, October 24,
1862, the State of Tennessee east of the Tennessee River and Northern
Alabama and Georgia became the Department of the Cumberland, and
General W. S. Rosecrans was assigned to its command, his troops to
constitute the Fourteenth Army Corps.(36) Buell was, at the same
date, ordered to turn over his command to Rosecrans. The latter
relived Buell at Louisville October 30th. Buell retired to
Indianapolis to await orders. He was never again assigned to active
duty, though he held his Major-General's commission until May 23,
1864. He was not without talent, and possessed much technical
military learning; was a good organizer and disciplinarian, but
was better qualified for an adjutant's office than a command in
the field. Many things said of him were untrue or unjust, yet the
fact remains that he failed as an independent commander of an army
during field operations. With great opportunities, he did not
achieve _success_--the only test of greatness in war--possibly in
any situation in life. He was not, however, the least of a class
developed and brought to the front by the exigencies of war, who
were not equal to the work assigned them, or who could not or did
not avail themselves of the opportunities presented.

Rosecrans, while in command of the Army of the Cumberland, won the
battle of Stone's River (December 31, 1862); then pushed Bragg across
the Tennessee and fought the great battle of Chickamauga, September
19 and 20, 1863. He was relieved at Chattanooga by Thomas, October
19, 1863, and was assigned to the Department of Missouri, January
28, 1864. In this new field Rosecrans displayed much activity and
performed good service, but he was relieved again, December 9,
1864, and thereafter was on waiting orders at Cincinnati.
Notwithstanding some mistakes, his character as a great soldier
and commanding general will stand the severe scrutiny of military
critics. He was a man of many attainments, a fine conversationalist,
and a genial gentleman who drew to him many devoted friends.

This chapter, already of greater length than was originally designed,
must here end, as I must turn to other campaigns, armies, and fields
of battle more nearly connected with my further career in the War
of the Rebellion.

( 1) _War Records_, vol. xvi., Part I., pp. 838-841.

( 2) _Ibid_., Part II., p. 290.

( 3) _War Records_, vol. x., Part I., p. 910.

( 4) _Ibid_., vol. xvi., Part II., p. 404.

( 5) _Batt