, 1863-12-03

ME a VII.
eye, tending southward to pass between Moe
casin Point and Lookout Mountain; north
ward again, ekirting between Stripger's Ridge
and low range In Lookout Valley, dividing
itself into two great arms to embrace the
beautiful Williams 1s}and, and then sweep
ing away rnajcstically to tho northwest,
around the point Of Raceoon Mountain.
Southwest the point Of the Lookout itself,
always the most prominent feature Of this
cast and south tile view was bounded by Mis-
sion Ridge, on which were ranged the legions
with which Bragg expected to stay the march
of loyalty, and uphold the cause Of treason.
REBEL LINE or BATTLK.
Brcckinridge's corps was on the Left Of the
cne1ny's LING. ucrdee occupied the centre,
and part Of Buckncr's corps, with the Gcor-
Eisstate troops and other fiaemcntary bodies;
house on Mission Ridge, in southeast dircc-
tion, was plain1y visible, and served as
mark for many an ambitions artillerist that
dny. slngu1ar1y enough, too, as if to attract
special attention, the enc,ny's largest cannon
were placed In battery near this house.
INDIVIDUALS UroS BALD KNOB.
Let Us glance around us now and see who
occupy this little knob from which We are
gazing upon the minated scene VIC Lave de-
Ecribcd. Since Napoleon stood In the midst
Of Ills mareha1s on that cventfnl morning
when the sun Of Austcrfitz broke from behind
the eastern walls Of the world, scarcely Ind
collected together than that which I there be.
held.
There was Gen. Smith, Chief of the Ensin-
Ger Department, a usefnl, industrious, scicn-
t{dc man, conccaling, under a somewhat re-
pcllant exterior, q generous, kindly nature.
1,or ur$n rrif1,c1f f,r,{
insisting by counsel Hunter, honest, patsi-
otic, conscientious, bold.
There was Meigs, too, smooth, plausible,
discreet and wise
There was the keen, talented, energetic, ca
pablo Wood.
Willich, brave, unselfsh, and true-ai, old
veteran, animated by the hopes and azdor Of
youth.
Gordon Granger, brave, able, sensible,
ronsh.
Reynolds, in whom courtesy, and courage,
gallantsy and prudence, ftmness and modern
/ tiou, wisdom and enthusiasm, arc all COM
bincd.
Thomas, cold, stern, earnest, unbcndingg,
| dignified, erect.
And there, too, was The king among his
! compeers, the "giant among giants," u man
| whose placid countenance, which apparently
no care could disturb, was lighted up by q
| piercing eye, whose gaze nothing could es-
cape-a mild, quiet, unassnming man-the
solid, sound, subtitle, perseverins, compre-
hgnEiye Grant.
Such mas the stage-such were tue actors.
| f1GuT UPON TIE LKFT-THE HEROES OF VICES
BURG ATTACK TUNNEL HILL.
The battle began upon the extreme left.
Sherman, about 10 a. m, making IN attack
Upon Tunnel Hill, point In Mission Ridge,
jnst south Of the one we had occupied the
night before, and separated from it by s1nnll
| ravine. Gen. Corse's brigade and Col. Jones
supported By Col. LOOMS brigade to the rear
! and right, advanced to the assault, fought gal-
lantly for time, fully developed the encny''s
| position, and then fell back to their intrench-
| mcnts.
| An hour after, the attack was resumed Gen.
Matthics' and Gen. Giles 4. Smiths brigades
Of John E. Smiths division, reinforced after-
ward by Ranne's brigade, stepped ,gallant1y
on parade up the 1ill, on the side Of which
| was large cleared field, until, despite a
| pluuging fire from the eneny's artillery upon
| 1Ae crest, they entered The timbered portion
/ ncar the summit; were met By showers o1
| stones and rife balls, rs well rs by storm Of
| grnpe; but still refused to retire, and Lay
| down within hundred yards Of the muzzlcs
| Of the rebel cannon!
| GERERA. IowAnD's MEN ENGAGED.
| Gen. Howard's troops also became engaged
here, and though at times somewhat roughly
handled, behaTcd in manner highly honora.
| ~ A4E1u6EltEt AAA LIZ AVN1E A4EA " ~
lead them.
THE ESEs1Y MASS uroS THE 1EPT.
Gen. Baird's division Of the 14th Corps wa
Fort Wood, for the purpose Of taking position
between Gen. Woods division and Howard'f
left. This movement Of Ills, plainly perceived
by tie enemy, fully impressed tlcm with ths
! co3riction that our grind assault was to bt
made upon their right, and Instantly mass
/ s~-r~ IL ,>F{h {hnS,t n mn
northward along the crest Of the ridge. i
was splendid spectacle as regiment after re
eiment, brigade after brigade, filed off towari
our left: and It was we'll for SherMan's bray'
men thut thcy could not sec those 6attallons
for they impressed each bcho1der With an idcs
| Of almUEt resistless power.
nEpCLsE OF OUR LEFT.
Suddenly tho storm burst upon Mattllies
brigade and the left Of Howard: The tierc
| flames from thirty pieces of artillery lcapet
|. athIrart and across the rnytnc which separo
ted the two hills, and flash Of lightning
from ten thousand muskets blinded the eye
| Of our men. They rose from the ground nnt
returned the fire; they even vndcasorcd to ad
vance, but, agaInst such overwhelming odds
10 pcrsevere In either was annihilation Gen
Matthies was wounded and disabled; scor,
of officers were shot down; files Of onr sol
diers were swept away at each discharge, ans
| 1T last, unable longer to endure this uscles
slaughter, they broke and flcd down the hill
| For moment the heart Of the beholder va
/ filed with anguish Us he saw them hastentn
| in wild confusion back across the field oVe
| I which they had so gallantly Advanced bu
, 1ncnt they Ind got beyond the fire Of nuE
kerry, and while still in fall range Of the emf
mrs cannon, ther reformed their ranks an
| were ready for another combat! Bnt thu
| work for the day WAS over.
TIE CRISIS.
, and low came the great crisis of the ba
tic.
The men who held in their hands the dest
pies Of the army, had marked from their p
| eftiou on Bald Knob the movement OF tt
rcbcl legions toward the left, and in an fl
. slant perceived their advantage IN the iat
of three eucl lenders as Bard, Wood and She
sdan, Bragg was repeating the old tAtal err
the Union ChickaDanga-hc Was Tcaken1n
Ills center and making Hank movement
the presence of his enemy. :.
In IN instant Granger and Palmer hurle
Wood and Sheridan down the slope Of II
y ridge upon which they had been posted: aI
Through the woods concea1ing the rtae-pi
they charged, and burst like torrent int
rnd over the same, scattering the terrific
rebels who occupied them like thistle dow
or chaff.
THE SOLDIERS D1soBET oRDENs.
Here, according to original orders, our lint
: should have halted; but the men were no To-
9 Ger coutro!lAh1e. Baird lad carried the rlh
: pite in front Of his position. and the shout
9 triumph rousing the blood to very frenzy
! enthusiasm, rang all along the line. Che6
!. | ing each other forward, tie tree divisions
a gan to climb the ridge; .m,
J. or living yalor rolling on the toe!
u Tic whole Ridge b1azed with artille'
= Direct, plunsing md cross fire from ~
9. drcd pieces Of cannon were hurled upon tn
a glorious band Of heroes scaling the BLDG
s and when they were half way up, storm
g | muBkct balls was flung into their very tacei
ol In reply to the rebel cannon upon the KidE
~ | Fort Wood, Fort Ncelcy, and MI our batter1
81 that could be placed in position, opened til
sublime music.
" TCMuLT OF TIE BATTLE :
TIC storm Of war Was now abroad Will
pr rc1na1uraa power, and NJ each successive y
= lev burst from the cloud Of smoke Viii
eyestpyead the cnntendinE hosts. 1t seem
that ten thousand mighty echoes !Faken
n. from their slumbers, went groanfng q
nc ! growing around the mountains, as II resoiy
a. q. 70 shake them from their bases, then roll
It. away down the valleys, growing tl1nter a
Il. fainter. until cxtfnguished By echoes OF 81
cecdiug yolicys, US the distant roar Of
~ cataract Is drowned in the ncarer thundcrs
ov the cloud.
d, MISSION RIDGE sToRMED-
cd And still the Union troops passed on, sc
N | ing unwaycrinsly the sides OF Miss