Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-12-23
Granhin War Picture by B F. Taylor.
The Battle of Mission Ridge---tnid description
AT exciting Scenes and Startling incidents.
I'm the Chicago Journal
CHATTANOOGA, y

From the Chicago journal
CHATTANOOGA, Nov. IS.
IMAGINE a chain of Federal forts, built in
between with walls of living men, the line
flung northward out of sight, and southwark
bevond Lookout. Imagine a chain of noun
tains. crowned with batteries and manned
with rebel troops through six-mle sweep,
sc over against US in plain sight, and you
have the two fronts-the blue-the gray
Imagine the centre of our line pushed out a
mile and a half towards Mission RidSe-the
boss a full mile broad, of a mighty shield
and YOU have the situation" it was on
Wednesday morning, at sunrise.
The iron heart of Sherman's colurn began
to be audible, like the fall of great trees in
the depth of the forest, as it beat beyond the
woods on the extreme left Over roads in
describable, and conquering lions of Difficult
ties that met him all the way he had at length
arrived with his command of the army of the
Tennessee. The roar of his guns like the
striking of a great clock and grew nearer and
louder, as the morning wore away. Along
the centre all was still Our men lay, as they
had lain since Tuesday night, motionless be
hind the works. Generals Grant, Thomas,
Granger, Megs, Hunter, Reynolds, were
grouped at Orchard Knob, here Bragg,
Breckenridge, Hardee, Stevens, Cleburn,
Bates and Walker, were waiting on Mission
Ridge, yonder. And the northern clock toll
led on At noon pair OF steamers scream
ing in the river across the town, telling over.
In their own wild way, our mountain triumph
the right, strangely pierced the hushed
breadth OF air between TWO lines of battle
with note or two of the music Of peaceful
life.
1t one O'clock, the signal 1T Fort Wood
was Clutter Scanning the horizon, another
flag, CHANGING Ike a lady'5 handkerchief,
showed white across field lying high and
dry upon the ridge three miles to the north
east, and answered back. The centre and
Sherman's corps had spoken. As the hour
went by, all semblance TO falling tree and
tolIing clock had vanished; it was a rafting
roar; the ring of Sherman's iron knuckies
knocking at the northern door. Moving near
the river, | could see the breath OF Sher-
mans painting artillery, and the fiery gust
from the rebel guns on Tunnel Ill., the point
Of Mission Ridge. The enemy had masscd
there the corps Of Hardee and Buckner, as
upon battlement utterly inaccessible, save
by one steep, narrow way, commanded by
their guns \ thousand men could hold II
against a host. And right in front OF this
bold abutmeut Of the Ridge, Is broad, clear
field, shirted by woods. Across this tremen-
dous threshold up to deaths door, moved
Shermans column. Twice il advanced, and
twice l saw it swept back in bleeding lines
before the furnace blast, until that russell field
seemed some strange page ruled thick with
blue and red. Bright vaior was in vain they
lacked the ground to stand on they wanted,
like the giant Of the old story, a touch Of
earth to make them strong. 1t the dew
IFS own corner. Before them was a lane,
whose upper end the rebel cannon swallowed.
Moving by the right flank or the left flank,
nature opposed them with precipitous heights.
There WAS nothing tor it but straight across
tie field, swept by entiladIng fire, and up
to the lane, down which drove the Storm
They could unfold 40 broad front and so the
losses we're less than 100, that must other
wise nave sweiled To thousands The mus
kerry fire was delivered with terrible cmpha-
SIS two dwellings, in one Of which Federal
wounded were lying, set on fire by the rebels,
began TO send up tall columns OF smoke,
streakcd red with fire the grand and the
terrible were blended.
Ii Sherman did not attain the height and
roll the enemy along the Ridge like carpet,
at least he rendered splendid services, for he
held huge -augion oi rebels firmly
their rigat as if he had them I'D t!,a vice Of
the - lame Lemnian' who forged the thunder
bolts. The men came calamity up to the
work Fairly blown out of the encmys guns
and seorched with flame, they were swept
down the hill only to stand fast for new as
5auit. Lot no man dare to say they did not
acquit themselves well and uObv. To living
Howard who struck blow that div-out of
INV heart utter ig-AaiI and farewell And
Is | think it all ovcr--auce again along that
grand heroic line If the Federal Epic com
nit the story wilma child-lkc faith to History
sure that when she gives her calm, clear
record of that days famous work, standing
like Ruth among the reapers in the fields that
feed the world, she viii declare the grandcst
staple Of the Northwest is MENl
The brief November afternoon was halt
gone il Yet wa. laundering on the left:
along the center an vas SUI. At that ycry
hour, Whitaker and Grose, under the imme-
date command of gen. CrItts, We're making
Z fierce assault upon the enemy's left Near
ko-syille, tour miles down towards the old
field of Ghckdnau.a. They carried the
Ridge, Mission Ridge seems everywhere
they strowed its summit with rebel dead
they held It. AMI thus the tips of the Fed
crdi army's widespread wings Tapped grand
IL. Bur II had net swaoped, the gray auaf-
~ yer perchcd upon Mission Ridge: tac re5-
oi army was terribly battered at the edges,
hut there, tut iu front, Il -rlm'y wanted
hItIH- out its time. If che horns st sa. raf,-
u crescent could not BE doubled crusuiugIy
together IN a shapclcSs mas. possibly IL might
ar Suudrreu al It's center, .ud IuIuHled In
fragments over the other side at Mission
Ridge. Sherman was halted upon tae left
HOOKER WIS IoltHL hard IN tHata#utDrfE
alley, rhc Euuraa Corps, chat rounded Gus
our center, grew impatient OF restraint, the
day ,s3s waning; bat little time remained 10
complete the commanding G.lc~ rs grand de-
sign Gordon Changers hour had come his
work u4s full before him.
And what d work that was to make Il weak
man lalter and brave man think One ana
halt miles 20 traverse, with narrow frin-e-
of woods, rough valleys, sweeps of open field.
rocky accljvti,s to the base OF the Ridge.
and no foot In all the breadth withdrawn from
rebel sight NO foot that could not ha PLAYED
upon ~ rebel cannon, like a pianos kars
under FaalocrE's stormy fingers. The base
attained, what then 4 heavy rebel work
packed with the enemy, trimming il Ike a
hattIemeut- That WEI, carried and what
then hill struggling up out of the valley.
four hundred feet, ragned on bv bullets swept
by slot and shell another line of works and
tuen, up like Gothic roof rough with rocks,
i wreck With fallen trees, four hundred more;
another ring Of nre and iron, ana then the
crest; ami then the enemy. To dream of
such journey would be madness, To devise
it thing Incredible % so il deed impos-
slaie. But Grant vas guilty Of them all aud
Granger was equal To the work. The story
81 the Battle Of Mission Ridge Is struck with
immortality already let the leader ct the
Fourth Corps bear II company.
That the centre get hes along It's silent line