The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-11-05

quietly launched. Gen. Hazen's Brigade, 1900
men step into the boats. The current is swift
and strong. No need for oars. Silently with no
plashing of water. spoken word, the boats
sweep along the northern shore, beneath the
dropping willows. The Confederate pckets
on the southern shore hear nothing of the
movement Down the stream. past Chatta-
nooga, past the biyouac fires of their comrades,
past Lookout Mountain, sweeping around the
toe Of the horseshoe down to Browns Ferry,
glide the boats. 1t is o'clock in the morning
four hoursto sunrise-when theoars plssh in the
stream A few pulls and the boats touch the
southern hank. There is little rattle of mus
kerry from the Confederate pickets, but a mo-
ment later and the brigade is sweeping over the
hills and mp Lookout Valley. Not soldier has
been killed There are 20 boats, and each con-
taiRed 20 men; and now there is quick action by
the engineers. The boats are moOred, planks
laid. Out on the ridge there is clatter of axes
and men are at work with spades. When morn
ngdawns Gen. liazen is securely intrenched and
the bridge under construction. Hooker is on
the south bank, marching from Bridgeport
east with the soldiers of the Army of the POto-
mac climbing the western slope of the Raccoon
Mountains, driving the Confederate pickets
before him. crossing the mountains, descending
the eastern slope, overcoming all opposition.
/ Gen. Howard with the Eleventh Corps goes
into camp one mile from Browns Ferry, and
Gen. Geary with the Twelfth three miles far
tiernp the valley.
t-ssFH BATTLE OF wAUHATCHIE.
There is CONSERVATION at Bragg's headquar-
terS. Such movement had not been dreamed
OF. Hooker must be driven back aud the bridge
destroyed. Longstreet is ordered TO do it by
falling upon the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps
at the same moment. Ii is past midnight be-
fore LonEstreet is ready. Geary's pickets hear
a tramping. and discover dark forms beneath
the trees. Suddenly the Confederates are upon
r them. But Geary is awake His lines are
quickly formed, and the battle RACES with great
fury. bongstreet attacks with greatly superior
force on three sides but every assault is re-
PEELED. For three hours the contest goes on,
the noise OF the conflict rolling down the valley.
Gen. Hooker is with Howard, and orders
6charz's division TO advance upon the double
quick. The troops move out but suddenly en-
counter the force which Lougstreet has sent
against Howard. and there are two battles instead
of one One of Schurz's brigades (Tyndales)
deploys against the new force. while the other
presses on TO assist Geary. Steinwehr's Diyis-
ion arrives just at the right time, for the Con-
federateS are sweeping around a hill to attack
Tyndale in the rear.
The hill is steep. There are rocks and un-
derbrush. The night is dark, bnt Howards
troops charge up the hill, rush upon the rebels,
drive them pell-meIl through the woods There
are flashes from the top of Lookout, and shells
come screaming through the air. lighting the
scene moment with lurid flames but the
efforts of Longstreet are without avail. The
veterans of the Army Of the Potomac are like
wall. The Confederates are repulsed and driven
at every point with great losS-how great will
never be known. Gen. Geary buried l53
who went down before his volleys and more
than 100 Were taken prisoners. The Union loss |
was 76 killed aud 800 wounded
Re-entoTcements came upon the run across |
the bridge. sent 10y Gen. Thomas; but the bat |
tle was over before they arrived.
Gen. Thomas was greatly pleased when he |
learned OF the result.
& "The bayonet charge of Howard" )" he said, |
"made UP a steep hillside 200 feet high COM |
pietely routing the enemy from his barri- |
cades on its top, and the repuise by Geary of |
greatly superior numbers, will rank among the |
lnostadistinguished feats of arms during the |
war = =
q The first great step designed by Gen. Grant |
had been successfully accomplished. No need |
DOW to haul his supplies 60 miles over a rugged
mountain road; no more half rations or starv-
ing horses and dying mules, but abundance of |
PROVISIONS, oyercoats. blankets shoes, tents; no
more dependency and gloom but exultation
and confident expectations of future triumphS-
all accomplished in single week after the ar
rival of Gen Grant.
1t is au aggravating blow to Bragg Only
the week before Jefferson Davis had stood on
Lookout and gaZed upon the Union army ex-
1tIngly, looking forward to the day when it
would be starved out of Chattanooga and forced
back to M1rfreesboro. or possibly to Nashville.
go Tie Southern newspapers began to find fault
with Bragg, who, sInarting under their attacks
sind dis discontinue, planned a campaign
which. in his own mind. promised great re-
suits. What it was we shall see in another
letter.
To be c0,stinued1