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！
September； the objective point of the campaign would have remained in
our hands without the battle of Chickamauga； but； as has been seen；
this was not done。 McCook was almost constantly on the march day and
night between the 13th and the 19th； ascending and descending
mountains； his men worried and wearied； so that when they appeared on
the battle…field； their fatigued condition operated greatly against
their efficiency。 This delay in concentration was also the original
cause of the continuous shifting toward our left to the support of
Thomas； by which manoeuvre Rosecrans endeavored to protect his
communications with Chattanooga； and out of which grew the intervals
that offered such tempting opportunities to Bragg。 In addition to
all this； much transpired on the field of battle tending to bring
about disaster。 There did not seem to be any well…defined plan of
action in the fighting； and this led to much independence of judgment
in construing orders among some of the subordinate generals。 It also
gave rise to much license in issuing orders： too many people were
giving important directions； affecting the whole army； without
authority from its head。 In view； therefore； of all the errors that
were committed from the time Chattanooga fell into our hands after
our first crossing the Tennessee； it was fortunate that the Union
defeat was not more complete； that it left in the enemy's possession
not much more than the barren results arising from the simple holding
of the ground on which the engagement was fought。
CHAPTER XVI。
AT CHATTANOOGATHE ENEMY FORTIFIES LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN AND MISSIONARY
RIDGEREORGANIZING THE ARMYREMOVAL OF GENERAL ROSECRANS
PUNISHMENT OF DESERTERSGRANT AT CHATTANOOGATHE FIGHT ON LOOKOUT
MOUNTAINA BRAVE COLOR…BEARERBATTLE OF MISSIONARY RIDGE。
By 9 o'clock on the morning of September 22 my command took up a
position within the heavy line of intrenchments at Chattanooga； the
greater part of which defenses had been thrown up since the army
commenced arriving there the day before。 The enemy； having now
somewhat recovered from the shock of the recent battle； followed
carefully； and soon invested us close into our lines with a parallel
system of rifle…pits。 He also began at once to erect permanent lines
of earthworks on Missionary Ridge and to establish himself strongly
on Lookout Mountain。 He then sent Wheeler's cavalry north of the
Tennessee； and； aided greatly by the configuration of the ground；
held us in a state of partial siege； which serious rains might
convert into a complete investment。 The occupation of Lookout
Mountain broke our direct communication with Bridgeport…our sub…
depotand forced us to bring supplies by way of the Sequatchie
Valley and Waldron's Ridge of the Cumberland Mountains； over a road
most difficult even in the summer season； but now liable to be
rendered impassable by autumn rains。 The distance to Bridgeport by
this circuitous route was sixty miles； and the numerous passes；
coves； and small valleys through which the road ran offered tempting
opportunities； for the destruction of trains； and the enemy was not
slow to take advantage of them。 Indeed； the situation was not
promising； and General Rosecrans himself； in communicating with the
President the day succeeding the battle of Chickamauga； expressed
doubts of his ability to hold the gateway of the Cumberland
Mountains。
The position taken up by my troops inside the lines of Chattanooga
was near the old iron…works； under the shadow of Lookout Mountain。
Here we were exposed to a continual fire from the enemy's batteries
for many days； but as the men were well covered by secure though
simple intrenchments； but little damage was done。 My own
headquarters were established on the grounds of Mr。 William
Crutchfield； a resident of the place； whose devotion to the Union
cause knew no bounds； and who rendered meand； in fact； at one time
or another； nearly every general officer in the Army of the
Cumberlandinvaluable service in the way of information about the
Confederate army。 My headquarters camp frequently received shots
from the point of Lookout Mountain also； but fortunately no
casualties resulted from this plunging fire； though； I am free to
confess； at first our nerves were often upset by the whirring of
twenty…pounder shells dropped inconsiderately into our camp at
untimely hours of the night。
In a few days rain began to fali； and the mountain roads by which our
supplies came were fast growing impracticable。 Each succeeding train
of wagons took longer to make the trip from Bridgeport； and the draft
mules were dying by the hundreds。 The artillery horses would soon go
too； and there was every prospect that later the troops would starve
unless something could be done。 Luckily for my division； a company
of the Second Kentucky Cavalry had attached itself to my
headquarters； and； though there without authority； had been left
undisturbed in view of a coming reorganization of the army incidental
to the removal of McCook and Crittenden from the command of their
respective corps； a measure that had been determined upon immediately
after the battle of Chickamauga。 Desiring to remain with me； Captain
Lowell H。 Thickstun； commanding this company； was ready for any duty
I might find； for him； so I ordered him into the Sequatchie Valley
for the purpose of collecting supplies for my troops； and sent my
scout； Card along to guide him to the best locations。 The company
hid itself away in a deep cove in the upper end of the valley； and by
keeping very quiet and paying for everything it took from the people；
in a few days was enabled to send me large quantities of corn for my
animals and food for the officers and men； which greatly supplemented
the scanty supplies we were getting from the sub…depot at Bridgeport。
In this way I carried men and animals through our beleaguerment in
pretty fair condition； and of the turkeys； chickens； ducks； and eggs
sent in for the messes of my officers we often had enough to divide
liberally among those at different headquarters。 Wheeler's cavalry
never discovered my detached company； yet the chances of its capture
were not small； sometimes giving much uneasiness； still； I concluded
it was better to run all risks than to let the horses die of
starvation in Chattanooga。 Later； after the battle of Missionary
Ridge； when I started to Knoxville； the company joined me in
excellent shape； bringing with it an abundance of food； including a
small herd of beef cattle。
The whole time my line remained near the iron…mills the shelling from
Lookout was kept up； the screeching shots inquisitively asking in
their well…known way； 〃Where are you？ Where are you？〃 but it is
strange to see how readily； soldiers can become accustomed to the
sound of dangerous missiles under circumstances of familiarity； and
this case was no exception to the rule。 Few casualties occurred； and
soon contempt took the place of nervousness； and as we could not
reply in kind on account of the elevation required for our guns； the
men responded by jeers and imprecations whenever a shell fell into
their camp。
Meantime； orders having been issued for the organization of the army；
additional troops were attached to my command； and it became the
Second Division of the Fourth Army Corps； to which Major…General
Gordon Granger was assigned as commander。 This necessitated a change
of position of the division； and I moved to ground behind our works；
with my right resting on Fort Negley and my left extending well over
toward Fort Wood； my front being parallel to Missionary Ridge。 My
division was now composed of twenty…five regiments； classified into
brigades and demi…brigades； the former commanded by Brigadier…General
G。 D。 Wagner； Colonel C。 G。 Harker； and Colonel F。 T。 Sherman； the
latter； by Colonels Laiboldt； Miller； Wood； Walworth； and Opdyke。
The demi…brigade was an awkward invention of Granger's； but at this
time it was necessitatedperhaps by the depleted condition of our
regiments； which compelled the massing of a great number of
regimental organizations into a division to give it weight and force。
On October 16； 1863； General Grant had been assigned to the command
of the 〃Military Division of the Mississippi；〃 a geographical area
which embraced the Departments of the Ohio； the Cumberland； and the
Tennessee； thus effecting a consolidation of divided commands which
might have been introduced most profitably at an earlier date。 The
same order that assigned General Grant relieved General Rosecrans；
and placed General Thomas in command of the Army of the Cumberland。
At the time of the reception of the order； Rosecrans was busy with
preparations for a movement to open the direct road to Bridgeport
having received in the interval； since we came back to Chattanooga；
considerable reinforcement by the arrival in his department of the