The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-04-15


road and the balance Of big ana Crufs divisions had
pined Geary All the rebel efforts 10 resist only re.
suited in rendering SUCCESS more thorough After
wo or three short but sharp conflicts the plateau was
cleared Tho enemy, with his reinforcements driven
from tie walls and pits around Cravens house he last
point ~ which he could make stand In force) all broken
ana destroyed, were hurled in great numbers the
rocks and precipices into the valley.
IL was now near two O'Clock, and operations wero
arrested by the darkness The clouds, which had bo
vered over and eDveoped the summit OF mountain
during the morning and TO some extent favored our
movements, gradually settled into the valley and com
ploely yelled II from view. Indeed from the moment
We rounded the peak Of the mountain. It only from
abe roar OF battle, and the occasional glimpse COM
rsdes 10 the valley could catch Of lines and standards
shat they knew Of the strife it's progress and
them their painful anxiety yielded 70 transports Of Joy.
which only soldiers can feel IN the earliest OF
dawninR victory Deeming descent into the valley I'M
prudent without more accurate Information OF It's topo
grsphy, and also OF the position and strength Of the
enemy our line established the tide Of the
mountain the right resting the palisades, aud the left
The mouth OF Chattanooga creek and this We
strengthened by all the at hand working until
four o'clock when the commander the department was
Informed that our position was impregnabe.
During all OF these operations the batteries Moccasn
Point under Captain Nsylor had been busly at work
from the north bank OF the Tennessee river, ana had
contributed much TO our assistance the Irregular
ses OF The ground aud the state OF tho atmosphere would
line or Defence stretching Chattanooga valley by
an en6adng Gre and also by direct IRE, many OF bis
had oesn %
noOga and at quarter past five O'Clock Bgader General
Carn Fourteenth corps reported with his Brigade
and assigned 10 duty the right OF the line to
ieve Geary's command almost exhausted with the IA
ttgue and excitement incident to their unparalleled
march.
To prevent artillery being brought forw ard the enemy
had undermined the road and covered 1t with eled Tim
ber This was repaired placed 10 servceabe copdi
lion before morning During tho day and till after mid
night an irregular hrc kept up along line, and
had the appearance at one time OF effort to break IT,
TINS was on the right and was ut vigorously and
handsomely repeed. IN this Carn's brigade rendered
excellent service His report Is herewith forwarded
JBs CREST GAlNED-THE MOUNTAIN ABANDONED OF
TgR OPERATIONS.
Before daylight, anticipating the withdrawal ri the
rebel force from the summit Of the mounao parties from
several regiments were despatched TO scale IT. but 10 the
Eighth Kentucky must belong the distinction OF having
been foremost to reach the crest and at sunrise TO dis
prolonged cheers OF the men whose dauntess vaor had
borne 1t TO that point
During the night the enemy had quietly abandoned the
mountain, leaving behind twenty Thousand rations the
camp and garrison equpge OF three brgades and other
materiel.
Prisoners reported that the enemy had abandoned but
deemng 1t mprudent to descend, q reconnaissance
ordered and soon after nine O'Clock report in that
She rebels had retired but that their pickets still held
She right bank OF Chattanooga creek the direction Of
Rossvine Soon after the fog vanished and nothing
70 DC seem In the valley but tho deserted and burning
camps OF the enemy.
Among the fruits OF The preceding operations may
enumerated the concentration OF the army the abandon
meut of the deences. upwards OF eight miles extent
The recovery OF all the advantages position the enemy
had gained from army the bloody field OF Chcka
mauga giYng 10 the uHdisputed avigation Of the
river aud The ccntro OF the railroad the capture Of be-
tween two and three thousand prisoners five stands OF
coors two pieces Of artillery upwards Of i've thousand
muskets, &c
or the troops opposed to four brigades of
division, of Brecknrdge's corps the top OF the
nountaa wero three brgades Of steveusons division
TEE PrRsUiT-rHE FIGHT ON THE RIDGE.
In conformity With orders two regiments des.
patched to hold the mountain Carns brigade direct
Cd TO await orders on the Summertown road and
O'Clock my column 0sterhaus (beug the road)
leading, marched for Rossvie
On arriving at Chattanooga creek IL discovered
that the enemy had destroyed the bridge. and IN
sequence our pursuit was delayed nearly three hours
AZ soon as the srngers were laid Oserhaus managed to
throw over the Twenty seventh Missouri regiment
soon after all OF his infantry. The former deployed
pushed forward as skirmishers TO the gorge in Mis-
sionary Ridge, and drew the fire OF the arti
lery and infantry holding II. and also discover
ID that the enemy was attempting to cover a
train OF wagons. loading with stores at tho
Rossvillc House AS the position was one presenting
many advantages Tor defence. the skirmshers d
rected TO keep the enemy engaged in 'front.' while Woods
nens Of WiAmson's on the lett Two other reg ments
o. this brigade we're posted the road leading TO Chat
tanooga to prevent surprise In executing their duties
the troops were necessarily exposed to the eneys ri
lery but II soon a. discovered that his TANKS
were being turned and his retreat threatened he hastily
evacuated tho gap leaving behind nrge quantities OF ar
siery aud small arms ammunition wagons am bulances
and a house full of commissary stores. Pursuit was
made as far as consistent with my instructions TO clear
Missionary Ridge.
Mean while the bridge had been completed and all the
troops over or crossing Osierhaus received
70 We, with bis division, parallel with the ridge on
the eastCruft tue ridge and Geary IN the valley, &c
the west OF 1t, within easy supporting distance The
batteries accompanied Geary. as II not known that
roads could be Nund Tor them with the other divisions
without delay ing the movements OF the column. General
Crut with his staff preceded his column ascending the
ridge 70 supervise the formation OF his nes aud was ut
met by line OF the enemy sklrmisners advancing
The Ninth and ilrtysixtn Indiana regiment sprangior
ward into Inc under their ire and, instantly charg
Ing drove back the rebels, while the residue OF the
column formed their lines; Gross brigade. with the
Fifty nrst Ohio Cad Thirty NTH Indiana OF Whittakcrs
IN advance the balance OF the latter closely supporting
the front line IL was. however, soon found that the
ridge :op too admit OF this formation.
and the division thrown into four lines nv this
ghc divisions OF Gesry and Osterhaus were abr east OF IT.
and all advanced at charging pace.
The enemy had selected for bis advanced line OF do.
fence The breas,works thrown up by our army on its
returu from CncKamauga but such was the impeuosity
OF that bis front line routed before
opportunity Afforded him 10 prepare for determined
resistance Many OF tie fugitves TO escape ran dow
the east slope to the lines OF oserhau few 70 the west
and we're picked mp by Geay The bulk OF them, however
sought refuge behind the second line ana they In their
turn were soon routed. aud the nght became almost
Whenever the accidents Of tue ground ena
bed the rebels to make stand Ceary and
Osterhaus--aways In the right place-woud pour a
whitening fire into their TANKS and again the race was
renewed Tns continued until sunset when those
Of the who had not been killed or captured
way and 10 attempting TO escape along the ridge.
Alto he arms OF Johnsons division OF the Fourteenth
corps and were captured.
Our enemy tue prisoners stated, was Stewards divi
son But few escaped. 0sterhaus alone captured two
thousand OF them This officer named the Fourth Iowa
seventy.sixth ohio and twenty seventh Missouri reg
aagcment Laudgrsber's battery Of howitsers aso
dered brilliant service on this field.
Here our business FOR the day ended, and the troops
went into bvouac with cheers and rejoicing which
caught up by other troops In the vicinity, and carried
along tue ridge, until lost IN the distance.
The PURSUIT OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES RSEMY ovERrAKrN
soon after daylight every effort made ny recon
nossance and inquiry 10 ascertain the whereabouts OF
the enemy, but TO no purpose The ned siicnt as
thc grave. Knowing the desperate extremtcs to winch
he must be reduced by success with his retreat seri
ously threatened by tho only line left him with hope
4 caIiSG cd th. In an fn
treat aud accordingly suggested 10 the commander OF the
department MAT my column march to Graysve, II pos
ebic TO intercept him ibis was approved Of and, rein
forced by pamers corps all moved Immediately In that
direction. pamer's corps In advance.
On arriving at the west fork Of the Chckanauga river
II was found that the enemy bad destroyed the bridge
To provide for this contingency MAJOR General Butter
field my chief OF stall. had In tho morning prudenty
requested that three pontoons. with their calks and
chesses might be despatched for my use but as they
mad not come M after detention Of several hours,
bridge constructed for the infantry the officers sw TN
mug their horses II was not until after three clock
that the regiments able 10 commence crossing ieav
log the artillery aud ambuauces to follow as soon as pac