HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Major-General McCook: The general commanding directs me to say that he thinks you had better send one brigade from Sheridan to support Davis, who is hardly pressed.* Very respectfully, your obedient servant, FRANK S. BOND, Major, and Aide-de-Camp. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Brigadier-General THOMAS: Chattanooga, October 23, 1863. I have the honor to transmit herewith some copies of orders issued previous to and during the battles of Chickamauga, which it was the intention of General Rosecrans to forward with his official report, but they were mislaid by him, and not discovered until subsequent to his departure. I have to request that they be placed on file with those previously forwarded. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, [Inclosures.] HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Maj. Gen. GORDON GRANGER, Commanding Reserve Corps : GENERAL: It is probable that the enemy intends to give us battle on the line of the Chickamauga. To provide against possible contingencies the general commanding directs that in case the enemy should get possession of Stevens' Gap and Lookout Valley, your force lately at Jasper, now at Wauhatchie Junction, shall take possession of the route to Bridgeport and dispute the enemy's advance stubbornly, and if compelled to cross the river take up the bridge and resist the passage to the utmost. The river should be thoroughly patrolled and the force at Bridgeport held well in hand. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. A. GARFIELD, Brigadier-General, Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Crawfish Spring, September 18, 1863—4.10 p. m. Brigadier-General MITCHELL, Comdg. Cavalry, Department of the Cumberland: GENERAL: The enemy seems to be attempting to turn our left flank. Should this supposition prove correct, it will necessitate the removal of Generals Thomas' and McCook's corps to our left and *See Bond to McCook, 3.40 p. m., p. 77. thus leave Stevens' Gap without a very strong support. In this case the general commanding directs that the brigade of General McCook's corps which he has been ordered to detach for the defense of the gap shall hold that pass at all hazards till General G. Crook and the cavalry at Dougherty's Gap and Valley Head can close up and join the brigade at Stevens' Gap. Should these forces be compelled to fall back, they will retire along the mountain road to Chattanooga, contesting the ground inch by inch, and giving due notice of their retreat. You will direct General Crook to hold his command well in hand and keep his trains ready for ready [rapid] march to Stevens' Gap. General Crook must watch the movements of the two armies closely, and use his discretion as to the time when he should retire. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. A. GARFIELD, Brigadier-General, Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Crawfish Spring, September 18, 1863-4.25 p. m. Major-General McCook, Commanding Twentieth Army Corps: GENERAL: The general commanding directs that you leave Post's brigade at Stevens' Gap to hold that position and cover the retreat of General Crook and the cavalry at Valley Head, should it be necessary. He must hold the gap at all hazards till the cavalry can join him, and in case he should be compelled to abandon the gap he must retire along the mountain road to Chattanooga, contesting the ground inch by inch. Make such dispositions and give such instructions as may be necessary to effect the desired end. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. A. GARFIELD, Brigadier-General, Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Brigadier-General MITCHELL, Commanding Cavalry: GENERAL: The general commanding directs you, immediately on the receipt of this order, to order General Crook's command and all the cavalry force both at Dougherty's Gap and Valley Head to move with all dispatch and close down upon the right flank of the army. Detail what you may deem a sufficient force to operate in conjunction with Post's brigade to hold Stevens' Gap and the crest of the mountain. The courier line from Stevens' Gap to Chattanooga along the crest of the mountain must be established, and frequent reports forwarded to these headquarters of all that occurs and can be observed by the force left at Stevens' Gap. There is not a moment to be lost in moving the cavalry this way. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. A. GARFIELD. Brigadier-General, Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Crawfish Spring, September 19, 1863-8.45 a. m. Major-General SHERIDAN, Comdg. Third Division, Twentieth Army Corps: Explanatory of orders to General McCook, the general commanding directs you to put your command in position to support General Negley in watching and holding the fords of the Chickamauga Creek. Consult with General Negley and select the best position that the ground offers. Allow the enemy to cross in small force and attempt to cut him off. Resist the crossing of any large force. Report when you have taken your position how your forces are situated. J. A. GARFIELD. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Crawfish Spring, September 19, 1863-10.15 a. m. Major-General McCook, Commanding Twentieth Army Corps: The enemy are still attempting to turn our left and secure the Kingsville [?] and Ringgold road. The demonstrations on the right are a feint. The general commanding directs you to send one division of your corps to Widow Eliza Glenn's, and send forward to report its march to General Thomas, with orders to close up to General Thomas if he shall so direct. The division will receive orders from General Thomas. General McCook will take command of the right and cavalry, and hold yourself in readiness to support either flank. J. A. G[ARFIELD]. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Major-General CRITTENDEN, Twenty-first Army Corps: The general commanding directs you to order Minty to go to Chattanooga with all practicable speed. Let him come by Widow Glenn's and report for orders. C. GODDARD, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Major-General PALMER, Commanding Division, Twentieth Army Corps: The general commanding received [sees] your movement and suggests that it will be well for you to move en échelon, keeping your right refused and closing your left well up on Reynolds. J. A. G[ARFIELD]. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Major-General McCook : The general commanding directs me to say that he thinks you had better send one brigade from Sheridan to support Davis, who is hard pressed.* Very respectfully, your obedient servant, FRANK S. BOND, Major, and Aide-de-Camp. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Major-General NEGLEY, Commanding at Rossville: The general commanding directs that all the spare artillery which cannot be used to advantage be sent to this place at once. J. P. DROUILLARD, Captain, and Aide-de-Camp. [HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Chattanooga,] September 21, 1863-4.40 p. m. Major-General THOMAS, Commanding Forces at Rossville: The general commanding directs you to withdraw all your forces to a new line of battle in front of this place during the night. Tonight directions will be given you as to the order and route for the movement. If the events of the day do not preclude it, you must hold your position till night. We have moved Spears' force up Chattanooga Creek to protect your right flank. As far as possible withdraw the divisions en masse, so that our troops will be organized when they encamp on the new line. The general commanding is now arranging the positions you are to take up, which will be, in general terms, on the left, east of Chattanooga, yourself in the center and McCook on the right. Crittenden might move back by his present left by the most practicable route. You might come in on the right-hand road coming this way from Rossville, and McCook on the left. These are the views of the general commanding. Of course, being on the ground, you will make such modifications as the circumstances may require. The gap ought to be held to-night, if practicable, by a small force, which should be withdrawn before dawn. Each corps should leave a division as rear guard to fall back slowly, covering the retreat and contesting the ground inch by inch. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. A. GARFIELD, Brigadier-General, Chief of Staff. (Same to Major-General McCook.) *See Bond to McCook, 3 p. m., p. 74. ORDERS.] COMPLIMENTARY ORDERS. HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND : You have You have made a grand and successful campaign. driven the rebels from Middle Tennessee. You crossed a great mountain range, placed yourselves on the banks of a broad river, crossed it in the face of a powerful opposing army, and crossed two other great mountain ranges at the only prac ticable passes some 40 miles between extremes. You concentrated in the face of superior numbers, fought the combined armies of Bragg, which you drove from Shelbyville and Tullahoma; of Johnston's army from Mississippi, and the tried veterans of Longstreet's corps, and for two days held them at bay, giving them blow for blow with heavy interest. When the day closed you held the field, from which you withdrew in the face of overpowering numbers, to occupy the point for which you set out-Chattanooga. You have accomplished the great work of the campaign. You hold the key of East Tennessee, of North Georgia, and of the enemy's mines of coal and niter. Let these achievements console you for the regret you experience that arrivals of fresh hostile troops forbade your remaining on the field to renew the battle for the right of burying your gallant dead, and caring for your brave companions who lay wounded on the field. The losses you have sustained, though heavy, are slight considering the odds against you and the stake you have won. You hold in your hands the substantial fruits of a victory, and deserve and will receive the honor and plaudits of a grateful nation which asks nothing of even those who have been fighting us but obedience to the constitution and laws established for our common benefit. The general commanding earnestly begs every officer and soldier of this army to unite with him in thanking Almighty God for his favor to us. He presents his hearty thanks and congratulations to all the officers and soldiers of this command for their energy, patience, and perseverance, and the undaunted courage displayed by those who fought with such unflinching resolution. Neither the history of this war nor probably the annals of any battle furnish a loftier example of obstinate bravery and enduring resistance to superior numbers, when troops, having exhausted their ammunition, resorted to the bayonet so many times to hold their position against such odds as did our left and center on the afternoon of the 20th of September, at the battle of Chickamauga. W. S. ROSEČRANS, Major-General Commanding. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Brig. Gen. LORENZO THOMAS, Chattanooga, October 16, 1863. Adjutant-General, U. S. Army: I desire to make the following change in my last official report of the operations of the Army of the Cumberland. In the chapter headed"The battle of the 20th," and the paragraph commencing "At the moment of the repulse of Davis' division, I was standing in the rear of his right," I wish to add the words " and Captain Young" |