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Chickamauga, but
Longstreet himself, with the rest of his command, did not arrive till midnight after the first day's battle.
A brief extract from his official report is pertinent:
‘Our train reached
Catoosa platform, near
Ringgold.
about two o'clock in the afternoon of the 19th of September.
As soon as our horses came up, about four o'clock, I started with
Colonel Sorrel and
Colonel Manning of my staff to find the headquarters of the
Commanding General.
We missed our way and did not report until near eleven o'clock at night. * * * * As soon as the day of the 20th had dawned, I rode to the front to find my troops.
The line was arranged from right to left as follows:
Stewart's,
Johnson's,
Hinman's, and
Preston's divisions,
Hood's division (of which only three brigades were up), was in rear of
Jackson, Kenshaw's and
Humphries' brigades.
McLaws' division was ordered forward from
Ringgold the night before, but did not get up.
General McLaws had not arrived from
Richmond.’
The impression sought to be created that
Rosecrans' army was driven off the field is erroneous.
Soon after four o'clock of the second day,
General Thomas having received notice from
General Rosecrans that rations and ammunition would be sent to meet him at
Rossville, determined to hold the field until night and then withdraw and take possession of the passes there.
At half after five he began the movement, and the divisions which commenced to withdraw at that time were attacked at the moment, but retired without confusion or serious losses.
The last of the line maintained its position until after nightfall, and retired after the fighting for the day had ended.
Of the close of the battle and its results
General Rosecrans in his official report, says:
‘At nightfall the enemy had been repulsed along the whole line, and sunk into quietude, without attempting to renew the combat.
General Thomas considering the excessive labors of the troops, the scarcity of ammunition, food, and water, and having orders from the General commanding to use his discretion, determined to retire on Rossville, where they arrived in good order, took post before morning, receiving supplies from Chattanooga, and offering the enemy battle during all the next day, and repulsing his ’
