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the 17th, McCook brought his dusty, travel-worn men to Thomas and they were placed in order of battle. Reconnoissances on the 18th convinced our leaders that Bragg was reinforced by the arrival of a portion, at least, of Longstreet's corps, and that he was massing his forces in front of our left center and left wing with the purpose of a movement which would place them between the Federal army and Chattanooga. Rosecrans ordered a counter-movement by the left flank, wheeling his army and placing it down the creek. During the night of the 18th, the 14th Army Corps (Thomas') forming the center, with Johnson's division of McCook's corps, swung to the left, past Crittenden's (21st) corps, becoming the left and making the 21st the center of the army. Davis and Sheridan's division of McCook's corps were to move into the position occupied by the 14th corps, but had not fully occupied it before the bursting of the battle on the morning of Saturday, the 19th. On the afternoon of the 18th, Colonels Minty and Wilder, watching the Ringgold road crossing, withstood gallantly a severe attack from the enemy's left, but were compelled to retreat.

On the morning of the 19th, the Federal battle-line extended along the Rossville and Lafayette roads, north and south, the right on Gordon's Mills, the left at Kelly's House. On the extreme left was Brannan, next Baird and Reynolds, with Johnson in the center as reserve; Palmer, with his iron men, was on the right of Reynolds, VanCleve was next him, and upon his right, reaching to the Mills, was the command of Wood. Negley, four miles south, held Owen's Gap. Davis and Sheridan were south of Negley, moving to the old position of the 14th Army Corps. General Granger held the reserve on Rossville road, covering the approach from Ringgold.

At 10 A. M. the battle opened on the Federal extreme left, and was continued until night-fall, being a struggle for position on the Chattanooga road. It was without decisive results.

That night changes were made in both armies, preparatory to the terrible contest of Sunday, the 20th. The Federal line was shortened about a mile, the right resting upon a strong position at Mission Ridge, Thomas still holding the left, Crittenden the center, McCook the right.

The rebel commander divided his army into two wings. Lieuten

ant-General Polk commanding the right, while the left was assigned to Lieutenant-General Longstreet, who arrived at 11 o'clock on the night of the 19th. From right to left the rebel army was under Breckenridge, Cleburn, Cheatham, Stewart, Hood, Hindman and Preston. Bragg's order was to begin the engagement on the right and bring in engagement after engagement until all were hurled upon the Federal troops, and Lieutenant-General Polk was ordered to open the engagement at day-break, but from a derangement of his plans, that officer could not do so until 9 A. M., when Breckenridge and Cleburn assailed General Thomas. His men holding a high point, the key of the position, had constructed a rude defense of rails and logs. Onward came the gray-clad legions and were dashed backward. Again and yet again the brigades advanced en echelon, maddened to desperation, but melted like frost-work before the Union fire. The rebel force was massed for a final charge. Thomas rode along his torn line and steadied it. With a force of heavy artillery the rebel army came on-the Union men stood firm— Palmer and Van Cleve were not to be easily crushed, and their brave men stood against that overwhelming assault until they looked their foemen in the very eyes. For more than two hours the key was held, but they were at length compelled to yield.

As Thomas stood like a lion at bay, General Longstreet had brought his veterans to the contest, and our out-numbered men were in sore peril. Rosecrans began moving troops rapidly from left to right. Thomas, compelled to fall back, had formed a new position, and was holding it and sent for help. Reynolds was sorely pressed, and General Rosecrans issued an order to Wood, concerning which there has been much dispute. The commanding General reports that it was to “close up on General Reynolds.' General Wood supposed he was to march by the left flank, pass General Brannan and go to the relief of Reynolds, and that Davis and Sheridan would shift to the left and close up the line. Wood says Brannan's line was between him and Reynolds. The movement opened a wide gap in our line of battle, and Longstreet ordered Buckner with twelve pieces of artillery to press into it. The order was instantly obeyed; on came the rebels, striking Davis' division in flank and rear, throwing it into confusion, and causing it severe loss of men.

Van Cleve's and Palmer's divisions were struck with equal violence on the right, and thrown into disorder. The army was cut in twain, the right and center were routed, and the day seemed hopelessly lost.

But now Thomas won that title, "The Rock of Chickamauga.” The rout had carried the right and center, with Rosecrans, McCook and Crittenden, back to Chickamauga. Thomas learned the situation from General Garfield, Chief-of-Staff, who made his way, somehow, through the carnage. He bad formed his line crescent shaped, on Missionary Ridge, the right at the Gap, the left on the Lafayette road, a southeast hill at the center forming the key. He formed his brave, bleeding men, with fragments from Sheridan's and other divisions, fronted the Ridge with artillery and waited the coming of Longstreet, who had been the resistless Achilles of the day, and had described a circle of victory, and stood facing his men as at day-break. Kershaw, of Law's division, was ordered to attack the Ridge and did so gallantly but was repulsed. The attack was renewed, and the attacking columns made repeated assaults, but were swept by the fire of our strong positions. At half-past three Longstreet ascertained there was a gap in the hills and through this poured his legions and the early disaster of the day was about to be repeated.

But Granger came with the reserve. The God of battles held that forlorn hope of the Union army in his hand. Steadman's Cavalry Brigade burst upon Longstreet's force. General Halleck thus tells the story: "In the words of General Rosecrans' report, 'swift was the charge, and terrible was the conflict, but the enemy was broken.' A thousand of our brave men killed and wounded paid for its possession, but we held the Gap. Two divisions of Longstreet's corps confronted the position. Determined to take it, they successively came to the assault. A battery of six guns, placed in the gorge* poured death and slaughter into them. They charged within a few yards of the pieces, but our grape and canister, and the leaden hail of musketry, delivered in sparing but terrible volleys from cartridges taken in many instances from the boxes of their fallen companions, was too much even for Longstreet's men. About

*Add to the above a cavalry loss of 1,000-total 16,851, with 36 guns, 20 caissons, 8,550 small arms, 5,834 infantry accoutrements.

sunset they made their last charge, when our men, being out of ammunition, moved on them with the bayonet, and they gave way to return no more. In the meantime the enemy made repeated attempts to carry General Thomas' position on the left and front, but were as often thrown back with great loss. At night-fall the enemy fell back, leaving General Thomas victorious on his hardfought field."

The defeat of the day was saved by the victory of the evening. Our army had been broken, but remained upon the field. The enemy vauntingly announced a great victory, and yet was not able to remain upon the ground.

But it is useless to deny that we had been severely smitten. Rosecrans had failed in his plans; the enemy had broken his battle array; he was pressed back into Chattanooga, but Thomas with his brave associates plucked victory out of the jaws of defeat. Thomas was from thence enrolled among the great generals of the army.

During the night Thomas fell back to Rossville, where on the 21st he offered battle, which was declined by the rebel foe, and on the night of that day, he withdrew into the defences of Chattanooga. The Union loss was reported as follows:

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It was a bloody battle. Rosecrans lost both fame and position, and Bragg, by failing to follow up the victory he claimed, completed the overthrow of his reputation, which had been tottering since the battle of Stone River. He lost at Chickamauga some 18,000. After our forces retired into Chattanooga, he took possession of the passes of Lookout Mountain.

Burnside failed to reach Rosecrans, and Bragg sent Longstreet to crush him. The Union General knew his antagonist, and evacuating Loudon, fell back to Lenoirs, and concentrating his forces, advanced on Loudon, and drew the rebel force two miles, but learning that the principal rebel army was advancing upon him, again fell back. He was overtaken at Campbell's Station and forced to give battle to a vastly superior force, which he held in check until night-fall, when he resumed his retreat, which was conducted in admirable order, and entered Knoxville November 17th, and was besieged by Longstreet, who coolly sat down to starve out the Federal force, and remained until Sherman was sent by General Grant to relieve Burnside, when he raised the siege and retreated to Virginia, Burnside in turn becoming pursuer, but not securing any general engagement.

The share of Illinois soldiers in the strife of Chickamauga was not small. There was a large number of regiments trained to the stern music of Belmont, Donelson, Shiloh and Murfreesboro, and they proved themselves worthy of their record. They bore their eagles gallantly, and braved peril and death. Both officers and men proved themselves worthy compeers of the best and bravest. They were very soon to aid in retrieving the disasters of that field, to break the power of the rebel army in the West, and to bear their tattered banners from the mountain to the sea.

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