Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-11-30


mountain on the extreme right blazed with
the camp fires of loyal troops The day had
been one OF dense mists and rains, and much
of Gen. Hookers battle was fought above the
clouds, which concealed him from our view.
but from which his musketry was heard. AT
nlghtiall the sky cleared, and the full moon
shone upon the beautiful scene until one A.
NJ, when twinkling sparks upon the mountain
side showed that picket skirmishing was GO
ing on. Then it ceased.
brigade sent from Chattanooga crossed
the Chattanooga creek, and opened commun-
lcatlon with Hooker. Gen. Grants head
quarters during the afternoon of the 23d and
the day of the oath were in Woods redoubt,
except when, in the course of the day, he rode
along the advanced line, visiting the head
| quarters of the several commanders in Chat
| tanooga valley. At daylight on the 25th the
stars and stripes were deserted on the peak of
Lookout. The rebels had evacuated the
mountain.
Hooker moved to descend the mountain
and, striking Mission ridge at Rossville gap, to
sweep on both sides, and on its summit the rebel
troops were seen as soon as it was light
enough, streaming regiments and brigades
along the narrow summit of Mission ridge,
either concentrating on the right to overwhelm
Sherman or marching for the railroad and
raising the siege. They had evacuated the
valley OF Chattanooga. Would they abandon
that of Chckamauga? The 20-pounders and
and IA inch rifles of Woods redoubt
opened on Mission Ridge. Orchard Knob
sent It's compliments to the ridge, which with
rlhed PARROTS answered, and the cannonade
thus commenced and continued all day.
Shot and shell screamed from Orchard Knob
to Mission Ridge, and from Mission Ridge to
Orchard Knobb, and from Woods redoubt
over the heads of Gems. Grant and Thomas
and their staff, who were with us in this favor
able position, from whence the whole battle
could be seen as in amphtheatre. The
headquarters were under fire all day long.
Cannonading and musketry were heard
from General Sherman, and General Howard
marched the llth corps to join him. General
Thomas sent out skirmishers who drove in the
rebel pickets and chased them into their in
trenchments, and at the foot of Mission
ridge Sherman made an assault on Bragg, who
was entrenched on a high knob next to thar
on which Sherman himself lay fortified. The
assault was CALAMITY made. Gen Sherman
reached the edge of the crest and held his
ground for about an hour, but was repulsed
by reserves.
general advance was ordered, and a line
OF skirmshers, followed by deployed line of
battle some two miles in length AT the sig
nal OF leaden shots from the headquarters on
Orchard Knobb the line moved RAPIDLY and
orderly forward. The rebel pickets ali dis
charged their muskeis and ran into their rifle
pits. Our skirmishers followed upon their
heels. The line of battle was not far behind,
and we saw the grey backs swarm out of the
ledge line OF rifle pits in numbers which sur
prlsed us, and over the base of the hill. A
few turned and fred their pieces but the
ntlY,, I,g,-, H. Il
which cross 0bliquely, up its steep face and
went on their top.
Some regiments pressed on, and swarmed
up the steep sides of the ridge and here and
tha-s a~i~- --I--.ee,I ,....l li..--.
The attempt appeared most dangerous, but
the advance was supported, and the whole line
was ordered to storm the heights, upon which
were not less than forty pieces of artillery, and
no one knew how many muskets stood ready
TO slaughter the ASSISTANTS. With cheers an
swering to cheers, the men swarmed upwards
then gathered to the points least difficult of
assault, and the line was broken. Color after
color was planted on the summit, when mus
ket and cannon vomited their thunder upou
them.
A well directed shot from Orchard Knob
exploded rebel caisson on the summit, and
the gun was seen galoping to their right, its
driver lashing his horses. A party of our sol
d!ers intercepted them, and the gun was cap
tured with cheers.
A fierce musketry fight broke out to the
left, where, between Thomas and Sherman, q
mile or two OF the ridge was still occupied by
the rebels. Bragg left the house in which he
had held his headquarters, and rode to the
rear as our troops crowded the hill on either
side OF him. General Grant proceeded ITO
the summit, and then did we only know its
height.
Some of the captured artillery was put into
position. Artilerists were sent for to work
the guns. CaissOns for searched for ammu-
milton. The rebel log breastworBs were torn
to pieces and carried to the other side of the
ridge used in forming barricades. A strong
line of infantry was formed in the rear of
Baird's line, hotly engaged in a musketry
contest with the rebels to the left, and Sc
cure lodgment was soon effected.
The other assault to the right of our centre
gained the summit, and the rebels threw down
their arms and fled. Hooker coming in fav-
orable position swept the right of the ridge
and captured many prisoners
Bragg's remaining troops left early in the
night, and the battle of Chattanooga, after
days of maneuvring and fighting was won.
The strength of the rebellion in the centre is
broken. Burnside is released from danger in
East Tennessee. Kentucky and Tennessee
VLe rescued. Georgia and the southeast are
threatened in the rear, and another victory is
added to the chapter of unconditional Sur
render Grant"
Tonight the estimate of captures is several
thousands Of prisoners and thirty pieces of
artillery. Our loss, for so great victory, is
not severe. Bragg is firing the railroad as he
retreats towards Dalton. Sherman is in hot
pursuit.
To-day | viewed the battle field, which ex-
tends for six miles along Mission Ridge and
for several miles on Lookout Mountain.
Probably not SO well ordered a battle has been
delivered during the war. But one assault
was repulsed; but that assault, by calling to
that point the rebel reserves, prevented them
from repuleing any others.
few days since Bragg sent to Gen. Grant
flag of truce advising him that it would be
prudent to remove any non-combatants who
might be still in Chattanooga. No reply has
been returned, but the combatants having re-
moved from this vicinity, it is probable that
non-combants can remain without impru-
dence. M. c. MEIGs,
Quartermaster General.
The THIRTEENTH MASSACHUSETTS REGI.
MENT.-A letter to the Boston journal from