CHAPTER VIII.

THE CHICKAMAUGA CAMPAIGN SKELETONIZED.

The map which accompanies this chapter affords a rapid, comprehensive, and easy study of the Chickamauga campaign.

It does not take notice of the details of maneuvering or concentration, but represents the respective armies as concentrated and in hand for each of their successive movements.

It shows (1) why Bragg was compelled to retire from Chattanooga to save his communications and await reinforcements; and (2) the attempt of each army thereafter to thrust itself between the other and Chattanooga, in the struggle for the final possession of that city—the objective of Rosecrans' campaign.

September 7, 1863, Gen. Bragg held Chattanooga.

September 7th, Gen. Rosecrans having crossed the Cumberland Mountains, the Tennessee River, and the Raccoon Range south of it, began to cross Lookout Mountain into the rear of Chattanooga. This movement is fully set forth on the map of the theater of campaign. See Chapter II.

The center of the army September 8th was twenty-six miles south of the city, near Stevens' Gap, and the right forty-two miles south of it.

The night of September 7th Bragg withdrew to La Fayette behind Pigeon Mountains, opposite Rosecrans' center, and established his army there September 8th.

Rosecrans, until September 12th, was operating against Bragg in the direction of La Fayette, upon the theory that he was in retreat upon Rome, when, at that date, he was

BRAGG

ME FARLANDS GAP

CHICKAMAUGA PARK

BRAGG SE

CHICKAMAUGA CAMPAIGN SKELETONIZED.

REEDS BRIDOL

WINGOLS

Boundary
Line

AAD 888 PEAVINE

RLDG

found to have been reinforced, and concentrating toward Lee and Gordon's Mill for battle. Rosecrans was obliged to wait several days for McCook's Corps to arrive on his right. On the 17th he moved to Crawfish Springs.

September 17th Bragg had moved northward and was found on Rosecrans' left flank south of Lee and Gordon's Mill. September 18th, at night, the left of Rosecrans was along the La Fayette Road, a mile north of Lee and Gordon's toward Chattanooga.

September 18th, during the afternoon and night, Bragg crossed the Chickamauga, and formed, facing the La Fayette Road, beyond Rosecrans' left flank, with the purpose of attacking that flank in the morning of the 19th, driving it back on the Union right, and the whole away from Chattanooga, and back into the mountains.

But the same night, September 18th, Rosecrans had moved his right and center several miles to the left of Bragg's new position, and formed at daylight across the La Fayette, or Chattanooga Road, and eastward to the Chickamauga. At 7:30 A. M. his left attacked Forrest's Cavalry Corps, which was near Reed's Bridge, guarding Bragg's right and rear.

September 19th, Bragg's plan of battle being destroyed, he moved to his right, and the first day's battle of Chickamauga followed. At its close Rosecrans was fully between Bragg and Chattanooga.

September 20th the second day's battle of Chickamauga took place, Bragg's plan still being to gain the La Fayette Road beyond Rosecrans' left flank. At the close of the battle he had succeeded in this, as the map shows.

September 20th, at night, Gen. Thomas moved the army through McFarland's Gap to Rossville, and at midnight formed it across the La Fayette Road again in the gap and on Missionary Ridge to the right and left of it, and across the plain toward Lookout Mountain. A considerable portion of the Union army had been forced off the field early in the day, but nearly all of this was assembled at Rossville.

Throughout the 21st the Army of the Cumberland remained in position there, across Bragg's direct road to Chattanooga, offering battle.

September 21st Bragg moved to his right parallel to Missionary Ridge and beyond Rosecrans' left.

The night of September 21st the Union army marched to Chattanooga. At sunrise of the 22d its lines were established around the city, and Rosecrans was in full possession.

September 22d Bragg crossed Missionary Ridge, and an attack upon Chattanooga was ordered for September 23d. This, however, was not delivered, and an investment of the city was undertaken.

CHAPTER IX.

RE-OPENING OF THE TENNESSEE RIVER--THE BROWN'S FERRY

AFFAIR.

In four weeks, Chattanooga had been so strongly fortified as to defy attack. October 13th, the army was receiving three-fourths rations, and upon that day 300,000 full rations arrived. Ten days before, Gen. Wheeler, in his noted raid north of the river, had destroyed nearly 300 wagons, and the fall rains had so softened the roads that the trains could haul but little more than forage enough to last the animals during the trip of sixty miles over the mountains from Bridgeport. The re-opening of the river to the latter point therefore became imperative.

Gen. Rosecrans had been ready to undertake the movement upon Gen. Hooker's arrival at Bridgeport. The latter reached that point October 1st, and the same day was ordered by Gen. Rosecrans to lay his bridges and make immediate preparations to cross the river and move toward Chattanooga. But Gen. Hooker's wagon trains had been turned in at Alexandria when his troops started for the west, under the belief that he could be at once refitted at Nashville. Being without means of supplying his troops, he could not move forward. Gen. Rosecrans repeated his order, October 12th, directing Gen. Hooker to move up to Wauhatchie to assist in opening the river, but, for the same reason, he was still unable to do so.

October 19th, the order was again given by Gen. Rosecrans for the troops at Bridgeport to be ready to move. That day he rode as far as Brown's Ferry with Gen. W. F. Smith, his chief engineer, and Gen. J. J. Reynolds, his chief