HEADQUARTERS FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS, In the Field, September 20, 1863-8 o'clock [a. m.] [General GORDON GRANGER]: Your note of this morning just received. I am moving my forces near the road leading from McDonald's to Reed's Bridge, ready for any attack that the enemy may make on myself or on General Steedman's front, who I understand is posted near the Little Chickamauga, on the Red House road. Are we in supporting distance of each other? If not, you had better report to General Rosecrans at once. Very respectfully, GEO. H. THOMAS, Major-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Major-General THOMAS, September 20, 1863-10.35 a. m. Commanding Fourteenth Army Corps: The general commanding directs me to say, if possible refuse your left, sending in your reserves to the northward, as he would prefer having Crittenden and McCook on your right. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, [Indorsement.] FRANK S. BOND, Major, and Aide-de-Camp. Dispatch received. The enemy are pushing me so hard that I cannot make any changes. The troops are posted behind temporary breastworks. GEO. H. THOMAS. HEADQUARTERS FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Major-General ROSECRANS, Commanding Department of the Cumberland: The enemy penetrated a short time since to the road leading to McDaniel's McDonald's] house, and I fear they are trying to cut off our communication with Rossville through the hills behind the center of our army. I think, therefore, it is of the utmost importance that Negley's division be ordered to that point-the left of my line. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEO. H. THOMAS, Major-General, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, General GRANGER, Rossville: Widow Glenn's, September 20, 1863. Is Missionary Ridge available, supposing we should fall back ? W. S. ROSECRANS, Major-General. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, General GORDON GRANGER, Rossville: Do the ridges in front and left of Rossville admit of placing artillery in position with any possibility of commanding the valley and road? HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Brig. Gen. R. B. MITCHELL, Commanding Cavalry: The general commanding directs me to say that more frequent reports from you is a matter of duty. Send at once an intelligent officer with a squad of men to meet Crook, and report his position without delay. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Major-General THOMAS: Assume command of all the forces, and with Crittenden and McCook take a strong position and assume a threatening attitude at Rossville. Send all the unorganized force to this place for re-organization. I will examine the ground here and make such dispositions for defense as the case may require and join you. Have sent out ammunition and rations. Brigadier-General GARFIELD: W. S. ROSECRANS, CHATTANOOGA, September 20, 1863. See General McCook and other general officers. Ascertain extent of disaster as nearly as you can and report. Tell General Granger to contest the enemy's advance stubbornly, making them advance with caution. Should General Thomas be retiring in order, tell him to resist the enemy's advance, retiring on Rossville to-night. By command of Major-General Rosecrans : WILLIAM MCMICHAEL, Major, and Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. CHIEF OF CAV., DEPT. OF THE CUMBERLAND, Brig. Gen. JAMES A. GARFIELD, Chief of Staff, Department of the Cumberland: General Crook has arrived and we are warmly engaged at the fords. They are trying to force a passage. We have repulsed them * See Rosecrans to Thomas, p. 256; also Thomas to Rosecrans, p. 257. once since I wrote you last in regard to the fight this morning. Goneral Crook says when he left Stevens' Gap Colonel Post had no orders to leave the gap. I have sent through to Post all dispatches sent me yesterday. I learn from signal officer that Watkins' brigade is coming down the gap. I sent a letter addressed to Colonel P. at the same time I sent Colonel Watkins an order to come up. Did not know the contents; suppose it was an order to come here, however. I am, your obedient servant, ROBT. B. MITCHELL. GENERAL THOMAS' HEADQUARTERS, General ROSECRANS : I arrived here ten minutes ago, via Rossville. General Thomas has Brannan's, Baird's, Reynolds', Wood's, Palmer's, and Johnson's divisions still intact after terrible fighting. Granger is here, closed up with Thomas, and is fighting terribly on the right. Sheridan is in with the bulk of his division, but in ragged shape, though plucky and fighting. General Thomas holds nearly his old ground of this morning. Negley was coming down on Rossville from the road leading from where we saw the trains in our route, and I sent word to him to cover the retreat of trains through Rossville. I also met the Fourth U. S. Battery at that place, and posted it as a reserve in case of need. As I turned in from the Rossville road to General Thomas' line I was opened upon by a rebel battalion. One orderly killed; Captain Gaw's horse killed and my own wounded. The hardest fighting I have seen to-day is now going on here. I hope General Thomas will be able to hold on here till night, and will not need to fall back farther than Rossville; perhaps not any. All fighting men should be stopped there, and the Dry Valley and Lookout roads held by them. I think we may in the main retrieve our morning disaster. I never saw better fighting than our men are now doing. The rebel ammunition must be nearly exhausted. Ours is fast failing. If we can hold out an hour more it will be all right. Granger thinks we can defeat them badly to-morrow if all our forces come in. I think you had better come to Rossville to-night and bring ammunition. Very truly, yours. J. A. GARFIELD, HDQRS. FIRST BRIGADE, SECOND CAVALRY DIVISION, On Ringgold Road, September 20, 1863-3.50 p. m. General GARFIELD: SIR: Forrest (said to be about 1,500 strong) is immediately in my front skirmishing. I will endeavor to drive him. Respectfully, &c., WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, September 20, 1863. Major-General ROSECRANS, Chattanooga, Tenn.: General Burnside's instructions before he left Kentucky were to connect with your left. These instructions have been repeated five or six times, and he has answered that he was moving with that object. I think his advance cannot be far from you. H. W. HALLECK, HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, OFFICER COMMANDING ADVANCE, General Burnside's Army, Cleveland: SIR: Hasten forward with your command to this place as rapidly as possible. We need you as soon as you can get here. The route by Tyner's will probably be the best. I send you a dispatch for General Burnside, which please forward to him with all possible speed. By order of Major-General Rosecrans : C. GODDARD, Assistant Adjutant-General. CHATTANOOGA, September 20. 1863-5 p. m. Major-General BURNSIDE: We have met with a severe disaster. The extent of it is not yet known. If you are near enough to join us, do so at once. If you are still too far away to form a junction, let me know your exact position, and I will advise you what you had better do. W. S. ROSECRANS, General SHERIDAN, Major-General. CHATTANOOGA, September 20, 1863-5 o'clock. Rossville: Verbal message by Captain Hill received. Support General Thomas by all means. If he is obliged to fall back he must secure the Dug [Dry] Valley. Right falling back slowly, contesting the ground inch by inch. By order of Major-General Rosecrans : C. GODDARD, Assistant Adjutant-General. CHATTANOOGA, TENN., September 20, 1863-5 p. m. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief : (Received 8.40 p. m.) We have met with a serious disaster; extent not yet ascertained. Enemy overwhelmed us, drove our right, pierced our center, and scattered troops there. Thomas, wno had seven divisions, remained intact at last news. Granger, with two brigades, had gone to support Thomas on the left. Every available reserve was used when the men stampeded. Burnside will be notified of the state of things at once, and you will be informed. Troops from Charleston, Florida, Virginia, and all along the seaboard are found among the prisoners. It seems that every available man was thrown against us. W. S. RÖSECRANS, Major-General, Commanding. ROSSVILLE, September 20, 1863—6.30 p. m. Major-General ROSECRANS : Would it not be well to send a flag of truce to make arrangements to recover our wounded? Otherwise their suffering will be very great. They have only provisions enough for to-night. G. PERIN, Medical Director. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Col. J. T. WILDER: The general commanding directs me to say that you should have reported to General Mitchell at Crawfish Spring, so that he might cover that point and also threaten the enemy's flank. Our latest advices from General Thomas were that he was holding his ground. with six, and probably seven, divisions. Instead of falling back this way the general commanding directs that you push on Missionary Ridge and try to open communication with General Mitchell, and, if successful, take orders from him. You should pick up all stragglers, sending them by detachments to this place. Report fully and often by the safest route. either down the valley or on Lookout Mountain. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, FRANK S. BOND, Major, and Aide-de-Camp. ROSSVILLE, Major-General ROSECRANS: September 20, 1863-7 p. m. Just returned from up the Crawfish Spring road with the command that General Davis and I organize some 1,500 men, five companies Tenth Ohio [sic]. Did not find any of the enemy, having gone to within 14 miles of the Widow Glenn's, our old headquarters. We are turned back by an order from Colonel Thruston to take position at Rossville. The troops here are utterly exhausted and without rations. I have sent to Chattanooga for supplies. Could you not send ten or fifteen wagon-loads of meat and crackers immediately? I have the honor to remain, yours, very truly, |