Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-04-23
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baggage was a toothbrush. Through
out the process Of the siege this great
commander was ever present, and
even the most unimportant movements
received his close attention. while dur
ing an engagement his appearance up
on the field of battle encouraged his
brave men to deeds of valor which have
been rarely equaled in their brilliaucy.
VICTORIES IN TENNESSEE.
After gaining several important VIC
tories, the Army of the Cumberland.
operating TO the north and east of
the scenes of Grants recent triumph,
had been defeated under Rosecrans at
Chickamauga and the confederates had
seized Mission. Ridge and Lookout
Mountain. Grant, who had been rails
ed to the rank OF major general in the
regular army, was then given the COM
mand OF all the western armies, and
moved to the relief OF Chattanooga.
Tn Nov. 20 one of the most brilliant
victories of the war was won by him
and his lieutenants. Lookout Noun
tain and Mission Ridge were stormed,
and on the following day the enemy
was relentlessly pursued southwark.
From the opening Of the war to the
close of that campaign Grant had cap
tured 472 cannon, 10000 prisoners, and
loo,00 stand of arms. On the 9TH of
December, 1868, the president OF the
United States issued proclamation
calling the people together to give
thanks for the victories, and on the
following day he thus personally ac-
knowledged his appreciation of Gen.
Grants services, in telegraphic dis
patch, which was subsequently read to
the troops:
WASHINGTON, DEc. s, 1S63.-AIai. Gen.
Grant: Understanding that your Judgment
at Chattanooga and Knoxville is now Sc
cure, wish to tender you and all under
your command my more than thanks my
profoundest gratitEde-for the Skill, cour-
age, and perseverance with which you and
they, over so great difficulties have effect
ed that important object. God bless you all.
A. LINCOLN.
Congress voted him a medal. His
praise was in every mouth The press
lauded his triumph in applauding lead
ers. Legislatures passed resolutions
thanking him for his public services;
and various religious and civic socie-
ties publicly testified their gratitude to
him.
OF the intrepidity of Gen. Grant dur
ing these engagements, one of his staff
thus wrote:
Il need notdescrbe to youthe recent bat
tie OF Chattanooga; the papers have given
every possible detail concerning it. may
only say that | saw it all. and was in the
nVe days tight. In Gen. Grants staff only
one was wounded, a Lieut. Turner, assist
ant chief of artillery, whose parents former
~ lived at Batavia, n. y. but now of Chi
cago. 1t has been a matter of universal
wonder in this army that Gen. Grant him
sell was not killed, and that no more acct
dents occurred in his staff, for the General
was always in the front (his staff with him,
OF couTse), and perfectly needless of the
storm OF kissing bullets and screaming shell
lying around him. His apparent want of
senslbllity does not arise from needless
ness, heartlessness, or vain military affec-
tatlon, but from a sense If responsibility
resting upon him when in battle. When at
Ringgold, we rode for half mile in the
face of the enemy, under an incessant fire
OF cannon and musketry, nor did we ride
fast but upon an ordinary trot, and not
once do believe did it enter the Generals
mind that he was in danger. | was by his
side and watched him closely. In riding
that distance we We're going to the 'front.'
and | could see that he was studying the
positions of the two armies, and, of course,
planning how todefeat the enemy, who was
here making the most desperate stand, and
was Strengthening our men fearfuly. After
de. eating and driving the enemy here we
returned to Chattanooga.
Another feature in Gen. Grants personal
movements is that he requires no escort be-
yond his staff, so regardless OF danger is he
Roads are almost useless to him, for lie
fai<pG Stnrf fDrntInh fatda aud ~
and will swim his horse throug amo t
any stream lat obstructs his way Nor
does it make any difference 10 him whether
he has dayligi 1 for his movements, for he
will ride from breakfast until 2 o'c,oc6 in
the morning, and that too without eating.
The rext day he Will repeat The dose until
he finishes his work. Now, such thin IS
come hard upon the staff, but they have
learned how To bear it."
The following interesting account of
these brilliant engagements is given by
Quartermaster-Gene Meigs in his re-
port to the Secretary of war:
HEADQUARTERS CHATTANOOGA. Nov.
70 lSG3-EDNiS NJ. STANTON, Secretary of
War-Sir: On the Sd Inst, ut half past i
Il. H., Gen. Grant ordered a demons ration
against Missionary riHge TO develop the
force holding it. The troops marched out,
formed in order, and advanced in line of
battle as If on parade.
The c0nfederateS watched the formation
and movement from their picket lines and
rifie-pits, and from the SUBMITS of Mission
airy Ridge, five hundred feet above us, and
thought it was areview and drill, SO open
~ and deliberately, so regular, Wa it all
done.
THE line advanced preceded by skirmsh-
ers, and at o'clock D. m, reached our
picket Ines and opened rafting voi.ey
upon the rebel pickets, who replied and ran
into their advanced lire of rifle-pits. After
them went our skirmiShers and into them
along the center Of the line of twenty five
Thousand troops which Gen. Thomas had
so quickly displayed, until We opened fire.
Prisoners assert that they thought the
whole movement was review and general
drlil, and that 1t was late to send to the
camps for reinforcements, and that they
were overwhelmed by for G of numbers. 1t
was a surprise in open daylight.
AT p. M, the important advanced posi-
ton OF Orchard KNOB and the lines right
ana LETT were III our possession. and ar
engagements were ordered for holding them
during the night.
The next day at daylight, Gen. Sherman
had five thousand men across the Tennes-
see, and established on its south bank, and
commenced the construction of pontoon
bridge about six miles above Chattanooga.
The confederate steamer Dunbar was re-
pared at the right moment, and rendered
erect We aid iii this crossing, carrying over
six thoui and men.
BY nightfall Gen. Thomas had seized the
extremity of Missionary Ridge nearest the
river, and was intrenching himself. Gen.
Howard, with q brigade, opened COMMUNE
cation with him from Chattanooga on the
south side of the river. Skirmshing and
cannonading continued all day on the left
and center. Gen. Hooker scaled the slopes
OF Lookout mountain, and from the valley
of Lookout creek drove the confederates
around the point He captured some two
thousand prisoners, and established him
self high up the mountain-side, in full view
OF Chattanooga. This raised the block ade,
anu now steamers were ordered from
Bridgeport to Chattanooga. They had run
only to Kelley's ferry, whence ten miles of
hauling over mountain roads and twice
across the Tennessee on pontoon bridges
brought us our supplies.
All night the point of Missionary ridge
on the extreme left and the side of lookout
mountain on the extreme blazed with the
camp-fires of loyal troops.
The day had been one of dense miStS and
rains, and much of Gen. Hooker's battle was
fought above the clouds, which concealed
him from our view, but from which his mus
kerry was heard.
AT nightfall the sky cleared, and the full
moon-'the traitors doom,-shOne upon the
beautiful scene until A. NJ, when twink
ling sparks upon the mountain-side showed
that pcket-skilmishing was going on. Then
1t ceased. A brigade sent from Chattanooga
crossed the Chattanooga creek and opened
communication with Hooker.
Gen. Grants headquarters during the aft
ernoon Of the 23d and the day of the oath,
were In Woods redoubt, except when in the
course of the day he rode along the advanced
line, visiting the headquarters of the several
commanders in Chattanooga valley.
AT daylight ON the 25th, the stars and
stripes were deserted on the peak of Look
out. The rebels had evacuated the noun
tain.
Hooker moved to descend the mountain,