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ery 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 campaignChattanooga。 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 o