The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1863-12-17
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.
December lst 1868.

INSN NaNNA viz ptfNbAN1 llOI nav
time to write for two or three days.
The Rebels have been driven entire
ly away, and we now have but little to
do as an army, Our army took 6,OOO
prisoners, Gl pieces of cannon, andno
one knows yet how many small arms
ammunition, any quantity; corn in
sacks, and cornmeal by houses full;
Blankets, sacks, &c.
The world cannot show as brilliant
an operation as this fight. 1st Two
BrigadcS, Hazens and ours went down
the river, ours by land and IIazcn's in
boats, to Browns Ferry, and before the
rebels knew it, Hazen landed in the
darkness, captured their pickets. when
our Brigade was terried across, and
with on Iy loss of eleven men in killed
and wounded, drove the rebels from a
hill equal to Mt Pleasant fortified, and
held it until Hooker was ready to try
his luck on Lookout Mountain. Hook.
er then took Lookout with loss of
only $50 killed and wounded, whilst
the rebel loss was about 500. Then
came Missionary Ridge for the Army
Of the Cumberland to try its hand on,
with Sherman on the left.
The attack was to have been made
on Saturday morning, but owing to
rise in the river General Sherman was
unable to lay his pontoons until Sun
day night. He then crossed a squad
Of men, took rebel picket and made
him give them the countcrSign. lie
then relieved the rebel picllets, station
ell his own men in their place. Soon
the rebel officer of the day came along
to caution his pickets to be on the
alert, came up and gave the counter
sgn and to his utter surprise found
himself in the hands Of the Yankees
At daylight General Sherman having
crossed, marched on the rebels with
out having to drive in their pickcts, rs
he had already "tal el them in. lie
found them strangers, and why
shouldn't he? This was Monday
morning. General Sherman had hard
| lighting until about 4 P. NJ. when
'OId Rap as the boys call General
Thomas, ordered his whole line three
miles long t0rrdrd on the run until
they should take the two lines of
rebel brcustworks at the foot of Mis-.
sionary Ridge Over 100 cannon were
opened on the line from the top of the
Ridge, but forward went that line
Of veteran soldiers determined Ito do
or die As the rebels started up the
hill or ridge as Il is called, our army
became too eager for victory to stop.
and up the ridge started the whole
line, 1t was like climbing Il hill three
times as high as Mt. Pleasant from the
side next to Major Cox S, except about
one-fourth Of the way ncar the top) Is
sleeper, hut onward went tic line
nearly exhausted, the rebel cannon all
the time helching forth Il stream OF
fire, dealing death and destruction at
every shot, yet undauntcd the army
ofthc Cumberland pushed forward L.
The top of the ridge is gained, one or
two vollcys is enough to put the rebel
lines into confusion. Thousands sur
render hundreds fall before the cool
aim orour soldiers, and in one half hour
the whole icld is ours, and a victory
won. Over 10 cannon were taken and
some three Thousand prisoners, The
rebels having mNsscd their troops on
General Sherman, his fighting was
OF longer duration and more sevcro,--
1t took him until dark to complete his
victory. but what has Sherman ever
undertaken where there was Il pros
poet or hope Of success that he has
not succeeded in VIXEN allowed to fol.
low his own IDEAS So it was then; ht
chose his own road, fought his OWr
fight and had in the evening game
his own victory, and has added anoth
er bright laurel to his wreath. He ha,
during this war, exhibited a military
talent and genius possessed by few
men, and now has q hold and deserve
the gratitude not only Of the army bu
of the nation.
General Grant proves to bo wha
was expected Of nina general in tn
true sense of the word,
Hooker is still lighting Joe.
Granger is in tho class and ncarl,
at the he; d,
Thomas-who can say too muc
about him? Talent genius and bra
= very come far short Of giving you a
5 idea Of what kind of a General he il
"lle is the right man in the righ
, place" and his army will go and wi
. stay where he tells them to.