The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-12-05
BATTLES OF CHATTANOOGA
Splendid Fighting and Great
Victories.

Both.
The late operations of the united armies
Of the Tennessee and Cumberland at Chatta-
nooga. have proven to be among the most
successful ones of the war; while at the same
time thew present several most interest,"
ing examples of strategic maneuvers IN the
face of the enemy. We have received
from highly reliable source, iuli, ciear
and explicit statement OF the several dls-
tinct movements of the late operations,
and this we present below in PLAIN MARIA
tive, style 10 our readers. 1t will be seen
from the account that the primary object OF
the movement was to get possession OF
Lookout Mountain, in order 10 open rail-
road communication with Bridgeport. a
second important object was to make d.
! version in favor Of General Burnside, as by
forc;np Bragg to raise the siege and retreat,
Tongs3ree.'s rear would be so seriously
exn6sed that he would have to abandon
the siege Of Knoxville. Other objects OF
minor Importance Mere pl osnI eo, ny sne
These have been more than realized, since,
NOT only have we gained possession Of the
railroad succored Burnside to such de-
gree that he is now already relieved, but
We have captured at a slight cost OF life,
large numbers ofprisoners and material.
In the three days, operations our loss IN
killed. wounded and prisoners is officially
reported at not more than thirty-two hun
dred. In addition to our visible and mate.
rial gains, the armies engaged have added
much to their deserved renown, and their
admirable discipline and esprit de corps
been increased by the success, which gives
them, at the same time, such increased con-
fidence in themselves.
THE SITUATION BEFORE THE BATTLE.
This has been so often and fully describ-
ed of late, that any lengthy description
would be thrown away upon the public at
this time, The enemy's line, it is under
stood pretty generally, was on the summit
of Mission Ridge, with a crochet detached
upon Lookout Mountain. Mission Ridge
is a low range of Mountains, not unlike the
hills Of the Kentucky side of the river from
our beautiful Queen City," save the fur
rows OF the field and the vineyard here as
sumo the horrible dimensions of the rifle
pit there. This range commences on the
north, at the mouth Of Chickamauga Creek,
in cluster of peaks, rather isolated from
each other, butas they run south gradually
become connected ridge with but slight
undulations. The first gap Of any impor-
lance is at Rossville. The right Of the en-
emy's line proper rested at the north end
of the connected ridge at the mouth of
the creek, the isolated peaks mentioned
not being occupied. The enemy had such
long line to hold that he did not think it
advisableto attempt to contest the occupa-
ton OF the isolated peaks. On the north
of the ridge, and the right of his line, he
bad built strong bastion fort. At point
nearly due east Of Chattanooga and nearly
two miles south Of the fort mentioned, was
another. These were connected by strong
rife-pits, the outlines of which were con-
nected by strong rifle pits, the outlines Of
which were plainly visible from Chatta-
nooga; but the naked eye could hardly dis
tinguish whether they were men in line of
battle or works. The field-glass, however,
would bring into bold relief the logs, brush
and earth which composed these rude but
strong works. From the fort in the centre,
south a mile, ran rif1e-pits to another fort,
which was the left Of the rebel line on the
ridge. At the foot Of the ridge beginning
near the second or centre fort, Bragg had
constructed a series of strong rifle-pits,
which ran southwark, hugging the noun
the base Of Lookout Mountain to strong
lunette fort called Fort Bragg. Here the
line changed direction and ran across the
valley between Lookout and Mission
Ridge to small but deep stream called
Chattanooga creek. 1t then followed the
stream to the foot OF Lookout, but no de-
fences appear to have been erected west OF
the creek save upon the slope and summit
of Lookout Mountain.
Gen. Grants line was shorter-being the
interior line-yery strongly defendedin the
center, and hence with reinforce!Hents arri-
wing under Hooker and Sherman, he was
enabled, by the time his plans matured, to
detacht two large forces toattack the enemy's
right and left TANKS, in order to keep his
line extended and consequently weakened
while at the same time he succeeded in
strengthening the center, the old Army Of
the Cumberland, by Towards corps
Subsequently, however, this corps joined
in the operations on the right, while two
brigade's of SANKEY'S division, ith corps,
and one brigade of Johnston's division'
18th corps, were sent to aid Hooker who
was assaulting Lookout with Geary's and
Osterhaus division.
The operations were to have begun on
Saturday, Nov. 2:st, but owing to the heavy
rains, and the partial destruction of the
to have crossed, the movement was delayed
Indefinitely. On Monday rumors began to
prevail that the enemy were retiring, and
il was determined to reconnoiter his posi-
ton in order to develop any retiring dispo-
sition on his part. Brig. Gen. Woods di-
vision was selected by Gen. Thomas as the
accommodating force, and the whole army
II Chattanooga was ordered under arms
and into line to meet any emergency which
might arise, and also to demonstrate in va
rious directions, in order to reveal the ar
tillery of the enemy.
GEN. WOODS Reconnaissance.
A few minutes after ] a. M, on Monday,
tlc tIoopS al DelIlS III line VI uattle, ain
the enemy lining the crest of the hill look
ing upon the magnificent array below, the
heavy siege guns of Fort Wood, under
charge of Lieut.. Dunwoddy, Of the 18th
Wisconsin battery, opened fire, and as if it
had been chosen for the signal OF advance,
Gen. Woods division moved forward. At
the same time, the pickets in his front be-
gan skirmishing, and in being reinforced.
drove those of the enemy into their rife
Nits. a long creek, and at the base of an
isolated knob. half way between Chatta-
nooga and Mission Ridge. At the same
time the enemy opened with artillery from
the Ridge, revealing three batteries in the
center Of their line, but none of the guns of
sufficient calibre to reach Fort Wood. AS
Gen. Wood advanced, however, he soon
got under the fire Of these guns, and suf..
fered considerably from them.
Wood moved with part Of Hazen's bri-
gade on the right, and Willich's on the left;
Gen. Sam. Beatty being in reserve: The
sth Kansas did the skirmishing for the en-.
tire line, and did it in the usual admirable
style ofthat fine regiment; The enemy
-. &c oo,rco encountered before the first