Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-12-09
BATTLES OF CHATTANOOGA.
splendid Fighting and Great Victories

The following report is from gentle
man, the Gazette says, who witnessed all it
was possible for one man to see of the
several engagements, and comes down to
the hour on Wednesday night when the
enemy was in full retreat, having been
driven from the last position for which he
! fought.
The primary object of General Grants
movement was to get possession of Look
out Mountain, in order to open railroad
communications with Bridgeport j Sec
ond important object was TO make a di-
version in favor of Gen. Burnside, as by
forcing Bragg to raise the siege and re-
treat, Longstreet's rear would be so seri-
ously exposed that he would have to
abandon the siege of Knoxville.
The operations were to have begun ON
Saturday. Nov. 2lst, but owing to the
heavy rains, and the partial destruction
of the pontoon bridge upon which Sher-
man was to have crossed, the movement
was delayed indefinitely. On Monday
rumors began to prevail that the enemy
were retiring, and it was determined to
reconnoiter his position in order to deVel-
ope any retiring disposition on his part
Brigadier-G General Woods division was Sc
lected by General Thomas as the recon
noitering force, and the whole army in
Chattanooga was ordered under arms and
into line to meet any emergency which
might arise, and also 10 demonstrate in
various directions, in order to reveal the
artillery of the enemy. go
GEN. WOODS REooNNoIsAScE.
A few minutes after A. NJ, on Mon
day, the troops all being IN line OF battle,
and the enemy lining the crest OF the bill
looking upon the magnificent array be-
low, the heavy siege guns of Fort Wood,
under charge of Lieut.. DunWeddy of the
18th Wisconsin battery, opened tire, aad
as if it had been chosen Tor the signal for
the advance, Gen. Woods division moved
forward At the same time, the pickets
in his front began skirmishing, and in be-
ing reinforced drove those OF the enemy
into their rife-piis along the creek, and !
at the base of an isolated knob, half way
between Chattanooga and Mission Ridge. |
AT the same time the enemy opened with |
artillery from the Ridge, revealing three |
in the centre of their line, but |
none of the guns of sufficient calibre TO |
reach Fort Wood. As Gen. Wood ad- |
however, he soon got under the |
ufS OF lHeSe guns duu SAhClEu EOprluEF- |
ably from them.
Wood moved with part of Hazen's
brigade on the right, and Willich's on the |
left; Gen. Sam Beatty being in reserve
The 9Th Kansas did the skirmishing for
the entire line, and did it in the usual ad-
mirable style of that fine regiment, The
enemy was, of course, encountered before
the first hundred rods had been traYersed,
and the whole of Woods front became
engaged. He pushed for
ward rapidly, driving the enemy before
him into their rifie-pits, and began in the
forest which enyeloped them from view
from Fort Wood, very brisk and rapid
ire. The effect of this soon became ap-
parent by the appearance of numerous
from the woods. These Eade
heir way to the ambulance train just in
rear of the division, and under cover of
he railroad bank, and in twenty minutes
after being wounded, we're in the hospi-
al at Chattanooga, having their wounds
dressed. The fight in the woods was of
1ut short duration, for, Gen. Wood ind
ng the enemy safely covered behind huge
'ite-pits, ordered charge of his whole
ront, and the two brigades of Willich
md Hazen, charging, with q yell, went
nto the rebel works without a straggler.
The enemy broke and fed to his second
inc of works st the foot of the mount
inns, losing in his disorder about 200 pris-
1ners, representing mainly Hindman's
and large portion belonging
10 the 2Sth Alabama infantry. The enc
my, finding his line breaking in disorder,
opened fire of artillery from the ridge,
10 eoyor their retreat, and for few mo-
ments, this was very vigorously main
tanned. Little or no damage was done,
As our troops were now safely behind and
Dn a couple of hills, known on the map as
Bald Knobs. These were taken posses
'ion of by Gen. Hazen's brigade and the
light of Gen. Willich, the 18th Ohio be-
ng the regiment which occupied the
most important hill of the two.
THE REcoNNoIsANcE THUS ENDED.
Gen Wood reported, and received in
-eply that he had met with such signal
uccess, and had gained so important 8
point, that it was determined 10 hold it,
md orders were given him TO intrench
himself. At the same time the division
# Gen Sherman was moved forward on
ais right, to support him, while General
towards corps moved on his left, in or
Ter 10 protect his flank. A small but
lsep stream lay in General Howard's
ront. and it was determined TO obtain
possession of that as defile to his position.
But the enemy had built strong rihe-pits
IN the east bank of the stream. Though
he force in Woods front had been routed
here still remained force in the works