the army of the cumberland-第51章
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the road over Lookout Mountain were withdrawn； and this point was immediately occupied by the enemy and strengthened by extensive works； Bragg sending Longstreet's corps into Lookout Valley to occupy the extreme left of the besieging line； and to cut off all communication with Bridgeport； on the south bank of the Tennessee River。 The lines were now fully occupied from the river on the north to the bank south of the town； and the rebel army in force on our front。 To the rear the only road that was open was over Walling's Ridge； through Sequatchie Valley； down to Bridgeport； a distance of sixty miles； the short road on the north side down to Bridgeport being closed by the rebel batteries and sharp…shooters； while their troops holding the road to the south of the river compelled all supplies of every kind to be hauled over these sixty miles of road。 To thus supply the army during good weather was a very great undertaking； even with the teams of the various commands in good condition； but with the rainy season that soon set in； and the incessant hauling wearing out the mules； the daily rations for the army were constantly growing less and less。 On October 1st； Wheeler crossing the Tennessee with Martin's and Wharton's divisions of cavalry moved up the Sequatchie Valley upon our line of supplies at Anderson cross…roads。 Here he captured a large number of trains loaded with rations for the front； burned over three hundred wagons； and killed a large number of animals。 Colonel E。 M。 McCook with his cavalry division； moving rapidly from Bridgeport； overtook Wheeler on the 2d； and drove him with great loss in a sabre charge from the trains； recapturing some eight hundred mules。 After this Wheeler was driven from Shelbyville on the 6th by Mitchell's cavalry； and on the 8th from Farmington by Crook； and from here he re…crossed the Tennessee with a small portion of his command； the rest having been killed or captured。 This loss in wagons； with the roads becoming almost impassable by reason of the heavy rains and the growing weakness of the animals； lessened daily the amount of supplies brought into the town； so that our troops were suffering for food and were in danger of being starved out of Chattanooga。 This was what Bragg was quietly waiting for。 To supply an army some forty thousand strong； by wagon transportation over rough mountain roads a distance of sixty miles； Bragg knew was an impossibility； and that unless other lines were opened up； the evacuation of the place was only a question of time； and he could then walk in and take undisturbed possession。 As the forage became reduced； the artillery horses； for which there was no immediate need； had their rations cut off； and they died in large numbers； starved to death。 The supplies grew so small that parts of crackers and corn dropped in handling packages were eagerly seized and eaten to stay the demands of hunger； and still the pressure was growing daily； and no one knew how it would ultimately end。 However； not for an instant was the idea entertained of abandoning the town； to say nothing of the extreme hazard of attempting that； in the face of the strong force of the enemy on our front。 The Army of the Cumberland had won Chattanooga and there they proposed remaining。
Immediately after the battle of Chickamauga； the authorities at Washington sent hurried orders to Burnside； Hurlbut； and Sherman to move forward without delay to Rosecrans's assistance； and on September 24th the latter was informed that 〃Hooker； with some fifteen thousand men；〃 was en route from the East as fast as rails could take him； and that he would be in Nashville in about seven days。 While reinforcements were the thing needed before the battle； now the pressing demand of the hour was the opening of the line of communication to the rear； over which adequate supplies could be forwarded to the troops at the front。 To add to the number of men there simply increased the difficulties of the situation。
On the arrival of Hooker with the Eleventh and Twelfth Army Corps at Nashville； Rosecrans directed him to take position on the line of the Chattanooga Railroad； securing that road from the attacks of the rebel cavalry while supplies were being accumulated at Stevenson awaiting the opening of communication with the army at Chattanooga。 Without driving back the entire of Bragg's army in Lookout and Chattanooga Valleys； it was impossible to use the railroad from Bridgeport east in bringing up supplies。 The wagon…trains could no longer be depended on； and； under the spur of necessity； Rosecrans was preparing a plan to utilize the river with boats。 A new one had been built at Bridgeport and another captured at Chattanooga had been repaired。 By thus using the river he could secure his supplies over a wagon…road of only eight miles from Kelley's Ferry； via Brown's Ferry。 The course of the Tennessee River at Chattanooga is due west； after passing the town it flows south to the foot of Lookout Mountain； from which point it then sweeps； after a short curve to the northwest； due north； forming here what is known as 〃Moccasin Point。〃 Crossing the river at the town； a road leads southwest across this point on to the other side； where the river； as it sweeps north； is reached at Brown's Ferry。 Shortly after passing Brown's Ferry； the river again makes a sharp bend to the south； forming another point of land running northwardly。 Across this point on the east bank； as the river passes south； is Kelley's Ferry。 At the extreme angle of this bend the river rushes through the mountains； which here crowd down closely； forming a narrow channel through which the waters rush headlong。 This chasm is known as the 〃Suck。〃 The velocity of the water is so great that steamers in high water cannot stem the current at this point； which necessitated the landing of supplies at Kelley's Ferry； and then hauling them over land across the bridge at Brown's Ferry to Chattanooga。
Immediately after the battle； under orders from the War Department； the Twentieth and Twenty…first Army Corps were consolidated and designated the Fourth Army Corps and Gordon Granger was placed in command。 McCook and Crittenden were relieved from the command of these corps and ordered North to await a 〃Court of Inquiry；〃 〃upon their conduct on September 19th and 20th。〃
By War Department order of October 16th； the Departments of the Ohio； the Cumberland； and the Tennessee were constituted 〃The Military Division of the Mississippi；〃 under the command of Grant。 By the same order Rosecrans was relieved of the command of the Department and Army of the Cumberland； and Thomas was assigned to that command。 Halleck； in his report of operations for the year 1863； says this change was made on the recommendation of General Grant。 These orders were promulgated on the 19th。
On Rosecrans's return from a visit to Brown's Ferry and Williams's Island on the 19th； where he had been with William F。 Smith； his chief engineer； making his plans for bringing supplies to that point； he found the order awaiting him relieving him of his command。 Quietly making his preparations for his departure that night over the mountains to Stevenson； he wrote out his farewell order； to be printed and issued the next day； and； without even bidding his staff good…bye； placed Thomas in command and started for his home in Cincinnati。 Rosecrans； in the summer of 1862； was under Grant at Iuka and Corinth。 Here some hasty criticism made by him brought him into collision with Grant； which now bore fruit。
When it was known that Rosecrans had been relieved； and that he had left the army for the north； there was universal regret that the troops that had loved and trusted him should no longer follow his skillful leadership。 Every soldier in his army felt that he had a personal friend in 〃Old Rosy。〃 His troops never for a moment faltered in their devotion to him or confidence in him。 They felt that he had been made the victim of a foolish interpretation of an order that brought ruin and disaster upon his army； for which he was not responsible； but for which he was made to suffer。
General Rosecrans； to his subordinates； was one of the most genial of men。 Kind and good…natured； he at times failed
