ferry, +and then hauling them over land across the bridge at Brown's Ferry +to Chattanooga. + +Immediately after the battle, under orders from the War Department, +the Twentieth and Twenty-first Army Corps were consolidated and +designated the Fourth Army Corps and Gordon Granger was placed in +command. McCook and Crittenden were relieved from the command of +these corps and ordered North to await a "Court of Inquiry," "upon +their conduct on September 19th and 20th." + +By War Department order of October 16th, the Departments of the Ohio, +the Cumberland, and the Tennessee were constituted "The Military +Division of the Mississippi," under the command of Grant. By the +same order Rosecrans was relieved of the command of the Department +and Army of the Cumberland, and Thomas was assigned to that command. +Halleck, in his report of operations for the year 1863, says this +change was made on the recommendation of General Grant. These +orders were promulgated on the 19th. + +On Rosecrans's return from a visit to Brown's Ferry and Williams's +Island on the 19th, where he had been with William F. Smith, his +chief engineer, making his plans for bringing supplies to that +point, he found the order awaiting him relieving him of his command. +Quietly making his preparations for his departure that night over +the mountains to Stevenson, he wrote out his farewell order, to +be printed and issued the next day, and, without even bidding his +staff good-bye, placed Thomas in command and started for his home +in Cincinnati. Rosecrans, in the summer of 1862, was under Grant +at Iuka and Corinth. Here some hasty criticism made by him brought +him into collision with Grant, which now bore fruit. + +When it was known that Rosecrans had been relieved, and that he +had left the army for the north, there was universal regret that +the troops that had loved and trusted him should no longer follow +his skillful leadership. Every soldier in his army felt that he +had a personal friend in "Old Rosy." His troops never for a moment +faltered in their devotion to him or confidence in him. They felt +that he had been made the victim of a foolish interpretation of an +order that brought ruin and disaster upon his army, for which he +was not responsible, but for which he was made to suffer. + +General Rosecrans, to his subordinates, was one of the most genial +of men. Kind and good-natured, he at times failed to act as +decisively as occasion required, deterred by the fact that, should +he do so, some of his subordinates would suffer. His restless +activity led him to give attention to details that he should have +been entirely relieved of by his subordinates. But no amount of +work daunted him. He lived almost without rest and sleep, and would +wear out two sets of staff officers nightly, and then, if occasion +required it, be up and out before daylight. To his superiors +he unfortunately allowed his high spirit to get the better of his +judgment, and many times when he was in the right he ruined his +position by his hasty temper. His fame, despite his enemies--and +no general in the field had stronger nor more unscrupulous ones--as +the greatest strategist of the war, is permanently fixed in history. +What it might have been had he not been hampered, annoyed, and +insulted as no other commanding general was at any time by both the +Secretary of War and the General-in-Chief, is merely problematical. +Personally, he regarded all this as mere "incidents of the service," +and strove to the best of his ability to do his whole duty to his +country. His combination with Thomas--Rosecrans to plan brilliant +campaigns, with Thomas's great abilities to aid him in carrying +them out--made the Army of the Cumberland the great aggressive force +moving on the centre, gaining territory after each campaign. But +it was as well for Rosecrans and the service that he was relieved +when he was, with the combination of the armies under Grant. He +had faithfully performed his duty up to this time, but now the +surroundings were so changed that both for his sake and the good +of the service the change was a fitting one to be made. Rosecrans +could never again serve as a subordinate, and as the change was +determined on, when Grant arrived it was as well for Rosecrans to +retire. + +When Anderson in 1861 applied for George H. Thomas to be one of +the brigadier-generals to accompany him to Kentucky, to help him +in the task he was set to accomplish there, Mr. Lincoln told him +he was afraid to give the order for Thomas, as he was a Southerner, +and from Virginia. Anderson and Sherman, who were present, both +responded in the strongest terms, vouching for Thomas's earnest +patriotism and deep devotion to the Union, and the order was given. +And now it bore full fruit. The quiet, patient soldier, who from +his first day's service in Kentucky had never swerved a line from +the strict performance of his duty to his Government, according to +his oath, without reference to self, had now met his reward. His +fame had steadily grown and rounded from the time he gained the +first Federal victory in the West, at Mill Springs, up to the battle +of Chickamauga, where he saved the Army of the Cumberland to the +nation. He had always been the main stay of that army, holding the +command of the centre--either nominally or actually the second in +command. Upon his judgment and military skill every commander of +that army depended, and no movement was made without his approbation. +Yet so modest was he that his face would color with blushes when +his troops cheered him, which they did at every opportunity; and +so diffident, that, prior to the battle of Chickamauga, he doubted +his ability to handle large bodies of troops upon the battlefield, +and for this reason refused to accept the command of that army, +just prior to Perryville, when tendered him. His kind consideration +for the feelings of others was one of his marked characteristics. +With a pure mind and large heart, his noble soul made him one of +the greatest of Nature's noblemen--a true gentleman. The experience +of Chickamauga ripened his powers and developed him to his full +height. As the General who won the first victory in the West, who +saved an army by his skill and valor, and who was the only General +of the war on either side able to crush an army on the battlefield, +George H. Thomas, "the true soldier, the prudent and undaunted +commander, the modest and incorruptible patriot," stands as the model +American soldier, the grandest figure of the War of the Rebellion. + +One of Grant's first acts on taking command was to telegraph Thomas +to hold Chattanooga at all hazards. The commander who had seen his +troops on less than half rations for nearly a month, with steadily +approaching signs of starvation, hardly needed an intimation that +what had been gained by the sacrifice on Chickamauga's field was +not to be yielded up without a struggle. Thomas replied "We will +hold the town till we starve." On the 24th, Grant, in company +with Thomas and W. F. Smith, made a personal inspection across the +river of the situation, with reference to carrying out the plan +of Rosecrans for the opening of the road by Brown's Ferry, and +approving of it, Thomas was directed to proceed to execute it. +This plan required the greatest secrecy of movement, otherwise +Longstreet's entire command would resist the landing, and contemplated +the co-operation of Hooker's moving up from Bridgeport, holding the +road to Kelley's Ferry. The latter was to meet a force sent from +the town down the river in pontoons under cover of night, which was +to seize the landing on the left bank of the river, driving back +the rebel pickets and fortifying their position, and then swinging +the bridge across the river. Thomas says in his official report +of the battle of Wauhatchie, that "preliminary steps had already +been taken to execute this vitally important movement before the +command of the Department devolved on me." Thomas on the 23d ordered +Hooker to concentrate the Eleventh Corps, and Geary's division of +the Twelfth Corps at Bridgeport and sent him instructions as to +his movements, and directed him to advance as soon as possible, +co-operating with the force from Chattanooga. Hooker was also +ordered to move into Lookout Valley, and to protect the bridge when +laid from any attack by Longstreet in that direction. Thomas also +sent two brigades under Palmer to co-operate with Hooker. Palmer +moved across the river to Brown's Ferry, and then took the road +through Whitesides to Rankin's Ferry, establishing himself securely +at these points, protecting the river communication from attack from +the south. Thomas placed W. F. Smith in charge of the expedition, +and detached Turchin's and Hazen's brigades, with three batteries +under Major John Mendenhall. Smith was directed to organize a +picked force, armed from these brigades, to be divided into fifty +squads of twenty-four men each, under the command of an officer, +who were to float down the river in pontoons that night--a distance +by the bends of the river of some nine miles. The boats were placed +under the charge of Colonel T. R. Stanley of the Eighteenth Ohio, +the bridge to be placed in position under direction of Captain P. +V. Fox, First Michigan Engineers. The troops under Hazen were to +take the gorge and hills to the left, and Turchin was to extend from +the gorge down the river. Turchin in command of the remainder of +the troops marched across Moccasin Point to the ferry, where they +were to cross in the same boats, supporting the troops already +landed, when the position was to be strongly fortified and held by +them until the arrival of Hooker. + +At midnight the troops who were to take part in the expedition were +marched to the river and placed in the boats manned by crews with +oars, and on two flat boats. The force that marched under Turchin +moved out under cover of dense woods over the point to the ferry, +where they remained in readiness to cover the landing of the troops +coming down the river. The artillery accompanied this part of the +command and remained under cover. + +At 3 o'clock A.M. of the 27th, the boats moved out into the stream +under cover of a slight fog. On arriving at a point some two miles +below the town, these troops reached the rebel picket line posted +on the left bank of the river. The boats passed on unobserved by +keeping close to the right hand shore until just at the landing, +when the troops in the first boat were greeted with a volley from +the rebel pickets, a station being at this landing. In perfect +order, as previously planned, the troops hastily disembarked, moved +forward, occupying the crest of the hill immediately in front and +commenced the work of intrenching. Before this was completed the +enemy, heavily re-enforced, just beyond the crest, moved forward +to drive Hazen back. Here a stubborn little fight was had, the +rebels making a gallant charge with partial success on the right of +Hazen, when they were met with the remainder of the brigade under +Colonel Langdon, who charged at once on their lines and after a +short engagement drove them from the hill into the valley beyond. +Turchin's brigade having crossed the river was placed in position on +Hazen's right, when the enemy moved from the front up the valley. +The rebel force here was a thousand infantry, three pieces of +artillery, and a squadron of cavalry. + +As soon as the last of the troops were over, work on the bridge +was commenced and finished at a little after four o'clock in the +afternoon. For an hour or so in the morning the work progressed +under an artillery fire from the rebel batteries on Lookout Mountain. +Our losses were six killed, twenty-three wounded, and nine missing. +The rebels lost six men captured and six of their dead were buried +by our men. Our forces captured twenty beeves, six pontoons and +some two thousand bushels of corn. The bridge was completed and +the position held until the 28th, when Hooker's command arrived. No +attempt was made by Bragg to dislodge this force or to destroy the +bridge. Hooker moved on the road by the base of Raccoon Mountain +into Lookout Valley, driving the rebel pickets before him, and +occupied the roads to Kelley's and Brown's Ferries through the +valley. Later in the afternoon of the 28th, as Hooker's troops +pushed down the valley, Howard's corps in the advance was met with a +sharp volley of musketry from a wooded ridge near the Wills Valley +Railroad. Two brigades of Howard's command were deployed, and +advancing, drove the rebels from their cover with the loss of a +few of our men. As the enemy retreated they burned the railroad +bridge over Lookout Creek. Hooker then went into camp with Howard's +corps at six o'clock in the afternoon about a mile up the valley +from Brown's Ferry. Here he learned of the movement to this place +and of the building of the bridge. + +With the object of holding the road to Kelley's Ferry, Geary's +division was ordered to encamp near Wauhatchie, some three miles +up the valley from Howard's position. This created two camps--the +latter holding the Brown Ferry road--each camp separate and picketed +by its own command, as the numbers of the troops would not admit +of communication being kept up between them or of their forming +one line. + +About midnight a regiment that had been ordered by Howard to hold +the Chattanooga road across Lookout Creek, had a slight skirmish +with the advance of the enemy. This was a portion of Longstreet's +corps getting into position for a night attack on the two encampments. +Dividing his command into two detachments, Longstreet, about an +hour later, with his strong one on his left, assaulted Geary's camp +with a fierce attack, driving in his pickets and then charging on +the main command. Geary immediately formed his men in line, and for +three hours with heavy fighting maintained his position, although +enveloped on three sides by the enemy, repelling every attack, and +finally charged on the rebels and drove them from beyond his front. +The enemy here attacked in greatly superior numbers, and were only +defeated by the skill and coolness of Geary, aided by the bravery +of his troops. As the sound of the heavy fire which the enemy +opened on Gary rolled down the valley, Hooker ordered Howard to +double-quick his nearest division, Schurz's, to Geary's assistance. +The division was started at once, but before it had proceeded +far it encountered the other detachments of Longstreet's command, +which opened on our troops with a volley of musketry. Hooker now +determined that he had two fights on his hands. At once detaching +Tyndale's brigade, Howard charged the rebel lines on the hill to +the left with it, pushing on the other brigade to Geary. By this +time Steinwehr's division of Howard's corps had arrived on the +ground, and it was then discovered that the rebels were trying to +surround Howard's camp and that they occupied a hill to the rear +of Tyndale's brigade. Hooker ordered Colonel Orland Smith with +his brigade to charge this hill, which he did up the steep side, +almost inaccessible by daylight, reached the rebel intrenchments +under a heavy fire and drove the troops with the bayonet, after a +severe engagement, in rout from the hill and capturing a number of +prisoners. Here General Greene and Colonel Underwood were severely +wounded. Tyndale also pressing forward occupied the rebel line in +his front and drove their forces beyond his lines. The attack on +Howard was intended to hold that command from reinforcing Geary +until he was routed, and then in turn Howard was to be driven from +the field. + +During the engagement the enemy opened with artillery fire in +the valley, aided by that from the batteries on Lookout Mountain, +sending the shells crashing among our troops. Their forces in the +valley were repulsed in every charge and our troops occupied the +field at all points. Our losses in the attack were 76 killed, 339 +wounded, and 22 missing, making a total of 437. The rebel loss is +unknown. Geary buried 153 of the enemy on his front alone. One +hundred prisoners were captured, with a large number of small arms. +Thomas congratulated Hooker's troops for the gallant repulse given +to their old enemy, Longstreet, and adds: "The bayonet charge of +Howard's troops, made up the side of a steep and difficult hill +over two hundred feet high, completely routing the enemy from his +barricades on its top, and the repulse by Geary of greatly superior +number who attempted to surprise him, will rank among the most +distinguished feats of arms of this war." Reinforcements were sent +Hooker by Thomas from Chattanooga of two brigades under Whittaker +and John G. Mitchell, but the fighting was over before they reached +the valley. + +Work was now pushed rapidly forward on the road from Brown's to +Kelley's Ferry, and this being successfully accomplished by the 1st +of November, the forces of Nature were overcome and the siege of +Chattanooga was at an end as to them. It now remained to raise it +on the front, driving Bragg from his strongholds, Lookout Mountain, +Chattanooga Valley, and Missionary Ridge. + + + + + +Chapter XIV + + + + +Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain, and Missionary Ridge Battles. + + +These three detached actions, fought by different portions of our +troops, were parts of a series of operations for securing our front +and driving the enemy from his position, and are known properly as +the Battle of Chattanooga. Grant, late in October, ordered Sherman +with the Fifteenth Army Corps to press forward to the Tennessee +River, cross at Bridgeport and push rapidly on to Chattanooga. +Early in November, learning that Bragg had weakened his forces on +our front by sending Longstreet's command into East Tennessee to +attack Burnside, Grant was very desirous of making an attack at once +on the rebel forces on Lookout and Missionary Ridge, but examining +the strong position occupied by Bragg at these points and the length +of his lines, Grant became convinced that to successfully operate +against the enemy it was necessary to wait until Sherman with +his command came up. While this force moved eastward, Grant was +maturing his plans for the engagement. He directed Sherman to report +in person, which he did on the 15th, and on consultation with him +and Thomas the general plan of battle was submitted to them. The +main attack was to be made on the 21st at daylight, by Sherman's +troops, on the north end of Missionary Ridge. To accomplish this +his command was to be re-enforced with one division of the Army +of the Cumberland under Jeff C. Davis. Sherman's troops--four +divisions--were to move from Brown's Ferry through the woods to +the north of the town up to the Tennessee River, opposite the mouth +of Chickamauga Creek, where they were to cross on a pontoon bridge +to be swung there under the supervision of W. F. Smith, and the +crossing of the troops to be protected by batteries under Brannon, +Thomas's Chief of Artillery. After crossing the river, Sherman +was to move rapidly forward, carrying the heights on the north end +of Missionary Ridge as far as the tunnel, if possible, before the +enemy could concentrate on his front, Thomas was to concentrate +all his troops in Chattanooga Valley on his left flank, leaving on +the necessary force to defend the fortifications on his right and +centre and to hold a movable column of one division to move wherever +needed. This division was to make a show of threatening Bragg's +forces up the valley. Thomas was then to effect a junction with +Sherman, co-operate with him, advancing his left and moving forward +as nearly simultaneously as possible, and support him. Hooker on +the right in Lookout Valley, was to hold that position with Geary's +division and two brigades under Cruft from the Fourth Army Corps, +ordered to report to him. Howard, on Friday, the 20th, was ordered +with his corps to take position on the north side of the Tennessee, +opposite Chattanooga, near the pontoon bridge, and hold himself in +readiness to move to Thomas's front or to co-operate with Sherman +as needed. Colonel Eli Long with his brigade of cavalry was directed +to report by noon on Saturday, the 21st, at Chattanooga, to cover +Sherman's left flank, and if not further required by Sherman he was +then to cross the Chickamauga, make a raid on the enemy's line of +communication in the rear, doing as much damage as he could. + +Sherman made his movement with his troops from Bridgeport though +Whitesides. Sending his leading division under Ewing up Lookout +Valley, to make a feint on the left flank of the rebel army in +the direction of Trenton, he crossed his others at Brown's Ferry +and marched up the north bank of the river to the mouth of South +Chickamauga Creek. Here they kept concealed in the woods from the +enemy until they were ready to effect their crossing. Owing to +heavy rains and the state of the roads, Sherman was able to have +but one division, under John E. Smith, in position by the 21st and +Grant delayed his plans of battle to give him additional time. +Sherman on the 21st moved his second division under Morgan L. +Smith over the bridge at Brown's Ferry, and on the 23d, after many +repairs to the bridge, rendered necessary by the swollen stream +and the raft of logs sent down the river by the rebels, Ewing's +division also got safely across. Sherman's fourth division under +Osterhaus was not able on the 23d to cross, and this division was +then ordered, in the event of not being able to cross by eight A.M. +the 24th, to report to Hooker on the south bank of the Tennessee. +Davis had reported with his division to Sherman, and on the 23d, +the boats of the pontoon bridge were used to effect a landing at +the mouth of South Chickamauga Creek by Giles A. Smith's brigade, +who captured the rebel pickets at this place, landed his entire +brigade, and then sent the boats back for additional troops. By +daylight of the 24th, Sherman with two divisions of some 8,000 +men was intrenched on the east bank of the Tennessee. A pontoon +bridge, 1,350 feet long, was then built over this river, and another +over Chickamauga Creek under the direction of W. F. Smith. + +Thomas, learning that Sherman's movements across Lookout Valley +had been discovered by Bragg, on Sunday, the 22d, directed Howard +to cross into Chattanooga to give Bragg the idea that these were +Sherman's troops coming to reinforce Chattanooga. Howard made the +crossing on Sunday and took position in rear of our front line in +full view of the enemy. On the 20th, Bragg notified Grant that it +would be well for him to withdraw all non-combatants from Chattanooga. +This the latter regarded as a cover for Bragg's withdrawal of +his own command, which he was confirmed in by deserters and spies +reporting a large number of Bragg's troops as marching to the north. +These were two divisions of Buckner's corps sent to strengthen +Longstreet in East Tennessee; that last sent, however, was recalled. +To determine the truth of these reports, early on the morning of +the 23d, Grant directed Thomas to develop the enemy's lines, driving +in his pickets, and determine if he still held his force on our +front. Thomas ordered Granger in command of the Fourth Corps to +form with Sheridan's and Wood's divisions--Sheridan on the right, +Wood on the left--with his left extended nearly to Citico Creek, +and advance directly in front of Fort Wood, and make this movement. +Palmer, commanding the Fourteenth Corps with Baird's division +refused, was to support Granger's right and was to hold Johnson's +division under arms in the intrenchments in readiness to move as +occasion might require. The troops were all in position at 2 P.M. +They moved out on the plain as if on parade, and in plain sight of +Bragg and his army on Lookout and Missionary Ridge, formed their +lines as if in review and moved forward to attack the enemy. +Rapidly advancing "in the most gallant style" our troops steadily +pushed in the rebel line. They first struck the pickets, drove +these on the reserve and then sweeping everything before them they +hurled the rebels out of their first line of rifle-pits and sent +them on the full run in retreat to the rear, except over two hundred +of them captured. Here Granger's troops made themselves secure by +throwing up temporary breastworks, while he sent a strong picket +line to the front to protect his new line. In this charge Granger's +line secured "Orchard Knob" which was then occupied by Bridges' +battery. Howard's corps was placed in position on the left of the +line to Granger's left and also ordered to throw up breastworks. + +Sherman after crossing the river on the 23d, about 1 P.M., placed +his command in three columns, following in his advance the general +direction of Chickamauga Creek, with his left under Morgan L. Smith +resting on the creek. His centre was under John E. Smith and his +right under Ewing, all under the command of Frank P. Blair, Corps +Commander. In support of these, Davis's division also moved to +the attack. Grant and Sherman had supposed that Missionary Ridge +was one prolonged even range. When Sherman left the river he passed +over the foothills and then pressed up what he supposed was the +main portion of the ridge. When he reached the top of this, after +a lively skirmish with the rebel pickets, he found a deep depression +intervening between this hill and the next, which was the one the +tunnel ran through, where the rebels were heavily intrenched, and +which he had been ordered to take. On the top of this first hill, +finding he could not take the hill beyond where the tunnel ran +through, he threw up intrenchments and prepared to hold the ground +he had thus far gained. Here about 4 P.M. he had a heavy engagement. +The enemy's advance with sharp artillery and musketry fire was +gallantly met and repulsed. Sherman then made preparations for +the night, posting his command to hold all positions. Howard had +reported with three regiments to him, as he crossed the bridge +which connected him with the main Army of the Cumberland. Howard +leaving these troops with Sherman, then returned to his corps. +When his command was placed on the front to Granger's left in the +afternoon, he connected with Sherman's right. Here Sherman rested +all night, and about midnight received orders from Grant to "attack +the enemy at dawn of day," "that General Thomas would attack in +force early in the day." + +While the main attack was progressing under Sherman on the left, +Hooker on the right had been pressing the enemy. On the 23d, +Osterhaus, finding that he could not cross the Tennessee in time +to engage in the movement with Sherman, reported with his division +to Hooker, who was then ordered to take these troops, with Geary's +division and Whittaker's and Grose's brigades of the First Division +of the Fourth Corps under Cruft, and make a strong demonstration on +the northern slope of Lookout Mountain, drawing Bragg's attention +to this point and away from Sherman while crossing the river and +getting into position. Thomas instructed Hooker if he found he +was able to carry the enemy's position here, to do so. + +At 4 A.M. of the 24th, Hooker reported his troops in readiness +to begin the movement. As he advanced he found Lookout Creek so +swollen with recent rains that he could not cross without building +a temporary bridge at the main road. He then sent Geary with two +divisions and Whitaker's brigade of Cruft's command up the creek +to effect a crossing at Wauhatchie. Geary was then to sweep down +the right bank, driving the rebels before him. The enemy, watching +the construction of the bridge under Hooker, failed to observe the +movement of the troops under Geary, by reason of a heavy mist which +overhung the mountain, until he was on their flank and threatening +their rear. The enemy's force here and on the top of the mountain +was under Stevenson, with a command of six brigades posted mainly on +the Northern slope midway between the Palisades and the Tennessee +River, on a belt of cultivated land. A continuous line of earthworks +had been constructed, with redoubts, redans, and pits, lower down +the slope, with reference to an assault from the direction of the +river. On each flank were rifle-pits, epaulements for batteries, +walls of stone and abatis, as against attack from either Chattanooga +or Lookout Valley. In these valleys were still more extensive +earthworks. + +As Geary moved down on the right bank of the creek, he soon +encountered the enemy's pickets. These gave the alarm at once, +when their troops formed in the breastworks and rifle-pits. All +these positions were soon covered by artillery planted by Hooker's +orders. He then sent Wood's brigade of Osterhaus's division about +eight hundred yards up the creek to build another bridge, and +directed Cruft to leave a small command at the first bridge, to +attract the attention of the enemy, and ordered the rest of Grose's +brigade to cross with Wood's. This bridge was completed at 11 +o'clock, when the troops under Wood and Grose crossed, and joined +Geary on the right bank, who had driven the enemy up to this point. +Under cover of the heavy artillery fire, the entire line advanced, +pressing the enemy steadily back. At noon Geary's advance drove +the rebels around the peak of the mountain. Here Geary was ordered +to halt and reform his command, but having the rebels on the run he +pressed forward and drove them in a fleeing, panic-stricken crowd. +Cobham's and Ireland's brigades on the high ground on the right, +near the Palisades, pressed on, rolling their line up on the flank, +closely supported by Whittaker's and Creighton's brigades. The +enemy had been re-enforced, but he was not able to resist the sweep +of Hooker's troops as they rounded the crest of the mountain at +Craven's house, where the enemy made his last stand, and from here, +with his line all broken and in rout, he was driven over the rocks +and precipices into Chattanooga Valley. At this time the mist that +had been hanging round the mountain all the day settled still lower +down. It was now about 2 o'clock, and Hooker in the mist, unable +to see beyond his immediate front, placed his troops in position, +threw up temporary breastworks, with his line on the east side of +the mountain, the right resting at the Palisades and the left near +the mouth of Chattanooga Creek. He then reported to Thomas, who +ordered Carlin with his brigade to report to him, when he was placed +on the extreme right, relieving Geary's troops. During the night +the rebels opened a heavy fire on our right as if intending to break +our lines. This was handsomely repulsed, Carlin's brigade taking +an active part. Early in the morning, before daylight, several +parties were sent up the mountain, in anticipation of the retreat +of the enemy during the night, to scale the heights. One from the +Eighth Kentucky was the first that reached the summit, and here at +sunrise the Stars and Stripes were unfurled at the extreme point +amid the cheers of the entire army. During the night Stevenson +abandoned the top of the mountain, while the Summertown road +remained open, leaving his camp and garrison equipage. This gave +to our army full possession and control of the river and railroad +up to Chattanooga. + +The mist still clung to the mountain in heavy folds early on +the 25th, when Hooker was ordered to press forward on the road to +Rossville, carry the pass, and operate on Bragg's left and rear. +Advancing down the valley, he found the rebel pickets still holding +the right bank of Chattanooga Creek. Arriving at the creek at about +ten o'clock he found the bridges on the Rossville road destroyed. +Here Hooker was delayed for some three hours, when Osterhaus in the +advance crossed the infantry on the stringers and pressed forward, +driving the enemy's pickets over to Rossville. Hooker found the +rebels at this place loading up their stores. Leaving a force on +their front, he sent Wood's brigade to take the ridge on the right, +and Williamson's on the left. After a severe skirmish the enemy +hastily retreated, abandoning large quantities of stores, wagons, +and ambulances. The gap now being under our control, Hooker ordered +the advance of our entire line, Osterhaus with his division on +the east of the ridge, Cruft on the ridge, and Geary in the valley +west of the ridge. This line advancing soon encountered the rebels +under Stewart, occupying the line of breastworks thrown up by our +troops after Chickamauga. Cruft charged on them, drove them in +all directions out of these works in full retreat. Part of them +ran into Osterhaus's men and were captured. Others were captured +by Geary in the valley. The mass of them fell back to their second +line, from which they were likewise speedily driven, when the fight +became a running one, continuing until sunset. Part of the enemy +in their endeavors to escape ran into Johnson's division of the +Fourteenth Corps, thrown forward to join the pursuit, and were +captured. Hooker's command then went into camp. + +Early on the morning of the 25th Sherman made his disposition for +his main attack. Holding his centre with three brigades, he was +then to move along the east and west base of Missionary Ridge with +his right and left flanks. Corse advancing from the right centre +moved forward, supported by Lightburn on the left and Morgan L. +Smith on his right, and occupied a crest in the woods about eighty +yards from the intrenched line of the enemy. From this point Corse +assaulted the main rebel line, and for over an hour maintained a +heavy contest, driving the enemy and at times being driven back, +but still holding his crest as first secured. Here Corse, Loomis, +and Morgan L. Smith fought the rebels under Hardee with Cleburne's, +Gist's, Cheatham's, and Stevenson's divisions in a stubborn struggle +all day up to three o'clock, holding their own, but making little +headway. About two o'clock John E. Smith's two brigades, while +moving to the support of Ewing, were driven in some disorder by a +charge of the enemy, heavily massed. They were quickly reformed +and, aided by Corse's troops taking the rebels in the flank with +a hot musketry fire, the enemy was soon driven back into his line +of works. + +Here Sherman was fighting the heavy column of the enemy on our +left, and the main part of the battle had been his share. Grant +was waiting for Hooker to reach the rebel left at Rossville, in the +hope that this would afford some relief to the stubborn fighting +Sherman had encountered. Finding that Hooker had been delayed +by the destruction of the bridge longer than was anticipated, and +that the diversion was not to come from that quarter, Grant ordered +Thomas to move out the four divisions constituting the centre--Baird +on the left, then Wood with Sheridan on his right, and Johnson on +the extreme right of the line--with a double line of skirmishers to +the front, supported by the entire force, press forward to carry +the first line of rifle-pits and there halt and await orders, the +movement to commence at three o'clock, at a signal of six guns +fired in rapid succession from Orchard Knob. + +There was some little delay attending the preliminaries of +the movement, and it was not until after half-past three that the +commands having moved out and taken the alignment were in position +for the advance, when the guns sounded one, two, three, four, five, +six. With this the troops, impatient all the day with being kept +in the breastworks while Sherman's men were hard at work, eagerly +pressed onward, divisions, brigades, and regiments striving each +with the other for the advance. With the first movement Bragg at +once hurried reinforcements from his right and left to strengthen +his troops in his works to resist the advance on his centre. +Here his line was under the command of Breckinridge, who had his +own division under Lewis, Stewart's division, and part of those of +Buckner and Hindman under Patton Anderson. The enemy had originally +four lines of breastworks. The first one on our front was captured +by Thomas on the 23d, when Orchard Knob was taken. This left three +lines of rifle-pits remaining. The second one was about half a +mile to the rear of the first, near the foot of the ridge. From +here to the top was a steep ascent of some five hundred yards, +covered with large rocks and fallen timber. About half way up the +ridge a small line of works had been thrown up. On the crest of +the hill Bragg's men had constructed their heaviest breastworks, +protected on our front by some fifty pieces of artillery in position. +As our troops advanced, each command cheering and answering back +the cheer of the others, the men broke into a double-quick, all +striving to be the first to reach the rifle-pits at the foot of +the ridge, held by a strong line of the enemy's troops. The rebels +opened fire with shot and shell from their batteries, as our troops +advanced, changing it soon to grape and canister, which with the +fire from the infantry made it terrifically hot. Dashing through +this over the open plain, the soldiers of the Army of the Cumberland +swept on, driving the enemy's skirmishers, charging down on the +line of works at the foot of the ridge, capturing it at the point +of the bayonet, and routing the rebels, sending them at full speed +up the ridge, killing and capturing them in large numbers. These +rifle-pits were reached nearly simultaneously by the several +commands, when the troops, in compliance with their instructions, +laid down at the foot of the ridge awaiting further orders. Here +they were under a hot, plunging, galling fire from the enemy in +their works on the crest of the ridge. Without further waiting, +and under no orders from their officers, first one regiment, then +another started with its colors up the ascent, until with loud +hurrahs the entire line, cheered by their officers, advanced over +and around rocks, under and through the fallen timber, charged up +the ridge, each determined to reach the summit first. The centre +part of Sheridan's division reached the top first, as they were +the nearest to the crest, and crossed it to the right of Bragg's +headquarters. The rest of the line was soon up, and almost +simultaneously the ridge was carried in six places. Here the +enemy making a fight for a short time was routed from the last of +his lines, and his centre, panic-stricken, broke in full retreat. +Regiments were captured almost entire, battery after battery along +the ridge was taken. In some cases the rebels were bayoneted +at their guns, and the cannon that but a moment before was firing +on our troops, were by them captured, turned, and used against +the rebels as they were driven in masses to the rear. The charge +occupied about one hour from the time of the firing of the guns +on Orchard Knob until the troops occupied the rebel lines on the +ridge. Sheridan's division reached the ridge a few minutes too +late to capture Bragg, Breckinridge, and a number of the rebel +generals, who left Bragg's headquarters on the charge of our men +up the ridge. + +Sheridan advanced with his division, skirmishing with the enemy's +rear-guard, but driving them steadily for about a mile on the +Chickamauga station road. Here this road runs over a high ridge +on which the enemy had posted eight pieces of artillery supported +by a strong force to cover their retreat. At this point Sheridan, +with Harker's and Wagner's brigades, had an engagement with these +troops, but after a movement flanking the rebel's right and left, +they hurriedly retreated, leaving two pieces of artillery and a +large number of wagons. After this ridge was captured, Sheridan's +troops went into bivouac. During the night the full moon flooded +the surrounding country with its bright light. At midnight, on +Granger's suggestion, Sheridan in the advance was again ordered with +his division to press the enemy. He at once advanced his command +to Chickamauga Creek, capturing a large number of prisoners and +quantities of material and stores. + +Wood, on reaching the top of the ridge, with Baird on his left, +met with heavy opposition. The enemy was supported by a division +from Hardee on the right, advancing just as Baird was getting into +position. Here these two divisions were engaged in a sharp contest +until after dark. Turchin, with his brigade, which was the left +wing of Baird, had taken possession of a small work constructed +by the enemy on the ridge when he was attacked by the rebels in a +most furious charge, but gallantly repulsed them, when they drew +off in the direction of Tunnel Hill. Missionary Ridge was now +entirely within our control, with the exception of the point, where +Sherman's advance had been so stoutly resisted. During the night, +Bragg drew off Hardee's troops from the front of Sherman, where +the latter at once placed his command in position for the pursuit +the next day. + +During the night of the 25th, Thomas was directed to send Granger +with his corps, and additional troops to make his command up to +20,000, to march to Burnside's relief at Knoxville, and the other +portion of Thomas's command with Sherman's troops to pursue the +enemy on the 26th. The latter, on the morning of that day advanced +by the road through Chickamauga Station, while Thomas ordered the +command under Hooker and Palmer to push on by way of the Greysville +and Ringgold road. At the former place the rearguard of the rebels +was surprised after night, and three cannon and a large number of +prisoners captured. On the next day another piece of artillery +was captured at Greysville, and later in the day Hooker's advance +again struck the enemy, strongly posted in a pass in Taylor's +Ridge. Here, after a heavy fight of over an hour, they were driven +from the pass with considerable loss on both sides. The pursuit +was discontinued on the 28th. Hooker remained for a few days at +Ringgold, while Palmer returned to his camp at Chattanooga. + +Sherman's troops, with Davis's division in the advance, pressed +through Chickamauga Station, and at about dark struck the rear of +the enemy's column, and had a sharp fight. After leaving Greysville, +Sherman turned his command to the left, to strike the railroad +between Dalton and Cleveland. Howard was sent to destroy this road, +which he did in a most thorough manner. On the following day the +Fifteenth Corps destroyed the Atlanta Railroad from below Greysville +back to the State line. On the 18th, Sherman was ordered to make a +reconnoissance to the Hiawassee with his own corps, together with +Davis's and Howard's troops of Thomas's command. On reaching +Charleston, Sherman received orders to take command of Granger's +column, moving to Burnside's relief, and to press forward with all +the troops under him in all haste to Knoxville, eighty-four miles +distant. Advancing rapidly with his command, Sherman reached +Knoxville on the 6th. Longstreet, however, retreated on the 4th of +December to Virginia. Leaving Granger's corps to aid in the pursuit +of Longstreet, Sherman by easy marches returned to Chattanooga on +the 16th of the month, where he ordered Howard and Davis to report +with their commands, while he marched west with his own corps to +Northern Alabama and placed them in winter quarters. + +Sherman with his two days' fighting reports the losses of his +command, including Howard's command, but not that of Davis, whose +loss he says was small, at 295 killed, 1,402 wounded, and 292 +missing--making a total of 1,989. This, however, includes the losses +in his first division--Osterhaus's, which fought under Hooker on +the right--of 87 killed, 344 wounded, and 66 missing, making 497 +to be deducted, which leaves Sherman's loss proper, 208 killed, +1,058 wounded, and 226 missing--a total of 1,492. Thomas's loss +in the part taken by his troops, also including Howard's command +and not including Davis's division, was 529 killed, 2,281 wounded, +and 141 missing--an aggregate of 3,951. The large bulk of the +losses under Thomas were in Sheridan's and Wood's divisions. That +of the former was 135 killed, 1,151 wounded, missing, none--aggregate +1,256; that of the latter, 150 killed, 851 wounded, missing, +none--aggregate 1,001. These two divisions in their one hour's +work storming Missionary Ridge met with a loss of 2,287 men, +showing hot work. There was captured by the Army of the Cumberland +40 pieces of artillery, 58 artillery carriages and caissons, 6,175 +stand of small arms, principally English Enfield, and 5,471 prisoners. + +During the winter there were nothing but minor movements of the +troops. The railroads up to Chattanooga were repaired, and the +first "cracker train" that entered the place was greeted with many +hearty cheers by our troops in the town, as the shrill scream of +its whistle woke the echoes among the surrounding mountains, so long +silent to this music. The roads into and through East Tennessee +were repaired to Knoxville and beyond. + +In the early spring the organization of the Army of the Cumberland +was changed by Granger being relieved of the command of the Fourth +Corps, when Howard was assigned to that command. Palmer was +retained in command of the Fourteenth Corps, and the Eleventh and +Twelfth Corps were consolidated into the Twentieth Corps, with +Hooker in command. The cavalry was organized in four divisions, +under the command of W. L. Elliott. The army in the field consisted +of 60,773 effective men. + +General Thomas ordered the Fourth Corps to Cleveland. The Fourteenth +Corps in front of Chattanooga was well thrown forward toward the +enemy's front at Dalton, preparatory to the spring campaign in +Atlanta, under General Sherman. The Twentieth Corps was stationed +in Lookout Valley. + +In the general engagement Grant's plan of battle had been for Sherman +with five divisions to make the main attack, sweep everything before +him down the ridge, and when he had the rebels in full retreat, +the Army of the Cumberland was then to aid in the pursuit, after +patiently waiting until the fighting was over. Hooker, under Grant's +original plan, was to simply hold Lookout Valley secure, and when +the enemy was driven by Sherman, he too was to join in the pursuit. +All the fighting of the battle was to be done by Sherman and all the +glory thereof was to be his. In Sherman's memoirs we are favored +with Grant's views of the Army of the Cumberland when Sherman first +reported in person to Grant at Chattanooga, to learn of his plan +and the part he, Sherman, was to take. Sherman says that Grant told +him "that the men of Thomas's army had been so demoralized by the +battle of Chickamauga that he feared they could not be got out +of their trenches to assume the offensive," and that "the Army of +the Cumberland had so long been in the trenches that he wanted my +troops to hurry up to take the offensive FIRST, after which he had +no doubt the Cumberland Army would fight well." So, under Grant's +plan, the Army of the Cumberland was to stand by and be taught +a grand object lesson how to fight, as given by Sherman. During +the course of the engagement the plan was modified twice. Under +the original plan, Sherman was to make a demonstration up Lookout +Valley, in the expectation that Bragg would strengthen his left at +the expense of his right, thereby making Sherman's part of the plan +so much the lighter as the line on his battle front was weakened. +To carry this out Hugh Ewing's division was sent to Trenton, but +this accomplished nothing. Grant fearing that Bragg's right might +be too strong for Sherman to give his lesson to the Army of the +Cumberland properly, finding Osterhaus's division cut off from +Sherman, ordered it to report to Hooker, who was directed to take +it and Geary's division with Cruft's division of the Fourth Corps +and make a demonstration on the rebel left at Lookout Mountain, +to attract the attention of Bragg while Sherman was getting into +position to take "the end of Missionary Ridge as far as the tunnel." +Hooker, on the day previous, learning that Howard's corps was going +into Chattanooga, and probably into the fight, asked to be allowed +his right to be with his troops under fire. Under his original +order he was simply to hold Lookout Valley, which he did not relish +if part of his command should engage the enemy. When his orders +came to "make a demonstration" he determined he would take Lookout +Mountain and drive Bragg's left out of his works. With less than +ten thousand troops, over two-thirds of whom were the Army of the +Cumberland, Hooker fought his "Battle above the Clouds," that will +last in history forever, and grow in fancy and song as the years +roll on. Hooker took Lookout Mountain and drove the rebel left +to Rossville, over five miles, before Sherman reached the tunnel. +He made Sherman's task none the easier, however, because Bragg then +threw the two divisions Hooker had whipped upon Sherman's front. + +Then, when Sherman had been fighting for nearly two days, and had +failed to make the headway Grant's plan contemplated, the plan +underwent another modification. On the 25th, Grant ordered Thomas +to move out his troops from the centre, to make another "demonstration" +in Sherman's behalf, so he could take the tunnel in accordance with +the original plan. Thomas was ordered to take the first line of +rifle-pits and hold his command there, while Bragg was expected +to draw off part of his troops from Sherman's front and strengthen +his line in front of the "demonstration." Thomas's orders to his +corps and division generals were given in accordance with Grant's +instructions, and as the orders reached the brigade and regimental +commanders, as far as the officers were concerned the movement was +only to be a "demonstration." When the troops reached the rebel +line, captured it, and then found themselves under the heavy fire +from the enemy's lines on the heights above, without orders, and +even against orders, the soldiers of the Army of the Cumberland, +who were "so demoralized that they would not fight," pressed up +the face of the ridge under the deadly musketry fire that greeted +them, with cannon in front, to the right and the left, raking with +converging fire, and won for General Grant the battle of Missionary +Ridge, driving Bragg away from Sherman's front and thus enabling him +to take the tunnel as ordered. Whenever the victory of Missionary +Ridge shall be narrated on history's page, this gallant charge of +the brave men of Wood's and Sheridan's divisions, with those of Baird +and Johnson on their left and right, will always be the prominent +feature of the engagement as told in the coming years, and will be +the last to lose its glory and renown. + +No wonder that General Grant failed to appreciate this movement at +the time, not understanding the troops who had it in charge. When +he found these commands ascending the ridge to capture it when he +ordered a "demonstration" to be made to the foot of the hill and +there to wait, he turned sharply to General Thomas and asked, "By +whose orders are those troops going up the hill?" General Thomas, +taking in the situation at once, suggested that it was probably +their own. General Grant remarked that "it was all right if it +turned out all right," and added, "if not, some one would suffer." +But it turned out "all right," and Grant in his official report +compliments the troops for "following closely the retreating enemy +without further orders." General Thomas, in his official report, +after narrating the events of the 23d 24th, and 25th of November, +quietly says: "It will be seen by the above report that the original +plan of operations was somewhat modified to meet and take the best +advantage of emergencies which necessitated material modifications +of that plan. It is believed, however, that the original plan had +it been carried out could not possibly have led to more successful +results." + + + + + +Appendix A. + + + + +Organization of the Fourteenth Army Corps, Dept. of the Cumberland. + +Major-General W. S. Rosecrans, Commanding. + +December 20, 1862. + +CENTRE. + +Major-General Geo. H. Thomas. + + +First Division. + +Brigadier-General S. S. Fry. + +FIRST BRIGADE.--Col. M. B. Walker, 82d Ind., 12th Ky., 17th O., +31st O., 38th O. SECOND BRIGADE.--Col. J. M. Harlan, 10th Ind., +74th Ind., 4th Ky., 10th Ky., 14th O. THIRD BRIGADE.--Brig.-General +J. B. Steedman, 87th Ind., 2d Minn., 9th O., 35th O., 18th U.S. +ARTILLERY.--4th Mich. Battery, 1st O. Battery "C.," 4th U.S. Battery +"L" + +Third Division. + +Brigadier-General L. H. Rousseau. + +NINTH BRIGADE.--Col. B. F. Scribner, 38th Ind., 2d O., 33d O., 94th +O., 10th Wis. SEVENTEENTH BRIGADE.--Col. J. G. Jones, 42d Ind., +88th Ind., 15th Ky., 3d O., 10th O. TWENTY-EIGHTH BRIGADE.--Col. +H. A. Hambright, 24th Ill., 79th Penn., 1st Wis., 21st Wis. +ARTILLERY.--4th Ind. Battery, 5th Ind. Battery, 1st Ky., 1st Mich. +Battery "A." CAVALRY.--2d Ky. (Battalion), 11th Ky. (Detachment), +4th Ind. (Detachment). + +Eighth Division. + +Brigadier-General J. S. Negley. + +SEVENTH BRIGADE.--Col. John F. Miller, 37th Ind., 78th Penn., 21st +O., 74th O., Independent Battalion, Capt. Casey. TWENTY-NINTH +BRIGADE.--Col. T. R. Stanley, 19th Ill., 11th Mich., 18th O., 69th +O. ARTILLERY.--1st Ky. Battery "B.," 1st O. Battery "G.," 1st O. +Battery "M." CAVALRY.--7th Penn., 1st Tenn. + +Seventh Division. + +Brigadier-General J. M. Palmer. + +FIRST BRIGADE.--Col. G. W. Roberts, 22d Ill., 27th Ill., 42d Ill., +51st Ill. SECOND BRIGADE.--Brig.-General J. D. Morgan, 10th Ill., +16th Ill., 60th Ill., 10th Mich., 14th Mich. ARTILLERY.--1st Ill. +Battery "C.," 10th Wis. Battery. CAVALRY.--7th Ill. Co. "C." + +Twelfth Division. + +Brigadier-General E. Dumont. + +FORTIETH BRIGADE.--Col. A. O. Miller, 98th Ill., 72d Ind., 75th +Ind. --- BRIGADE.--Gen. W. T. Ward, 102d Ill., 105th Ill., 70th +Ind., 79th O. ARTILLERY.--18th Ind. Battery. CAVALRY.--4th Ind. +(Detachment), 7th Ky., 11 Ky. (Detachment). + + +RIGHT WING. + +Major-General A. McD. McCook. + + +Second Division. + +Brigadier-General J. W. Sill. + +FOURTH BRIGADE.--Col. Buckley, 6th Ind., 5th Ky., 1st O., 93d O., +18th U.S., 19th U.S. FIFTH BRIGADE.--Col. E. N. Kirk, 34th Ill., +79th Ill., 29th Ind., 30th Ind., 77th Penn. SIXTH BRIGADE.--Brig.-General +Willich, 89th Ill., 32d Ind., 39th Ind., 15th O., 49th O. +ARTILLERY.--1st O. Battery "A.," 1st O. Battery "E.," 5th U.S. +Battery "L." CAVALRY.--2d Ky. (2 Cos). + +Ninth Division. + +Brigadier-General J. C. Davis. + +THIRTIETH BRIGADE.*--59th Ill., 74th Ill., 75th Ill., 22nd Ind. +THIRTY-FIRST BRIGADE.*--21st Ill., 38th Ill., 101st O., 15th Wis. +THIRTY-SECOND BRIGADE.*--25th Ill., 35th Ill., 81st Ind., 8th Kan. +ARTILLERY.--2d Minn. Battery, 5th Wis. Battery, 8th Wis. Battery. + +Eleventh Division. + +Brigadier-General P. H. Sheridan. + +THIRTY-FIFTH BRIGADE.--Col. F. Schaefer, 44th Ill., 72d Ill., 2d +Mo., 15th Mo. THIRTY-SIXTH BRIGADE.--Col. Moore, 85th Ill., 86th +Ill., 125th Ill., 52d O. THIRTY-SEVENTH BRIGADE.--Col. N. Grensel, +36th Ill., 88th Ill., 21st Mich., 24th Wis. ARTILLERY.--2d Ill. +Battery "I.," 1st Mo. Battery "G." CAVALRY.--2d Ky. Co. "L." + + +LEFT WING. + +Major-General T. L. Crittenden. + + +Fourth Division. + +Brigadier-General W. S. Smith. + +TENTH BRIGADE.--Col W. Grose, 84th Ill., 36th Ind., 23d Ky., 6th +O., 24th O. NINETEENTH BRIGADE.--Col. W. B. Hazen, 110th Ill., +9th Ind., 6th Ky., 41st O. TWENTY-SECOND BRIGADE.--Col. Enyart, +31st Ind., 1st Ky., 2d Ky., 20th Ky., 90th O. ARTILLERY.+--Capt. +Standart. + +Fifth Division. + +Brigadier-General H. P. Van Cleve. + +ELEVENTH BRIGADE.--Col. Sam'l Beatty, 79th Ind., 9th Ky., 19th O., +59th O. FOURTEENTH BRIGADE.--Col. J. P. Fyffe, 44th Ind., 86th +Ind., 11th Ky., 18th O. TWENTY-THIRD BRIGADE.--Col. S. Matthews, +35th Ind., 8th Ky., 21st Ky., 51st O., 99th O. Artillery.+--Capt. +G. R. Swallow. + +Sixth Division. + +Brigadier-General M. S. Hascall. + +FIFTEENTH BRIGADE.--Col. G. P. Buell, 100th Ill., 17th Ind., 58th +Ind., 3d Ky., 26th O. TWENTIETH BRIGADE.--Col. C. G. Harker, +51st Ind., 72d Ind., 13th Mich., 64th O., 65th O. TWENTY-FIRST +BRIGADE.--Col. G. D. Wagner, 15th Ind., 40th Ind., 57th Ind., 97th +O. ARTILLERY.+--Maj. S. Race. + + +CAVALRY + +Brigadier-General Stanley. + + +First Division. + +Colonel Kennett. + +FIRST BRIGADE.--Col. E. H. Murray, 2d Ind., 1st Ky., 3d Ky., 4th +Ky., 4th Mich., 7th Penn. SECOND BRIGADE.--Col. L. Zahm, 5th Ky., +1st O., 3d O., 4th O., 1st O. Artillery, Batter "D." + + +UNATTACHED FORCES + +1st Mich. Engineers, 9th Mich. (Detach.), 3d E. Tenn., 6th E. +Tenn., 15th Penn. Cavalry, 4th U.S. Cavalry (Detach.), Signal Corps, +Stokes' Ill. Battery. + + +GARRISONS. + +BOWLING GREEN, KY.--Brig.-Gen. Granger, 129th Ill., 26th Ky., 23d +Mich., 102d O., 111th O., 4th Ky. Cavalry. NASHVILLE, Tenn.--Brig.-Gen. +R. B. Mitchell, 1st Mid. Tenn., 11th Ind. Battery, 12th Ind. Battery, +1st Mich. Artillery, 5th Battery. 3d Ind. Cavalry (1 Co.) + +---* Brigade commanders not indicated on return. + Batteries not +indicated on return. + + + + + +APPENDIX B. + +Organization of Troops in the Dept. of the Cumberland, Commanded +by Major General George H. Thomas, Chattanooga, Tenn., Oct. 20th, +1863. + +FOURTH ARMY CORPS. + +Maj.-Gen'l G. Granger. + + +First Division. + +Maj.-Gen'l. J. M. Palmer. + +FIRST BRIGADE.--Brig. Gen'l Chas. Cruft, 21st Ill., 38th Ill., +29th Ind., 31st Ind., 81st Ind., 1st Ky., 90th O., 101st O. SECOND +BRIGADE.--Brig. Gen'l W. C. Whitaker, 96th Ill., 115th Ill., +35th Ind., 84th Ind., 8th Ky., 40th O., 51st O., 99th O. THIRD +BRIGADE.--Col. Wm. Grose 59th Ill., 75th Ill., 84th Ill., 9th Ind., +30th Ind., 36th Ind., 24th O., 77th Penn. ARTILLERY.--5th Ind. +Battery, 4th U.S. Art., Co. "H;" 4th U.S. Art., Co. "M." + +Second Division. + +Maj.-Gen'l P. H. Sheridan. + +FIRST BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l J. B. Steedman, 36th Ill., 44th Ill., +73d Ill., 74th Ill., 88th Ill., 22d Ind., 21st Mich., 2d Mo., 15th +Mo., 24th Wis. SECOND BRIGADE.--Brig.Gen'l G. D. Wagner, 100th +Ill., 15th Ind., 40th Ind., 57th Ind., 58th Ind., 13th Mich., 26th +O., 97th O. THIRD BRIGADE.--Col. C. G. Harker, 22d Ill., 27th Ill., +42d Ill., 51st Ill., 79th Ill., 3d Ky., 64th O., 65th O., 125th O. +ARTILLERY.--1st Ill. Art., Co. "M," 10th Ind. Battery, 1st Miss. +Art., Co. "G." + +Third Division. + +Brig.-Gen'l T. J. Wood. + +FIRST BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l A Willich, 25th Ill., 35th Ill., 89th +Ill., 32d Ind., 68th Ind., 8th Kan., 15th O., 49th O., 15th Wis. +SECOND BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l W. B. Hazen, 6th Ind., 5th Ky., 6th +Ky., 23d Ky., 1st O., 6th O., 41st O., 93d O., 124th O. THIRD +BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l S. Beatty, 44th Ind., 79th Ind., 86th Ind., +9th Ky., 17th Ky., 13th O., 19th O., 59th O. ARTILLERY.--Bridge's +Battery Ill. Art., 6th O. Battery, 26th Penn. Battery. + +ELEVENTH ARMY CORPS.* + +Maj.-Gen'l O. O. Howard. + + +Second Division. + +Brig.-Gen'l A. Von Steinwehr. + +FIRST BRIGADE.--33d N.J., 134th N.Y., 154th N.Y., 27th Penn., 73d +Penn. SECOND BRIGADE.--33d Mass., 136th N.Y., 55th O., 73d O. + +Third Division. + +Maj.-Gen'l C. Schurz. + +FIRST BRIGADE.--82d Ill., 45th N.Y., 142nd N.Y., 61st O., 82d O. +SECOND BRIGADE.--58th N.Y., 68th N.Y., 119th N.Y., 141st N.Y., +75th Penn., 26th Wis. ARTILLERY--1st New York Art. Co. "I," 13th +New York Battery, Indt. Co. 8th N.Y. Vol. Infty., 1st Ohio Art., +Co. "I," 1st Ohio Artl, Co. "K," 4th U.S., Co. "G." + +TWELFTH ARMY CORPS.* + +Maj.-Gen'l H. W. Slocum. + + +First Division. + +Brig.-Gen'l A. S. Williams. + +FIRST BRIGADE.--5th Conn., 20th Conn., 3d Md., 123d N.Y., 145th +N.Y., 46th Penn. SECOND BRIGADE.--27th Ind., 2d Mass., 13th N.J., +107th N.Y., 150th N.Y., 3d Wis. + +Second Division. + +Brig.-Gen'l John W. Geary. + +FIRST BRIGADE.--5th O., 7th O., 29th O., 66th O., 28th Penn., 147th +Penn. SECOND BRIGADE.--29th Penn., 109th Penn., 111th Penn., THIRD +BRIGADE.--60th N.Y., 78th N.Y., 102d N.Y., 137th N.Y., 149th N.Y., +ARTILLERY.--1st Batt'n 10th Maine Vol. Infty., 1st New York Art. +Co. "M," Pennsylvania Batt'y, Co. "E," 4th U.S. Art., Co. "F," 5th +U.S. Art. Co. "K." + +(Maj-Gen'l Joseph Hooker, Com'g 11th and 12th Army Corps.) + +Lietu.-Col. Hunton, Unassigned Artillery. + +2d Ky. Batt'y, 1st Mich. E. and M., 20th Ind. Batt'y., 1st Ky. +Batt'y., 1st O. Art., Co. "E," 10th Wis. Batt'y. + +FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS. + +Maj.-Gen'l. George H. Thomas. + + +First Division. + +Brig.-Gen'l. W. P. Carlin. + +FIRST BRIGADE.--Col. O.F. Moore: 104th Ill., 38th Ind., 42d Ind., +88th Ind., 15th Ky., 2d O., 33d O., 94th O., 10th Wis. SECOND +BRIGADE.--Col. M. F. Moore: 19th Ill., 11th Mich., 18th O., 69th +O., 15th U.S. Infty., 1st and 2d Batt., 16th U.S. Infty., 1st +Batt., 18th U.S. Infty., 1st and 2d Batt., 19th U.S. Infty., 1st +Batt. THIRD BRIGADE.--Col. W. Sirwell: 24th Ill., 37th Ind., +21st O., 74th O., 78th Penn., 79th Penn., 1st Wis., 21st Wis. +ARTILLERY.--1st Ill. Art., Co. "C.," 1st Mich. Art., Co. "A.," 5th +U.S. Art., Co. "H." + +Second Division. + +Brig.-Gen'l. Jeff. C. Davis. + +FIRST BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l. J. D. Morgan: 10th Ill., 16th Ill., +60th Ill., 10th Mich., 14th Mich. SECOND BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l J. +Beatty: 3d East Tenn., 5th East Tenn., 6th East Tenn., 78th Ill., +98th O., 113th O., 121st O. THIRD BRIGADE.--Col. D. McCook: 85th +Ill., 86th Ill., 110th Ill., 125th Ill., 52d O., 22d Mich. +ARTILLERY.--2d Ill. Art., Co. "L," 2d Minn. Batt'y, 5th Wis. Batt'y. + +Third Division. + +Brig.-Gen'l A. Baird. + +FIRST BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l J.B. Turchin: 82d Ind., 11th O., 17th +O., 31st O., 36th O., 89th O., 92d O. SECOND BRIGADE--Col. Jas. +George: 75th Ind., 87th Ind., 101st Ind., 2d Minn., 9th O., 35th +O., 105th O. THIRD BRIGADE--Col. E. H. Phelps: 10th Ind., 74th +Ind., 4th Ky., 10th Ky., 18th Ky., 14th O., 38th O. ARTILLERY.--7th +Ind. Batt'y., 19th Ind. Batt'y., 4th U.S. Art., Co. "I." + +ARTILLERY RESERVE. + +Brig.-Gen'l J. M. Brannan, Chf. of Art. + + +First Division. + +Col. J. Barnett. + +FIRST BRIGADE.--1st O. Art., Co. "A.," 1st O. Art., Co. "B.," 1st +O. Art., Co. "C.," 1st O. Art., Co. "F." SECOND BRIGADE.--1st O. +Art., Co. "G.," 1st O. Art., Co. "M.," 18th O. Batt'y., 20th O. +Batt'y. + +Second Division. + +FIRST BRIGADE.--Capt. Sutermeister: 4th Ind. Batt'y., 8th Ind. +Batt'y, 11th Ind. Batt'y., 21st Ind. Batt'y. SECOND BRIGADE.--Capt. +Church: 1st Mich Art., Co. "D.," 1st M. Tenn. Art., Co. "A.," 3d +Wis. Batt'y, 8th Wis. Batt'y. COBURN'S BRIGADE.--33d Ind., 85th +Ind., 19th Mich., 22d Wis., 9th O. Batt'y. U. S. FORCES, GALLATIN, +TENN.--Brig.-Gen'l. E. A. Paine: 91st Ind. (1st Batt.), 50th O. +(1st Batt.), 71st O., 106th O., 13th Ind. Batt'y. + +NASHVILLE, TENN. + +Brig.-Gen'l R. S. Granger, Comdg. Post. + + +WARD'S BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l W. T. Ward; 105th Ill., 129th Ill., +70th Ind., 79th O., 1st Mich. Art., Co. "E." UNASSIGNED.--18th +Mich. Vol. Inft'y., 12th. Ind. Batt'y. CLARKSVILLE, TENN.--Col +A. A. Smith, Comdg. Post: 83d Ill. (1st Batt.), 2d Ill. Art., Co. +"H." CHATTANOOGA, TENN.--10th O. Vol. Inft'y, 1st Batt. O. S. S. + + +FIRST DIVISION CAVALRY. + +Brig.-Gen'l R. B. Mitchell. + +FIRST BRIGADE.--Col. A. P. Campbell: 1st E. Tenn. Cav., 2d Mich. +Cav., 9th Penn. Cav. SECOND BRIGADE.--Col. E. McCook: 2d E. Tenn. +Cav., 3d E. Tenn. Cav., 2d Ind. Cav., 4th Ind. Cav., 1st Wis. Cav. +THIRD BRIGADE.--Col. L. D. Watkins: 4th Ky. Cav., 5th Ky. Cav., +6th Ky. Cav., 7th Ky. Cav. ARTILLERY.--Sec. 1, O. Art., Co. "D." + +SECOND DIVISION CAVALRY. + +Brig-Gen'l Geo. Crook. + +FIRST BRIGADE.--Col. R. L. Minty: 3d Ind. Cav. (Detachm't), 4th +Mich. Cav., 7th Penn. Cav., 4th U. S. Cav. SECOND BRIGADE.--Col +E. Long: 2d Ky. Cav., 1st O. Cav., 3d O. Cav., 4th O. Cav. THIRD +BRIGADE.--Col. W. W. Lowe: 5th Ia. Cav., 1st Mid. Tenn. Cav., 19th +O. Cav., Capt. Stokes' Ill Batt'y, 15th Pa. Vol. Cav., Col. W. J. +Palmer. MILLER'S BRIG. MTD. INFTY.--Col. A. O. Miller: 92d Ill., +98th Ill., 123d Ill., 17th Ind., 72d Ind., 18th Ind. Batt'y. U. S. +FORCES, FT. DONELSON.--Lt. Col. E. C. Brott: 83d Ill. (Detachm't), +2d Ill. Art., Co. "C." UNASSIGNED INFANTRY.--34th Ill., 80th Ill, +102d Ill, 39th Ind., 51st Ind., 73d Ind., 21st Ky., 28th Ky., 3d +O., 102d O., 108th O., 10th Tenn., 31st Wis. + +---* Brigade Commanders not given. + + + + + + +Appendix C. + + + + +Organization of the Confederate Army at the Battle of Chickamauga, +GA. + + +RIGHT WING. + +Lieut.-Gen'l. Leonidas Polk. + + +Cheatham's Division. + +Maj.-Gen'l B. F. Cheatham. + +JACKSON'S BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l J. K. Jackson: 1st Confed. Bat., +5th Ga., 2d Ga. Bat., 5th Miss., 8th Miss., Scogin's (Ga.) Batt'y. +MANEY'S BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l Geo. Maney: 1st Tenn., 27th Tenn., +4th Tenn., 6th Tenn., 9th Tenn., Maney's (Tenn.) Batt., Smith's +(Miss.) Batt'y. SMITH'S BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l Preston Smith, Col. A. +J. Vaughan: 11th Tenn., 12th Tenn., 47th Tenn., 13th Tenn., 29th +Tenn., 154th Tenn., Scott's (Tenn.) Batt'y. WRIGHT'S BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l +M. J. Wright: 8th Tenn., 16th Tenn., 28th Tenn., 38th Tenn., 51st +Tenn., 52d Tenn., Carnes' (Tenn.) Batt'y. STRAHL'S BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l +O. F. Strahl: 4th Tenn., 5th Tenn., 19th Tenn., 24th Tenn., 31st +Tenn., 33d Tenn., Stanford's (Miss.) Batt'y. + +HILL'S CORPS. + +Lieut. Gen'l. D. H. Hill. + + +Cleburne's Division. + +Maj.-Gen'l P. R. Cleburne. + +POLK'S BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l L. E. Polk: 1st Ark., 2d Confed., +5th Confed., 2d Tenn., 35th Tenn., 48th Tenn., Calvert's (Tenn.) +Batt'y. WOOD'S BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l S. A. M. Wood: 16th Ala., +33d Ala., 45th Ala., 32d Miss., 45th Miss., Hankin's Batt., Semple's +(Ala.) Batt'y. DESHLER'S BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l James Deshler, +Col. R. Q. Mills: 19th Ark., 24th Ark., 6th Tex., 10th Tex, 15th +Tex., 17th Tex., 18th Tex., 24th Tex., 25th Tex., Douglas' (Tex.) +Batt'y. + +Breckinridge's Division. + +HELM'S BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l B. H. Helms, Col. J. H. Lewis, 41st +Ala., 2d Ky., 4th Ky., 6th Ky., 9th Ky., Cobb's (Ky.) Battery. +ADAMS' BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l Dan'l Adams, Col. R. L. Gibson, 32d +Ala., 13th La., 20th La., 16th La., 25th La., 19th La., Austin's +(La.) Batt., Slocomb's (La.) Battery. STOVALL'S BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l +M. A. Stovall, 1st Fla., 3d Fla., 4th Fla., 47th Ga., 60th No. +Car., Mebane's (Tenn.) Battery. + +Walker's Division. [Walker's and Liddel's divisions constituted a +"reserve corps," under Walker's command, Gist commanding Walker's +division.] + +Maj.-Gen'l W. H. T. Walker. +Brig.-Gen'l S. R. Gist. + +GIST'S BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l S. R. Gist, Col. P. H. Colquitt, +46th Ga., 8th Ga. Batt., 16th So. Car., 24th So. Car., Ferguson's +(So. Car.) Battery. ECTOR'S BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l M. D. Ector, +Ala. Batt. (Stone's), Miss. Batt. (Pound's), 9th Tex., 10th Tex. +Cav. [dismounted], 14th Tex. Cav. [dismounted], 32d Tex. Cav. +[dismounted], Battery [Gen'l Walker reports five batteries, but +those of Ector's and Wilson's brigades are not named in reports]. +WILSON'S BRIGADE.--Col. C. C. Wilson, 25th Ga., 29th Ga., 30th Ga., +1st Ga. Batt., 4th La. Batt., Battery [Gen'l Walker reports five +batteries, but those of Ector's and Wilson's brigades are not named +in reports]. + +Liddell's Division. [Walker's and Liddel's divisions constituted a +"reserve corps," under Walker's command, Gist commanding Walker's +division.] + +Birg.-Gen'l S. J. R. Lidell. + +LIDELL'S BRIGADE.--Col. D. C. Govan, 2d Ark., 15th Ark., 5th Ark., +13th Ark., 6th Ark., 7th Ark., 1st La., Swett's (Miss.) Batt. +WALTHALL'S BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l E. C. Walthall, 24th Miss., 27th +Miss., 29th Miss., 30th Miss., 34th Miss., Fowler's (Ala.) Battery. + + +LEFT WING. [Longstreet's corps, organization of the divisions, and +of the artillery battalion taken from Return of the Army of Northern +Virginia, for August 31, 1863; the artillery is not mentioned in +the reports.] + +Lieut.-Gen'l James Longstreet. + + +McLaw's Division. + +Maj.-Gen'l Lafayette McLaw. +Brig.-Gen'l J. B. Kershaw. + +KERSHAW'S BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l J. B. Kershaw, 2d So. Car., 7th +So. Car., 8th So. Car., 15th So. Car., 3d So. Car. Batt. WOFFORD'S +BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l W. T. Wofford, 16th Ga., 18th Ga., 24th +Ga., 3d Ga. Batt., Cobb's (Ga.) Legion, Phillip's (Ga.) Legion. +HUMPHREY'S BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l B. G. Humphreys, 13th Miss., +17th Miss., 18th Miss., 21st Miss. BRYAN'S BRIGADE [not engaged +according to Longstreet's report].--Brig.-Gen'l Goode Bryan, 10th +Ga., 50th Ga., 51st Ga., 53d Ga. + +Hood's Division. + +Maj.-Gen'l J. B. Hood. +Brig.-Gen'l E. M. Law. + +LAW'S BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l E. M. Law, Col. Sheffield, +4th Ala., 15th Ala., 44th Ala., 47th Ala., 48th Ala. ROBERTSON'S +BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l J. R. Robertson, 3d Ark., 18th Tex., 4th Tex., +5th Tex. ANDERSON'S BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l Geo. T. Anderson, 7th Ga., +8th Ga., 9th Ga., 11th Ga., 59th Ga. BENNING'S BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l +H. L. Benning, 2d Ga., 15th Ga., 17th Ga., 20th Ga. ARTILLERY +[Served in Johnson's division].--Maj. Frank Huger, Ficklin's (Va.) +Bat., Jordan's (Va.) Bat., Moody's (La.) Bat., Parker's (Va.) Bat., +Taylor's (Va.) Bat., Woolfolk's (Va.) Bat. + +Hindman's Division [of Polk's Corps]. + +Maj.-Gen'l T. C. Hindman. +Brig.-Gen'l Patton Anderson. + +ANDERSON'S BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l Patton Anderson, Col. J. H. Sharp, +7th Miss., 9th Miss., 10th Miss., 41st Miss., 44th Miss., 9th Miss., +Garrity's (Ala.) Bat. DEAS' BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l Z. C. Deas, 19th +Ala., 22d Ala., 25th Ala., 39th Ala., 50th Ala., 17th Ala. Batt., +Dent's (Ala.) Bat. MANIGAULT'S BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l A. M. Manigault, +24th Ala., 28th Ala., 34th Ala., 10th So. Car. and 19th So. Car. +consol., Water's (Ala.) Bat. + +BUCKNER'S CORPS + +Maj.-Gen'l S. B. Buckner. + + +Stewart's Division. + +Maj.-Gen'l A. P. Stewart. + +JOHNSON'S BRIGADE [see Johnson's Division, following].--Brig.-Gen'l +B. R. Johnson, Col. J. S. Fulton, 17th Tenn., 23d Tenn., 25th Tenn., +44th Tenn., 9th Ga. Art., Bat. "E." BROWN'S BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l +J. C. Brown, 18th Tenn., 26th Tenn., 32d Tenn., 45th Tenn., Newman's +(Tenn.) Batt., Dawson's (Ga.) Bat. BATE'S BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l W. +B. Bate, 58th Ala., 37th Ga., 4th Ga. Batt., 15th Tenn., 37th Tenn., +20th Tenn., Oliver's (Ala.) Art. CLAYTON'S BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l +H. D. Clayton, 18th Ala., 36th Ala., 38th Ala., Humphrey's (Ark.) +Bat. + +Preston's Division. + +Brig.-Gen'l William Preston. + +GRACIE'S BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l A. Gracie, Jr., 43d Ala., 1st Ala. +Batt. [Hilliard's Legion], 2d Ala. Batt. [Hilliard's Legion], 3d +Ala. Batt. [Hilliard's Legion], 63d tenn., Battery [It appears that +Baxter's (Tenn.) and Jeffress' (Va.) Batteries belonged to this +division, but their assignment is not clearly indicated.]. TRIGG'S +BRIGRADE.--Col. R. C. Trigg, 1st Fla. Cav. [dismounted], 6th Fla., +7th Fla., 54th Va., Peeple's (Ga.) Bat. KELLY'S BRIGADE.--Col. +J. H. Kelly, 65th Ga., 5th ky., 58th N. Car., 63d Va., Battery [It +appears that Baxter's (Tenn.) and Jeffress' (Va.) Batteries belonged +to this division, but their assignment is not clearly indicated.]. + +Johnson's Division [this is a temporary organization, embracing +Benning's, Johnson's, Law's, and Robertson's brigades, as well as +Gregg's and McNair's]. + +Brig.-Gen'l B. R. Johnson. + +GREGG'S BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l John Gregg, Col. C. A. Sugy, 3d Tenn., +10th Tenn., 30th Tenn., 41st Tenn., 50th Tenn., 1st [20th] Tenn. +Batt., 7th Texas, Bledsoe's (Mo.) Bat. MCNAIR'S BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l +E. McNair, Col. D. Coleman, 1st Ark. Rifles, 2d Ark. Rifles, 4th +Ark., 25th Ark., 35th Ark., Culpeper's (S. C.) Bat. + +CAVALRY. + +Maj.-Gen'l Joseph Wheeler [This organization taken from return for +August 31st, 1863.]. + + +Wharton's Division. + +Brig.-Gen'l John A. Wharton. + +FIRST BRIGADE.--Col. C. C. Crews, 7th Ala., 2d Ga., 3d Ga., 4th +Ga. SECOND BRIGADE.--Col. T. Harrison, 3d Confederates, 1st Ky., +4th Tenn., 8th Texas, 11th Texas, White's (Ga.) Battery. + +Martin's Division. + +Brig.-Gen'l W. T. Martin. + +FIRST BRIGADE.--Col. J. T. Morgan, 1st Ala., 3d Ala., 51st Ala., +8th Confederate. SECOND BRIGADE.--Col. A. A. Russell, 4th Ala. +[two regiments of the same designation. Lt.-Col. Johnson commanded +that in Roddey's brigade.], 1st Confederate, Wiggins' (Ark.) Battery. + +Roddey's Brigade. + +Brig.-Gen'l P. D. Roddey. + +4th Ala. [two regiments of the same designation. Lt.-Col. Johnson +commanded that in Roddey's brigade.], 5th Ala., 53d Ala., Forrest's +(Tenn.) Regiment, Ferrell's (Ga.) Battery. + +Forrest's Corps. + +Maj.-Gen'l N. B. Forrest. + + +Armstrong's Division [Taken from return for August 31, 1863, and +Forrest's report]. + +Brig.-Gen'l F. C. Armstrong. + +ARMSTRONG'S BRIGADE.--3d Ark., 1st Tenn., 2d Tenn., McDonald's +Battalion. --- BRIGADE.--4th Tenn., 8th Tenn., 9th Tenn., 10th +Tenn., 11th Tenn., Freeman's (Tenn.) Battery, Marion's (Tenn.) +Battery. + +Pegram's Division [Taken from Pegram's and Scott's reports and +assignments; but the composition of this division is uncertain.]. + +Brig.-Gen'l John Pegram. + +DAVIDSON'S BRIGADE.--Brig.-Gen'l H. B. Davidson, 1st Ga., 6th Ga., +65th North Carolina, Rucker's Legion, Huwald's (Tenn.) Battery. +SCOTT'S BRIGADE.--Col. J. L. Scott, 10th Confederate, 1st La., +5th Tenn., 12th Tenn. Battalion, 16th Tenn. Battalion, Louisiana +Battery (1 section). + +RESERVE ARTILLERY [with exception of Darden's battery taken from +return for August 31, 1863; on that return that battery appears as +of Johnson's Brigade.]. + +Barret's (Mo.) Battery, Darden's (Miss.) Battery, Havis' (Ala.) +Battery, Le Gardewi's (La.) Battery, Lumsden's (Ala.) Battery, +Massenburg's (Ga.) Battery. + + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of The Army of the Cumberland ÿ diff --git a/3686-8.zip b/3686-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..043dcd5 --- /dev/null +++ b/3686-8.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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