按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
out 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 leftthe critical pointtold 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 corpsboth of whom had opportunely arrived by this timeimmediately 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