THE COAST ARTILLERY JOURNAL - Air Defense Artillery

238 THE COAST ARTILLERY JOURNAL
accident a coordinated attack, whereupon the crest of the ridge was captured,
and the center of Bragg's position was won. 74 The Confederates gave way
in panic.75
Meanwhile, Hooker with three divisions had reached the pass at Rossville.
He had been delayed four or five hours due to the necessity of forcing a crossing
of Chattanooga Creek against a small Confederate detachment.76 Upon his
arrival, he turned Breckinridge's wing and, almost unopposed, advanced northward,
with one division on top of the ridge and one on each side, until he connected
with the right of Thomas's line about sunset. 77
On the Confederate right wing, Hardee moved a division of Cleburne's
troops under General Cheatham across and at right angles to the ridge, facing
south, and maintained his position and troops intact. 78
General Bates, under orders from Bragg, placed his division, which was the
only Confederate division south of Cheatham's not entirely routed and out of
hand, to hold a position covering the roads for the retreat upon the depot at
Chickamauga. This he effectually did while the soldiers of the routed left and
center made their way to the rear in great disorder.79
Hardee was then ordered to withdraw the right of the line which he had
held against all of Sherman's attacks. This he did during the night in good
order. There was no attempt at pursuit by Sherman during the night.80
Upon reaching Chickamauga the Confederate army continued its retreat
to Ringgold.81
On the morning after the battle, Sherman was sent in pursuit by way of
Chickamauga Station, while Hooker marched by way of Ringgold. The country
and roads were fully known by the Confederates, but equally unknown by the
Union forces, and all bridges over the Chickamauga River were destroyed by
the Confederates in their retreat. However, the river was fordable at several
places.82
The Confederates reached Ringgold, where Clebourne's division checked
the Union pursuit on the twenty-seventh. The Confederates then withdrew to
Dalton, and the pursuit was suspended on the twenty-eighth at a distance of
about twenty miles from Chattanooga.83
Grant states: "Had it not been for the imperative necessity of relieving
Burnside (at Knoxville) I would have pursued the broken and demoralized
retreating enemy as long as supplies could have been found in the country."84
The Union army lost 757 killed, 4529 wounded, and 330 missing, total 5616.
The Confederate loss in killed and wounded was less than the Union owing to
the fact that they were protected by their entrenchments and their panic was
soon covered by darkness, but their loss in prisoners was large, amounting to
about 5000.85
V'55 RR 35, 666.
""55 RR 27, 665, 667.
"'55 RR 34, 318.
TI55 RR 319, 665.