The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1869-06-25
Battle of Missionary Ridge.


bright and cold, and the Novembe
sun shore over the mountains and tn
plain. Grant had ordered a genera
assault on Missionary Ridge. Befor
him rose the tall mountain range, Ol
which could be seen, glittering in tn
sunlight. the bayonets OF nearly fft,
thousand praetieed soldiers, trained il
mountain warfare. In the centre wa
Brages headquarters; along the eres
OF the hills ran lines of esrth-wOrkI
and felled trees, and the open mouth.
of thirty heavy cannon, besides lesser
artillery, threatened death to the bold
assailant who should attempt to climb
the height. The Union army, the
rebel works no longer hid in the
mist, came out in bold distinetness
on that fair November day, and the
commanders watched each others mo-
tious from their elevated stations,
prepared for tie final shock. Mean
time at dawn Sherman's guns we're
heard on the northern side Of the
Ridge, and fIOm daylight until noon
that active leader was slowly pressing
on along the mountains to cut Bragg
of from his base ofsupplies at Chicks
amauga. He was as yet fighting the
battle alone; for Hooker had not ar
rived to attack on the rieht, delayed
by the rough roads, and the centre
under Thomas hadnOt stirred. Bragg,
about,three o'clock, weakened his CEN
tire BY sending large force to cut off
Sherman. Grant saw the opportuni-
ty, Hooker was now coming up, and
the commander, swift to seize his mo-
ment of attack, ordered a general
charge up the hill. Never was there
such charge. The Army Of the Cum
berland, which had all day been chain
ed behind its entrenehments like a
dangerous mastiff, and had heard with
impatienee the bold advance of Sher-
man, now broke into a run up the
steep deelivity, swept over intrench-
ments and rifle pits, drove the fright
ened enemy out Of their defenses,
and with wild shout followed them
so closely that they had no time to
pause. Sheridan, who led the way,
looked back and saw huge mass of
bayonets glittering in the sunlight,
and swelling like Wayeu up the noun
tain-side. Even be describes the spec
taele as terrific. BUt to the enemy
tho charge was fatal. In vain they
poured down apluuging fire from thir-
ty cannon into the glittering sea of
steel; in vain their musketry flashed
from every side. The thick line of
the Army Of the Cumberland never
wavcred nor paused; where they could
not run they climbed or erept; they
refused to stop even at the command
of their officers, aud, moved by the
instinct of victory, drove the enemy
in-wild fight before them to the very
crest of the Ridge. Here they swept
over the powerful intrenehments, shot
down the gunners at their cannon, cap
tured whole regiments ofpanie-strick-
en- soldiers, broke in six places those
lines which had so long frowned up
on them in the valley Of the Eagles
Nest. There was now victory all
along the line. Hooker, Sherman,
Thomas, had been successful. Bragg
fed, leaving six thousand prisoners
and all his guns, and was closely pur
sued By Sheridan and Sherman. The
news of the great victory was flashed
over the country, again the name of
Grant was uttered with gratitude by
every loyal tongue; thanksgiving was
offered in the churches; and once
more peace seemed near. Again Grant
urged an immediate advance on No.
bile, and again as rebuked Cor his
But the people now ac-
their leader; they began
to reflect upon Belmont, Paducah, |
Donelson, Shiloh, vfcksburg, Ohatta-
nooga. and they felt that a military
genius had arisen who saw what other |
men could not see, and who possessed |
the intellect, force, and ingenuity |
necessary to carry out his own con-
ceptions. The President sent Grant
his honest congratulations; Congress
voted him thanks; Burnside was saved:
the cotton States lay open to the Un-
ion forces; and at length nothing re-
mained of the rebellion but that cen
trail power which had SO long ruled |
1T Richmond, sustaiue1 BY the mill
tary skill of Lee.-EUGENE Law
RENEE, in HarPer's Magazine for july.