Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1869-06-25
THE B ATTLE OF MISSIONARY
RIDGE,

The ext morning (the 25thl broke
bright and cold, and the November sur
shonfj over the mountains and the plain
Graz It had ordered general assault on
Ms 5siOnHry Ridge. Before him rose the
"a Il mountain range, on which could be
9 cen, gliItering in the sunlight, the
! bayonets of nearly fifty thousand prac-
Iificed soldiers, trained in mountain
warfare. In the centre was Bragg's
head Quarters along the crest Of the
hits ran lines of earth-WOElzs and fell
+ ed trees and the open mouths of thir-
+ " heavy cannon, besides lesser artil-
I lery, threatened death 10 the bold as
~sailant who should attempt to climb
d the height. The Union army, the rebel
/ works no lenger hid in mist, came out
4 in bold dissinctness on that fair Novsm-
i Der cay and The two commanders
J watched each others motions from their
eIeFate& stations, prepared Tor the
! hnal SaOck. Meantime at dawn SheF-
mans guns were heard on the north
ern side of the Ridge, and from day
hgAt until noon that active leader was
iTStGW1y pressing on along the mountains
30 cut Bragg off from his base of sup
plies at ChIekamauga. He was as vet
fighting the battle alone for Hooker
had not arrived to attack on the right,
delayed by the rough roads, and the
centre under Thomas had not stirred.
Bragg about three O'Clock weakened
his centre by sending a large force to
cut off Sherman. Grant saw the op-
portunity. Hooker was now coming
up, and the commander, swift to seize
MS moment OF attack, ordered a Wpner-
al charge up the hill. Never was there
such a charge. The Army of the Cum
beriand, which had all day been chain
ed behind IFS intrenchments like dan
gerous mastiff, and had heard with i'm
patience the bold advance of Sherman,
now broke into run up the steep de-
clivity, swept over intFenchments and
rihe-pIts, drove the frightened enemy
out OF their defPnses, and with q wild
shout followed them so closely that they
had no time to pause. Sheridan, who
led the way, looked back and saw 8
huge mass of bayOnets glit1ering in
The sunlight, and swelling like a wave
up the mountain side. Even he des-
cribes the spectacle as terrific. But to
the enemy the charge was fatal. In
vain they poured down plunging fire
from thirty 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
waVered nor paused where they could
not run they climbed or crept they |
refused to stop even at the command |
of their officers, and moved by the in |
stincl of victory, drove the enemy in |
wild flight before them to the very |
crest of the Ridge. Here they swept |
aV6f@BI4ssi its, shOtI
down he gum 3 at the9 1ann0fas cap
tured whole req tm ents+of j. Z nic9sE ! lex |
en- soldiers. and brOkeN ins.-sizs. places !
those lines which Gfsse4-aa-as 9EFlg .Itow ded /
upon them-j in the valley OFT eas
Nest. There was now victory - ~ agQn& /
the line. Hooker, sherman. Thomas, 1
had been successful. Bragg 1sR, leaY- 1
ing six thousandqprisaH q all bis /
gdns, and was closely Il iIrs tled bsf Il.
dan and Sherman. 14EFhe naws5 of tue /
great victory WAS flashed over the Z
country again the name Of Grant W8s.
uttered vita gratitude by every loyal
tongue /; thanksgiving was ggftssraf5'iEi
the churchesss~a1dz-laEI aEIg9' sfgeaee-
seemed near. AGGfn Grant urged an
advance on Mobile, and
again was rebnked for his impndence.Js
But the people now acknoWledg gedl their /
leadsSsz slaeX~baRan rozrPfiect upon Bel
mont and Padueah, D0Relsom, Shiloh,
Vicksburg, Chattanoole aud theYls&a 4
S tlitary gem risen who
rat Other uF5a44c9t4I0 not see, and /
&c possessed the intellect, force, and
ngehuity necessary to carry out his
own conceptions. The President sent
Grant his honest congratulations Con-
g ress voted him thanks Burnside was
saved Athe cotton States lay open to /
he Union forces and aS5 length moth /
ing remained of the rebellion but that /
sentral power which had so long ruled /
4t Richmond. SUSTAINED by the military !
skill Of Iee.-EUGErSE LAW FsIs1VGEs, in 4
lTU7PeT's magazine for July.