care of his transportation, but his mean and unsoldierly defense of error shows him wrong both in head and heart.* Respectfully, your obedient servant, Brig. Gen. LORENZO THOMAS, W. S. ROSECRANS, Major-General. Adjutant-General, U. S. Army. [Indorsement.] HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, Washington, D. C., January 25, 1864. This communication is forwarded to the Secretary of War, with the following remarks: According to the within statement, General Wood's letter is dated after General Rosecrans had been relieved from the command, and he then had no claim whatever that any report or other communication from officers not under his orders should pass through him. On the contrary, General Wood would have violated the Army Regulations and the usage of the service had he sent his report through General Rosecrans after the latter had been removed from command. If the charge be true that General Wood surreptitiously obtained a copy of General Rosecrans' official report, it must have been so obtained at General Rosecrans' headquarters, or from some one of his staff, as his original report, sent through his chief of staff, was not received at the office of the Adjutant-General of the Army till October 28. Moreover, no publication of that or of General Wood's report has been authorized or permitted by the War Department, while it is known that portions of the former were published in the newspapers even before it reached the Adjutant-General's Office. As General Rosecrans charges General Wood in this communication with obtaining an official document "surreptitiously," and with a "mean and unsoldierlike defense of error," I respectfully recommend that it be withheld from publication till the charges be investigated. I think a copy of General Rosecrans' letter should be sent to General Wood, in order that he may apply for such investigation, for if guilty as charged he is unfit for command. H. W. HALLECK, HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI, COLONEL: About the 12th of January I addressed a letter to the President, calling his attention to the breach of military regulations and etiquette in publishing Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Wood's letter commenting on my official report of the battle of Chickamauga. I respectfully ask what indorsements have been made and what action taken thereon. I also addressed a letter to Brig. Gen. L. Thomas, Adjutant-General U. S. Army, desiring it to be appended to my official report of the battle of Chickamauga, in reference to that letter of General Wood's, which was publicly alluded to by the General-in-Chief in his official report. * See Wood to L. Thomas, p. 647, and Wood to Hardie, p. 648. Please inform me whether that letter was received, what, if any, are the reasons why my request that it should be published as a part of my report has not been acceded to? The publication of General Wood's letter, by permission of the War Department, as an addenda to my report, was unjust, and the publication of my letter referring thereto was the least that should have been done to correct the injustice. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Col. E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General, Washington, D. C. WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Maj. Gen. W. S. ROSECRANS, U. S. Vols., St. Louis, Mo.: SIR: I have respectfully to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3d instant, and to inform you that, in compliance with orders from the Secretary of War, a copy of your communication of January 13, 1864, in relation to the letter of Brig. Gen. T. J. Wood, dated October 21, 1863, has been sent to be printed as an appendix to your official report of the battle of Chickamauga. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, JOHN D. DEFREES, Esq., : Superintendent of Public Printing: March 23, 1864. SIR By direction of the Secretary of War, I send herewith a copy. of a communication* which Major-General Rosecrans desires to have published as an appendix to his report of the battle of Chickamauga, dated January 13, 1864. I am, &c., E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General. ADDENDA.† CRAWFISH SPRING, GA,, September 18, 1863. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief: Everything indicates that the enemy is determined to make every effort to overthrow this army. What we most need is to have our flanks well covered. You do not say how soon Hurlbut is to move. Please advise me what orders he has received, and from whence he is to draw subsistence. Even a movement in Tuscumbia Valley would *See page 102. +Comprising field dispatches, &c. (September 18-23), not forwarded as inclosures to Rosecrans' report. See pp. 65-77. be of great importance at this time. Enemy demonstrating on our front now. We occupy line of West Chickamauga. Our cavalry on right covers Stevens' Gap. HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Crawfish Spring, Chickamauga Valley, September 18, 1863. Major-General BURNSIDE: I dispatched you on my arrival at Chattanooga, again on the 13th, and twice since then. It was very important you should close in on our left as soon as possible. Our cavalry has been worked so hard that it has decreased 2,100 from sickness and dismounted men since the commencement of campaign. Byrd should come down to Cleveland at once. If he is in any danger there he can come down to Tyner's Station, on our left. The remainder of your force should close down as soon as possible. The enemy are in our front in large force, occupying Pea Vine Valley and covering the roads to Dalton and Rome, headquarters at La Fayette. Johnston is with Bragg, with a large portion of his force, and re-enforcements have arrived from Virginia. We need all we can concentrate to oppose them. Let me hear from you. W. S. ROSECRANS, HEADQUARTERS FIRST CAVALRY BRIGADE, Reed's Bridge, September 18, 1863-12.15 a. m. Brigadier-General WOOD, Commanding Gordon's Mills: GENERAL: I sent report to General Rosecrans at 7 p. m. last evening. My report was delayed waiting for return of patrols, &c. A force of infantry passed through or near Graysville late yesterday a. m., which the citizens there state was General Spears'. Cannonading was heard yesterday afternoon north of Ringgold. Pegram's pickets are 9 miles up the Pea Vine Valley. Colonel Wilder encamped within 2 miles of me late last night. He states that he remarked a column of dust moving in the direction of La Fayette. I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, ROBT. H. G. MINTY, Colonel, Cavalry Brigade. E. A. OTIS, HEADQUARTERS TWENTY-FIRST ARMY CORPS, Assistant Adjutant-General: September 18, 1863-3 a. m. We have had indications of the enemy in our front. Some shots have been fired by men on foot at our pickets. A column of dust appears rather to the right of our front. Enemy have been seen both to the right and left of the road in front. I think they are advancing. SIDNEY M. BARNES, Colonel, Commanding Brigade. HEADQUARTERS TWENTIETH ARMY CORPS, Pond Spring, Ga., September 18, 1863-6.30 a. m. Brig. Gen. JAMES A. GARFIELD, Chief of Staff: GENERAL: I have the honor to state for the information of the general commanding that all is perfectly quiet on the right this morning. I am just starting to ride my lines and make the changes in the disposition of my forces prescribed in the latest orders. General Mitchell and I go to the right together. Respectfully, A. McD. McCOOK, Major-General, Commanding. ROSSVILLE, September 18, 1863-8. a. m. Captain MERRILL : Nothing new. All quiet here. J. L. JONES. SIGNAL STATION, Colonel FLYNT, Chief of Staff: September 18, 1863-9 a. m. A squad of the enemy can be seen in the field at the same point at which they were observed last evening. Respectfully, HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Maj. Gen. GEORGE H. THOMAS : GENERAL: Clouds of dust and smoke indicate the enemy's cavalry is moving in heavy force from Worthen's to Knaper's [Napier's], and are sweeping around to our left. Have you any news from your front? Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. A. GARFIELD, Brigadier-General, and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Major-General THOMAS: The general commanding directs that I inform you that cavalry is seen advancing toward our lines 10 degrees southeast from here. Considerable dust seen among the timber. JESSE MERRILL, Captain, and Acting Signal Officer. Captain MERRILL : HIGH POINT, September 18, 1863-9.50 a. m. The cavalry spoken of as advancing has turned back. I counted seven wagons or ambulances. MEEKER. HEADQUARTERS FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Your dispatch of 9 a. m. just received, also dispatch from Captain Merrill. General Thomas is looking after the troops and regulating their positions. All quiet in front of our line. Two reports from the signal station on the mountain have been received. Can see no movements worthy of note. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, [GEO. E. FLYNT,] Assistant Adjutant-General, and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Crawfish Spring, September 18, 1863-10.15 a. m. Major-General THOMAS: The general commanding desires you to report immediately the position of your pickets, and also to hold your command in readiness for any movement. There seems to be great activity on the part of the enemy in our front. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. A. GARFIELD, Brigadier-General, and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Crawfish Spring, September 18, 1863-10.45 a. m. Major-General McCook: The general commanding directs you to move your command down the Chickamauga and close it up compactly on General Thomas' right. The Fourteenth Army Corps is being drawn this way, and you will close in upon it in its new position. General Mitchell has been ordered to hold Stevens' Gap and watch the enemy's movements in the direction of the gaps of Pigeon Mountain. Hold your command in readiness for any movement. The enemy appear to be making a demonstration on Crittenden's left, Reconnoiter well your front. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, |