Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-12-09
THE VICTORY AT CHICKAMAUGA.
A Well Planned and Well Fought Battle.
GRAPHIC ACCOUNT by Q. Nj. G. nEies.,
HEADQUARTERS, CHATTANooGA,l
Thursday, Nov. 26, 1863. {

SlR:-On The ZoC instant, al Ii: 80 IN the
forenoon, General Grant ordered a demon
stration against Mission Ridge, to develop
the force holding it. The troops marched
out, formed IN order, and advanced in line of
battle as if on parade. The rebels watched
the formation and movement from their picket
lines and rifle pits, and from the SUBMITS of
Mission Ridge, five hundred feet above US
and thought it was a review and drill, so
openly and deliberately, so regularly was it
all done. The line advanced, preceded by
skirnishers, and at o'clock in the afternoon
reached our picket lines and opened a rafting
yolley upon the rebel pickets, who replied
anu ran into their advanced line of rifle pits.
After them went our skirmishers, and into
them, along the centre of the line of $4,000
troops which General Thomas had so quickly
displayed. Until we opened fire, prisoners
assert that they thought the whole movement
was review and general drill, and that il
was too late TO send to their camps for rein
foreements, and that they were overwhelmed
by force of numbers. 1t was surprise in
open daylight.
AT III the afternoon the important adj
vanced position of Orchard Knob, and the
lines right and left, were in our possession,
and arrangements were ordered Tor holding
them during the night. The next day at
daylight, General Thomas had 5000 men
across the Tennessee, and established on its
south bank, and commenced the construction
of a 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
5000 men. By nightfall General Thomas had
seized the extremity of Missionary Ridge
nearest the river, and was intrenching him
self. General Howard, with brigade, open
ed communication with him from Chattanoo-
ga on the south side of the river. Skirmish
ing and cannonading continued all day on the
left and centre. General Hooker scaled the
slope OF Lookout Mountain, and from the val
ley OF Lookout creek drove the rebels around
the point, captured some 1000 prisoners, and
established himself high up the mountain
side, III tllll 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 the pOntoOn bridges,
brought US our supplies
All night the point of Missionary Ridge, on
the extreme lett, and the side Of Lookout
Mountain, on the extreme right, blazed with
the camp fires of loyal troops.
The day had been one OF dense mists and
rains ana JLuch of General Hool,er's battle
was fought above the clouds, which conceal
ed him from our view, but from which his
musketry was heard. At nightfall the sky
cleared, and the full moon, 1.-The traitors
DOOM" shone upon the beautiful scene until
one o'clock in the morning, when twinkling
sparks upon the mountain side showed that
picket skirmishing was going on. Then it
ceased A brigade sent from Chattanooga
crossed the Chattanooga creek and opened
communication with Hooker
General Grants headquarters during the
afternoon of the 23d, and the day of the 24th,
N Woods rpHppht in no
course OF the day he rode along the advance
line, visiting the headquarters of the several
commanders in Chattanooga Valley
At daylight on the 10Th, the stars and
stripes were deserted on the peak of Look
out. The rebels had evacuated the noun
tain. Hooker moved to descend the noun
tain, and, striking Mission Ridge at the Ross
vile Gap, to sweep both sides and its sum
NIT. 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 Chickamauga.
The 20-pounders and 41-inch rifles of
Woods redoubt opened on Mission Ridge
Orchard Knob sent its compliments to the
Ridge, which, with ritled Parrots, answered
and the cannonade, thus commenced, con
tinued all day. Shot and shell screamed
from Orchard Knob To Missionary Ridge,
and from Missionary Ridge to Orchard
Knob, and from Woods redoubt over the
heads of Generals Grant and Thomas and
their stats, who were with Us in this fayCra-
bic position from whence the whole battle
could be seen as In an amphitheatre. The
headquarters were under fire all day long.
Cannonading and musketry were heard from
nd Jp4-a ,sl
marched the 18th Corps to join him. Gen
eral Thomas sent out skirmishers, who drove
in he enemy's pickets, and chased them into
their lntrenchments, and at the foot of Mis-
SIT Ridge Sherman made assault against
Brlgg's right, intrenched on a high knob
neXt to that on which Sherman himself lay
fortified. The assault was CALAMITY made.
Sherman reached the edge of the crest and
held his ground for, it seemed to me, an hour,
but was bloodily repulsed by reserves.
4 general advance was ordered, and IA
strong line of skirmishers was followed by
deployed line of battle, some two miles in
length. At the signal of leaden shots from
the headquarters on Orchard Knob, the line
moved rapidly and orderly forward. The
rebel pickets discharged their muskets and
ran into rhe-pits. Our skirmishers followed
on their heels. The line of battle was not
far behind, and we saw the gray rebels swarm
out of the ledge line of rifle pits that sur
prised US and over the base of the HILL A
few turned and fired their pieces, but the
greater number collected into the many roads
which cross obliquely up its steep face, and
went on to their top Some regiments passed
on and swarmed up the steep sides of the
ridge, and here and there a color was adj
vanced beyond the lines. The attempt ap
peared most dangerous, but the advance was
and the whole line was ordered to
storm the heights, upon which not less than
forty pieces of artillery, and no one knew
how many muskets of artillery stood ready to
slaughter the assalants. With cheers an
swering to cheers, the men swarmed upward
They gathered TO the points least difficult of
ascent, and the line was broken. Color after
color was planted on the summit, while mus
ket and cannon vomited their thunder upon
them.
well directed shot from Orchard Knob
exploded a rebel caisson on the summit, and
the gun was seen galloping to the right, its
driver flashing his horses. A party of our
soldiers intercepted them, and the gun was
with cheers.
A fierce musketry fight broke out to the
left, where, between 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 /
bis headquarters, and rode to the rear as our
troops crowded the hill on either side of
him.