Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1863-12-12
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE BATTLE OF CHlATTA.
NOOGA.
The Fight ,t Tunnel kztii, and As
sault on Mission Ridge.

The Fight ut Tunnel KgtIl, and As
sault on Mission Ridge.
The brief but very accurate and interest
in account of Grants victory, telegraphed
by Quartermastcr General Meigs, give far
better idea of the battle than any report yet
published, if we except the extended and
spirited narrative of Mr.. Shanks, to the New
York Herald. The concluding portions Of
this description will supply wanted inte-
rest to the reader. We publish the profac-
tory remarks as an intelligent tribute to the
skill of Gen. Grant:
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. Nov. &c, 1868.
PREDATORY.
If it be the confirmation of victory to sleep
in the beds of the conquered, then are we
victorious. If to have utterly broken and
routed the enemy and driven him in dis
graceful rout from position whose natural
strength cannot be ovcr.cstimated. with
heavy loss to him and but little loss to us,
is to have won victory, then may repeat
The words of my first telegram, we are
completely Victorious Two nights ago the
cnemy's fires burned brightly on Mission
IL.
at dusk, the Union camp fires made the
ridge one great glow-worm, and crimsoncd
the sky above till the great, full moon,
which had risen Just rs the day aud battle
were won and ended looked pale but smil-
ingly. The allusiOp may create smile but
there was more than one on the ridge yes
terdav afternoon, who, rs they saw the enc
my flying and the moon rising, thought of
the sun of AusterlitZ.' remember watch
ing Grant, rs he rode along the ridge. with
head uncovered, receiving the plaudits of his
men, and | wondered if he did not think of
the same incident
THE PLAN or OPERATIONS.
Although the admirably-couducted and
highly-successtul operations of Gen Hooker,
in conjunction with W. +. Smith ("Baldv')
Il month ago, brought great relief to the
army and saved the country the humiliation
of seeing its army evaCuatinG the important
position of Chattanooga, the increased iacil-
itics OF transportation afforded bv that sue
cess were not sufficient to supply and D O.
vision an army reinforced to the extent it
was deemed necessary to strengthen the
Army OF the Cumberland The railroad to
Chattanooga became an imperative and i'm
mediate necessity, and. with this as the
primary object to be attained, Gen. Grant
devised II plan to raise the siege of the place
and get possession OF aii.important Look
out Mountain. This plan was submitted to
his general officers by General Grant, and
finally adopted. On last Friday had an
opportunity of seeing copy of Gen. Grants
letter to General Thomas, detailing this
plan.
Now that it has lie carried out to a high
" successful issue, feel at liberty to use the
substance of the letter of Gen. Grant, which
has reference To the execution of the plan.-
Not only was the principal object to be at
tanned tempting reward for the operations
intended, but an examination of the cncmy's
line showed very plainly that hc had de-
libcratcly exposed himself To great danger.
His exterior line upon Mission Ridge was
something near seven miles in extent, while
his inner line of rifle pits and similar de
fences running through the valleys was not
less than five miles long. There was upon
the line two points of importance to him
the first, Tunnel Hill, being they to his posi-
tion, and Lookout Mountains position
Important 20 Bragg rs a barrier to the pur-
poses OF Grant. 1t was supposed the enemy
would defend Tunnel Hill with yigor. Look
ont could Ice held bya small force. General
Grant held that, to attack his tanks vgOr-
ously, in order To force him to keep his line
heightened, and thus weakened, would af-
ford a favorable opportunity to test the
strength of the centre.
1t was therefore decided that Gen. Sher-
man with three divisions of his own army.
and General. Davis, Uf Paimcr's corps. should
move north ut the river, to a point opposite
the mouth OF the Chickamauga, and at AN
early hour on the following morning throw
a pontoou bridge across the Tennessee, and,
undertAc cover of General 3ranan's artillery,
cross and carry the heights of Missionary
Ridge, rs far, AT least us Tunnel Hill. On
the left rebel flank Gen. Hooker was to
operate with Gcary, AstcrhauS. and two
brgadcS Of Stunicy's division, his primary
object being to hold the rebels there, but
authorized, IN case OF an opportunity pre-
scntlng itself, 10 take possession of Look
out Mountain. In the centre, Gcu. Thomas
was ordered to hold Granger and Paimcrs
corps well in hand, to await an opportunity
TO strike ut the centre, wlencvcr, in the
opinion of Gen. Grant, the suspicious mo-
mcnt presented itself. Gen. O. o. Iowards
corps was 10 be moved 10 the north side of
the river, SO Us to and either sherman or the
centre, But subsequently, AT the suggestion
of Gen Thomas, Howard was crossed into
Chattanooga, and held as u movable column
IN reserve. SuCh was the general plan OF
operations, subject, OF course, To such mOdi-
tcutions as the movements OF the enemy
might neCcssitdte.
But it will be seen that the enemy had no
choice of movements, but forced 10 assume
the defensive, Tas controlled almost entirely
10y General Grants movements. Never have
operations in war better VI more fully shown
the vast advantages of the offensive The
battles Of Chattanooga have been the only
ones cy,r fought by this army ON purely
offensive principles, aud | have thought
since these battles that the secret Of Grants
success may be discovered in the fact that
he has always taken the offensive, | have
heart meu call him "the lucky Grant" and
the newspapers speak OF his good fortune
| tell you Il Is not luck, II is not good for-
tune II Is "LegeAic de h gHsrrc," He does
not depend upon circumstance Of good for
. tune, but controls both One such il!uslra-
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