Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-12-17
The storming Of Mission Ridge.
BATTLE OF NOVEMBER 18th.
a ivid Description.
From the War Corresp ondent OF thu Louisville
Icnr1rr

tnaI the mountain Lookout was clear. 4
glad, hearty round of cheers greeted the an
nouncsment, and in few moments the stars
and stripes were proudly floating from the
highest peak. The rebels well knew the dan
ger which threatened their rear, and under
cover of the night prudently retired across
the upper extremity of the valley of Mission
Ridge.
The great obstacle had been surrnounted ::
and, as the announcement was carried along
the line, it was greeted with deafening shouts
of JOY, and inspired the hearts of all to great
er exertion and greater daring. The bloody
work was not yet over. Night was but an in
terval; and the clear bright sun of this brac
ing, frosty morning would but unfold again
the
g shriil, changing curtains of war;
Orchard Knoll was occupied by Generals
Grant, Hunter, Thomas, Reynolds, Palmer
Granger, Whipple, Wood Which, and seve-
raj others; whittier they had come to witness
the elimination of this series of signal tri
jumps. The frosty mantle that covered the
earth at dawn had dissolved, but the air was
yet cold and raw. The enemys artillery on
on the knoll, and for time swept it with
torrent of screaming missiles 4 few well
aimed shots from our artillerists upturned a
rebel gun, and dropped a few shells among
the rebel batteries, when the firing ceased
Hooker, finding Lookout Mountain desert
ed, pushed his column across Chattanooga
Valley and assembled Mission Ridge in the vi
entity of Rossville. Forming in line of bat
tie, with his right, under Osterhaus, holding
the eastern slope, Geary the centre, and John
son the left toward the summit, he prepared
to sweep down against the rebel flank
At l03 o'clock the General ordered our
picket lines, between the knoll and the rebel
rife-pits, advanced, and a brisk little Skin
mish ensued, in which both sides suffered
some loss, and both took prisoners, but the
object Of the advance was attained In this
skirInish it was that Ma or Irwin, of the 9th
Ohio, while in advance of the line, was
killed by Dall from rebel sharpshooter.
Thi. was the only fighting on the centre dur
ing the forenoon.
The enemy, completely nonplussed, kept
marching lis troops from right to left, as if
doubling whether the attack would be on
Tunnel Hill or on the center Sherman had
been fighting continually from early dawn,
Smelling the rebel battery on Tunnel Hill,
and skirnishing with the rebel infantry on
the slope and in the valley near the Tunnel
Gen. Corse determined to carry the heights
by storm, but his band of daring heroes were
scattered from the crest by the sleet of mis-
siles that ploughed their ranks like leaves be-
fore hurricane. In this assault the brigade
lost many Of it's best men and the General
himself was seriously wounded. LOOMS with
his brigade was ordered through the woods
between the railroad and the ridge to drive
the rebels up the slope or push them through
the Tunnel LOOMS met with a firm resis-
lance, and his slow advance induced the or
dering up of Gen. Matthias to his support
I ~ i
the right and ordered to the support of Loo
mis-, which eventually threw Gen. Baird to
the extreme left of the Army of the Cumber-
land, as it stood in line of battle before the
heights Matthias came to the support of
Loomis as rapidly as possible, but his assis-
lance was not required, the enemy having re-
tired through the Tunnel.
Tunnel Hill battery yet frowned from its
lofty aere defantly Oh the troops below, and
shelled our line at will along the base of the
ridge. Gen. Matthias received permission to
storm the heights. The troops who had
fought and won imperishable honors at Cham
pion Hill, Raymond, Jackson, and Vicksburg
were fronted toward the hill and shown the
work. There was no skulking, no tagging
no struggling. Not muscle twitched with
fear, not cheek was blanched. They were
heroes every inch, and they needed only the
be expected.
The enemy at the summit perceived the
object and poured down hail of bullets The
men were fretful and feverish under this des-
ultory fire, and chafed and swayed like a
high-bred steed to 90. Once on the way an
Indifference to thickening dangers that is the
browning virtue of the veteran, possessed
them as one man. Steadily, boldly they as
sended the hill. necessarily, mercilessly pour
the bullets down. Deaths messengers seem
to have lost their wonted terrors, and upward
moves the line. It nears the crest. The ar
tllery is silent. The line halts All is tran
quill as death itself. The men are crawling
up. They near the guns. voice is heard
along the line, and in an instant it is up and
charging forward. A long line of smoke
shoots out roll of musketry follows, another
and another succeeds, and now the broken
fragments of that stalWart band come fleeing
down the hill.
A fresh brigade moves out, catches the
fragments, reforms them, and all go up the
hill together. Here is a fresh offering and
silently, steadily move the troops. Nearing
the crest they again crouch before the bat
terry, and again crawl stealthily toward the
guns.
Bragg saw troops moving up towards our
%,
and twice been repulsed. Bragg concludes
that the severest struggle will be there, and
his troops pour rapidly forward to the left
Grant, possessed Of that rapidity of thought,
and quick, shrewd comprehension that makes
the brilliant General, preceives an advan-
tage.
The rebel troops have been pouring for an
hour past constantly to the left. He deter
mines if the assault is unsuccessful, to hazard
grand advance against the ridge itself
True, formidable line Of rihe-pits at the
base swarm with troops. These must be car
RED and then, after this terrible cost, we
have the heights, too precipitous and too lofty
almost to be scaled, and then continuous
line of carefully constructed breastworks,
brstling with numberless batteries and gilt
tering with bayonets to overcome.
No matter, the die is cast and the work
must be accomplished or defeat furl our ban
ners by nightta1
| watch again the stormers near the crest.
Again that deathlike ominous silence reigns.
Again that voice that dooms many brave
man to death is heard. Like panthers the
men dash forward at the prey, but that mer-
CHESS slcet of bullets cuts through their ranks
like the sickle through the grain. The line
wavers, but catching like a staggering man,
it RECEIVERS and returns. Another volley leaps
from the rebel infantry, and the line crumbles
from right to left, and again is put to flight
Horses come back riderless. Hundreds strew
the ground The carnival is over, and the
grave is glutted. A deathlike quiet reigns
along the line Hooker is heard from and is
moving down the slope. Orders go out cat
a signal of six guns in succession, the army
will advance along the entire front and storm
the heights"
Light, feecy, down-like cloud. are sailing
over US like the trail of angel garments, who