the army of the cumberland-第40章

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lected　and　the　means　at　once　provided　for　the　crossing。　　As　soon　as　the　crossings　had　been　determined　on；　the　proper　dispositions　were　made　to　begin　the　movement。

The　Tennessee　River；　at　the　various　points　where　our　army　was　to　cross；　is　very　wide；　and；　swollen　by　recent　rains；　was　quite　high　for　that　season　of　the　year。　　The　troops　crossed　the　river　at　four　points。　　As　there　were　not　enough　pontoons　for　two　bridges；　Sheridan　had　commenced　trestlework　for　part　of　one　at　Bridgeport。　　Reynolds　advanced　to　Shellmound；　seizing　the　place。　　Here　he　captured　a　number　of　boats；　and　with　these　and　other　material　picked　up；　he　was　enabled　to　cross　at　that　point；　while　Brannan　crossed　his　division　from　the　mouth　of　Battle　Creek　on　rafts。　　The　main　crossing　of　McCook's　corps　was　at　Caperton's　Ferry；　about　forty　miles　below　Chattanooga；　where　the　pontoon　bridge　was　laid　by　Davis's　division；　after　driving　a　detachment　of　rebel　cavalry　from　the　opposite　side。

The　movement　across　the　river　was　commenced　on　August　29th；　and　completed　on　September　4th。　　Baird；　in　command　of　a　division　of　Thomas's　corps；　crossed　the　river　at　Bridgeport　after　the　repairs　were　completed　to　the　bridge。　　Negley's　division　crossed　at　Caperton's　Ferry。　　The　four　divisions　of　Thomas's　corps　with　great　difficulty　crossed　Sand　Mountain；　and　concentrated　near　Trenton　in　Will's　Valley；　east　of　Sand　Mountain。　　On　September　6th　Negley's　division；　being　in　the　advance；　reached　Johnson's　Crook　where　Beatty's　brigade　was　sent　at　once　up　the　mountain　to　seize　Steven's　Gap。　　Before　proceeding　far　he　met　the　enemy's　pickets；　and；　night　coming　on；　he　went　into　camp　just　west　of　the　gap。　　The　Eighteenth　Ohio　went　a　short　distance　on　the　road　to　the　top　of　Lookout　Mountain；　met　the　enemy's　pickets　and　withdrew。　　The　next　day；　Baird's　division　supporting　Negley；　the　latter　with　two　brigades；　moved　forward；　and　with　his　advance　gained　possession　of　the　top　of　the　mountain；　and　secured　the　forks　of　the　road。　　The　entire　of　Negley's　division　reached　this　point　on　the　9th；　at　the　head　of　Johnson's　Crook；　and　with　one　brigade　held　the　pass　while　another　was　sent　a　short　distance　north　on　the　mountain　to　seize　Cooper's　Gap；　with　a　regiment　in　the　advance　to　occupy　and　hold　the　entrance　on　the　east。　　Another　regiment　was　sent　forward　to　hold　Stevens's　Gap；　which　was　found　heavily　obstructed　with　fallen　timber。　　Negley　still　being　in　the　advance；　moved　the　day　following　across　Missionary　Ridge；　and　took　up　a　position　in　McLemore's　Cove　on　the　road　through　Dug　Gap。　　Here　he　found　the　enemy's　cavalry　drawn　up　in　line；　and　learned　from　citizens　that　the　rebels　were　in　strong　force　concentrated　in　his　front　in　Dug　Gap；　with　infantry；　artillery；　and　cavalry。　　Baird's　division　was　in　supporting　distance　of　Negley。

Early　in　the　morning　of　the　9th　Reynolds　sent　the　Ninety…second　Illinois　（mounted　infantry）　to　make　a　reconnoissance　along　the　top　of　Lookout　Mountain；　to　discover　the　enemy's　movements　and　to　determine　the　rumors　in　regard　to　the　evacuation　of　Chattanooga。　At　11　A。M。　the　regiment　entered　the　town　as　the　rear　of　the　enemy's　column　was　leaving　the　place。　　The　next　day　the　four　divisions　of　the　Fourteenth　Corps　were　in　supporting　distance　of　each　other；　with　Negley　still　in　front　of　Dug　Gap；　the　enemy　holding　the　east　entrance　with　a　heavy　force；　and　the　Gap　full　of　obstructions。　Negley　discovered　early　on　the　following　day　that　his　situation　was　critical；　and　that　he　was　in　danger　of　losing　his　train。　　He　determined　to　fall　back　to　a　strong　position　in　front　of　Stevens's　Gap；　which　movement　he　proceeded　to　execute；　and　succeeded　in　the　face　of　the　enemy　by　his　energy　and　skill；　with　the　prompt　co…operation　of　Baird；　in　securing　his　position　in　front　of　the　gap　without　the　loss　of　a　single　wagon。　　The　next　day　the　location　of　Bragg's　army　at　La　Fayette　with　Johnston's　reinforcements　was　fully　determined；　and　Thomas's　corps　now　awaited　the　movements　of　the　other　troops　with　reference　to　the　concentration　of　the　army。

In　the　meantime　Davis's　and　Johnson's　divisions　of　McCook's　corps；　crossing　the　river　at　Caperton's　Ferry；　moved　over　Sand　Mountain　into　Will's　Valley；　and　thenceDavis　being　in　the　advancemoved　into　and　seized　Winston's　Gap；　some　twenty…five　miles　from　Caperton's　Ferry；　and　about　forty…two　from　Chattanooga。　　Sheridan's　division　crossed　the　river　at　the　railroad　bridge；　moved　through　Trenton；　and　on　the　6th　encamped　twelve　miles　from　Winston's　Gap。　　McCook　sent　several　detachments　on　the　8th　and　9th　to　different　points；　reconnoitering　the　enemy。　　One　went　to　Alpine　and　two　into　Broomtown　Valley；　but　nothing　was　discovered　of　Bragg's　whereabouts。　　On　the　evening　of　the　9th　Rosecrans　sent　orders　to　McCook；　stating　that　the　enemy　had　evacuated　Chattanooga　and　were　retreating　southward；　and　directing　him　to　move　rapidly　upon　Alpine　and　Summerville　in　pursuit；　to　intercept　his　line　of　retreat；　and　to　attack　on　his　flank。　　The　day　following　McCook　reached　Alpine；　where　he　discovered　the　situation。　　The　enemy　had　not　retreated　very　far　from　Chattanooga；　the　exact　location　as　yet　unknown。　　McCook　learned　that　he　could　not　communicate　with　Thomas；　as　his　couriers　could　not　pass　through　the　valley；　occupied　as　it　was　by　the　enemy　in　force；　and　that　his　corps　was　entirely　isolated　at　Alpine。　　That；　had　he　gone　to　Summerville；　he　would　have　been　exposed　to　an　attack　from　the　entire　rebel　army；　which　his　reconnoissance　later　determined　was　concentrated　in　force　near　La　Fayette。　　On　the　following　day　McCook　remained　in　camp　waiting　for　Thomas　to　move　up　on　him。　　He；　however；　sent　his　wagon…train　back　to　the　summit　of　Lookout　Mountain。　　On　the　12th　McCook　waited　in　camp　for　reports　from　the　cavalry　as　to　the　position　and　movements　of　the　enemy。

Crittenden's　corps　had　during　the　time　moved　down　the　Sequatchie　Valley；　in　readiness　for　an　active　campaign。　　He　then　crossed　the　river　at　Bridgeport；　Shell　Mound；　and　Battle　Creek；　and　on　September　4th　his　entire　corps　was　across　the　river。　　He　was　ordered　to　move　up　the　valley　of　Running　Water　Creek　and　Whiteside；　leaving　one　division　on　the　line　of　the　Nashville　and　Chattanooga　Railroad；　and　to　push　forward　as　near　as　possible　to　Chattanooga；　threatening　the　enemy　in　that　direction。　　At　6　A。M。　on　the　9th　Crittenden　was　informed　by　a　despatch　from　Rosecrans　that　Chattanooga　had　been　abandoned　by　the　enemy；　and　that　he　was　to　push　forward　at　once　with　five　day's　rations　and　make　a　vigorous　pursuit。　　During　the　morning　Crittenden　with　Wood's　division　occupied　the　town；　and　Wood　was　placed　in　command。　　Palmer's　and　Van　Cleve's　were　turned　off　south　after　they　passed　the　spur　of　Lookout　Mountain；　and　encamped　at　Rossville；　five　miles　south　of　Chattanooga。　　In　the　afternoon　of　the　same　day　Crittenden　was　ordered　to　leave　a　brigade　at　Chattanooga；　and　with　the　balance　of　his　command　to　pursue　the　enemy　with　the　utmost　vigor；　the　line　of　march　to　be　through　Ringgold　and　on　to　Dalton。　　The　next　day　Crittenden　left　Wagnerwho　had　crossed　the　river　from　the　front　of　the　town　during　the　nightin　command；　and　ordered　forward　Palmer's；　Van　Cleve's；　and　the　two　brigades　of　Wood's　division　in　pursuit；　marching　on　the　Rossville　and　Riggold　road。　　During　the　afternoon　Palmer　reported　the　enemy's　cavalry　strong　on　his　front；　that　he　had　only　been　able　to　march　six　miles；　had　encamped　at　Chickamauga　Creek；　and　that　his　advance　had　been　checked　by　a　charge　of　the　rebel　cavalry。　　That　night　Crittenden　received　several　reports　from　his　front　that　the　enemy　was　in　force　near　La　Fayette；　and　threatening　to　retake　Chattanooga。

During　the　11th；　Wood；　with　his　two　brigades；　was　on　a　reconnoissance　at　Gordon's　Mills；　and　Crittenden　was　ordered　to　occupy　Ringgold　and　report。　　These　movements　determined　to　Rosecrans's　satisfaction　the　position　of　the　enemy　in　force　in　the　vicinity　of　La　Fayette。　He　immediately　ordered　Crittenden　to　close　his　entire　command　upon　Wood；　crossing　as　quickly　as　possible　to　the　Rossville　and　La　Fayette　road；　to　some　point　near　Lee　and　Gordon's　Mills。　　Early　on　the　morning　of　the　12th；　Wilder　was　ordered　back　to　Ringgold　and　directed　to　follow　on　the　line　of　march　of　the　infantry；　covering　the　left　flank。　　Crittenden　succeeded　during　the　day　in　e