The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-12-18

ness, the latter being the result of the
former, and the former the result of cir
cumstances beyond our control, it being
necessary for US to guard the passage in
the ridge, and to conform to the length of
the line presented by the enemy. The
ridge varies in height from four to six
hundred feet, and is crossed by several
roads leading out from Chattanooga. The
western size, next to the enemy, was
steep and rugged, and in some places al
most bare; the timber having been cut
away for firewood. Our pickets occupied
the breastwOrks below, while the infantry
and artillery were distributed along the
crest Of the ridge, from McFarlan's Gap
almost to the mouth of the Chickamauga,
a distance of SIX miles or more. In add.
ton to the natural strength of the posi-
ton, We had thrown up breastworks along
the ridge wherever the ascent is easy
The federal army was marshaled under
Grant, Thomas, Hooker and Sherman, and
did not number less than $4,000 veteran
troops. The Confederate army, under
Bragg, Hardee, and Breckenridge, did not
number half SO many. Longstreets Vir-
GINA divisions and other troops had been
sent to East Tennessee. Had these been
present with their steady leader at head OF
them, we should have won victory quite
as complete as our defeat has been. As
it was we ought to have won the day, and
should have done so if our men had done
as well as usual
But let US proceed with the battle, the
strangest, most singular and unsatisfactory
conflict in which our arms have been en-
gagged.
Grant deployed his immense masses in
two heavy lines of battle, and sometimes
in three, supported by large reserve
forces. The spectacle was magnificent as
viewed from the crest of Missionary Ridge
He advanced first against our right wing,
about 10 clock, where he encountered
that superb soldier, Lieut.. Gen. Hardee,
who commanded on the right, while Major
General Breckenridge commanded on the
left. Hardee's command embraced Gle
hurne's, Walkers Commanded by General
Gist, Gen. Walker being absenD Cheat
hams and Stevenson's divisions Brock
inridge's embraced his old division com
manded by Brig. General Lewis, Stewards,
!! part of Buckner's and Hamilton's, COM
manded by Patton Andersen. The enc
my's first assault upon Hardee was re-
pulsed with great slaughter, as was his
second, though made with double lines,
supported with heavy reserves. The wave
of battle, like the wave of the sea, when
dashing against rock bound coast, beat
and Kissed, and shrugged in vain for the
brave men who guarded our right were
| resolved never to yield one foot to the
hated invaders The odds against which
| they commended were fearful for
while the enemy advanced in two and
even three massive lines, their own line
consisted of only one long and weak line,
without supports. Yet they not only
repulsed every attack, but captured seven
flags, about 800 prisoners, and remained
masters of the ground until night, when
they were ordered to retire, carrying off
| all their guns, losing no prisoners, and but
a small percentage of killed and wounded.
The whole command behaved well, and
especially that model soldier, Maj Gen.
Cleburne, true son of the Emerald Isle,
| and his heroc division Gen. Hardee
saved the army from disastrous rout, and
added fresh laurels to his brow.
The attack on the left wing was not
made until about noon. Here, at the
right, the enemy was repulsed but he
was obstinate, and fought with great ardor
and confidence, returning to the charge
again and again in the haDdsOmest style,
until one of our brigades near the centre,
said to be Reynolds, gave way, and the
Federal flag was planted on Missionary
ridge. The enemy was not slow in avail
ing himself of the great advantages of his
new position. In few minutes he .urned
upon our TANKS and poured into them
terrible enfilading fire, which soon threw
the confederates on his right and left into
confusion. Under this confusion, the gap
in our lines grew wider and wider, and the
wider it grew the faster the multitudinous
foe rushed into the yawning chasm. The
confusion extended until it finally assumed
the form of panic. Seeing the enemy
in possession of portion of the heights,
the men hastily concluded that the day
was gone, and that they had best save
themselves. Just at this time the alarm
was increased by an artillery battery,
which rushed down the hill to the river for
q AOcA supply VI tuc LucIl,
however, supposed they were flying from
the field, and that all was lost Nearly
the whole left wing eventually became
involved and gave way, portion of it
retiring under orders, but the greater part
in unmitigated rout.
Gen Bragg did all he could to rally the
fngitives, and reform the broken line. He
exposed himself in the most ungnarded
manner, and at one time it looked as if he
would certainly be killed. His staff Off
GERS were also conspicuous in their efforts
to restore our lines. Tley and their chief
were the last to leave the ridge
The day was lost Hardee still maintained |
his ground but no success of the right |
wing could restore the left to its original |
position. All men, even the bravest, are
subject to error and confusion; but to-
day some of the COnfederates did not fight
with their accustomed courage Possibly
the contrast between the heavy masses
of the Fedsrals, as they rolled across the
valley and the mountain ridge, and their
own long and attenuated line, was not of
a character to encourage them.
Our casualties are small, very small, too
small, indeed, to be recorded along with Sd
complete and huniliating a defeat. In
81.