The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1863-12-04
(By tie Independent Telegraph Lme.)
OPERATIONS OF GEN. GRANTS
ARMY.
Dispatch FROM General Meiga to Sec.
Stanton.
Thrilling Account of Three Days Fighting
THE CAPTURE OF MISSIONARY RIDGE AND
LOOKOUT

The CAPTURE OF MISSIONARY RIDGE AND
LOOKOUT.
HEADQUARTERS, CHATTANOOGA, Nov. 26.-
EaWn ". Stanton, Secretary Of JVag.--On the
23d INST, at IL, 80 A. NJ, Gen. Grant ordered
| a demonstration against Mission Ridge, to de-
velop the force holding it, The troops march
ed out formed in order, and advanced in line of
battle, as if on parade. The rebels watched
the formation and movement from their picket
lines and rifle pits, and from the summit of Mis-.
sion Ridge, five hundred feet above us, and
thought it was review and drill, SO openly and
deliberately, and so regularly was it done.
AS the line advanced preceded by sllirmishers.
they at o'clock, p. NJ, reached our picket
lines, and opened rafting volley upon the reb.
ell pickets, who returned il and ran into their
advanced lines of riae-pits. After them went
our sk:rmishers, and into hem, along the line
Of $4,000 troops which Gen Thomas had SO
quickly deployed.
Until we opened fire, prisoners assert that
they thought the whole movement was a review
and general drill, AMI that it was too late to
send to their camps for reinforcemcnts, and that
they were overwhelmed by force of numbers
1t was a surprise in open daylight.
Ats, p. NJ, the important advanced position
OF Orchard Knob and the lines right and left
were in our possession and arrangements were
ordered for holding them during the night The
next day at daylight Gen. Thomas had 5000
men across the Tennessee, and established Oh its
south bank, and commenced the construction
of pontoon bridge about six miles above
Chattanooga. The rebel steamer Dunbar, re-
pared at the right moment rendered effective
aid in this crossing carrying over G,0O0 men,
BY night fall General Thomas had seized the
extremity of Mission Ridge nearest the river.
and was entrenching himself. Gen. Howard,
with brigade, opened communication with
him from Chattanooga on the south side of the
river Skirmishing and cannonading continued
all the day on the left and centre.
Gen Hooker scaled the slope of Lookout
Mountain from the valley of Lookout Creek,
drove the rebels around the point, captured
2,o00 prisoners and established himself high
up the mountain side in full view of Chatta-
nooga.
This raised the blockade, and now steamers
We're ordered from Bridgeport to Chattanooga.
They had before ran only to Kelleys Ford,
whence ten miles of hauling over the mountain
roads and twice across the Tennessee upon pom
ton bridges brought us our supplies. All night
the point of Mission Ridge, on the extreme left
and the side Of Lookout Mountain on the ex-
treme right blazed with the camp-ires of loyal
troops.
The day had been one of dense mists and
rains, and much of General Hooker's BATTLES
had been fought above the clouds, which con-
ceaed him from our view but from which his
musketry was heard.
AT night the sky cleared and the full moon,
the traitors doom shone upon the beautiful scene
until a. NJ. Twinkling sparks upon the noun