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！
own 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 enemiesand no general in the field had stronger nor more unscrupulous onesas 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 ThomasRosecrans to plan brilliant campaigns； with Thomas's great abilities to aid him in carrying them outmade 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 centreeither 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 noblemena 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 hi