the terrible mental strain that had been on him during the week
just past, of which for two nights in succession his anxiety for
McCook was so great as to prevent his sleeping. During the past
week the peril of his army had weighed on him to the extent that
his nervous system was stretched to its utmost tension. When he
saw the rout of his right, supposing that it extended to his entire
army, the blow was so strong that it staggered him. A short time
after Rosecrans arrived, McCook and Crittenden, also caught in the
drift from the right, reached headquarters. While seated in the
adjutant-general's office comparing notes with each other as to
the events of the day, Rosecrans received a despatch from Garfield,
who had reached the front. Hastily reading it over he exclaimed,
"Thank God!" and read the despatch aloud. In it Garfield announced
his safe arrival at the front, that he was then with Thomas, who had
seven divisions intact with a number of detachments, that Thomas
had just repulsed a heavy assault of the rebels, and felt confident
that he could successfully resist all attacks against his position.
Waving this over his head Rosecrans said, "This is good enough,
the day isn't lost yet." Turning to McCook and Crittenden he said,
"Gentlemen, this is no place for you. Go at once to your commands
at the front." He then directed Wagner, in command of the post,
to take his entire brigade, stop the stragglers and all others
from the front on the edge of the town, and ordered rations and
ammunition for his troops to be at once sent out to meet them at
Rossville.

During the heavy fighting of the 20th, Thomas was the only general
officer on the field of rank above a division commander. Learning
some time later in the day of the disaster on our right, he gathered
his troops together from all parts of the field to the position