Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1864-05-08
MISSOURI
GEN. CRAMPS OFFICIAL REPORT
Of the Battles Of Chattanooga, Lockout Moan
tGiE, and Missionary Ridge

or the Battles Of Chattanooga, Lockout Moan
tGiS, and Missionary Ridge.
HEADa'Rs MILITARY DIVISION or THE MISSISSIPPI
In the FIELD, Chattsnoogs, Tenn,
December "a 1868.
Col. J. @ Kslton, A. A. g., Washington, D. c.;
CoLoSKL: In pursuance OF general order No. 337,
War Department of date Washington, October l6 1865
dslivered to by the Secretary Of War at Louisville
Ky, on the 18th Of the month, ] assumed
mand Of the Military Division Of the Mississippi,
prixDg the departments Of the Ohio the Cumberland
and the Tennessee; and teegraphed the order
ing command together with the order OF the War De-
partment referred to- to MsjorGen A. z Burnside at
KnoxvIs, and to MajorGen W. s. Rosscraus, al Chat
tanoogR
Ny action in tslegrsphing these orders to Chatta-
nOoga in advance OF my arrival there induced by
information furnished me by the Secre sry Of War Of
the difficulties with which the army Of the cumberland
had to contend in supplying itself over long noun
tAlnous and almost impossible road from Stevenson,
Ala, Chattanooga Tenn, and his fears that Gen.
Roseersns would fail back to the rorh side Of the Ten
river. To guard farther against the possibility
Of the Secret&rys fears, also telegrzphed to Major
Cen Thomas on the 18th OF October, from Louisville,
to hold Chattanooga at all hazards that I would be
thsre possible To which he replied, on the
same date, 81 will hold the town till we TtArve.'
Proceeding directly to Chattanooga. arrived there
on the 23d October and found that Gen Thomas had,
Immediately on being placed in command OF the De-
Of Maj Gen. HoOkers command st Bridgeport prepaT-
story to securing the river and main wagon road be-
tween that place and Browns ferry immediately below
Lookout mountain The next morning after my ar
rival at Chattaaooga in company with Thomas and
Brighten. W. F. Smith chief engineer made recon
noisssnce of Browns ferry and the hills the south
side Of The river and at the mouth Of Lookout valley
After the Reconnaissance the plan agreed upon
Hooker eross Bridgeport the south side Of the
river with all the force that could be spared em the
railroad and move the main wagon road by way Of
WhiteEidss to Wauhstehe, in Lookout valley. Major
Gen J. NJ Palmer WAS 10 proceed By the only praetea
BILE route north Of the river from h poson opposite
Chattanooga point the north bsuk Of the river
opposite Whteside then TO TO the south side and
hold the road passed over by Hooker.
na
prssed Of stendOn, force under the direction OF
Brg.-Gen w. +. Smith, chief engineer, was to DO
thrown across me Ver a. OF ns2F BEoTns ierry, 70
seize tho range Of ls at the mouth OF Lookout valley
covering the Browns ferry road snd orders were given
accordingly.
Hwas Known the enemy hsld the north Of Lookout
valley with brigade Of troops, and the road leading
around the foot Of the mountain from their main camp
in Chattanooga valley TO Lockout valley. Holding
these advantages be would have had little dsulty In
concentrating sufficient force TO have defeated or
driven him back. To remedy this the seizure Of the
range Of hills a. the mouth Of Lookout valley, and
covering the HnoUne ferry road Wss deemed OF tae
highest importance. This by the use Of pontoOn
bridges at Chattanooga and Browns ferry would
TO by the north bank Of the river Moeeasn
point shorter one by which to reinforce our troops in
Lockout valley, than the narrow and tortuous road
around the foot OF Lookout mountain aHoraed the enc
my for reinforcing his
The force detailed for this expedition consisted Of
i i've thousand men, under command Of General Smtb
/ chief englnser, eighteen hundred Of which, under
Brgsdier General II B. Eazsn, in sixteen pOtoOn bOss
containing thirty armed each, ated quietly from
Chattanooga past the sneny's piekesE the foot Of
issass on ss sosss d Of ~ rfye- a. Bsovv fsTr
surprised the eaemy's pockets stationed there, AMI
seized the hills covering the ferry without the loss OF
man KILLED, and but four Eve wounded The re
mRnder Of the force together with ths materials for
| bridge were moved BIZ the moth bank Of lie river
across Moccasin Pint to Browns forry, without at
traeEg the attention Of the enemy; aud before day
dswned the VII lie force forded the south bank
Of the river and the smost insccess BILE nights rAag
frosa Looksut valley lis ouiot the river and be-
| low the mouth OF Lockout creek vsys secured.
By 10 o'clock A. Il. excellent po1toon bridge was
laid the river at Browns ferry thus securing
Us the end Of ihs desired road nearest the enemy
forcsS and the shorter line which to pass troops
/ Il battle became inevitable. Positions were taken
up By our troops from which thsy could have tee1
driven except by vastly superior forces andhen only
with great loss to the enemy. Our artillery n such
postioa AZ to completely command the road deading
from the eneny's main camp in Chattanooga icy to
/ Lookout valley.
On the 2ssh Hooker emerged into Lockout " W at
/ Waahatehie. By the direct road from BrdgepA Eby
| way ef Whitssidss TO Chattanooga, with-t ilth
army corps under Major General howard ana eearY's
division, Of the l2ta army corps and proceeded 10
take up positions for the defense Of the road from
whltesldea over which he had marched and also the
road leading from Browns ferry 10 Kslley's ferry
throwing the ett Of hoTsrds corps forward 10 Browns
The division that started under command Of Palmer
for Whitesdss rsAched Its destination snd took up the
pos Ion intended In the original plan Of this movement
These movements 50 successfully executed secured "a
/ rs two comparatively good lines By which TO obtain sup
plies from the terminus Of the railroad at Bridgeport
1
/ Wsuhktchie sud Browns ferry, distant but twenty
eight miles, and the Kelys ferry and Browns ferry
road which BY The Of the river from Bridgeport tc
Ksys ferry, reduced the distance for wagouing TO bu
| eight males.
/ Up 70 this period our forces at Chattanooga were
practically invested tbs enemys lines extending from
tAe Tennessss river above Chattanooga the river a
and below the point Lookout mountain, below Chat
taoogs with the south bank Of the river pcketed tC
near Bridgeport his main force being fortified IL Chat
taHsoga valley at the foot of and &issonay ri6gs
and Lookout mountain, and iskde in Lookout valley
True, held possession OF the country north Of the
rir but it was from sixty seventy niles over The
| m Ppractieabls roads 70 army supplies.
| silery horses and mnles bad become 50 redaeei
| by tion that they could not hkVe been relied upoE
Tor M ing anything An attempt At retreat must have
bsen with men alone, and with only such supplies n
they esuld carry. retreat would have been alnc s.
certHin anDhAtion, for she enemy, occupying posion
ri-aa glnsaet ef ana overlooking vsry fortifes
ficnz, would have uncuestlonably pursued Rstrsatug
forces. Arsady more than ten thousand animals hac
asrished in supplying half ratlons the troops by hs
long AID tedious routs IRON Stevenson and Blfdgepor
70 Ohstianooga over Waidron's Tidss They eoaid nc
have been supplied smother week.
The enemy was evidently fully spprised Of our eondi
on in Chattanooga and Of the necessity of estab
fishing nsw snd shorter line by which to obtain sup
piles If We would maintain position; and 20 full
was be impressed with the importance Of keeping from
US these hnes-ost 10 him by surprise, ana In MAMIE
be little dreamed ofthat in order to regain p0ssessic
Of thsm nghf attack was made By portion OF Iona
streets forces IN portion Of HooSers troops feary
d gison of the l2sA eorps) the ht night after hooker
arrival In the valley. The attack failed however an
HcWard's corps, which wzs moving to The assistsncs
dsary finding that it was nOs required By him, carrie
the rsmalniRz hghts held BY the enemy vast Of Looh
creek, This gave quiek possession al the lines
communication hsrelofore described south OF the Ten
nessee river. OF these operations cannot speak
sub reports having been sent to Waal
ingsOn without passing through my hands.