The National tribune., 1885-12-03
caaNr,s NARROW ESCAPE.

along the lines. The soldiers OF both armies
drank the water of Chattanooga Creek. One
day Grant was by the creek. He saw SOL
diers in blue dipping up water.
ITO whose command do you belong?" he
asked
ITO Longstreet's."
"what are you doing in those blue
coatsP"
90, ali our troops wear Yankee coats"
Gen. Grant had forgotten Ii, and the Con-
federates had 10 thought that they were
talking with the commander of the Union
army. Nor did he inform them who he WAS
THE ADVANCE.
The pontoon bridges are made whole once
more. Behind the hills opposite the mouth
of Cbickamauga Creek Gen. Smith, Chlef OF
Engineers is waiting with another bridse.
A line of csnnon, under Gen. Brannan, Is
planted on the hill, pointing across the river.
Shermau's troops, with the exception OF Us
terhaJs's DIVISION are also behind the NILS.
Osterilaus is ordered to report to Hooker,
who is in Lookout Valley, where he has
been since the battle of Wauhatchle-
We come to the night of the 23d- The
boats are launched. The brigade under Gen.
Giles A. Smith step in. A few strokes of the
oars and they are across the river, capturing
Brasy,s picl1ets. The boats 20 back for more
troops. Before daylight Sherman with o,0o0
men is opposite the northern end OF Mis-
sienary Ridge, with strong intrenchments
thrown up and the engineers are building a
bridge. Before night it is completcd-1,350
feet in leRgth.
To deceive Bragg as to what he intends to
do, Grant moves the Eleventh Corps, under
Howard, across the pontoon bridge into the
town. The troops move in open day, ana
Bragg sees them taking position lmmedl-
ateiy in front OF him, as if to make an at
tack at that point
"Brsgg is sending troops north" is the
information from Grants spies. Gen. Grsnt
cannet believe ii, bat it is true nevertheless
Longstreet has called for more men, and he
has sent Gen. Buckner's two divisions, but
discovers his mistake, and recalls one OF
them.
Letaus see the position of the Union troops
Sherman is opposite the northern end OF
Missionary Ridge; next IN line Is the Fourth
Corps, under Gen. Gordon Granger, with
Sheridan's Division on the right and Wood S
on the left; the Fourteenth Corps comes
next, under Gen. Palmer, with Baud's Dl-
vision in position TO support Changers right
wing Johnson's Division is in reserve. The
Eleventh Corps, under Howard, is on Gran
gers left, to be ready to move when most
needed.
Going now down the river and out on the
road from the pontoOns at Browns Ferry,
we come to Hooker, who has the Twelfth
Corps, under Geary, Osterhaus's Division
of Shermsn's Corps and Cruft's Division OF
the Fourth Corps
lookout Mountain separates Hooker from
the main body of the army. Hooker Is to
he Of fha nfair Sfr1Ea
the left wing of the Cenfederates, get In
their rear, and drive them if possible from
the lefts summit Gen. Stevenson. with six
Confeaersss b.igades, with stEoag bresst-
works and redoubts for artillery, holds the
mOuntain-eide. Hooker must climb the
steep ascent in the face of a deadly fra
Hooker is several miles from Sherman, who
is to assault Missionary Ridge. Gen. Sher-
man mss*es out from his position of the
morning, drives in the Confederate skirmish-
ers, advances over some low hills, scales
hill beyond, which he had supposed was the
main ridge but discovers instead deep Ta-
vine behind it, with Missionary Ridge, brist-
ling with Bragg's cannon, looming above it.
His artillery wheels into position and the
uproar begins. He is not ready to attack,
and the sun goes down with the artillery on
both sides flaming and laundering. The
troops wrap themselves ip their blankets,
knowing that in the morning ths great
struggle viii begin.
THE BATTLE.
ATTACK at daylight" is the order from
Grant at midnight sent to the commanders.
am ready" is the response from Hooker
at 4 o'clock in the morning.
IN FRONT OF HOOKER.
Had we been there we should have found
Gen. Stevenson with a strong picket-line
along the east bank OF Lookout Creek.
The Confederate soldiers are crouching be-
meath the oak trees, wide awake and ready
for Hooker. The ground is favorable for
them. The oak trees are large and tall. There
are guilies and deep raviHes, boulders and
ledges. They have breastworks and rifle
pits
The Twelfth Corps, under Geary, with
Cruft's Division is III iiBe. Geary is to move
up the creek and find a place where the sol
diers can wade through the creek. Crutt's
Brigade Is to cross near the railroad. The
clouds hang low and there is heavy mist.
The morning has not yet dawned when the
troops move. We see them picking their
way over the uneven ground. Crufts ad
yances TO the creek. Muskets fash upon the
opposite bank. A volley rings out upon the
morning air, rolling up the mountain,
awakening the Confederate troops. In a
moment Steyenson's men are On their feet
but before any re-entorcements can reach the
soldiers guarding the bridge the Union
troops are in possession. The mist is so
thick that Stevenson does not see Geary, who
is making his way up the creek, but concen-
tTates his troops TO resist Crufts, Woods
and Crosses Brigades, who have captured
nearly all the 40 mel guarding the bridge
Gearv finds crossing place, moves over, and
the men begin to ascend the mountain, march
ing northeast, while Cruft, Grose and Oster-
haus are moving east.
Daylight comes; the men with axes are
hard at work siashing down the oaks and
rebuilding the bridge. 1t is past 10 o'clock
before they complete ii SO that Osterhaus
can cross. Geary has moved up the msun-
tain-side. The battle is growing warm
flashes from the Confederate breastworks,
wreaths Of blue smoke curling above Geary' s
advancing lines. Geary is so far around that
the Coniederates i'll front of Cruft and Grose
give way and flee up the mountain to the
higher breastworks. The Union troops send
out lusty cheer and move On.
Hookers cannon come into position and
the thunder rolls along the valley, echoing
from mountain TO mountain. The men un-
der Thomas, Howard and Sherman hear ii,
and know that Hooker is knocking at Bragg's
side door. The instinct o. the soldier is
quick. Not one of them but understands from