The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-12-13
BATTLE OF MISSION RIDGE.
Bad Behav for Of Rebel Troops.
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Their Strong PO8itio,s--A Great
Panio--TAsir Loss IN ATli7Ztsy.
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ARMY OF TENEEssEEl
Ohickamaugs, Nov. 20, Midnight
The Confederates have sustained to.
day the most SYNONYMOUS defeat Of tht
whole war--s defeat for which there il
but little excuse or paliation. For The
first time during our struggle for ma.
tienal independence, our defeat ia charge
able to the troops themselves, and not t.
the blunders or incompetency Of theil
leaders. 1t is difficult for one 70 reaIfzt
how a defeat so complies could have &C.
Cured on ground so favorable, notwith.
ding the great disparity in the force
of the two hostile armies. The ground
was more in our favor than it was Al
Fredericksburg, where Gen. Longstreet il
said 10 have estimated that Lees army
was equal TO 300 900 men. And yet We
gained the battle of Fredericksburg and
lost that Of Missionary ridge.
But let US take up the painful nara
tive at the beginning, and see how this
great misfortune, if not ihia grieYous dis
grace, has befallen the Confederate arms
Lookout Mountain was evacuated last
night, il being no longer important to US
after the loss of Lookout or Wills's
Valley, and no longer teHAble against
such an Overwhelming force IS Gen.
Grant had concentrated around Chatta-
nooga. Gen. Bragg abandoned also the
whole of Chattanooga Valley, and the
trenches and breastworks running along
the foot of Missionary Ridge, and across
the valley to the base of Lockout, and
moved his troops up to the top of the
ridge. 1t was found necessary to ex-
tend bis right well up toward the Chick
amsuga, near its mouth, in consequence
Of the heavy forces which the enemy had
thrown up the river in that direction
The Tennessee and Missionary Ridge
approach nearer TO each other as one
goes up or rather down the valley, the
width of which at some points does not
exceed one fourth of mile. Across
this valley, now almost an open plain,
varying frcm a fourth Of mile TO two
miles in width, the FederaIs advanced
to the assault, their ranks exposed to an
artillery FIRE from the ride while in The
plain, and TO the infantry fire when they
attempted the ascent Of the hill or noun
tain.
The only objection that can be urged
against our line was its length and
weakness, the latter being the result OF
the former, and the former the result of
circumstances beyond our control, il
being necessary for US to guard the pas
ses in the Ridge and TO conform to the
length of the line presented by the enc
my. TIE ridge varies in hight from four
to six hundred feet, and crossed by sew
eral roads leading out from Ghattsncoga.
The western side, next to the enemy,
was steep and rugged, and in some pla-
ces almost bare; the timber having been
cut away for fireWood. Oar pickets oc-
cupied the breastworks below, while the
infantry and artillery were distributed
along the crest of the ridge, from McFar-
lan's Gap almost TO the mouth of the
ChicksmaUga, a distance of six miles or
more. In addition 10 the natural strength
of the position, we had thrown up breast
works along the ridge wherever the IS :
cent is easy.
The Federal army was marshalled
under GRAM, Thomas, Hooker and Sher-
man, and did not number less than 3d.
600 veteran troops. The Confederate
army, under Bragg, Hsrdee and Breckin-
ridge, did net number half so many.
Longstreet's Virginia divisions and other
troops had been sent to East Tennt ssee.
Had these been present, with their steady
leader at the head of them, We should
have won a victory quite as complete as
our defeat has been. As it was, we
ought to have won the day, and should
have done soft cur men had done as we'll
as usual. Possibly a mistake was COM
mittsd when LOngstreet was sent away,
and possibly it would have been better
not to have accepted battle to-day, but
have retired last night. Gen. Bragg
thought, however, that there was not
time, after the loss of Lookout, to get his
army safely over the Chickamauga last
night, and it would be better, occupying
so strong q position TO fight it cut. But
what could be expected from . battle
where the odds were so much against
them? Not only did Grant have three
TO one in numbers, but the geographical
confguration of the ground, in manoeuv-
ering an army, was as favorable as he
c5uld desire. Nature had provided an
ample protection for his TANKS and rear,
and rendered his front. almost impregna-
bic. He possessed the additional sdVan-
tage Of being able to manoeuyre his ar
my upon the cord of semi-circle, while
Bragg could move only upon the arch.
But let as proceed with the battle, the
strangest, most singular and unsatisfac.
torv conflict in which our arms have
been engaged.
Grant deployed his immense masses in
two heavy lines of battle, and sometimes
in three, supported by large reserve
forces. The spectacle was magnificent
as viewed from the crest Of Missionary
Ridge. He advanced first against our
right wing, about 10 o'clock, where be
encountered that superb soldier, Lieut.
General Hardee, who commanded on the
right, whilst Major General breckenridge
commanded on the left. Hsrdee's COM
mand embraced Cleburne's, Walkers,
commanded By General Gisb General
Walker being absent) Oheatham's, and
Stsvenson's Divisions. Breckenridge
embraced his old division, commanded
By Brigadier- General Lewis, Stewards,
part Of Buckner's, and HAmilton's, COM
manded By Patton Anderson. The enc
nsy's first assault upon HArdee was re-
pulsed with great slaughter, as was bis
second; though made with double lines,
Supported with heavy reserves. The
wave Of battle, like the wave Of the sea
when it dashes against . rock bound
coast, beat and Kissed, and struggled IN
vain, for the brave men whc Suarded our
right were resolved never - yield enc
foot to ths hated invaders. The odds
against which they contended wsfs fear
fol, for while the enemy advanced in two
and even three massive lines, their own
army consisted Of only one long and
weak line, without supports. Yet they
,,nt o,,4v rarrlead evarv attack Init r an.