The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1863-12-04


a brigade sent from Chattanooga crossed the
Chattanooga creek and opened communication
with Hooker.
Gen. Grants headquarters, during the after
noon 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 headquarters Of the various COM
manders in Chattanooga valley.
At daylight on the 25th the stars and stripes
were discovered on the peak Of Lookout. The
rebels had evacuated the mountain.
General Hooker moved to descend the noun
tain and striking Mission Ridge at the Rossville
Gap, to sweep on both sides, and on its sum-
nit.
The rebel troops were seen as soon as it was
light enough, streaming by regiments and bri-
gades along the narrow summit of Mission
Ridge, either concentrating on the right to over
whelm Sherman, Or marching for the railroad,
to raise the sege.
They had evacuted the valley Of Chattanooga; !;
would they abandon that Of Chickamauga! The
twenty FOUNDER and rifed guns of Woods re-
doubt opened on Mission ridge. Orchard Knob
sent its compliments to the Ridge, which, with
rifled PARROTS, answered, and the. cannonade
thus commenced continued all day.
Shot and she'll screamed from Orchard Knob
to Mission Ridge, and from Mission Ridge to
Orchard Knob, and from Woods Redoubt over
the heads Of Generals Grant and Thomas and
their staff, who were with us in this favorable
position, where the whole battle could be seen
as in an amphitheatre..
The headquarters were under fire NIL day long.
Cannonading and musketry were heard from
General Sherman
Gen. Howard marched the tn Army Corps
to join him. Thomas sent out Skrmishers, who
drove in the rebel pickets and chased them INTO
their entertainments at the foot of the Mission
Ridge.
General Sherman made an assault against
Bragg's right, entrcnched on a high knoll, next
to that on which Gen. Sherman lay fortified
The assault was gallanty made. They reached
the edge of the crest, and held their ground for
it seemed to me, an hour, but were bioodily re-
pulsed by the reserves.
A general advan ce was ordered and strong
line of skirmishers followed by deployed line
Of battle some ten miles in length. At the sig
nal Of the leader (shots from the headquarters
on Orchard Knob) they moved rapidly and or
derly forward.
The rebel pickets discharged their muskets
and into their rife-pits. Our skirmishers fol-
lowed on their heels. The line Of battle was
not far behind, and we saw the gray rebels
swarm out Of the line of rife-pits in numbers
which surprised u.s. and over the base of the
hill, few turned and fired their pieces but
the greater number collected into the many roads
which cross obliquely up its steep face and on
to the top. Some regiments pressed on and
swarmed up the steep sides of the river. Here
and there color was advanced beyond the
lines. The attempt appeared to be most dan
gerous but the advance was supported, and the
whole line ordered to storm the heights, upon
which not less thanforty pieces of artillery, and
no one knew how many muskets, stood ready to
slaughter the assailants.
With cheers answering cheers, the men swarm
ed upwards. They gathered to the point least
difficult Of ascent, and the limo was broken
Color after color was planted on the summit,
while musket and cannon vomitcd their thunder
upon them.
A we'll directed shell from Orchard KNOB ex-
ploded a rebel caisson on the summit, and the
gun was seen galloping to the right its driver
lashing his horses. A party Of our soldiers in
tercepted them, and the gun was captured with
cheers.
A fierce musketry fire broke out to the left,
where, between Generals Thomas and Sherman,
a 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 ofhim.
General Grant proceeded to the summit and
only then did we know its height. Some Of the
captured artillery was put into position, artler-
lists were sent for to work the guns and caissons
were searched for ammunition.
The rebel log breastworks were torn to pieces
and carried to the other side Of the ridge and used
in forming barricades.
A strong line of infantry was formed in the
rear ct Baird's line. who was hotly engaged in
a muskctry contest with the rebels, to the left,
and a secure lodgment was soon effected.
The othsr assault, to the left of our centre,
gained the ,'nmmit, and the rebels threw down
their arms ard fed General Hooker, coming
into favorable position, swept the right Of
the ridge and captured many prisoners
8ragg's remaining troops left early in the
night, and the battle Of Chattanooga, after three
days of maneuvring and fighting, was won.
The strength of the rebellion in the centre was |
broken; Burnside relieved from danger, East
Tennessee, Kentucky and Tennessee rescued,
Georgia and the Southwest threatened in the
rear, and another victory added to the chapter
Of Unconditional Surrender Grant"
To night the estimate of captures is several
thousand prisoners and thirty pieces of artillery.
The loss for so great victory is not severe.
Bragg is firing the railroad as he retreats to-
wards Dalton. Sherman il in hot pursuit.
To-day viewed the battlefield, which ex-
lends for six miles on Lookout Mountain
Probably not SO wel-directed OF SO we'll order
ID battle has been delivered during the war.
But one assault was repalsed, but that assault,
BY calling to that point the rebel reserves pre-
vented them repulsing any of the Others.
few days since General Bragg sent to Gen.