The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-05-03


u possessed isnssipg that plsce entirely. sloHls
not think u a3visahle 10 eoacentate force nasl
Little Tennessee 10 rcsist the crHSips. II Il would
be IN danger Of capture; but wonM ha'ass aHs
embaHass tsogress ~ every way possible. rrncct'
the only ssmy TO rsslst the onward pfuksss Of The
enemy. IL CRsHr, Easyf General.
To Major General n 4 Barnsids. 81
1as RscoasoIssAxes AND Irs Essu.Ts -rRs9ARA-
rioNs T0R fnR aAAsD ATTACK.
Previous rfeorneissances, made Arst BY EFiga-
dIeS General " r Smith. Cfi~f Engineer, and az.
forwards hy Thomas, Sherman and p,yseit. In
company With him, Of the c0nBry opposite c1,hita
n0o9a and north of the tennessee river extending
as far rast az the mouth Of The North Chickamas-
"a, and also Of the malih Of the South Chfck5-
mauga and the north end Of Missionary Ridge, So
far the same could be made from tbs north bank
Of the river without exciting suspicious ON the part
0f the enemy, showed good roads ffou. Brown =
Ferry mp tbs river and back OF the first rasqe of
hills Chattanooga, ard out Of view 0f the
enemy's positions. Troops crossing the bridge al,
Brnwn's Ferry could he seen and their numbers
estimated by the enemy; but not seeing anything
fsrthcr Of them as they passed up In the rear of
these hills, he would necessarily be at 4 loss 10
knew whether they were moving to Knoxville or
held the north side Of the river for future opera
lions at Chattanooga II also showed that the
n.r,h end Of Missionary Rii5e vas i.Bperfeclly
guarded and that the hanks Of the river, from the
mouth Of South Chiekamamga creek westward 10
ti' s,sn line 10 front OF chaslanooEa was watched
the plan Of operations Indicated In my dispatch OF
the i4lh 10 Burnside.
Upon further Oaslderaiien The sseat oblecs be:
Ing to mass all the force pJssibIe agaisf Os 6fVen
poiat-nameiy, Missionary Ridge, cnnvcrging 10
wards the north end Of lit was deemed best 10
change the original plan, SO FAR as 1t contemplated
uO0krr's attack on Lockout Mountain, which
wOuld give Us HOWar's corps Of his command 10
all in this purpose and on the 18th the following
instructions were given Thomas:
All preparatiOns should be made for atiac king the
enemy's position cn +tssionary Ridge by Saturday
a; daylight. Not being provided with nap Civ
Ing names of roads, spurs hf The mountain and
other places, such definite Instructions cannot be
given as might he desirable. However,, the gene
raj plan, you understand Is for Shermah, with the
force brought with him, strengthened by division
from your command, 10 effect crossing 0f the
Tennessee river, jus: below the mOuti, OC Chicka-
manga his crossing 10 be protected by artillery
from the heights the north bank of the river Ito
be located by yGur chief of artilierv) aad to secure
tine heights fsom the northern extremity 10 about
the ratir"ad taRnel before the enemy can c0nceu-
trate against him. You will co operate with Shey-
man
The troops In Chattanooga Valley should be we'll
copcenrated On your left fans. leaving on'y the
necessary force defend Qualifications on the right
and centre, aud a movable column Of one divlsion
In readiness to move wherever ordered. This ai-
vision should show Itself as threateniugly as nos
sible Oh the most practicable line for making un
attack up the valley. Your effort then will be to
firm juncturc with siefmaD, making your ad-
vance well towards the northern end Gf Mission
ary Ridge, and moving As near, simultaneously v
with him, possible. The junc;ure ance formed
and the riage carried, Communications will he at
once established between the two armies by roads
on the ,omth bank of the river. Further move
ments will then depend those of the enemy
Lnoxout Va ley will be easily held / Thick, by
Gesrys division and what troops you may still have
there belonging to the old Army Of the Cumher
land. HoWsrd's corps can then be held in read
to act either with you At Chattanooga or with
sherman. 1t should be marched on FRIDAY night
to position on the north side OF the river, not
lower down than the first pOatOon bridge aud there
held In readiness for such orders as may become
necessary. All these troops will he provided
with two days cooked ratiops, In havessacks, and
ore hundred rounds Of ammunition on the person
OF each infantry soldier. Special care should be
taken By all officer, to see ti.a! ammunition Is mol
wasted or unnecessarily fred away. You will call
on the Engineer Department for such preparations
as you may deem necessary Tor carrying your In
fantry and artillery over the creek.
U s GRAsT, Major General.
To Major General Geo H Th,mas
eEE sHERMAN's IwsTRUCTioEs AND MOVEMENTS.
& copy o: these instructions was furnished Sher
maa i, with the following communication:
Escoscd herewith send you a copy OF ios'ruc
ti0Hs 10 Major Gen Thomas. You having been
over the ground in person, and having heard the
whole matter discussed, further instructions will
rot be necessary for ynu 1t is particularly desira
bit that force should be got through TO the rail
road between Cleveland and Dalton, cad Long
Stttci Su1S cut OH ctfHsUiiSicdtiOH Will TIC
South; but, being confronted by large force here,
s.reR.v lccated, 1t Is not easy tell how this il
10 be effected until the result OF first effort is
known. will add, however, VIVA. Is not shown
cavalry has been ordered here, which, if 1t arrives
In time, will be thrown across the Tennessee above
Chlckamauga, and may be able 10 make the trip 10
Cleveland or iheaesbGuts.
u 3 GRANT, Major General.
To Major Gen " + Sherman.
Snerman,a fnrcps were moypd from Rv,Jveport
by way of Vhisesde disfSon t.,I cate ming the
enemy's !eft flank In the direction CT Trenton,
crossing a: Browns Ferry, up the north bank of the
Tennessee, to near tae mouth of South Chicka-
manga, where they were kept concealed from the
enemy until they were ready TO force CROSSING
POntoOns for throwing bridge across the river
were built aud placed in North Chickamauga, near
its mouth, few miles further up, without attract
ing the attention Ct the enemy. II was expected
would be able 10 effect the crossing The 2lst
OF November; but, owing 10 heavy rains, Sherman
unable to get up until The afternoon of the 23G
and then only with Gems Morgah's, /. Smith 's,
John smiths, aud Hugh Ewing divisions OF the
18th corps. uader command Of Major Gen Ffamk =
Blair, of his army. The pOnioOn bridge at Brown 5
Ferry having been broken up ty the drift co Sc
qucn. upon the rise in the river and RATS down
by the enemy, The other division tGst rhaus was
detained on the south side, ard was on the night
0f lie 23d ordered, uBlcss IL could get across by
eight O'Clock the next morning, to report 10 Hook
er, who was instructed in this event to attack
Lookout Mountain, as contemplated In the original
plan.
GEN. BRAaa'S REBEL MOVEMENTS,
A iesert.r from the rebel army, who came into
our liaes on the night CT the 22d OF November f--
ported B,agg falling back The following letter
from Bragg received by flag OF tfuce Oh The 2oin,
tended TO confirm this report:
HEAna'as ARnY OF TrSSsssas,
La the Field, Nov 20, o.
Mai Gen Cunt. commanding United states
forces sc, Chattanooga:
General: As there may s.i'i be some non conf
batanrs in Chattanooga, deem 1t proper u notify
you that prudence would dictate their early with
s.awai I aia, General, very respectfully, your
CbedieBt servant, BKAxToN BRAGG,
General Commanding.
Not being willing that he shcuId gel his army off
in good order, Thomas was directed, early Oh the
morning Of The 23 to ascertain the ruth or fasiiy
Of This report, by driving Ia his ckets aud
him develop his lines This iie did with The troops
stationed at Chattanooga and Rewards corps,
(Which had been thought into Chattanooga beeaast:
OF the upp.ehended danger 10 oar pontooa bridges
from the Iise In the liver aud .he enenys rats tn
the most gallant STYLE, driving the eneniy from hJ
fist iiue, and securing Co what il known as
ssiudian Hin" or ''0rchafd Knoll" aud the low
range OF hills south of IL. These points were fos
titled during the night, aud artillery VI In position
On them. The report OF this deserlef was evident
iy net intended u deceive; but tic had uaistakcn
Bragg movements. ttwas aftei yards aseertaiaed
juIa Lonssireet, and second d.vi 'an of the same
corps had started, bot was brought back III cnmse
q qlencc Of otr attack.
THg FIRST pAYs CONTEST.
On the nigh, Of the a3i Of November Sherman
with three divisions OF his army, strengthened by
Iavis's division of Thorlas's, which had bees
stationed along on the north side cf the river con
veEicnt TO where the crossing was 10 be effected,
was ready for opera't3ns ut an homf sufficiently
early ID secure the south bank Of the river usl be
l,. the mouth 0f South Chicxanlaugl BY daWs
OF day the pontooas In North ChicaaMausa wers
loaded with thirty armed men each, who Aoated