The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-12-11

Maj. Thomas, Of the Goth New York, received
slight injuries. The Colonel of the 9th Indi-
ana (name unknown), was reported killed.
BY shutdown General Hooker had pushed the
enemy back half mile on the eastern slope of
the mountain, and the skirmishing was grow
ing hotter continually. The enemy was evil
IDENTIFY near in force Our men had expended
their ammunition. Night came none too soon.
At this juncture General CarIins brigade of
General Palmer's 18th Army Corps was ferried
across the mouth of the smaller creek running
along the eastern base of the mountain, and
afforded timely reinforcement. The brigade
consists of the 38th, 48th and 88th Indiana I'd.
SD and 94th Ohio; and the 1Otu Wisconsin
Regiments. The latter, being reduced by sick
ness and battle to less than 100 men, was lett
as camp guard, and was not therefore under
fire during the three days fighting. At dark
General HOOkers line extended from the base
Of the mountain very nearly to the summit
morning he learned that the rebels had aban-
dOned the top of the mountain, and the two
large guns there, that had given US considerable
annoyance, had Withdrawn from his front quiet
ly during the night; and that the whole of this
far-famed stronghold was ours. The "old flag"
again foated from its summit in time to catch
the first CLEAN Of the rising sun. Huzza upon
huzza went up from the Threats of countless
thousands as the mists cleared away from the
mountain-top, revealing its presence-attesting
its supremacy.
GEN. HooKRR's ADVANCE
Began on Wednesday morning at daylight.
His troops took the Rossville road, running
southwark along the eastern base of Lookout
through little valley formed by COchico Creek,
driving in pickets and outposts all the forenoon.
About noon he entered Rossvlle without seri-
Gus opposition. and turning sharply to the left,
marched to the rear Of the lower end of Mis-
sionary Ridge. and began its ascent by the on
ly practicable road from that direction. Bragg
had Withdrawn most of his men from that flank
during the night, to mass them in front of Sher-
man, and Hooker consequently met little oppO-
sition till he neared the summit of the Ridge.
A footing was gained there after sharp Skin
mish, about o'clock p. NJ; after which he
fought his way slowly along the crest and rear
slope for another hour. His forces were dis
covered from inside the lines about o'clock.
We had been signaled of his advance, but his
troops were not in view sooner. His loss in
the day skirmishing was inconsiderable. No
serious resistance was offered anywhere. His
march was merely delayed.
GEN. SHERMAN, ON WEDNESDAY,
Opened the fight at o'clock in the morning
by advancing the left and right along the val
ley at each base of the hill, to pass a ravine
that separated him from rebel battery that
was giving him much annoyance. Missionary
Ridge, at a distance, appears to be one continu-
GUS elevation, but is in fact, intersected with
deep ravines that have to be turned instead of
crossed, and which practically make series of
disconnected independent hills. The enemy
was soon discovered in force to oppose further
advance from that quarter. During the night
Bragg had withdr0wn most Of his forces
from the other flank, to resist fisherman, in .
sOutheasterly direction, along the railroad, and
had to be protected at all hazards. Hooker's
advance was not SO important. To retard
Sherman was vital, else he would possess him
self Of the road to Chickamauga Station and
offered. part Of jeff. G. Davis division was
ordered to support the attacking column, and
some high ground in the rear Of the main
ridge was carried after sharp fight, and tho
particular battery alluded to compelled TO haul
off to save ito guns.
At 10 o'clock, Ewing's division aud Light
burns brigade of N. L. Smiths division, sup
ported by Bushbrake's brigade Of Towards
corps, charged up the heavy slope to carry a
heavy fort was on the summit, and rifle pits
extending around the side of the hill some
distance in advance of, and below the
fort. On nearing these . nurderous
fire was poured into our front ranks,
that swept away everything before it.
The ground was exceedingly rough and coy
cred with underbrush, giving the enemy every
made another effort to advance in line, but
were so completely enfiladed by musketry and
artillery that they broke in great confusion,
and retreated to the foot Of the hill, out of
range Here the men laughed and TESTED each
other concerning the holiness of the rebel fire,
reformed deliberately, and again began to as
cend the heights, as thoug b a repulse was new
er thought Of:
This time Ewing effected Judgment near
the top Of the hill. by advancing steadily under
q terrific fire, aud was Just on the point of
sweeping everything before him, when q hith-
erto unobselved battery opened on his line At
short grape range. and made his position SO
completely untenable that he was compelled to
abandon it. and again fell back to near the foot
of the hill. These two charges were as gal
lantly made, and as determinedly persevered in
as any could possibly be; but nothing could
withstand the concentra ed rain of iron directed
against them. The men only retired to reform,
and heroically returned 10 the contest with
renewed determination.
AS Ewing fell slowly back down hill the second
time, the rebels took advantage of the temporary
confusion into which our line thrown, and
lied from their rifepts down ravine upon his
flank hoping to utterly ront or capture the whole
command. At this poin the battle became furious.
The rebe renewed their fire with small arms and
art ery, with deadly effect from every quarter.
Col OMeara, of the a0th Illinois, "Iri LEGION
fel at the head of his command. face to the foe.
Lieut.. Col. Stuart of the same regiment was sh 81
down and reported mOrtaly wounded. Colonel
Putnam, of the 93d illinois, fell here also. At this
critical juncture the balance of Towards corps
ord red up; Raum's and Mathies' brgades of j. Z.
Smiths division were alO placed in support, and
final charge was made between and 3 O'Clock, that
mt the rebels flying from their Entertainments
down the hill and across the ravine in hot haste.
General Mathies was slightly wounded and General
COrse received severe C! infusion. During the at
tempt to ca ry Tun -ei Hill, the centre had been
pushed along ON its crest, and our batteries put in
position to do good service. Colonel alexander. of
the 5stn Indiana commanding brigade in j. K.
Smiths division. distinguished himself here and
reported kilei in the evening. (Subsequent &C
excel!entiy. and nothing like panic possessed them
when so vercly repu sed Their conduct was til
of veterans. When forced back to the foot of the
hill b. superior numbers they renewed the attack
each time n.ore re .Ouely and n better order than
before. ID won uuiver-a commentator tr achlev-
ing what they did amid such cos acles Genera
Sherman sat at the foot ii all oak tree, near his
signal station, part of the time, and was apparently
rnconcerned if our epulse on the first and sec
ond attack had been prearrsngcd affair. His con-
fdence in ultimate success never Wavercd, aEd
nervous CLEAN of satisfaction occasionally announc-
ed that all was going we'll.
Upt :. O'Clock M, General Sherman hid sus-
tanned ,he entire shock of Bragy's combined force
The latter seemed determined to 'intain his posi-
ton on that flank and could be seen moving IN
fantrv and arillery in that direction frequently dN
ring the day.
THOMAS's ATTACK FROM TlIE CENTER.
The reconnoi sancc in force by General Thomas
Gil Monday gained Il permanent lOdgment on Or
chard Ridge, four or five hundred yards from the