The National tribune., 1885-12-03

mountain, follow him, cross Chattanooga
Creek, strike the southern end of Missionary
Ridge and fold back Bragg's left flank. The
moment Hooker reaches that point, Thomas
is to begin his knocking at the front door.
There is to be knocking all round-Hooker
on the right, Thomas in the center, Sherman
on the left, the cavalry in the rear.
THE BATTLE.
Day comes The clouds are gone The morn
ing light rests on Lookout, but not Confed-
crate is there. Stevenson has abandoned the
top of the mountain and is on Missionary
Ridge. He has burned the bridges across
Chattanooga Greek, leaving all his baggage
behind. Hookers men climb the mountain,
fling ont the Stars and Stripes, give cheer,
and descend the eastern slope to the creek.
He must rebuild the bridges before he can
cross.
SHERMAN
Going up now to Sherman, we see the
lines advancing at daylight. A few steps
and the siirmishes begin. Morgan L..
Smiths Division moves south along the
east base of the ridge. Corse's Brigade is next
in line, advancing directly against the hill.
LOomiss Brigade is moving southeast up the
western slope, with two brigades of John Z.
Smiths Division in reserve.
Gen. Grant is in Fort Wood, whence he
can see great deal that is going on. lie can
see Bragg's headquarters on Missionary Ridge
with officers coming and going. he can see
Bragg sending troops to assist Sherman.
Morgan l.. Smith moves through thick woods,
drives the enemy, swings his left round till it
reaches the railroad. Ii is a severe blow upon
Bragg, for it cuts him off from his supplies at
Chickamauga Depot. Hardees, Cleburne's,
Gists, and Cheatham's Divisions make stub
born fight. Bragg's cannon are as thick as
they can stand, and the ridge flames like vol
cano. Corse's troops make a desperate struggle
to climb the side of the ridge Corse is wound
ed and his troops are hurled back, but not in
panic. Not a soldier anywhere thinks of flee
ing. Through the forenoon-past noon-the
struggle goes on. You are to thiIk of the
Union troops charging up the hill, then falling
back to reform and get more ammunition, then
moving up once more, Just as the waves creep
up the shore of the ocean.
-Four o'clock. Sherman all the while has
been doing all the fighting. Grant has been
waiting to hear the thunder of Hooker's cannon
far off in the South, but Hooker has not been
able TO get across Chattanooga Greek. Ii will
not do to let the battle end with nothing more
attempted. Grant has seen Brfgg sending brl-
gade after brigade north, weakening his center.
Sheridan's and Woods Divisions of Thomas's
Corps have been waiting all day. The time
has come to let them loose. The order is issued.
An hour passes, but the troops do not move,
and Grant is surprised upon turning round to
see Wood standing almost by his side.
Why have you not charged, sir?
al have received no orders"
"a issued the order an hour ago."
"This is the first have heard of it,"
"Charge at once"
A moment later and the line Is in motion,
Woods and Sheridan's Divisions rushing upon
the Confederates. Grant hears loud cheer,
and moment later sees the Confederates fall
ing back from their ritle-pits. Half way up
the ridge is their first line of breastworkS. On
from the rifle-pits to the breastworks rolls
the wave, the men in blue SO close upon the
heels of the men in gray that Grant can hardly
tell which reached the works first. Many of
the Cenfederates throw down their guns and
surrender 1t is only the beginning. The
Confederate cannon fame; the uproar is terrific;
but tho Confederates fire wildly, and the Union
troops, without stopping moment, rush up the
ridge. In an instant they are swarming over
the breastwOrks on the summit in q half dozen
places at once, seizing the cannon. 1t is like
the sudden rising of a mountain river, which
sweeps all before the mighty rush of waters.
Bragg is astounded. He has no time to think of
rallying troops then. He rides to the rear
amid a panic-stricken command throwing
away their arms and thinking of nothing but
to get beyond Chickamauga Creek.
The whole left of Bragg's line has given way.
There is but one thing to be done by the troops
confronting Sherman-retreat. Night is clos
ing in and Sherman does not know what
Thomas has accomplished, and he does not
pursue.
The battle is over Bragg has met with
crushing defeat losing 40 cannon, 1000 mus
kets, g. 100 prisoners besides the killed, wounded
and missing. His army was demoralized.
Longstreet could not rejoin him. He had uoth-
ing to do bat retreat into Georgia. Never again
was the Confederate flag to wave from the
summit of Lookout; never again a Confederate
regiment to threaten Chattanooga.
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