Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-12-08
BATTLE OF MISSIONARY RIDGE-RErREAT OF
TIE ARMY.
REsAcR, GORDON Co., Ga, Nol

I h0TuTnInR
above, would take the reader with to the close Of
the battle Of Missionary Ridge which was fought on
Wednesday, the 25.h inst, General Hardee who COM
handed the right wing had repulsed every attack Of
The enemy had inflicted heavy loss upon him. and be
and his conRratuating themselves upon their
complete and brilliant victory, when General H. who
had passed 10 his left (the centre of the trmyl dig
covered that Reynolds brigade of Hindmans division
| commanded by General Patton Anderson, had given
way and thus allowed the enemy 10 get foothold up
on the mountain Having defeated the foe in bis froOt,
he immed tey ordered his left to form into line
at right angles the ridge and to drive the intiu.
ders from his flank. This order, like all others that he
had given carried out to the letter by his brave
| command, thus REFUSING the enemy in front and on
his left flank. Had the same skill And ensrgy been
displayed At other points the lice further to the left
the Oonfederates would not have been driven from Mis-
sonGry Ridge. Reynolds brigade is composed of the
54!h and esd Virginia regm snts, and the ssh and
Goth North Carolina troops who have always done well
heretofore.
Ard here let me add at the risk OF becoming tedious
that StsYensOns division, composed wholly Of "Vcks
burg troops" behaved with unsurpassed gsllRntry.
These troop ara TenneSseans, AAbamians and Geor-
gans,. General Cummings Georgia brigade never
fought we'll The fact here aed should silence for
ever the thoughteSs tongues that have been Iidoung
ana malgning the heroes who fought at Visksburz.
After night set in, the whole amy withdrawn to
the side of the OhickRmAuga the trains having pre-
ceded it the GIT before The reads we're in bad con-
ton, and there but three bridges over which the
troops could retire. But the enemy too badly Grip
pied to make pursuit; only small detachment of
airy followed on the road by Birds Nils. At ChckA-
manga station rations OF hard bread and bacon were
served out TO the fom the depot and the trains
sent forward. Some Of the stores shipped of by
the railroad; tho remainder desttoJO The army
pu. in motion by two O'Clock ct night on the road
to Rnggold, aud Gen. Bragg Gnd Gen. Hardee left al
| daylight next morning. The road was had a5 t could
be and but for the friendly light Afforded by the moon
on that and the preceding night the army could not
have effected its escape.
Thursday, the 2sth. After a fhtigung marcb, the
army with its long trains arrived at RipERod during
the afternoon and night The enemy had thrown for.
ward mixed column Of mounted infantry, artillery and
cavalry which WAS hGrrassng our rear guard, under
command of General Gist, considerably. At one time,
General Bragg ordered the wagons towards the rear
be moved out Of tho road aud packed with view, it
is said, OF having them burnt rather than let them fall
into the hands Of our enemies. General Gst was re-
peatedy pressed back against the wagons but he m.n-
! aged fnally, with the aid Of bis brave command,
(Wakers dvisioD) to save them all. At time, the
enemy get in b-tNeen him and the main column but
h0 took neghborhood road ana thus escaped dssIuc-
ton. Unfortunately, Pergusons battery Of four guns
belonging to Walkers dyisiop, was ctp'u-ed. The
horses if very bad condition, and unable to keep
up nth the column, heteO the disaster. The greater
part of the men and horses escaped You will be as
tonished TO hear that the horses in the Srery service
the most important in the whole army, are the most
neglected. fact however, which quArtermasters and
even artlerists seem incapable Of comprehendng TIE
oss OF the battery occurred after dark and. Lot
far from Ringgold. The ranS we're brought out three
miles this side of Ringgod and the teams fed while the
amy occupied the pass just outside the Three
companies OF the l6.h South Carolina acting sG spe-
cia guard 10 Fergusons battery we're dispersed, and
many Of he men taken prisoners.
Nov. T-The trains were now put in 'front.' and d-
rec;ed to take left hand road to Dalton passing near
4 naNn Thnur ILL.,
at daylight following the direction of the railroad BY
/ Tunnel Hill, so as to the trains. Roads very
bad for slime miles; the teams overWorked and suffer
/ ing for forage and rest. q mule lie down when
the harness removed and 20 soundy to sleep in
two minutes as an infant aud that while hundreds of
wagons and thou5ands Of men marching by with
/ in few PAGES Of where it rested.
Ceburne intrusted with the command of the rear
guard to-dAy Walkers division having been relieved
The Federal pursuing column numbering it Is estimA
ted, about 10000 Of all arms assaulted him before
/ he reached Tunnel Hill This column consisted OF
picked troops, who moved rapidly and fought calamity;
but Oleburne succeeded in restraining them whenever
/ he encountered them. But they Wege become cutie
troublesome; 30 be RmbuscSded them by concealiDg bis
Forces including bis artillery, until the enemy got with
in few PAGES If his guns when they poured grape and
canister into them with the most desruct We effect The
road was filed with their dead and wounded. Oar in.
fntry then sprung forward from their overt on either
side Of the road, and literally moved them down by
OL.
leaving $50 prisoners and three f1gs he latter taken
by the arlerists) In hands, and from l. 900 to
1900 killed and wounded in the road The Federss
kept at respectful distance from Pat Clebune after
| that and were Ave hours marching ole mile ON our
track.
A prisoner taken near Rpggold reports that Oster-
hsuS, oil Shermlns CORPS IL in command of the pursu
ing column. HesaJs that 0sterhGus crossed the Chick
amAuga on hastily CONSTRUCTED BRIDGE and that Grant
was building vide, substantial military bridge at Red
H0uaa hu Viii IN "a. -
and shat he intended TO make clean sweep OF the Con-
fedsraes. This last achievement the beaten hero of
Shiloh will fnd more difficult than he magines
The trains reached Dalton In the afternoon, AID
were parked and the teams fed. The troops arrived
soon thereafter and went into camp. 1t was Just At
ts point my frugal meal being prepare an
the first plagrspa OF this rambling letter was being in
died. that order for the trains to move on to
R*A.R The roads 10 this plaza pretty god, tho
almost impossible in places. Several wagons were Lost
enemy, but BY ths great holes CULTS and qlogmires
Ia the road. saw no pioneer corps with the trains
the transfers left to take care of The wagons Sc
best they could am not certain tina. it would not be
al eVentua bsne6t if we stoud come day lose ain
perhaps the authorities would then the nee sssy
recognizedn all other countries OF organising an eff
Gent corps OF engineers Including poneer bjgs and
boat builders, &c.
IIcommerc to IAN at IL o'clock, aud By day it was
pouring down in torrents, The ioadP, already heavy
enough now became indesc ioably bad. Il was hor.
rid night But poor woman, the mother of ten chill
drel her husband and oldss! in the army gave me
shelter =. one oclo r. FIRE to dry myself by, and
bad to rest upon, no. forgetting bundle Of fodder for
my horse dozsn others, attracted by the cheering
light seen through her window, applied for admtsancs
aud room was fluid for all in that hum,le cabin God
bless that good and shield her husband and son
from the dangers Of the battle Id The light in her
window was not hid uad.r busheL Alas how tie |
poor do shame US by their charities
ha raj ohahi vafan kha 81.
at least for the pres; unless his Welorsau z.d pon
Ger corps ensbe Linn to keep it up. Our future line
viii probably rest on ths ooosa On a eastern tribu,a
RES