Page "James A. Garfield" Paragraph 21

At the Battle of Chickamauga, Rosecrans issued an order which sought to fill a gap in his line, but which actually created one.

As a result, his right flank was routed.

Rosecrans concluded that the battle was lost and headed for Chattanooga to establish a defensive line.

Garfield, however, thought that part of the army had held and, with Rosecrans's approval, headed across Missionary Ridge to survey the Union status.

Garfield's hunch was correct ; his ride became legendary, while Rosecrans ' error reinforced critical opinions about his leadership.

While Rosecrans's army had avoided complete loss, they were left in Chattanooga surrounded by Bragg's army.

Garfield sent a telegram to Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton alerting Washington to the need for reinforcements to avoid annihilation.

As a result, Lincoln and Halleck succeeded in delivering 20, 000 troops to Chattanooga by rail within nine days.

One of Grant's early decisions upon assuming command of the Union Army was to replace Rosecrans with George H. Thomas.

Garfield was issued orders to report to Washington, where he was promoted to Major General ; shortly thereafter he gave an unambiguously abolitionist speech in Maryland.

He was unsure of whether he should return to the field or assume the Ohio congressional seat he had won in October 1862.

After a discussion with Lincoln, he decided in favor of the latter and resigned his commission.

According to historian Jean Edward Smith, Grant and Garfield had a " guarded relationship ", since Grant put Thomas in charge of the Army of the Cumberland, rather than Garfield, after Rosecrans was dismissed.