The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1863-12-10
LETTER FROM THE I.t OHIO.
MISSIONARY RIDGE, AROUND !
CHATTANOOGA, Nov. 9th, 1863. I

you very important movements have
taken place in this Department. The
opening of the railroad and river COM
munication to Chattanooga from
Bridgeport, the junction effected with
Hooker, the arrival of Sherman, the
passage of the pontoon feet past the
rebel batteries which studded the grim
and rugged sides of Lookout Mountain,
the flank monument which compelled
the evacuation of the northern slope,
the many skirmishes on the Wan
hatchic, and the thousand other little
items of note, the minut@, which, in
themselves comparatively insignif-
cant, nevertheless were component
parts Of one grand whole, brilliant in
conception, admirable in execution,
and gloriously successful beyond the
hopes of the most sanguine-the taking
of Lookout Mountain and the St0rming
Of the Heights of Mission Ridge.
The reader of history as he looks on
the past is wont to gaze with admira-
tion and reverence on the exploits Of
the brave heroes at the Pass of Their
mopylae, on the Plains of Marathon,
in the streets Of CORY Schcrnaya; he
gazcs on the awful grandeur and brill
liant horoism displayed on the fields of
AustcrIitz and Waterloo, and is lost in
admiration at those series of succ essful
assaults, intrepid charges, and the
steady vaIor which culmin0tnd in u
radiant splendor by the capture of the
Halls ofthe Montezumas, And even in
our own war, in this our own fraternal
strife, how many deeds Of unfinching
bravery, how many acts of hardy val
or, how many fcats of desperate cour-
age, have given to history the name
and fame Of those who accomplished
them. But when the history Of this
war shall have been written, when the
account Of deeds done is rendered up
to the God of War, when the balance
has been stricken and impartial iudg
ment announced the Storming Of Mis-
sionary Ridge will stand forth as the
grandcst, greatest, and most desperate
achievement of the present war, and
ono to which other climes and other
wars can produce no parallel
Housed up in the great prison house
} of Chattanooga, dangerous almost t.
poke our noses over the breastworks
with our communications constantly
E threatened, bold move was necessary
and that move has been made. Or
Monday morning, the 2lst instant, We
were ordered out with one hundred
rounds of cartridges per man and two
days ratlons The left centre became
, engaged almost immediatel y, our pick
ct line being in our then front dis
tance ofnot moro than half mile
, Then came in plain view the robe
. picket line, the picket reserve, lin
= Of rifle pits, scattering woods tolerabl.
} thick with undorbrush, then an opcl
: space Of short quarter strcwn witt
branches oftrecs to impede our prog
\ rcss, right beyond a long line Of boul
!, dcred cmbanlimcnts with rife pits, an
Z all these distractions past only bring
us to the foot OF Missionary Ridge
= The left and centre gained the groun
Q on the 2lst, after many and very SC
5 vcrc encounters up to the open spac
T. spoken of, with but few casualties i
q the lst Ohio, we being the second lin
p the 9TH Kentucky, 4lst Ohio an
o 93d Ohio being the principal losers i
Is our brigade. o.. the 22d II compar;
i tive calm ensu9d, and but few SAL
h culinary skirmishcs added their nit
o of blood to the wide and deep poo
!. already curdling at the Ridges bas
Il The 23d was the day of the militar
10 strategy displayed in the capture {
Il Lookout Mountain by the forces o
i our right by an attack in front an
IS flank, the fankers marching aroun,
G the attacking party up. Loud an
= long doomed the mountain cannon
Il ficrcely screamed the shell from Mo-
h casin Point, necessarily ratified II
= musketry, even into the damp, dar
y night, but by the bright light of Il
~ " mornings sun, not solitary rob
10 stood, a soldier, near the key to Cha
ID tanooga's position, which, according
'e BraXton Bragg's official dispatches
+ Richmond, was "imprcgnabc to al
., assault, flank or front" On the 24t
~ Shcrman's forces were massod on o,
4. left, and a struggle commenced for
ee foothold on Missionary Ridge. Slo
lo but sure progress was made by Il
heroes Of Vicksburg, and the series
/, brilliant engagements that proceed,
;is en;,., o,,l 1o,,oI,u Al ,,,,1 ~ ,l