The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-12-11


on Monday, the 23d, our troops deployed into
their respective positions, and little later the
whole line was advanced and the rebel out
posts driven in. This was the signal for gen.
eral artillery attack The guns of Forts Wood
and Negley, and Moccasin Point, opened q flu
rious cannOnade, sustained by smaller bate
ries and field pieces, to which the rebels replied
Wood the view was magnificent. Towards
corps moved around in front in column to the
extreme left Changers fell into the centre;
Palmers took the right, under the base OF
Lookout. The whole plain for miles was a
gigantic, living, moving kaleidoscope. The
troops marching to their places with the air
and precision of veterans, with every head held
to the breeze. Hearts swelled with emotions
too big for utterance; but the profoundest ST.
lence and stern resolve of every countenance
gave promise Of the morrow.
After sharp skrmish in a narrow belt of
timber lying between our Outposts and Orchard
Ridge "a considerable ridge in front OF our
centre, and half way to the foot of Missionary
Ridge, the rebels were driven into their rifle
pits on its summit, and our men formed in line
of battle, partially covered by the timber.
Sheridan's division, on the right of Changers
corps, sustained no loss comparatively. Woods
division, in the centre, had the most to contend
against, and advanced furthest. Hazen's and
Willich's brigades especially distinguished
themselves, and carried Orchard Ridge by as
sault a little before dark, without heavy loss.
This gave us possession of all the high ground
in front of Missionary Ridge, and drove the
enemy into their main line of rifle-pits, few
hundred yards in front of the base of the ridge.
This line was continuous one clear around,
and seemed formidable. Firing ceased at dark.
How the rebels busted themselves is not GER
tainly known; but our boys commenced erect
,sxl,k
the axe, pick, and shovel were industriously
piled, and Tuesday morning dawned on line
of Notifications that would have delighted
TOdtleben. A double row of logs and loose
stones was covered with earth, the excavation
of which made a considerable ditch and added
to its strength. Part of this lire had been
taken from the enemy the night before at the
point of the bayOnet and was their advanced
riie-pit. We had only to add to its height and
dig a ditch ON the other side so it should front
outward, when it was complete. A cold. chilly
mist and rain settled down upon the contend
ing hosts during the night The morning was
foggy, and the day drizzly, but not cold.
OPERATIONS ON TUEsDAY-sHERNAN CROSS
RS THE RIVER.
In obedience to orders, Gen. Sherman NOV
ed up the north side of the river to opposite
the mouth of Chickamauga River, which emp
ties into the Tennessee from the Southwark.
Gen. Giles A. Smiths brigade of Gen. N. L.
Smiths division embarked above in boats, and
foated down quietly to the place designated
for landing. so nOiselessly was the movement
conducted that the 9Th Missouri, under Colo
mel Coleman, and the 10th Illinois, under Col.
Upper, landed above the mouth of the Chick
amaugn undiscovered, and captured the pick
cts without firing o shot or causing any alarm.
The balance of the division was then crossed
in boats. Gen. J. +. Smiths division and q
part of Gen. Ewins's followed A. rapidly as
the boat: could ferry them. During this time
Brig Gen Smith (Chief of Engineers on
Gen. Thomas stat) were laying pontoon
with all the expedition possible. 1t was com
pleted soon after daylight, when the remainder
of General Ewing's division, all of Gen. jeff
c. Davis division of the 18th Army Corps, and
the artillery belonging to all crossed on it in
good order by o'clock P. N. The enemy was
not in front to oppose the passage Of the river.
and, by the capture of his pickets at the mouth
of the Chickamauga was left in ignorance of it
for several hours. Near the place of crossing
was rebel camp Of about one hundred men,
engaged in telling trees and making RATS to
send down the river for the purpose Of destroy
ing our pontoon bridges at and below Chatta-
nooga. So unexpected was our coming that
the whole were captured. excepting one man,
who escapsd, like . servant of old, to be
The line of battle was formed below Chicka-
manga. with General NJ. L. Smiths division on
the left, General j. K. Smiths in the centre,
and General Ewing's on the right Coward
Chattanooga, and moved across fertile bot
tom lying between the river and the end of
Missionary Ridge The enemy was met in
force. and beyond skirmishing, no opposition
was encountered in gaining the summit of the
ridge. General Towards corps was pushed
up the river bank from town in the morning,
and now joined General Sherman's. At night
General Sherman began intrenching his position
on the ridge. His troops were under arms. or
on duty. till daylight, l believe by which time
they were in position to defend themselves sue
cessfully against all assault, or to advance on
the enemy's Qualifications on the ridge, beyond
a ravine.
On Monday night General Hooker was Or
dered to attack Lookout at daylight in the
morning. Owing to some delay on account of
bridges, the column was not i'm motion till 8
o'clock when it left Wauhatchie Valley, and
began ascending the western slope of the noun
tain two or three miles back from the river
Skirmishing began at once and continued
heavily till about noon. by which time we had
driven their Outposts towards the point of the
mountain next the river, and had reached a
level plateau nearly two-thrds of the way up,
from which road wound around the point to
the eastern side Across this road the rebels
had thrown up heavy breas. works of logs and
stones The approach from the east side and
rear was by a wagon road that admitted trans
porting cannon, and two brass field pieces were
added to the natural detences of the place. To
turn the position was impossible Nothing but
projecting precipices ofjagged rocks and stone
was upon either hand-;ibove or below. An
open, narrow field through which tGe road ran.
had tn he crossed TO reach the rebel works.
The line bad been previously formed with
Greggs division Oh the right. Whittaker's brig
ade III The centre, and OSierhaus' division of
Gen. Shermails corps (Which was unable TO
cross the river the Gay betore) on tie left. A
charge was made across the field in g;,ilan.
style; Il sharp, rastling, crashing, desu!tory
muske,ry fire succeeded all the artillery along
the line seemed suddenly to open fire; and
when the smoke cleared away, and glimpse
could be had of the position, the "od stars
and stripes" floated grandly over the works,
and all the rebels who were not killed or cap
tured were discovered retreating through the
ravnes and unde:brush in great disorder Two
pieces of artillery we're claimed to have been
captured by the 45th Ohio, and two by the I'll
Missouri. But two were there all told. Over
1000 prisoners were taken, and many small
arms. The rebels broke in great confusion
instead of making the obstinate resistance
expected. In that position one good regiment
cou Il hold an army corps at bay indefinitely. if
they possessed the pluck to do so. They fought
badly in Hooker's front all day. His advance
was in no sense Il battle: it was only a long
prOtracied, magnificent skirmish from s A. NJ