the army of the cumberland-第31章

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d　his　crossing；　and　finally　broke　up　the　bridge。　　Walker　moved　down　the　creek　to　Byron's　Ford；　where　he　crossed　and　joined　Hood　on　the　right　during　the　night。　On　Walker's　crossing；　Wilder　was　compelled　to　fall　back。

The　concentration　of　our　army　continued　on　the　13th；　Thomas　held　his　position　of　the　12th；　with　Negley's；　Baird's；　and　Brannan's　divisions　remaining　in　camp；　waiting　the　arrival　of　McCook；　who　had　been　ordered　to　close　up　to　the　left。　　Reynolds's　division　was　concentrated　on　the　road　from　Cooper's　or　Frick's　Gap　to　Catlett's　Gap；　and　the　next　day　moved　forward　and　took　position　at　Pond　Spring；　with　his　two　infantry　brigades；　and　was　joined　here　by　Wilder。　　Reynolds　sent　Turchin　to　make　a　reconnoissance　with　the　Ninety…second　Illinois　mounted　infantry；　to　the　mouth　of　Catlett's　Gap；　driving　the　rebel　cavalry　pickets　from　Chickamauga　Creek　to　the　gap；　where　he　found　the　enemy　posted　with　strong　reserves。　Brannan　on　the　same　day　reconnoitered　the　position　of　the　enemy　toward　Dug　Gap；　sending　a　brigade　to　Chickamauga　Creek；　east　of　Lee's　Mills；　one　mile　to　the　right　and　south　of　Reynolds；　at　Pond　Spring。　　Turchin　made　another　reconnoissance　on　the　16th　toward　Catlett's　Gap；　and　found　the　enemy　strongly　posted　there　with　infantry　and　artillery。　　The　next　day　Thomas　moved　his　entire　corps　and　closed　upon　Crittenden's　right　along　Chickamauga　Creek；　and　was　joined　at　night　by　McCook　on　his　right。　　The　four　divisions　of　Thomas's　command　on　the　afternoon　of　the　18h　moved　to　the　left　to　Crawfish　Springs。　　Here　Rosecrans；　anticipating　the　movement　of　Bragg　to　secure　the　road　to　Chattanooga；　and　recognizing　the　importance　of　holding　it；　ordered　Thomas　with　his　corps　to　march　on　the　cross…road　leading　by　the　Widow　Glenn's　to　the　Chattanooga　and　La　Fayette　road；　and　take　position　on　that　road　near　Kelly's　farm；　connecting　with　Crittenden's　corps　on　his　right　at　Gordon's　Mills。　　During　the　entire　night　of　the　18th　the　troops　of　Thomas's　corps　were　moving　to　the　left；　and　at　daylight　on　the　19th　the　head　of　the　column　reached　Kelly's　farm；　Baird's　division　in　the　advance；　taking　position　at　the　forks　of　the　road；　facing　toward　Reed's　and　Alexander's　Bridges　over　the　Chickamauga。　　Wilder　had　been　driven　across　the　State　road　to　the　heights　east　of　Widow　Glenn's　house　the　evening　before；　by　the　advance　in　force　of　the　enemy　over　these　bridges；　and　Baird's　right　rested　close　to　Wilder's　brigade。　　Baird's　division　was　closely　followed　by　Brannan；　who　was　placed　in　position　on　the　left　of　Baird；　on　the　two　roads　leading　to　the　bridges。

Orders　were　received　by　McCook　at　midnight　on　the　13th；　directing　two　divisions　of　his　corps　to　move　to　Thomas's　support；　and　that　he　send　his　train　back　under　guard　of　his　remaining　division。　　McCook　moved　his　command；　by　way　of　Valley　Head；　up　the　mountain　at　Alpine　on　the　night　of　the　13th；　and　down　on　the　14th　into　Lookout　Valley；　except　one　brigade　from　each　division　forming　his　train　guard　under　command　of　Lytle；　encamped　at　Little　River　in　the　mountains。　Sheridan's　marched　down　Lookout　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。