September 23, 1863
---Gideon
Welles muses on the current situation---that is, how Rosecrans is getting
bottled up in Chattanooga, and Meade is not moving forward in Virginia, even
though everyone knows that Lee is weakened to the tune of at least two of his
best divisions---and how the General-in-Chief, Henry W. Halleck, appears to be
doing nothing:
No offensive movements here; no assistance has
been rendered Rosecrans. For four weeks the Rebels have been operating to
overwhelm him, but not a move has been made, a step taken, or an order given,
that I can learn. Halleck has done nothing, proposed nothing, and is now just
beginning to take measures to reinforce Rosecrans. Has he the mind, energy, or
any of the qualities or capabilities for the important position assigned him?
---In
New York City, George Templeton Strong records his reactions to the news of
Chickamauga:
News Monday night that Rosecrans had been badly
defeated at “Chickamauga Creek,” if that’s its name, and had fallen back on
Chattanooga, after a two-days’ battle.
It looked like a grave disaster and perhaps it is, but later news looks
better. He has certainly had a severe
fight, suffered heavy loss, and encountered a serious check. But rebel dispatches speak in subdued
tone. It was probably a desperate but
decisive conflict, and every battle in which the rebels come short of complete
victory is equivalent to a rebel defeat just now.
No comments:
Post a Comment