Bridgeton pioneer., 1885-12-10
MISSIONARY RIDGE.

From General Grants paper on
Chattanooga" in the November Cen
tury, we quote the following: "Sheri-
dams and Woods divisions had been
lying under arms from early in the
morning, ready to move the instant
the signal was given. | directed
Thomas to order the charge at once.
watched eagerly to see the effect,
there was no indication of any charge
being made The centre of the line
which was to make the charge was
near where Thomas and | stood to-
gether, but concealed from our view
by the intervening forest. Turning to
Thomas to inquire what caused the
delay, | was surprised to see General
Thomas j. Wood, one of the division
commanders who was to make the
charge, standing talking to him. [
spoke to General Wood, asking him
why he had not charged as ordered an
hour before. He replied very prompt
ly that this was the first he had heard
Of it, but that he had been ready all
day to move at Il moments notice |
told him to make the charge at once.
He was off in moment; and in an in
credibly short time loud cheering was
heard, and he and Sheridan were driv-
Ing the enemy's advance before them
toward Missionary Ridge.
The enemy was strongly intrenched
on the crest of the ridge in front of us,
and had a second line half way down,
and another at the base. Our men
drove the troops in front of the lower
line of rifle-pits so rapidly, and followed
them so closely, that rebel and Union
troops went over the first line of works
almost at the same time. Many rebels
were captured and sent to the rear I'M
der the fire of their own friends higher
up the hill Those that were not cap
tured retreated, and were pursued
The retreating hordes being between
friends and pursuers, made the fire of
the enemy high, to avoid killing their
own men. In fact, on that occasion
the Union soldier nearest the enemy
was in the safest position. Without
awaiting further orders or stopping to
reform, on our troops went to the sec
ond line of works; over that, and on
for the crest, thus effectually carrying
out my orders of the 18th for the bat
tie and the Gath for this charge. [
watched their progress with intense in
terest. The fire along the rebel line
was terrific. Cannon and musket balls
filled the air, but the damage done
was in small proportion to the ammu-
milton used. The pursuit continued
until the crest was reached, and some
of our men were seen climbing over
the Confederate barrier at different
points in front of both Sheridan's and
Woods divisions. The retreat of the
enemy along most of the line was pre-
cipitate, and the panic so great that
Bragg and his officers lost all control
over their men. Many were captured
and thousands threw away their arms
in their retreat.
sheridan pushed forward until he
reached the Chickamauga River at a
point above where the enemy had
crossed. He met some resistance from
troops occupying a second hill in rear
of Missionary Ridge, probably to cover
the retreat of the main body, and of
the artillery and trains 1t was now
getting dark, but Sheridan, without
halting on that account, pushed his
men forward up this second hill slowly
and without attracting the attention
of the men placed to defend it, while
he detached to the right and left to
surround the position. The enemy dis
covered the movement before these dis
positions were made complete, and
beat a hasty retreat, leaving artillery,
wagon trains, and many prisoners in
our hands. To Sheridan's prompt
movement the Army of the Cumber-
land and the nation are indebted for
the bulk of the capture of prisoners,
artillery, and small arms that day.
But for his prompt pursuit so much
in this way would not have been ac-
complished"
The sweet potato crop has been very
prolific this Fall, and that succulent
and DODular vegetable has in cOnse-