Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-12-04
rHE RArrLF on MISSIONARY RIDGE.
AMY or TENNESSEE,

the bunders or ncompetency OF their leaders. IL Is
difficult for one to realize how defeat 30
have occurred on ground so favorable Notwithstanding
the great disparity in the forces OF the two hostile armies
The ground was more in favor than il was at Fred
ercksburg where Gen. Lougsreet Is said to nave esu
mated that Gen. Lees army was equal 10 300 700 men
Aud yet gained the battle OF Fredericksburg and LOST
i tina. of Missionary Ridge.
But let US take up the painful narrative at the begin
ming and see how this great misfortune, IL not this
preVous Disgrace has beAllen the Confederate arms
] Lookout Mountain was esscuAted last night IL ing
no longer important to Us after the loss oil Lookout or
Wills Valley and no longer tenabls against such an
overwhelming force General Grant had concentrated
| around Chattanooga. General Bragg aoandonsd also
the whole of Chattanooga valley, and the trenches and
breastWors running along the loot OF Missionary Ridge
aud across the valley to the base of Lookout and
his troops up to the top of the ridge. 1t found
csssaty to extend bis right we'll up towards the Chcks-
i manga near its mouth, in consequences OF the heavy
forces which the enemy bad thrown up the river In tA'
direction. The Tennessee and Missionary Ridge Hp-
proAch to each other one goes up, or rather
| down. the valley tho width OF which at some points
docs not exceed one-fourth Of mile. Across this val
ley now almost open plain, VARYING from fourth Of
mile to two miles in width, the FedefAls advanced to
the assault their ranks exposed to artillery fire from
the Ridge while in the plain, and to the infantry
FIRE when they attempted the ascent of the hill or noun.
| tain.
The only objection that can be urged against our
line was 10 length and weakness the latter heirg the
suit Of the former and tie former the result Of circum-
stances beyond our control, it being necessary Tor US
10 guard the passes In the Ridge and 70 conform to the
length of the line pres nted by the enemy. The Ridge
varies in height from four to six hundred feet and is
crossed by several reads leading out from chattanooga
The western side to the enemy steep and rug
ged and in SONS places almost bare, the timber having
been away for freWood. Our pickes occupied the
brsastWorks beloE WhS the infantry and artillery we're
distributed along the crest OF the Ridge from hcF1r
i taDia Gan air Of I'M n
distance Of six miles or In addition to the natu-
raj strength of the position had thrown up breast
works along the Ridge wherever he ascent is easy.
| The Federal army marshalled under Grant,
Thomas Hooker and Sherman aud did not number lees
| than So 900 veteran troope. The Confederate army
under Bragg, Hardso and Breckenridge, did not num-
Der haf many. LongstreetG Virginia divisions and
other troops had been sSnt to East Tennessee. As,t
was We ought to have won the day, and should have
done 90, II our men had done as vel a. usual Possi-
oily mistake committed whom LongsreSt was SAINT
away and possibly il would have been better not 10
accepted battle day, but have retired las. night
Gen. Bragg thought however, that there not tine
after the loss OF Lookout to get his army safely over
the ChckamAugA last night, and that |; would be bet
ter occupying SO strong position 10 fight il OUT
But what could he expect frcm battle where the odds
we're 90 much against himi Not only did Grant have
nearly three TO one In number but the geographical
coBhguration Of the ground, in mAEOuVering army
favorable a. he could desire. Mature had pro-
Tioeo an pr0tACuon his hanks and
rendered his front almost impregrGble. He possessed
The additional advantage of bsicg able to mAnouvre his
army upon the chord Of 4 semi-circle whilst Bragg
/ could move only upon the arc.
Grant depOyed his immanse in two heavy lines
Of battle, and sometimes in three, supported by large
reserve forces The spectacle magnificent IS viewed
from the crest Of Missionary Ridge He advanced first
against our right wing, about 10 O'clock where be en-
coun.ered that superb solder, Lieut. General Hardee
who commanded on the right, ThiIt Major General
Breckenridge commanded on the left. Ha does COM
mAnd embraced Cleburne'S, Walkers commanded by
Gen. Gist, Gen. Walker being Gbsent Cheatham's and
Stevenson's divisions BrSckinridgss embraced his
old division, commanded by Brigadler General LsWis
Sseuarts part of Buckner's and Hindman's command
cd by Patton Anderson The enemys first assault up
Hardee was repulsed With great slaughter was his
second though made with double lines supported with
heavy reserved The wave Of battle like the waves Ct
the when it dAshes sgainst rookbound coast beat
and Kissed and struggled in vain; for the brave men
who guarded our right resolved never to yield
one foot to The hated invaders Tie odds against which
they contended we're fearful for while the enemy adj
yaneed in two and even three massive nes their own
army consisted Of only one long aud weak line with
out suppors Yet they not only repGlsed every attack
but captured seven Tags 800 prisoner and remained
masters Of the ground unti night when they were
dered to retire, carrying eff ali their guns losing no pri
soners and but small per centsgs of kleda and wound
ed. The whole command behaved well, and especially
that model solder, Maj. Gen. Cleburne. Gen. Hardee
saved the army from disastrous defeat and added
fresh aurelI to his brow.
The attack the lei wing Was not made until about
noon. Here on the right tue enemy was repuled;
but he Was Obstinate and fought with great ardor and
confidence returning to the charge again and again in
the hAhdsomsst STYLE until OF our b,igades near
the centre, said to be Reynolds gave way, and the
Federal hsg was planted on Missionary Ridge Tbs
enemy not slow il avaing himself Of the great adj
Yantages Of his new position. In q few minutes he
turned upon our tanks and poured into them terrible
enhading ire, which soon thew the CAnfedeTates on
bis right and left into confusion. Under this confusion
the gsp in lines grew wider and WIDER and the wi
der it grew the faster the mutudncus foe rushed into
the yaWning chAsm. The confusion extended until Il
finally assumed The form of pauc. Seeing the enemy
in possession Of portion of the heights the hastily
concluded that the day gone and that they had
best ave themselves Just st this time the alarm was
increased by ansrlery battery which rushed down the
hill TO the river for fresh supply Of ammunition The
men, however, supposed they fyir from the Ged
and that all lost Nearly the whole efs wing event.
ually became involved, and gave Ways portion Of il
retiring under orders but the greater part in unmiti
gated rout.
General Bragg did all he could to rally the fuEitivss
and reform the broken ne He exposed tinssf Ia the
most unguarded manner, ard at Inns t looked a. If
he would certainly be killed His stsf officers we're also
conspicuous in their efforts to restore our line They
I'D their chief were the last TO leave the ridge.
TIE day was lost Hardee III maintained Lis ground;
but success Of tie right wing could restore left
to its original position All mea-even the bravest-
sutjsc 10 and confusion but DAY some of
the ConfederAtes bid NOT fight with their accustomed
courage. Possibly the between the heavy mae
SEES the Federals they relied across TIE valley and
up the mountain ridge, and their lons and atenua
ted line, was not OF character TO encourage them.
Our casualties are smAl--yery small--too small IL.
deed to be recorded along With complete and humi
Ating defeat Included among Losses are some of
our best guns-perhaps many thirty forty. The
infantry supports in some instances ed so precpitately
that there no time left to remove the guns There
but few roads down the mountain by which they
could rstrea., and this occssi0hed further loss All the
artillery behaved vel The men in CSbbs battery
stood their ground after their supports had fed and
though they lost their gum, they fought them the
Last and when they could use them lo longer on sc
of the ssepnets Of the descent they hurled hand
grAnAdes the foe he crAWed up che mountain be
paath tha rnu~zlao ~ thu v,,ns