|
Monday, March 3, 1884
Chaplain Van Horn the author of
the History of the Army of the Cumberland and the
Life of General
George H. Thomas was in the bank this morning, and
among other
things said that the statement made in the campaign
life of Garfield
to the effect that Garfield was the hero of
Chickamauga, is simply
ridiculous; his presence on the field had no
influence whatever on
the
battle: he made no important suggestion to Thomas, and was
after his return simply a spectator. The claim that he returned at
his own option is untrue. Captain Gaw, who had been ordered by
Rosecrans to guide him and his staff to Chattanooga by the shortest
possible route, took them over the ridges to the Day Valley road and
then said "General this is the direct road to Chattanooga, I trust
you will permit me to return to General Thomas." "Certainly"
Rosecrans replied "tell Thomas" so and so. "But" said Gaw
"would it not be better to send your Chief of Staff with any order
you may have for General Thomas." Thereupon Rosecrans directed
Garfield to return to the field and tell Thomas that he had gone
to Chattanooga to prepare for the reception of the Army when it
should fall back. The conversation between Gaw and Rosecrans
may not be correctly stated, and the order from Rosecrans to
Thomas by Garfield may not be given exactly, but the fact that
Gaw suggested the return of Garfield, and that
Rosecrans ordered
it, is the point about which Van Horn says there is no doubt. Gaw
was of Thomas' staff, not Rosecrans's. It was the thought, possibly,
that a message from the commanding General should be sent by
his chief of staff which led to Garfield's return. There was no
difficulty in returning. The whole right wing, or so much of it as
had abandoned the field, could have returned as Garfield and Gaw
did without encountering opposition. The same may be said of
the troops led off by Negley. |