American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-01-20

but let me mention here the interposition
of the God of Battles, who clothed the
craggy summit of the mountain with
dense fog, on which the deadly Sharp
shooters of Mississippi, (the flowers of the
flock were perched to pick off our men
as they passed along under the cliffs but
their eyes were dimmed our men proud
| ly advanced beneath the protection of the
4 Almighty, and open to our view; when
our men had gained the western side. and
came steadily advancing round the point,
oh, what beautiful sight to behold them
as the cloud lowered above them and the
dear old flag waved; you should have
heard the loud hu2zahs that issued forth
from the forts below, which were loaded
with deadly missiles to hurl at the foe;
but now a sudden rush was made on their
rihe-pits and the shout went forth our
boys in them, and sudden stiffness again;
but now they are seen again advancing
and shouting; now again another shout
goes forth and the columns go at full speed
with glittering bayonets, and the trench
is ours; here they skirmshed for some
time, and part of our division was sent
down, drove in the pickets, threw pom
toon across the creek and made connec-
tion with them up the mountain side,
where they remained all night; next morn
ing the hill and Chattanooga valley were
clear, and they had concentrated their
forces on Mission Ridge, on the other side
of the valley, aud extending about five
miles During this time Sherman had
crossed the river alove and taken enc of
the peaks Of he ridge sherman COM
/ menccl his work carly, aud hey kept con
centrating on heir right cur left, and by
strategy our columns advanced to six points
by noon, ready to storm The batteries and
brclstworks on the whole summit; the
time arrived, the command given, and oh,
then the whole mountain shook to its base,
with their batteries on the summit and
ours at the base, it was perfect shower of
balls, grape, and canister; but our columns
advanced quietly along, and fercely charg-
ed their rife-pits about one third Of the
way up the hill; another, the same, and
then they were under cover of their fire
finally they reached the summit and a
deadly strife ensucd and the most dead
ly silence reigned among the troops who
lay in reserve, in case of needed assistance;
but few moments, and the Banner of
Freedom is seen floating over the Head
quarters of Gen. Bragg-their artillery
hushed, and only the shout of our men
charging on the batteries, can be heard,
and then loud response of shouts from
our place of abode but now the batter
les are heard to belch forth again, and oh,
the intense anxiety, are our men repulsed?
Are they all prisoners Oh, no we soon
found that the belchings were turned an
other direction, and another shout went
forth and soon all was still but in the
distance we could hear some terrific mus
kerry fighting, but it was soon lulled by
night coming on
was ordered to the battlefield where
remained all night, till A. NJ. came
home and breakfasted received orders at
7 A. NJ, to march with four days rutions
from Division Headquarters; our Regi-
ment remained in the forts and we start
ed in pursuit of the retreating foe went
up to the summit Of the ridge, and oh,
the sights; the foe slaughtered all along
the ridge, and twenty-five of our own men
descended, and passed through the gap
and ascended another ridge which led to
the old Chickamauga ground, and arrived
at the river by night; built bridge by
taking down barn and house, and we
passed over early in the morning; ad-
vanced two miles, and surprised the enc
my and took battery; pressed on to
Graysville, passing all kinds of arms, field
pieces, caissons, ammunition, clothing, etc
in great quantities got to the next creek
where they resisted; beat them and took
four pieces of artillery, and one they tried
to throw in the water, forded, and went on
to Riuggold where we had most bloody
fight we lost heavily took the Gapan
Mountain by storm got cur wounded off
and all amFutatiou7 made by midnight,
and sent all our SICK back to Chattanooga
by noon the following day we took
great number of prisoners, corn, -four,
wheat corn meal, etc etc, AMI had plenty
of chicken and pig, and remained over
the day and night and then returned
To sum up, we have taken about 80 guns,
6300 prisoners, more coming in, and part
Of the army yet to hear from; accept my
kind regards.
Yours faithfully,