The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-04-14
Interesting Report Of the Battles ef
Lockout Mountain, Missionary
Ridge, Orchard Knob
and Ringgold.
The Occupation Of Lookout Valley ana
Relief Of Knoxville
The Way General Grant Describes One OF his
Own Brilliant Campaigns
&C.. &e.s Zee

HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION MI9sIBsiPPl,
In THE FIELD, CHATTANOOGA, Dec. %, 1863.
ASSUMPTION PROMPT ExERr,oEs.
Colonel c. KElroN, Assistant Adjutant General Washa
ington, D. c. -
CoLoNEI-In pursuance OF General Orders No. 1877,
War Department of date Washington October &c. 1868,
delivered to by tho Secretary OF War; at Louisville,
kentucky, the 18th of the month, assumed
command Of the Military Division of the Mississippi
prsng the Departments of the Ohio the Cumberland and
the Tennessee and teegraphed the order assuming
mand together with the order Of the War Department
referred to- to Major General A. L. Burnside at Knox
ville and to Major General W. Rosecrans, Chatta-
nooga My action in teegraphng these orders TO Chatta-
nooga in advance OF my arrival there was induced by
information furnished me by the Secretary OF War
OF the difficulties with which the Army OF
the Cumberland had TO contend in supplying It.
self a long, mountainous aud almost impossible
road from Stevenson, Alabama to Chattanooga TenneH-
see and his fear that General Rosecrans would fall back
the north side OF the Tennessee river To guard further
against the possibility OF Secretarys fears also
graphed TO Major General Thomas the 10th Of Ocober
from LOUISVILLE to hold Chattanooga at all hazards that
would be there possble to which he replied
same date, ~ will hold the town till starve."
ARRIVAL AT cHATrANooGA-GESERAL THoMAs's ENERGY
! LOOKOUT VALLEY OCCUPIED.
Proceeding directly to Chattanooga, arrived there
the Esd OF October and found that General Thomas had,
Immediately being placed in command OF the Depart
ment OF the Cumberland, ordered the concentration OF
Major General Hookers command at Bridgeport prepaa.
tory to recovering the river and main wagon road be-
tween that place and Browns ferry, Immediately below
Mountain The next morning after my arrival at
| Chattanooga, in company with General Thomas and
priqadier General w F Smith Chief Engineer made
reconnaissance Of Browns ferry and the bills on tho
south side OF the river, and at The mouth OF Lookout
| valley.
the reconnaissance, the plan agreed upon FOR
Hooker at Bridgeport to the south side Of tho
vytth nj no
railroad and move on the main road by way OF
| whitesde to Wauhatche. in Lookout valley. Major
| General John N. Palmer to proceed by tho
only practicable route north of the river, from his
| position opposite Chattanooga to point on the
| north bank OF the Tennessee river, opposite
whitesde there to the south side to hold tho
road passed by Hooker. In the meantime, be-
force under the direction OF Brgadier W F.
Smith, Chief Engineer to be thrown the river
the mouth of Lookout valley covering the Browns ferry
road and orders were given accordingly.
end Of Lookout valley with brigade Of troops,
and the road leading around the foot Of tho
to Lookout valley. Holding these advantages, he would
have had very little difficulty in concentrating sufficient
force TO have defeated driven Hooker back 10 remedy
this, the seizure Of the OF hills at the mouth Of
Lookout valley and covering the Browns ferry road was
use Of ponioon bridges at Chattanooga and
Browns ferry, would secure to US, BY the
shorter line by which reinforce troops in Lookout
valley than the and iortuous road around tho
The force detailed for expedition four
thousand under command of General Smith, Chief
Engineer, eighteen hundred OF whom, under Brigader
General Hazen in sixty pontcon boats. containing thirty
men each. 1oated quietly from Chattanooga, past tho
enemys pickes the foot OF Lookout Mountain,
night OF the 27th of October landed she south SIDE
OF the river at Browns ferry surprised the cnemy's
pickes stationed there and seized hills covering
terry without the loss OF Killed. and but four
i've wounded The remainder Of the fcrce together with
the materials for bridge, moved by the bang
or the river Moccasin Point TO Browns Terry,
without attracting the attention the enemy and before
day dawned the whole force errcd south bank
the and the almost BILE heights rising from
mouth Of Lookout creek were secured By ten O'Clock
A. NJ an excellent pontoon bridge was laid across the
the desired road nearest the cnemys forces and the
shorter line which TO pass troops If battle became
which they could not have been driven except BY vastly
superior forces, and then only with great loss 10 tho
completely command the roads leading from the enemys
| main camps in Chattanooga valley 10 Lookout valley.
| 5sSERAL HooxER's MovEMESrs--rIE DISTRESSED
| cERors CONDITION FORCES.
| ON the 2sth Hooker emerged into Lookout valley az
Of whesde, 10 Chattanooga with the Eleventh ~ army
corps under Major General Howard and Geary division
position for the defence Of the road from whitesdes
which be had marched and also the road leading
OF Howards corps forward TO Browns ferry The
division that started under command OF Pa mer tor
Wheside reached IT'S destination, and took up the
position intended in the original plan this movement
These successfully executed,
\
plies from the terminus Of the railroad al Bridgeport
namely, the main wagon road by way OF Whitesde,
miles, aud Kely's Jerry and Browns ierry road, Which,
by The Of the river from Bridgeport 70 Kelys ferry
Jus pyod our foyss az caapanae esns .re rrec
cdi INFESTED the cnemys lines extending from the Ten
the point OF Lookout Mountain below Chattanooga,
| with the south bank OF the river picketed TO
valley a. The foot Of and 90 Missionary Ridge and IooS
out Mountain, and brigade In Lookout valley. True
co y e y i1e I Over e most o a.
roads 10 any supplies. The artillery, horses and mus had
become reduced by aarvdiion thar Neu could
ben relied for DorinQ anything An attempt retreas
must have been with men alone, and with only such sup
plies as they could carry retreat .Seua sass &c.
positions ,c,th,n o'nshot Of and overlooking very
fortfcn'ions, ~oad unquesiioneay hare pursued our
retredt,ng forces Already than ten thousand dnt
mails had persisted in supplying haf ra'ions the roops
by the long and tedious route from stevenson and Bridge
port to Chattanooga, waldrons Ridge Thy could
not haze been supplied another pstk.
The eney etdndy fully arprtsed Of our condition
a and shorter line, by which 70 obtain sup
plies u we would maintain, our position and
keeping from as hese hne lost him BY surprise,
aud be little dreamed Of that in order 20 re-
gain possession them, night attack was made by
portion Of osgstrcets forces on portion o. hsokerr
troops teearys division Of the twelfth corps the rsi
failed however, and Howard's corps. which moving
TO the assistance OF Geary nndns ,nat y was not re-
enemy west Of Lookout creek This gave quiet pos.
OF tho line OF communication heretofore described
south OF the tennessee river or these operations I
speak more particularly the reports having
been sent 10 Washington without passing through my
hands.
BY the Of steamboats, OF which had been
left at Chattanooga by the enemy fell into hands
and that had been butt by Bridgeport plying
between Bridgeport and kely's errywc enabled
10 obtain supplies with but eight miles Of wagoniug
The capacity OF the railroad and steamboats, uot
sufficient however 10 supply n the wants Of the army;
bat actual suffering pee, ented
SEPARATION tuSo~1prpr wow nntac
kscerianing fron,sccuis and DISORDERS hat Bragg
detacnpg ongsireet from the front aud movg him 10
the direction oi Knoxville tennessee. evidently 10 al
tack Burnside. aud feeling STRONGLY the uecessty u
=, mo move that would cumpei him 10 retain
All bis orces and recall those nc had detached,
WON ryen fnr movement nluinsi NLssinAatN