American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1863-12-09
BATTLE OF CHATTANOOGA.

tie of Chattanooga, is given by Quarter
master General Meigs. 1t is an exceed
ingly graphic account of the recent glo-
rious achievement of GRANT and his able
and gallant lieutenants, HOOKER, THoM-
as and SHERMAN.
HEADQUARTERS, CHATTANOOGA,
November 26, 1868.
Edetn IT. Stanton, Secretary Of Var:
Sir: On the 23d instantat l1:36 a, M,
General Grant ordered demonstration
against Mission Ridge, to develope the
force holdingit The troops marched out,
formed in order, and advanced in line Of
battle as ifon 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 us, and
thought it was review and drill, SO OPEN
ly and deliberately, 50 regularly was it all
done.
The line advanced. preceded by skir-
mishers, and at 2 o'clock p. III. reached our
picket lines, and opened a rafting vol
leyupon the rebel pickets, who replied and
ran into their advanced line of rife pits.
After them went our skirmishers, and into
them, along the centre of the line of 25,-
900 troops which General Thomas had 50
quickly displayed, until We opened fire.
Prisoners assert that they thought the
whole movement was a review and general
drill, and that ii was too late osend to their
camps for reinforcements, and that they
were overwhelmed by force of numbers
II aeas surprise ia open daylight
At 8 p, m. the important advance posi-
ton of Orchard Knob, and the lines right
and left were in our possession, and arrange
ments were ordered for holding them dur
ing the night. The next day at daylight.
General Thomas had five thousand men
across the Tennessee and established on
its south bank and commenced the con
struction of pontoon bridge about six
miles above Chattanooga.
The rebel steamer Dunbar was repaired
at the right moment and rendered effective
aid in this crossing carrying over six thou
sand men.
BY nightfall Gen. Thomas had seized
the extremity of Mission Ridge nearest the
river, and was intrenching himself.
Gen. Howard, with brigade, opened
communication with him from Chattanoo-
ga, on the south side of the river. Skir-
mshing and cannonading continued all
day on the left and centre Gen Hooker
scaled the slopes of Lookout Mountain and
from the valley of Lookout Greek, and
drove the rebels around the point. lie
captured some two thousand prisoners and
established himself high up the mountain
side, in full view of Chattanooga
This raised the blockade. and now steam
ers were ordered from Bridgeport to Chat
.tanooga. They had only run to kelley's
Ferry, whence ten miles of hauling over
mountain roads and twice across the Ten
nessee ON to pont0on bridges, brought us
our supplies.
All night the point of Mission Ridge OH
the extreme left, and the side Of Lookout
Mountain on the extreme right, blazed with
the camp fires of loyal troops.
The day had been one dense of mist and
rains. and mach Of Gen. Hooker's ba6}e
had been foaght adoue dte cloa}s, which
concealed him from our view, but from
which his muskeHy was heard.
At nightfallt the sky cleared aud the full
moon, "the traitors doom, shone upon the
beautiful scene, until a. m when twink
ling sparks upon the mountain side show
ed that picket skirmishing was going on.
Then iteeased. A brigade sent from Chat
tanooga crossed the Chattanooga creek
and opened communication with Hooker
Gen. Grants headquarters during the
afternoon of the 23d and the day of the
oath, werein Wood redoubt, except when
in the course of the day, he rode along the
advanced line, visiting the headquarters
of the several commanders to Chattanooga
Valley.
Atdaylight on the 18th the Stars and
Stripes were deserted on the Peak of Look
out The rebels had evacuated the noun
tain.
Hooker moved to descend the noun
tain, and striking Mission Ridge at the
Rossv2le Gap to sweep on both sides and
ON its summit.
The rebel troops we're seen, as soon as
it was light enough, streaming regiments
and brigades along the narrow summit of
Mission Ridge, either coneentratingon the
right to overwhelm Sherman, or marching
for the railroad and raising the siege.
They had evacuated the valley of Chat |
tanooga. Would they abandon that of
Chickamauga
The 20-pounders and 4l-inch rifles of |
Woods redoubt opened on Mission Ridge
Orchard Knob sent its compliments to the
Ridge, which with rifled PARROTS answer
cd, and the cannoEade thus commenced, |
continued all day, Shot and shell scream
ed from Orchard Knob and from Woods |
redoubt ouer tie heads Of Generals Grant
and 1homas and their stats, acho aoerc
aeith as IN his .fagorabte position, from
achenee tie 'ehole battle could be seen rs a
an ampithedtre. The headquarters ,cerc
qader fire all day long.
Cannonading and musketry were heard
from General Sherman, and Gen. How /
ard marched the Eleventh Corps to join
him.
General Thomas sent out skirmishers,
who drove in the rebel piekets, and chased I
them into their entertainments, and at the T
fnot of Mission n ;l,ra Gha.r,,o,, ,,..1o -,