The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1863-12-09
The Great victory at Chattanooga.


victory:
NASHVILLE, Tenn, Nov. =. 1868
The result OF these battles Is the full possess
sion OF the entire line OF railroad from Bridge
port IS miles southwest OF Chattanooga, 10
Cleveland, 20 miles east the perfect control OF
Lookout Mountain, the occupation OF Lookout
Mountain, the occupation Of Missionary Ridge,
and the entire command OF all the valley OF
from the Tennessee River south 10
the battle field Of Chickamauga In accomplish
ing this we have lost some three thousand killed,
wounded and missing, while the rebel loss i
in killed and wounded al not les than
s 900 and from : 900 10 10000 prisoners. We
have captured more than 50 cannon, and a very
large number of small arms. In their flight the
rebels desuosei long trains OF wagons and an
immense amount Of various kinds o. army ma
terisl
ms LOCALITY.
To understand the skill of our Generals, the
strong positions Of the rebels, aad the difficult
ties confronting the great army of the Republic,
IL will be necessary for the reader to have in his
minds eve a little Of the topography OF the
country near Chattanooga. Take an elevated
stand on the bank Of the Tennessee, lttle
above the center Of Chattanooga, and look oil
SOUTH Before YOU is level valley OF two or
three miles ia extent. and back from the river
about the same width cast and west To your
right and left, above and below Chattanooga,
are ridges which show bold heads on the river
bank but slope back ill lost in this plain.
These formed the right and left wings OF our
army, the center of it on this pla extending
two miles from the river. Take your stand now,
on our left, and you look over corn6eds and
cultivated land, for a mile or more and you see
a succession OF hills, commencing halt mile
from the river and al right angles 20 H. This IS
Missionary Ridge, crowned With forest trees, yet
on IFS sides are many open cultivated spots, and
others with the appearance of orchards and
parks This ridge - q succession OF forts, and
all its sides are cut up by rAepits, and all the
means OF shelter and defense that the rebel.
could construct in tull two months Pass down
the river to our right, and before YOU looms up
in majestic grandeur, Lookout Mountain. IL
fIowuiug northern head rises 900 feet from the
plain. II seems close 20 YOU, but IL IS two OF
three miles 10 is base The rebel signal station
is in fun view YOU can With the naked eye, set
the operator wave his fac The east and north
sides OF this mountain aye also a succession O
forts aud rife pits, all Of which, two months
since were entirely naked. TIE position Of The
artillery vas known only when they belched forth
their ire aud smoke, shot aud shell.
On the sides OF this mountain and ridges, and
across the southern end OF the plain OF Chat
tanooga, lay cncsmped the rebel army under
Bragg. His army formed the great semi circle
from river To river, above and below Chattanoo
"a, Commanding river ;and railrCal above and
below the civ The Union army formed a small
inner semi circle, commanding a mile or so Of
the river, in our rear. across which We had frai
l...a n.
hospital. etc, were north Of the river, aud heal
the roads over which came all supplies.
The railroad, crossing the river az BriGsepor
was within the euemy's lines for a large part q
the IS miles between Briigepor. and Chatia-
nooga
RECENT MOVEMENTS
Since the battle of Chickanauga, the WORK
before our Generals has been 20 keep open Oul
communication for more than one hundred anc
fifty miles, to drive the rebels from the hills and
mountains commanding onr roads, and the river
and railroad between Bridgeport and Chattanoo
ga. Gradually and slowly we have been repos
sessng these important avenues. so necessary e
the comfort and security of our army.
During the latter part oi October, division.
of Gen. Hooker's corps CALAMITY carried impor
tant points on Raccoon Mountain, a range lying
between Bridgeport and Lookout, and parable
to the latter mountain, aud at right angles tC
the ryer. The valley wing between these
ranges takes the name of the latter mountain
"a does also the creek that flows through IL
The possession Of Racc0on Mountain and Look
ont Valley. with the safe transit Of the Tennes
see River, insured the ability Of Gen. Grant 10
turn the enemv's flank whenever prepared anC
disposed to make the effort.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE ATTACK
Were made by distributing several divisions =
follows: Col Euyart'- brigade occupied Ridge
port Gen Whitaker, Shelm0und, ard Gen
Gross. Whiteside These belonged to Gen
Cruft's division, Of the 4th Army Corps
The west side Of Lookout Creek within speak
ine distance Of the enemy, was occupied by tn,
nth and 10Th Army Corps, brought out Yves
by Gen. Hooker The left of these corps rested
Oh Browns Ferry, commanded by Gen. Stein
weir the ceutcr by Carl Schurz, ard the Oh
by Gen. Gearv Of Kansas no,oriety.
Palmer aud Graugcr's divisions of the iil
Army Corps occupied the right and left IN ron
OF lookout Mountain.
Sherman's corps or grand division, with diyis
ion commanders such Osteihaus, Morgan L
Smith, John +. Smith, Ewing and others, KEEP
up he appearance Of marching hitler and ihith
err as though ttcy were about 10 make an az
tack on Trenton. Part Of the corps seemed Z,
be engaged in repairing the railroad and building
bridges. The rebels supposed they would no
complete their work short Of month.
OPENING THE BALL
After these feints had been kept up lonr
enough to serve his purpose, Gen. Sherman
crossed his command over al Browns Ferry {,
the right bank Of the Tennessee River aut
marched above Chattanooga. Being here joine,
by Gen. JEFF C. Davis division, acting a. a re
serve. Leaving this division on the right bank
by means Of the steamer Duncan and the pom
toons, all Of Sherman's grand division was sooi
transferred 20 the other de Of the river nearly
opposite the end OF Missionary Ridge, and n DO
sitiou 10 turn the enemys right This state o
things precipitated the attack o. the enemy
works on Mondav the 23d Gen. Woods com
handing the left and Sheridan the right Of II,
advance, the fret line Of rife pits we're soon ir
our possession.
The TAXING CT LOOKOUT
Hooker. on the 24th, reinforced By Osterhsus
brigade Of Cruft's division, attacked the rebe
position on Lookout Mountain, and swept eve
rything before him. With a loss OF 200. ht
drove the the rebels before him * miles. anc
captured 1000 prisoners On the evening Oh
the Path We had driven the rebels from Cbatta
sOoga Valley, Lookout Mountain and Valley,
and bad compelled them 10 fall back 10 Chcka-
msuga Creek They, however. continued r
force on Missionary Ridge
During the mor1iug OF the 25ih. the divisions
under the following Generals took positions il
the order named. the right resting on the blue
waters Of the Tennessee: SchuTz. J. Z. Smith,
N I Smith Fgirv SteiuEehr Baird Wood