. A brief history of the United States . Federal line became broken from the movement of troops tohelp the left wing, then hard pressed. Longstreet seized theopportunity, pushed a brigade into the gap, and swept theFederal right and centre from the field. The rushing crowdof fugitives bore Rosecrans away. In this crisis ofthe battle all depended on the left, under Thomas. If thatyielded, the army would be utterly routed. All through thelong afternoon, the entire Confederate army surged againstit. But Thomas held fast.* At night he deliberately with-drew to Chattanooga, picking up five
. A brief history of the United States . Federal line became broken from the movement of troops tohelp the left wing, then hard pressed. Longstreet seized theopportunity, pushed a brigade into the gap, and swept theFederal right and centre from the field. The rushing crowdof fugitives bore Rosecrans away. In this crisis ofthe battle all depended on the left, under Thomas. If thatyielded, the army would be utterly routed. All through thelong afternoon, the entire Confederate army surged againstit. But Thomas held fast.* At night he deliberately with-drew to Chattanooga, picking up five hundred prisoners onthe way. The Union army, however,defeated in the field, was now shutup in its intrenchments. Braggoccupied the hills commanding thecity, and cut off its garrison was threatened withstarvation, f Battle of Chattanooga J (, 25). — Grant having been ap-pointed successor to Rosecrans, im-mediately hastened to Chattanooga. §Affairs soon wore a different look,corps from the Army of the Potomac;. VICINITY OF CHATTANOOGA. Hooker came with twoand Sherman hastened * Thomas was thenceforth styled the Rock of Chickamanga. He was in com-mand of men as brave as himself. Col. George, of the Second Minnesota, beingasked. How long can you hold this pass ? replied, Until the regiment is musteredout of service. t Starvation had so destroyed the animals that there were not artillery horsesenough to take a battery into action. The number of mules that perished wasgraphically indicated by one of the soldiers of the army of the Tennessee : The mudwas BO deep that we could not travel by the road, but we got along pretty well bystepping from mule to mule as they lay dead by the way. —Draper. t In the Cherokee language. The Hawks Nest. § Thomas held command after Rosecrans left, and Grant was afraid he might sur-render before reinforcements could reach him, and therefore telegraphed him to holdfiist. The characteristic reply was, • I will stay till I
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