The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1863-12-04
LATEST NEWS.
Full account Of the three days Battle under Grant,
GALLANTRY OF OUR TROOPS,

Edpm M Stanton, Secretary Of War-SIR:
On the 23d inst, at 1l-30 A. NJ, Gen. Grant
ordered demonstration against Mission
Ridge, to develop the force holding it, The
troops marched out formed in order and adj
vanced in line of battle, as if On parade. The
rebels watched tho formation and movement
from their picket lines and rifle pits, and from
the summit of Mission Ridge, five hundred
feet above us, and thought it was a review
and drill, so openly and deliberately and so
regularly was it done.
As the line advanced, preceded by skir-
mishers, and at two O'Clock P. M. reached our
picket lines, they opened a rafting yollcy
upon the rebel pickets, who returned it and
ran into their advanced lines Of rifle pits.
After them went our skirmishers, and into
them, along the centre Of the line of $4,000
troops, which Gen. Thomas had SO quickly
deployed,
Until we opened fire, prisoners assert they
thought the whole movement was review
and general drill, and that it was too late to
send to their camps for reinforcements, and
that they were overwhelmed by force of num-
bers. 1t was a surprise in open daylight.
AT 3 p. NJ. the important advanced position
of Orchard Knob and the lines right and left
were in our possession, and arrangements
were ordered for holding them during the
night. The ne&t day at daylight Gen. Thomas
had 5000 men across the Tennessee and
established on its south bank, and commenced
the construction of a pontoon bridge about six
miles above Chattanooga. The rebel steamer
Dunbar repaired at the right moment, rem
deled effective aid in this crossing, carrying
over 5000 men.
BY nightfall General Thomas had seized the
extremity of Mission Ridge nearest the river,
and was intrenching himself. Gen. Howard,
with brigade, opened communication with
him from Chattanooga on the south side Of
the river. Skrmishing and cannonadng con-
tinued all the day ON the lett ana centre,
Gen. Hooker scaled the slopes of Lockout
Mountain from the valley Of Lookout Greek,
drove the rebels around the point, captured
1000 prisoners, and established himself high
up the mountain side in view Of Chattanooga,
This raised the blockade, andIow steamers
were ordered from Bridgeport to Chattanooga.
They had before run only to Kelly's Ford,
whence ten miles of hauling over the moun-
tain roads, and twice across the Tennessee
upon pontoon bridges, brought us our sup
plies. All night the point of Mission Ridge,
on the extreme left, and the side of Lookout
Mountain on the extreme right, blazed with
the camp-frcs of loyal troops.
The day had been one of dense mists and
rains, and much of General Rockers battles
had been fought above the clouds, which con-
ceaed him from our view, but from which his
musketry was heard.
At nightfall the sky cleared and the full
moon, the traitors doom, shone upon the
beautiful scene until l A. M. Twinkling
sparks upon the mountain side showed that
picket diminishing was going on then it
ceased. e4
A brigade sent from Chattanooga crossed
the Chattanooga Creek and opened communi-
cation with Hooker.
General Grants head quarters, during the
afternoon of the 23d and the day of the 24th,
were in Woods redoubt, except when, in the
course of the day, he road along the advanced
line, visiting the headquarters Of the various
commanders in Chattanooga valley.
AT daylight on the 25th the stars and stripes
were discovered ON the peak Of Lookout. The
rebels had evacuated the mountain.
General Hooker moved to descend the noun
tain, and striking Mission Ridge at the Ross
vile Gap to sweep on both sides and on its
summit.
The rebel troops were seen, as soon as it
was light enough, streaming by regiments
and brigades along the marrow summit of
Mission Ridge, either concentrated ON the
right to overwhelm Sherman, or marching for
the railroad to raise the siege.
They had evacuted the valley Of Chatta-
nooga; would they abandon that of Chicka-
manga? phe twenty-pounders and rife guns
of Woods redoubt opened on Mission Ridge,
and Orchard Knob sent its compliments to the
ridge, which, with rihed Parrots, answered,
and the eannonade, thus commenced, con-
tinued all day.
Shot and shell screamed from Orchard
Knob to Mission Ridge, and from Mission
/ Ridge to Orchard Knob, and from Woods re-
doubt over the heads of General Grant and
, Thomas and their staff, who were with us in
, this favorable position, where the whole battle
, could be seen as in an amphitheatre.
The headquarters were under fire all day
long. Cannonading and musketry were heard
from General Sherman.
J General Howard marched the Elevent Army
Corps to join him. Thomas sent out skir-
; mishes, who drove in the rebel pickets, and
/ chased them into their intrenchments at the
foot of the Mission Ridge.
General Sherman made an assault against
Bragg,s right, intrenched on high knoll,
next to that on which General Sherman lay