The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1885-11-19


killed, wounded and missing. Grant
was now applauded by the loyal
people everywhere, and throughout
the Nation denominated the mill
tary genius of the age. Even Hal.
leck joined in the acclaim and tele-
graphed to Grant, commending him
and comparing his operations with
the grandest operations of Napoleon
Bonaparte.
Gen. Joseph Z. Johnston had in
the meantime concentrated force
at Jackson, Miss, and thereby was
threatening the rear of Vicksburg.
Grant at once sent Sherman with a
suitable force against Johnston. He
moved Immediately and did not
hesitate TO assail him. On the 10th
day of July Johnston retreated to
Alabama by way of Meridian.
Soon the news came of the battle
of Chickamauga. Rosecrans, having
withdrawn his army within the lines
of Chattanooga, was cooped up,
with Bragg in possession of his
communications, and including the
Tennessee River on his north, had
him completely encircled, SEEM
ingly in a position where he must
sooner or later surrender for want
of supplies, both for men and
animals. Grant was now ordered
by the President of the United
States to take command of that de-
partment. His first act was to as
sign Thomas to the command of the
department and the Army of the
Cumberland in place of Rosecrans.
His next was to telegraph Thomas
to hold Chattanooga at all hazards:
that he would be there as soon as
possible. To which old Gen.
Thomas replied: 81 will hold the
town till we starve." On the 23d
of October, 1868, Grant reached
Chattanooga. Burnside was at Knox
vile. Sherman was on his way
from Viclsburg with all the avail
able force at his command, and
Hooker was moving from the east
with two corps. A column of the
enemy moved against Knoxville.
BY the 18th of November Grant had
his forces well in hand and ready
for an assault. Rains and storms
prevented this for few days; but
on the 23d he assaulted Lookout
Mountain, the men climbing from
crag to crag, and from tree to tree,
until finally they were ON the crest
of the ridge; the rebels retreated,
and they planted the flag of the
Republic thereon. The oath and
25th the battle of Mission Ridge
was fought and the enemy COM
pletely routed.
A portion of the armies of the
East and West and Center, combin-
ing, fought side by side, bravely as
men ever fought. Passing through
the dangers of that great battle
linked them together in bonds of
friendship which have lasted until
now. After he had defeated Bragg,
and driven him back from this
stronghold, Grant commenced
maturing plans for the great final
campaigns. He began by ordering
Sherman back to Vicksburg; also a
large force to march from Corinth
down along the railroad to Jackson,
destroying the road as they went.
Sherman was ordered with his force
from Vicksburg in the direction of
Meridian, in order that the railroad
and lines of communication in that
part of the country might be des-
troyed, so that when he commenced
his Campaign in contemplation he
could withdraw all the troops from
there and concentrate them into one
grand army to march against the
enemy in the center.
The troops under Thomas were
assisting in guarding the railroads
and lines of communication north
from Chattanooga and west to De-
catur. He directed Thomas, while
the railroads were being destroyed
from Corinth to Vicksburg south
and east from Vicksburg, to keep up
continuous demonstration in the
enemy's front, so as to deceive him
into the belief that an advance was
to be made very soon. He also
directed me to cooperate with
Thomas. i then being in command
of the Fifteenth Corps, with my
headquarters at Huntsville, Ala,
sent force by his orders in the
direction of Rome, Ga. At the same
time we were notified to be ready at
the earliest possible moment in the
Spring for general advance. His
idea was then to move from Chatta.
nooga to Atlanta, and then to Mo.
bile, unless something should inter.
vene in the meantime to change the
plan and force him to move in the
direction of Savannah from Atlanta.
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