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and a large supply of excellent ammunition. The city and harbor of Charleston are now completely covered by my guns. I have the honor to be, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

"Q. A. GILLMORE, Brigadier-General Commanding.”

General Quincy Adams Gillmore, the energetic officer who had thus reduced three of the most formidable forts in the possession of the Rebels on the coast, was born at Black River, Lorain county, Ohio, in 1825. He graduated at West Point, first in his class, in 1849, and was assigned to the corps of engineers, becoming first lieutenant in 1856, and captain in 1861. From 1849 to 1852 he was employed on the fortifications of Hampton Roads, Virginia, and was then, for four years, assistant instructor of practical engineering at West Point, during the last year of which period he was also quartermaster and treasurer of the Military Academy. From 1856 to 1861 he was employed in New York city in purchasing and forwarding supplies for fortifications. In October, 1861, he was appointed chief engineer of the expedition against the southern coast under General Thomas W. Sherman. He superintended the construction of the fortifications at Hilton Head, and planned and carried out the operations for the capture of Fort Pulaski, an account of which he published in 1863. He was appointed brigadier-general of volunteers, April 28th, 1862, and after serving for a little time in South Carolina, was assigned in September, 1862, to the command of the district of Western Virginia, in the army of the Ohio, and subsequently, to a division in the army of Kentucky. On the 30th of March, 1863, he defeated Pegram, near Somerset, Kentucky. On the 12th of June, 1863, he was appointed to the command of the Department of the South, and accomplished the results which we have described above. His siege of Charleston he has described in a very elaborate work, published in January, 1865. In May, 1864, he was ordered with the tenth corps to the army of the James, and made one or two attacks upon Petersburg, which proved unsuccessful, and was engaged in other operations in that vicinity. Sent again to the Department of the South, in February, 1865, he was in command there at the evacuation of Charleston, and occupied it at once with his troops. He is now, September, 1865, commander of the Department of South Carolina. The forts on Morris island being now in the possession of the Union forces, and Fort Sumter so thoroughly reduced that it could offer no effectual resistance to the passage of a naval force, the fourth item in General Gillmore's plan was apparently ready for execution, viz., the passage of Admiral Dahlgren's squadron up the harbor to bombard the city. It was found, however, that the batteries, redoubts, and forts, were so formidable, and the obstructions by piles, wire entanglements, and torpedoes, so dangerous, that the admiral was unwilling, and perhaps wisely so, to risk his valuable ships where the peril was so greatly dispropor

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tioned to the result to be attained. General Gillmore was therefore obliged to content himself with a bombardment of the city, and rendered the lower portion of it nearly untenable. On the 7th of September, an expedition was fitted out from the fleet, consisting of about four hundred men, sailors and marines, to make a night assault on Fort Sumter, and if possible capture its garrison. It proved a failure, three of the boats being sunk, a considerable number of the men killed or wounded, and one hundred and thirty taken prisoners. On the 5th of October, the Rebels made an attempt to explode a torpedo under the New Ironsides, but failed, and the commander and inventor of the torpedo boat was picked up by the crew of the Ironsides. The Weehawken (monitor) which had captured the Atlanta, was sunk in Charleston harbor on the 6th of December, in a storm of some severity, by the leaving open of her hatches, and perhaps the improper stowing of her ammunition.

Rear-Admiral John A. Dahlgren, who was in command of the South Atlantic blockading squadron from July 6th, 1863, to March, 1865, is a native of Pennsylvania, born about the year 1810, and entered the United States naval service as midshipman on the 1st of February, 1826; was promoted to be a lieutenant in March, 1837, a commander in Septem tember, 1855, a captain in 1861, and a rear-admiral, February 7th, 1863, He was detached in 1846, for special service in the ordnance department, having given for years special attention to this subject, and for a number of years subsequent to 1847, he was engaged in important experiments in relation to the form, size, and materials of guns and projectiles. He is the inventor of a shell gun of high reputation, which bears his name, of a very efficient armament for boats, (bronze howitzers,) and light field carriages of iron for these howitzers. He has published several works on ordnance, between 1850 and 1856. Although but eight and and a half years of his thirty-eight years of service in the navy had been spent afloat, yet on his desire for active service, the Government made him commander of the South Atlantic blockading squadron, believing that his skill in ordnance matters, and his strong faith in the monitor iron-clads, would lead him to undertake the work they desired, of capturing Charleston by means of armed ships. This hope was destined to disappoinment, though, perhaps, from no fault or timidity on the part of Admiral Dahlgren. The Rebel officers stationed at Charleston acknowledge that they desired the navy to make the attempt, as they were confident that with the appliances they had at command, they could have destroyed the entire fleet before they had reached the vicinity of the city.

Charleston, though destined eventually to fall before the military skill of the Union commanders, was not yet ready for its downfall, and both General Gillmore and Admiral Dahlgren, after much gallant fighting, and a record of the highest honor, were compelled to acknowledge that the capture of the Rebel city was not within their power.

CHAPTER LII.

THE DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND-ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND IN MOTION-THE STRENGTH AND POSITION OF THE TWO ARMIES-TOPOGRAPHY OF THE COUNTRY OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE GENERAL ROSECRANS' TACTICS-THE MOVEMENT BY THE LEFT FLANK-ITS COMPLETE SUCCESS-MANCHESTER, DECHERD, COWAN, SHELBYVILLE, AND TULLAHOMA TAKEN BRAGG'S ARMY DRIVEN EASTWARD TO UNIVERSITY, AND SWEDEN'S COVE, and THENCE TO CHATTANOOGA-THE RAILROADS PUT IN ORDER-TOPOGRAPHY OF THE REGION AROUND CHATTANOOGA-THE MOVEMENT OF THE UNION ARMY TOWARD CHATTANOOGA -ROSECRANS DETERMINES TO OUTFLANK BRAGG'S POSITION-ROUTE OF THE SEVERAL CORPS-PERIL OF MCCOOK'S CORPS-THE CONCENTRATION OF TROOPS AT MCLAMORE'S COVE-PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE-THE FIRST DAY OF THE BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA -THE SECOND DAY-THE LINE BROKEN AND SEVEN BRIGADES CUT OFF-GENERAL ROSE CRANS AT CHATTANOOGA-GENERAL THOMAS FIGHTS TILL SUNSET AND REPULSES THE ENEMY -SKETCH OF GENERAL THOMAS-RESULTS OF THE BATTLE-MCCOOK AND CRITTENDEN RELIEVED AND THEIR CORPS CONSOLIDATED-GENERAL THOMAS SUCCEEDS GENERAL ROSECRANS-PERILOUS CONDITION OF THE ARMY-GENERAL GRANT PUT IN COMMAND OF THE GRAND MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI-REINFORCEMENTS ORdered up.

AFTER the battle of Stone river, both the Union and the Rebel armies were left in a condition of exhaustion, from which, under the circumstances, it required several months for them to recover. The attention of the great military leaders was attracted in other directions: to the east, where the bloody fields of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg were fought, and to the Mississippi, where Vicksburg and Port Hudson were undergoing a siege which would eventuate in the grandest success of the war thus far. No reinforcements could be spared by either side to the armies lying near Murfreesboro, and their operations were confined to raids and expeditions, of some of which we have already given an account. The loss of Streight's cavalry weakened considerably General Rosecrans' cavalry force, and it required some months to bring this indispensable arm of the service up to the commander's necessities. The general-in-chief, and the Secretary of War, not thoroughly familiar with the very difficult topographical character of the country between Murfreesboro and Chattanooga and the necessity of a very strong cavalry force to a successful advance, became impatient at General Rosecrans' delay, and their urgency, and the irritable tone of their letters, provoked a corresponding irritation on the part of General Rosecrans, who was fully informed both of the character of the country, and the position and strength of his adversary.

Having at last, by commendable diligence and energy, succeeded in bringing his army up to the best possible condition, General Rosecrans ordered a general advance on the 24th of June, and so arranged his movements as to compel Bragg to come out of his strong defences and give battle, or evacuate them and retreat upon Chattanooga. That city, a great railroad

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centre, and commanding the passes of Lookout mountain and Mission Ridge, and being the gateway also to East Tennessee from the south, was Rosecrans' ultimate objective, and he had not ordered an advance until he saw the way clear to its capture and occupation; not indeed, without some hard fighting, but as the result of a severe and protracted struggle. The two armies at this time varied but little in numbers, Rosecrans having probably a small superiority in infantry, and Bragg in cavalry. The region of Middle Tennessee, south of Murfreesboro, is broken and hilly, the land rising into high and infertile plateaus, which have a spongy soil, that under the influence of heavy rains becomes almost like quicksand. These plateaus or barrens are approached by a few narrow, diffi. cult, rocky passes, which afford strong natural fortifications to the army holding possession of them. Two affluents of the Tennessee, Duck and Elk rivers, cross these rocky barrens from east to west, in nearly parallel lines, about twenty-five miles apart, and both flow through deep channels, with high, rocky, and precipitous banks.

The Union army lay in the immediate vicinity of Murfreesboro, with its reserves toward Nashville; the Rebel army occupied a strong position north of Duck river, the infantry extending from Shelbyville to Wartrace, while their cavalry covered both the right and left wings, extending from Wartrace to McMinnsville, and on the left from Shelbyville to Columbia and Spring Hill. Their immediate base was Tullahoma, situated about midway between Duck and Elk rivers, a strongly fortified position, where Bragg had his headquarters. Liberty and Hoover's gaps, two of the passes through the mountains to which we have already alluded, were held by them with strong detachments. Through these two gaps passed the only macadamized roads leading southward from Murfreesboro, and the only other roads having a southerly direction, were rough dirt roads, difficult of passage, and after heavy rains, nearly or quite impassable by heavy wagons or artillery trains. The Rebels also held possession of the railroad from Tullahoma to Murfreesboro and McMinnsville. General Rosecrans' design was to compel his adversary to evacuate these positions by a movement on the left flank, while he demonstrated at the same time on the right. The movement was wisely planned, and was completely successful. Granger's small corps, and Sheridan's division of McCook's, moved to Salem and Middleton, and thus threatened Shelbyville directly, while Johnson's and Davis's divisions of the same corps, passed down the Wartrace road to Liberty gap, which, after a brief action, they captured and held. Meanwhile, Thomas's and Crittenden's corps were moving down on the left, having Manchester, Decherd, and Cowan, for their objectives. Thomas's corps moved on the Manchester road, directly to Hoover's gap, a strongly fortified pass, and having beyond it a formidable defile two miles in length, known as Mott's Hollow, and after a gallant struggle, succeeded in driving the enemy out of both, and on the 27th of June pushed

on to Manchester. Most of Crittenden's corps, and part of McCook's, arrived at Manchester on the 28th and 29th of June, while General Rosecrans had sent forward a cavalry and an infantry brigade to destroy the railroad bridge over the Elk river at Estill Spring, and tear up the railroad from Decherd to Cowan, to check and embarrass their retreat. They did not succeed in destroying the bridge, but broke up the railroad for a little distance.

The Union cavalry on the right, supported by Granger's corps, had not only demonstrated against Shelbyville, but finding the opposition weaker than they expected, after a brief action, drove the enemy to and through that place, and captured a large supply of stores and ammunition, and several guns.

On the 30th of June, General Rosecrans had completed his arrange ments for attacking Tullahoma in front and rear, and issued orders to assault it the next morning, but during the night Bragg evacuated it with his army. Occupying the place at once, Negley's and Rousseau's divisions of Thomas's corps were sent forward to harass the enemy, and engage them at Bethpage bridge. After a short skirmish, the Rebels withdrew behind their intrenchments, south of Elk river. The Union troops were constantly in motion for the next two days, and gave the enemy no op portunity to destroy the railroad, or to burn the bridges thoroughly. They at last succeeded in driving them from the railroad completely, and as they took to the broken country eastward toward University and Sweden's cove, where further pursuit was exceedingly difficult, they reluctantly abandoned it. During this whole period of nine days, the rain had been constant and drenching, and it continued for eight days longer. The effect on these barrens was to turn the roads into quicksands, and for several days the supply and ammunition trains were completely stalled in the mud. Bragg made his way, as best he could, with his defeated and dispirited troops, to Chattanooga, burning the bridges behind him, and commenced fortifying his position, and throwing up defensive works along the Tennessee, at every ford above and below Chat tanooga, for fifty or sixty miles. The losses of the army of the Cumber land in this flanking movement, wêre eighty-five killed and wounded, and thirteen missing. The Rebel losses in killed and wounded have never been published, but the Union troops captured sixteen hundred and thirtyfour prisoners, eight cannon, many hundred small arms, and large quantities of quartermasters' and commissary stores.

General Rosecrans deemed it necessary, in order to facilitate the bring ing forward his supplies, and move his troops with rapidity, to repair thoroughly the railroad from Nashville and Murfreesboro to Stevenson, Alabama, the point of junction of the Nashville and Chattanooga with the Memphis and Charleston railroad, a place which, for the time, he could use to advantage as a secondary base. This point was thirty-seven

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