New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-02-24
THE BATTLE OF wAIMATCMEE.
OGcinl Reports Of Gen. Thomas and Of
Gen. ". H, Smith.

Official Reports OF Gen. Thomas and OF
Gen. w. II. Smith.
The following are reports of the combined
movement in October last by which communication was
opened by way Of tho river between Bridgeport and
Chattanooga and TO which was due the continued pos
session by our force of the latter place:
GEN. THoMAss REPORT.
| HEADQUARTERS DEPARTSmST or THE CUMBERLAND }
CHATTANOOGA, Nov. 7. 1868.
GENERAL; have the honor 10 forward herewith the
Official reports Of Mnjor-fen Hooker Commanding the
nth and i2th Corps, end Of Brig Gen W. r. Smith,
Chief Engineer Department Of the Cumberland COM
handing the expedition, composed Of Turchins brig.
ade pards division lith Army Corps and Of Ha2en's
brigade Woods division 4th Army Corps. and dotach-
OF the 18th Ohio Infantry under command OF Col
r. r. Stanley aud OF the LIST Michigan Engineers. IN.
der command Of Capt is. d. Fox Of tho operations Of
their respective commands between the Goth and 2eth
ult TO gain possession Of the south bank of the Ten
River and 10 open the road FOR depot OF sup
J nlies al bridgeport.
Preliminary steps had already been taken TO execute
this vitality important movement before the command OF
the Department dey0yed me. The bridge. which II
was necessary TO throw across the river at Browns
Ferry 10 gain possession ~ the northern end OF Lookout
Valley and open communication with bridgeport by
roal and river was nearly complete On the 23d orders
were sent 20 Cen Hooker concentrate the 18th Corps
and ono division Of the 18th Corps at Bridgeport IN
forming him at the sane time what his force was ex'
pactod 10 accomplish and that force from this place
would cooperate with his by establishing bridge
ncross the river at Browns Ferry and seize the Nights
on the sortl ooAout-yaley side thus giving him an
Opcn road 10 CHATTANOOGA whom his forces should ar
rive In lockout Valley Tie force TO throw the bridge
was Organized by Saturday the 2ith and the bridge
completed giving Gen. Smith two days TO examine the
ground with the two bTigadecommduders and 20 give
~ the necessary detailed Instructions TO insure success
General Hooker reported on the 2fth that he would
be Tcndy 10 move on the 27th az dayhgh lie was IN
siructcd 20 move nj the appointed me with nl dlrec-
lions hoW 20 proTiie for the defense OF his flank ana TO
cover The approaches 10 the road from Tie direction OF
Trenton. Tho bridge was successfully thrown neros
- arffsN If le Il
reached Lookout Valley and communicated with Ihls
place ON the 2sth The enemy attempted 70 surPrlss
him the night after be reached his position In l00Aou'
Valley and after an obstinate contest o. .so ours
ration completely rcpUlsed, with loss OF upWhI
Of LOO killed and wounded over IV0 prisoners anu
several hundred stand Of arms refer You 70 the re-
ports Of eneras Hooker and Smith for The details Of
the operations of their commands commanding TO favor
able cons deraton The names of those officers especially
oned by them for gallant and merorous conduct
Tho sAillfu execution by Gen. smith OF tue Work as
signed him and the promptncss With which Gen. Hook
or with his troops and repulsed the enemy the
Night Of The 9TH rseets The greatest credit on both o.
annex consolidated returns OF casualties.
an General very re- PeetlGlly your obedt serv't
Major.Gen. u. s. ", Commanding.
Big Gen l.. THOMAS. Adj. Gen u S. A., Washington.
HA'0H'HS K R2SS'A wS SS-stS2 n.,, ro,.l.
second Diyis9S' iii corp',I i. ss
Brig Gen sni,hs command II 81
FIhe Report OF NajOlGeu. Hooker has already
been published.)
REPORT OF BRIG. GEN W. p. SMITH.
Hz.DouAsrERs DEPARrsgsT OF rHE crMDER5ASD'
OFFICE CnIEr LSGIsYyR, CHATTANOOGA Nov. 4, 1903
GENERAL. | have the honor TO submit the
following report Of the operations for making odg
ment on the south side Of tho Tennessee River, at
On tho 10Th Of October was instructed by Cen
Rosccrlns TO reconnoiter tho river 10 the vicinity Of
Williams Island with view OF making the island
cover for a steamboat landing and storchouses and be-
tho lpWpr end the isand
Following the river up, found on the opposite bank
above tho head Of tho Island, sharp range OF hills
whose base washed by the river. This range ex
tended up the river nearly to Lookout Creek and was
broken at Browns Ferry by narrow gorge, through
which thu road to the old ferry and flowed small
creek The VALLEY bctv the ridge If hills and Rae
coon Mountains was narrow and lodgment effected
there would give the command Of the Kcllys Ferry
road and seriously interrupt the communications OF
the cremy up Lockout Valley and down to the river on
RacCoon Mountain The ridge seemed thnly picketed
and the evidences were 0ganst the occupation OF at
part OF the valley By large force OF the enemy and
seemed quite possible 10 take by surprise what could
not have been carried by assault heavily occupied by
an opposing force
The Major General commanding the Geographical
Division and the MajorGenoral commanding the De
parfment visited Nth me the Gerry Few DAYS @rf ms
conunssnnce and both agreed 10 the importance Of
the position by Itself aid especially in connection with
the movements 10 be made from bridgeport TO open the
river and was directed To make the necessary ar
engagements for the expedition to effect lodgment
ID this 80 pontoons with oars 70 carry crew and p
armed pfepufed qnd also w tatboats cpriy-
ing ~ sld 20 The force detailed for the c1pcdi
ton consisted Of the brgales u Brig Cen Turchin and
Brig. Gen Hazcn with three batteries 10 be posted
under the direction Of Mnjor Mendcnhal. Assistant
Chef of Artillery. Sunday tho 95th of October, was
assigned to the command OF the expedition and the
troops were distributed NJ follows:
! In,cep hundred men, under Brig Gen. Hason. were
to embark in The boats and pass do yn the River dis
/ lance VI about niue miles seven Of which would b.
under the tre OF the plckets OF the enemy. II was
deemed better 70 tatc this rsk than attempt 70 launch
the boats noar the ferry because they would move more
rapidly than inteligcno cOad be taken by infantry
pcfeIs aud in addition, though the enemy might BE-
alarmed, he would not know when the landing was 10
be attempted and therefore could not with
certainty against us. The boats were called off in
sections and the points at which each section
land were carefully selected and pointed out TO the
ocetS IN command and range fires kept burning. lest
/ in the Lght the upper points should be mistaken.
| The remainder OF Gems Turchins and Hazens Brig.
ode' were marched across and encnmped in the woods
out OF sight near the ferry, ready 10 down and
the landing of the boats and also ready to embark
SO the boats had landed the river force and
crossed 10 the north side The artillery was also halted
in The woods during the night and was to move down
and into position 30 soon the boats he'd landed 20
cover tho retirement OF troops In OF disaster
The equpege for the pontoon bridge also ready 10
be moved down 70 the river soon the troops were
across Axes were distributed to the ioops to be used
In cutting abats for defense the ridge was
gained. Gen Hszen 10 take the gorge and hills to
the left while Gen. TuIehn was to extend fron the
gorge down the river. Tho boat, moved from Chotta.
fooga at a. ~ on the 27th and thanks to slight fog
and the silence Observed they not discovered until
about a. No. when tho Brst section had landed at the
upper point aud the second section had arrived abreast
OF the picket stationed at the gorge.
Hero a portion OF the second section OF tho dotllla
failed 20 hand al tho proper place aud alarming the pick
cts received vocy Some tmc wac lost Ia eieoting
landing below tho gorge and the troops had hardly
by this time had recrossed the river. and Lieut. COL
Langdon LIST Ohio Vols In command Of the remnant of
tho brigade Of Genfrsl uaran, WA rapidly -tssrled