Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-12-03
DETAILS BY GEN. MEIGS.


HEADQUARTERS, CHATTANOOGA, Nov. &c, 1868.
To Hon. Z. M. Stanton, Secretary IF Var
SIR: On the 23d instant, at III 80 A. NJ Gen. Grant
ordered demonstration against Mission Ridge to develop
the force holding it, The troops marched out formed in
order, advanced in line of battle, if parade The
rebels watched the formation and movement from their
picket lines and rifle pits and from the submits Of Mission
Ridge, FIVE hundred feet above u.s. and thought it
review and drill openly and deliberately, regularly
all done. As the line advanced preceded by Skin
mishes, and at half past two O'Clock p NJ reached
picket lines, they opened rafting voley upon the rebel
pickets, who replied and into their advanced line
rifle pits After them went skrmishers, and into
Them along the centre of the line Of twenty five thousand
troops which Gen. Thomas had quickly displayed
Until opened fire, prisoners assert that they thought
the whole movement a review and general drill and
that it too late to send to their camps for reinforce
ments, and that they overwhelmed by force of
bers. 1t surprise in open daylight At three P. NJ
the important advanced position of Orchard Knob and the
lines right and left in possession, and arrange
ments ordered for holding them during the night
The next day at daylight Gen. Thomas had five thou
sand men across the Tennessee and established its
south bank, and commenced the construction of pom
toon bridge about six miles above Chattanooga The
bel steamer Dunbar, repaired at the right moment,
dered effective aid in this crossing carrying over six
thousand by nghfall Gen. Thomas had seized the
extremity of Mission Ridge nearest the river and
enrenching himself Gen. Howard with brigade opened
communication with him from Chattanooga the south
side of the river Skirmshng and cannonadng continued
all the day the left and centre Gen. Hooker scaled
the slopes of Lookout Mountain from the valley Of Look
out Greek drove the rebels around the point captured
two thousand prisoners and established himself high
up the mountain side, in full view OF Chattanooga This
ra.ed the blockade and now steamers are ordered from
IN hay a rnn 10 IN Kal-
leys Ferry, whence ten miles of hauling mountain
rosd and twice the Tennessee ponoon bridges
brought us supplies. ALI night tue point of Mission
Ridge, the RENE left, and the side of Lookout
Mountain the extreme right bszed with the camp fires
of loyal troops Tne day had been Of dense mist and
rain aud much of Hookers battle fought above the
clouds which concealed N from view, but from
which his musketry heard. At nghtfall the sky
cleared, and the full moon-the traitors doom-shone
upon the beat tifu scene. Until A. Nj. twinking sparks
upon the mountain side showed that picket skirmshug
going When it ceased brigade sent from Chat
tanooga crossed the Creek opened COM
munic alton with Hooker. Gen Grants headquart RS
during the afternoon of the 23d and the day of Gath
were IN Woods redoubt, except when in the If
the day he rode along tho advance line vs ing the head
quarters Of the several commanders in Chattanooga
Valley
At daylight the 25th the stars and rpes were de-
serted the peak of Lookout The rebels hsd
the mountain. Hooker mored to descend the mountain
and srik Mission Ridge at the Rossvle Gap to sweep
on both rides and on its summit The rebel TROOPS were
it light enough streaming BY regiments
Drgades along the summit OF Mission Ridge,
either concentrating the right to overwhem Sherman
marching for the railroad and the siege They
had tied the Valley Of Chattanooga; would they
abandon that of Chcksmauga The twenty Founders
and four anda-quarter rifles of Woods redoubt opened
on Mission Ridge. Orchard Knob paid its compliments
to the Ridge which, with rifed PARROTS answered aud
the cannonade thus commenced continued all day Shot
and shell screamed from Orchard Knob to Mission Ridge
from Mission Ridge to Orchard Knob, and from Woods
redonbt the heads Of Generals Grant and Thomas
and their stats who were with US in this favorable posi-
tinn xXha AhnI hiatt ha u,
phitheatre The headquarters under fire all day
Cannonading AID muskery were heard from General
Sherman Gen Howard marched the Eler enth Corps to
join him Thomas sent out skirmshers who drove in the
rebel pickes and chased them into their
and at the foot of Mission Ridge sherman an assault
against Braggs right, enrenche1 high knob next t,
that on which Sherman himself lay fortified. TIE assault
was galantly made The force making il reached the edge
OF the crest held its ground for it seemed to me an hour
but was bloodily rtpnsed by reserves general ad-
vance was ordered, and strong line Of skirmshers .o
lowed by depoyed line OF battle some two miles in
length At the signal of his shots from the head
quarters Orchard Knob the column moved rapidly and
orderly forward The rebel pIckets discharged their
muskets and into their rhepits Our skirmishers
followed on their heels The h1e Of battle was not far
behind and we saw the gray rebels out of the long
line OF the repits in numbers which surprised US and
over the base OF the hill few turned aud fred their
pieces but the greater number collected into the many
roads which cross obquey up it, aeep face and went
10 The Top Some regiments pressed and swarmed up
the steep sides OF the Ridge Here and there color
advanced beyond the lines.
The attempt appeared most dangerous but the advance
was supported and the line ordered storm the heights
upon which not less than forty pieces Of artillery and no
one knew how muskt stood ready to the
ssssiaDts With cheers answering to cheers the men
swarned upwards They gathered to the point least diff
cult OF assent aud the line broken Color after color
was planted the summit while musket and cannon
vomited their thunder upon them weLdIrected shot
from Orchard Knob exploded rebel caisson the
NIT and the gun gaopiDg to the right it's driver
.hng his horses party of our soldiers intercepted
them and the gun captured with cheers. A fierce
musketry fight broke out to the left, where between
Thomas and Sherman, mile or two Of the Ridge was
still occupied by the rebels Bragg lett the house which
he held his headquarters aud rode to the our
troops crowned the bill either side Of him. Gen. Grant
proceeded IT, the summit and then did only know Its
height Some of the captured artillery put into pos
on artllerss sent for to work the guns cassons
searched for ammunition. The rebel logbreast-
works torn TO pieces and carried the other side of
the Ridge, and used in forming barbados across il
strong line Of infantry formed the rear Of Baird