Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-12-09

it two thousand five hundred prisoners.
That Missionary Ridge, with several thou
sand prisoners, is also ours. To-day at
twelve o'clock, clouds of smoke can be
seen rising from behind the ridge, thus in
dicsting that the rebels are burning
bridges, destroying their property and
probably escaping as rapidly as possible.
Miners report that our forces are ten
miles from Chattanooga and are now driv-
ing the enemy over the old battle-felds Of
Chickamauga. Their rout has been com
plete. Much property Of various kinds
has comeinto our possession. Any amount
of small arms and forty pieces Of artillery
and large quantities Of shelled corn. The
battle proper commenced on the 23i
inst. At twelve o'clock our center moved
out and engaged the enemy until night
This served to draw their attention while
General Sherman hastily threw pontoon
across the river some seven miles above
and moved his force across to the South
/ side. On the 24th he opened heavily on
the enemy, having succeeded in getting in
| their rear. At the same time Hooker en-
our right, made an assault on the rebel
works on Lookout Mountain. Charge sf-
ter charge wes made up the steep noun
tain side the rebels yielding the ground
siub6ornly and contesting every inch, but
at dusk our forces had gained foothold
and on the next day would easily have
finished the work, had not the rebels, with
'he exception of those taken prisoners,
made their escape during the night. Our
loss in this hattie was two hundred and
ffty killed and wounded.
While this was going on our center sd.
vsnced one mile, and General Woods Di-
vision succeeded in capturing a regiment oi
Alabamians. But it was on the 25th that
the most sublime spectacle which 1t has
ever been our lot to witness, was present
ed to our view. Missionary Ridge IS three
miles from Chattanooga, bue1r tfqll visf
of the toBa.,Imsgine y S'sdge n1el witt
cannon and Sebel - oi-s Their guns
booming forth .., % 9siSpt esdTFetk.;FhiI,
from our works ts e6mP Plimsnt is returned
by continual roar of artillery, at tn
same time beneath this covering of smoke
and iron hail the brave boys of the "ArmJ
Of the Cumberland" do1ble quick a6=ns
the valley one mile in width, and scramble
no the sides of the mountain. Slo WY bu
steadily he long line with the colors o
the different regiments move upward tow
ards what seems, to the spectator, certain
destruction. With what feelings Of in
tense interest do we watch the sscent-on
on they move, right up TO the very mouth
of the rebel guns, and now they havt
reached the summit of the ridge; they
leap over the bresstworks, seize the gun
and turn them against the panic stricken
. enemy. The day is ours, and a great vic
tory is won. That nightthe camp fires OF
Lookout Mountain aud Missionary Ridg
we're kindled by Union soldiers aud a
they gathered around these fires GnC
spread their blanket on the dry leaves, anC
talked over the scenes aud incidents Of tn
day, their hearts beat high with pride an
happiness because of the great work HccOm
p,isned The loss Of our regiment Wa
three killed and twenty nine wounded
Colonel 0pdyke had two horses shot uu
der him but came unscathed. BE was one o
! the bravest OF the brave, and he is fss
gaining for himself name among the off
GERS and men of this army Of which h
may well be proud. We believe ths
Bragg's army nearly destroyed, Cheer
ing news from all quarters. Let the goo
work go on, and we will, ere long be wit
our friends at home Yours, W H. G.
Quartermaster Sergeant 125th0 V. l.