Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1863-12-09
THE LAST BATTLE OF CHATTANOOGA

THE LAST BATTLE OF CHATTANOOGA.
Quartermaster Gen. Meigs' Report.
HEADQUARTERS, CHATTANOOGA
Nov. 26, 1868.
EDWARD M STANTON, SECRETARY OF WAR;
Sir-On the 23d inst, at half past IL, A. NJ,
Gen. Grant ordered a demonstration against Mis-
sionary Ridge, to develop the force holding it.
The troops marched out, formed in order and ad-
vanced in line of battle, as if on parade.
The rebels watched the formation and move
ments from their picket lines and rife pits, and
from the summit of Missionary Ridge, 800 feet
above us, and thought it was review and drill,
so openly and deliberately so regularly was it all
done,
The line advanced, preceded by skirmlshers,
and at 2 O'Clock, P. NJ. reached our picket lines,
and opened rafting volley upon the rebel pick
cts, who replied and ran into their advance line
of rihe-pits. After them went our shirmishers
and into them, along the centre of the line of
$4,000 troops which Gen. Thomas had so quickly
displayed, until we opened fire. Prisoners assert
that they thought the whole movement was re-
view and general drill, and that it was too late
to send to their camps for renforcements, and
that they were overwhelmed by force Of numbers
1t was surprise in open daylight.
Ats p. NJ, the important advanced position
of Orchard Knob and the lines right and left
were in our possession and arrangements were
ordered for holding them during the night. The
next morning at daylight Gen. Thomas had
5000 men across the Tennessee and established
on its south bank, and commenced the construc-
tion of pontoon bridge about six miles above
Chattanooga
The rebel steamer Dunbar was repaired at the
right moment and rendered effective aid in this
crossing, carrying over six thousand men.
By nightfall, Gen. Thomas had seized the ex-
tremity of Missionary Ridge nearest the river,
and was entrenching himself Gen. Howard
with brigade, opened communication with him
from Chattanooga, on the south side of the river.
Skirmi,hing and cannonading continued oil day
on the left and centre.
Gen. Hooker scaled the slopes of Lookout Noun
tain, and from the valley of Lookout Creek drove
the rebels around the point. He captured 1000
prisoners, and established himself high up the
mountain side, in full view Of Chattanooga.
This raised the blockade, and now steamers were
ordered from Bridgeport to Chattanooga. They
had run only to Kelley's Ferry, whence ten miles
of hauling over mountain roads and twice across
the Tennessee on pontoon bridges, brought us
our supplies.
Gen. Grants headquarters during the afternoon
Al. L. In,, e ALn IL,
Woods redoubts, except when in the course of
the day he rode along the advanced line, visiting
the headquarters of the several commanders in
Chattanooga valley.
At daylight on the 25th the Stars aud Stripes
were discerned on the peak of Lookout. The
rebels had evacuated the mountain.
Hooker moved to descend the mountain, strik-
ing Missionary Ridge at the Rossville Gap. to
sweep both sides and its summit
The rebel troops were seen, as soon as it was
light enough streaming regiments and brgades
along the narrow summit of Missionary Ridge.
either concentrating on the right to overwhelm
Sherman. or marching for the railroad to raise
the siege.
The twenty-pounders and four and quarter
inch rifles of Woods redoubt opened on Mission
ary Ridge. Orchard Knob sent its compliments
to the ridge. which, with rified Parrots answered,
and the cannonade thus commenced, and contin-
ued all day. Shot aud she'll screamed from Or
chard Knob to Missionary Ridge and from Miss
ionary Ridge to Orchard Knob, and from Woods
redoubt, over the heads of Generals Grant and
Thomas and their stats. who were with us in the
favorable position, from whence the whole bat
tie could be seen as in an amphitheatre. The
headquarters were under fire all day long.
Cannonading and musketry were heard from
Gen. Sherman, and Gen. Howard marched the
Eleventh corps to join him.
Gen. Thomas sent out skirmishers, who drove
in the rebel pickets and chased them into their
intrenchments and at the foot of Missionary
Ridge, Sherman made an assault against Bragg 8
right, intrenched on high knob next to that on
which Sherman himself lay fortified The as
sault was gallantly made.
Sherman reached the edge Of the crest, and
held his ground for Ut seemed TO me) an hour.
but was bloodily repulsed by reserves.
A general advance was ordered and strong
line of skirmishcrs followed by deployed line
of battle some two miles in length. AT the signal
of eaden shots from headquarters on Orchard
Knob the line moved rapidly and orderly forward.
The rebel pickets discharged their muskets and
ran into their rine-pits. Our skirmishers follow
ed 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 and over the base of the hill in numbers
which surprised us. A few turned and fred their
pieces but the great number collected into the