The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-11-29
Brilliant Charge upon lookout
Mountain.
The Rebels Concentrate on
Missionary Ridge.
Flank Movements Of Sherman
and Hooker.
Charge upon the Centre.
Route of the Rebels.
Losses, sc.
loses, sc.
iencs Of the Nashville Union

giles bitter stubborn, and bloody-br
when the tragedy had ended, the CON
bstants retained their organizations, an
too frequently their positions. But nc
so in this instance. With the exceptio
of the Mississippi campaign, last sum
msr, this is the first time that rebe
army, with comparatively trifling loss
our own, has been demoralized, broker
crushed.
Sherman, having arrived at 8 poin
opposite the mouth of the Chickamaugs
and four miles above the town, the or
ders were issued, and the plan of Attacl
made known to the corps commanders
and each directed TO execute his portion
strictly in accordance with il.
The first object was to deceive tn
rebels; they held almost impregnablt
positions, on Lookout Mountain and Mis-
siOnary ridge; positions which could no
be won by prowess alone, but to Obtain
which an unusual degree of prudence
and perfect combination of the highest
order of strategy and courage were re.
quired.
Sherman, at the head of the divisions
of John E. Smith, Morgan L. Smith, and
jeff. G. Davis, made a feint of moving
up tie north bank of the river, as if to
attack Longstreet, and relieve Burnside,
while the 1lsh Corps, consisting of the
divisions of Schurtz and Steinweher,
were moved into Chattanooga, leaving
but a small force in view on the west
side of Lookout Mountain. et
simultaneously with these movements,
and on the eve of the 23d, our lines, op
posite the rebel right, and right centre,
were extended three quarters of mile,
aud beyond the outer line of rebel rife
pits, which were captured, with three
hundred prisoners, by a brilliant and
unexampled dash of Hazen's and Will
ich's brigades of Woods division, of
the 4th army corps. Oar loss in this
skirmish was slight-less than $50 !;
while the positions gained were of the
highest Importance. From thence the
foot of Missionary Ridge was plainly
visible, and the nature of the ground
readily ascertained. 1 ~
The enemy wascompletely deceived by
the happy combination of strategy.
From Gen. Bragg's movements, it is evil
dent that be believed Sherman was
moving northward, and that the concen-
tration of our forces opposite his right
was intended to prevent him from send
ing reinforcements to the relief of Long
street. 1t, therefore, became a matter of
the highest Importance, that Tunnel Hill
and the north end of Lookout Mountain,
should be protected at every hazard; it
was the base of operations for the whole
army; and if taken by Grant, commu-
nication between East Tennessee and
North Georgia would be seriously threat
ened, and perhaps severed.
From Fort Wood, On the East of Chat
tanoOga, the movements of the rebels
could be distinctly seen, with glasses,
and must have given entire satisfaction
TO those who had been initiated into the
secrets of the campaign.
The movements in this direction had
been completed at dark, and the rebels
lay upon their arms for the night, con-
idently expecting, if not general en-
gagement, at least q severe Skin
mish at daylight of the Oath, But
they were disappointed-seriously dis.
No sooner had darkness set
in, than E wings and Osterhaus' division
of Sherman's corps, and part of Cruft's
division of the 4th corps, which had been
supposed to be engaged in other duties,
filed along to the foot of Lookout Noun
tain, and took up position near Geary's
division, of the 18th corps, and were
placed in condition to make an attack on
Lookout Mountain, the following morn
ing.
The rebels did not discover the arrival
Of these reinforcements, till about mid
night; and by that time, it was too late
to reinforce their left, even had it been
deemed safe to spare any troops from
Ridge. st o'clock in the
Gen. Geary's division crossed
The creek, and commenced the ascent of
he Mountain. Their first progress was
resisted; but an ineessant
shower of shot and shell from our bat
cries, on the heights, SO CALAMITY won
ome weeks ago by Hooker, soon had the
fleet 10 drive them, and enable our col
INNS to swing around, and sweep the
Whole western slope, from the ledge to
be foot.
The rebels, for at least two miles,
esisted every foot of our progress,
rom behind rifle pits, rocks, and trees
'ut having been driven TO point nearly
pposite the railroad bridge, Osterhaus
Omrnenced ascending the Ridge, when
he rebels, finding themselves utterly
verpOwersd, fed precipitstely, and in
onfusiOn. The guns from our batteries
Iayed upon them with terrific effect
nd hundreds threw down their arms,
nd surrendered themselves prisoners.
mother attempts at resistance was made
{ the point of the Mountain, but their
anks were soon broken; and from that
loment prisoners were captured By hun
reds. The rebsl rifle pits aud batteries
Tere stormed, and the guns taken; and
be pursuit only closed with the night.
In the meantime, Sherman had crossed
be river, on the night of the Esd, near
be mouth of the Chiekamaugs, and on
le oath be occupied and fortified one of
a Lnobs a. fba norfharn farn,ipna 81