The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-11-06
Opening the River.

The special correspondent of the Cincin:
natl Gazette, writing from Chattanooga,
under date of Oct. %, gives the following
graphic account of the manner in which the
River was opened between Chattanooga
and Bridgeport:
Yesterday morning q little after midnight.
a fotilla Of fifty pontoons. in each of which
were placed thirty select men of General
Hazens brigade, the whole in command Of
Colonel Stanley. of the 18th Ohio, dropped
down the river from this place to Browns
Ferry. landed on the left side, surprised the
enemy's pickets and drove them from their
position. The distance around is nine miles
and lined with rebel sharpshooters. To pass
these without observation--especi in a
bright moonlight night-was . feat that de :
manded no ordinary skill.
The hotilla was divided into squads of
eight. each commanded by commissioned
officer. The men lay fiat on the bottom of
the boats which were allowed to float with
the current-about five miles an hour
keeping as near the north bank as possible
They could distinctly sea the rebel sharp.
shooters and even hear them talk. Once
they heard a reb say to another. ''there goes
q boat" and the moon seemed to shine most
spitefully bright just then; but the other
''gray bach" didn't believe in ghosts and
called bis chum fool for taking AN old log
to be boat--his ignorance was bliss To
our boys.
AS fast as the squads reached the appoin-
ted place they showed over to The left bank.
and, after unloading. we're Immediately
taken to the other side, ready to bring over
another force that had been sent across the
valley. Thus they kept coming and un-
loading till the last squad came up; bat this
drifted down little too far,
through which mistake it was discovered by
the enemy and fired into. This precipitat-
ed our action little. but there was not the
least confusion. Our men Immediately
sushed up the ridge. charged the enemy's
sharpshooters. and in half hour occupied
position which they could hold against
any force the rebels could send. Mean v bile
Capt. Dresser came up on the other side
with squad Of his celebrated Michigan
Engineers, and began to lay the pontoou
bridge. Seeing this the rebels planted
battery below Lookout and above the Fer
~. abou. mile. at point where their guns
commanded the place our men. were at
work. Plunge" came the shells around
them. and one struck so near it FLASHED va.
Ter al over ice boys, out without paylug
any attention to it, they moved along the
bridge, which, by noon. was completed
The Smelling by the enemy, however, did
not last long One of our batteries being
brought up and placed in position soon
compelled him to withdraw his guns to
safer quarters.
II is needless and improper to state what
and how many troops have been sent over.
II is sufficient to know that enough will be
there to not only hold the position. bat to
make the rebels evacuate the whole PENN
sula. thus virtually clearing the river ready
for transportation. Moreover. it gives Us an
opportunity IT any time to flank Lookout
Mountain. and thereby necessitate its evacu-
alton by the rebels.
Our los. in the whole affair was not more
than about FIVE killed and eig hteen wounded.
That of the rebels was fully equal. if no,
greater than ours. i noticed one captain
among their dead.
Great credit is due General Smith, Chief
OF Engineers, to whom the entire manage
n,ent Of the expedition was intrusted; also
to Capt. Dresser. his assistant, for the skill
and energy manifest in the laying the bridge
Colonel Stanley, of 18th Ohio. is entitled
to special praise for the splendid manner in
which he manesysrsd the fodia squadron.