Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-12-07

in the rebel piokets. and chased them into their
Entertainments; at the foot of Missionary Ridge
Sherman made an assault against Braggs right.
1 entrenched on a high knob, next TO that on which
Sherman himself lay fortified. The assault was
CALAMITY made.
Sherman reached the edge of the crest, and
held his ground for (it seemed to me- an hour.
but was bloodily repulsed by reverses.
A general advance was ordered. and a strong
line OF skirmishers, followed by deployed line
of battle, some two miles in length. At the
signal of leaden shots from the headquarters on
Orchard Knob, the line moved rapidly and or
derly forward. The rebel pickets discharged
| their muskets and ran into their rife pits. Our
skirmisbers followed on their heels.
The line of battle was not far behind, and we
saw the gray rebels swarm out of the ledge line
of rife pits in numbers which surprised us, and
over the base of The hill. A few turned and fired
the many roads which cross obliquely up its steep
face. and went on to their top Some regiments
pressed on and swarmed up the steep sides of the
ridge, and here and there a color was advanced
| beyond the lines. The attempt appeared most
dangerous. but the advance was supported, and
the whole line was ordered to storm the nights,
upon which not less than forty pieces Of artillery
and no one knew how many musk cts, stood ready
to slaughter the ASSISTANTS. With cheers answer
1
gathered to the point least difficult of ascent, and
the line was broken Color after color was
planted on the summit, while mnsket and cannon
youited their thunder upon them. aasaEr a.
! A well directed shot from Orchard Knob ex-
plottd "a rebel ezisson on the summit, and the
gun was seen gallopng to the right its driver
lashDg his horses. A party of our soldiers inter-
cepted them, and the gun was captured with
Others.
A fierce musketry fight broke out to the
left. where, between Thomas and Sherman.
mile or two of the ridge was still occupied by
the rebels
Bragg left the house in which he had held
his headquarters, and rode to the rear. our
troops crowded the hill on either side Of him.
Gen. Grant proceeded to the summit, and
there did we only know its hight.
Some of the captured artillery was put into
position. Artlerists were sent for 70 work the
| guns Cassions were then searched for ammu-
nition.
| The rebel log breastworks were torn to pieces
and carried to the other side of the ridge, and
used in forming barricates across.
strong line of infantry was formed in the
rear of Bragg's line, hotly engaged in a mus
kerry contest with the rebels to the left, and
secure lodgment was soon effected.
The other assault to the right of center
gained the summit and the rebels threw down
Hooker coming in favorable position, swept the
right of the ridge and captured many prisoners
bragg's remaining troops left early in the
night, and the battle of Chattanooga, after days
of maneuvering and fghtirg, was won The
strength of the rebellion in the center is broken
Burnside is relieved from danger in East T Tennes
see. Kentucky and Tennessee are rescued
Georgia and the Southeast are threatened in the
rear. and another victory is added 10 the chapter
of Unconditional Surrender Grant"
| Tonight the estimate of captures is several
thousands of prisoners and thirty pieces of artil
| lery
Our loss for so great victory is not severe.
| Bragg is firing the railroad as he retreats to
ward Dalton. Sherman is in hot pursuit.
To day viewed the battle ground, which ex-
tends for six miles along Missionary Ridge, and
for several miles on Lookout Mountain.
| Probably not so well directed, so well ordered
battle has been delivered during the war. But
one assault was repulsed; but that assault. by
calling to hat point the rebel reserves. prevented
them repulsing any of the others.
few days since Bragg sent to Grant flag Of
truch advising him that it would be prudent to
remove non combattants who might be still in
| Chattanooga.
| No reply has been returned, but the combat
tants having removed from this vicinity, il is
probable that non combattsnts can remain with
out imprudence n. C. MEIes,
Quartermsster General.