The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-10-01

with tears when their scaut food vas dealt out
/ 10 them with instructions that this must stand
for such q length Of time. Some murmurcd;
others hopefully looking forward when relief
should come would add 90 their store Of sup
| plies by c0nfscaiing corn from the mules man
gers. Poor thupSi They, too, were on short
ations aud could III afford 10 divide their
meals with the boys.
Epsrcraus worked with energy, strengthen
ing dcicnsCs aud accumulating supplies About
this time q great change was made. Hooker,
from the East was sent TO the relief Of Rose
Grams, Increasing the fighting force and null
/ tiFlyinE tho number 10 be fed. The War
Department saw fit &c this time 10 effect some
very marked AMI unlocked FOR changes. Grant
was placed IA command. Pap Thomas, the
Rock Of Chirkamauga, superseded RugOcTaUs
aud Sherman was placed in command of the
1 Department Of the Tennessee. Not wishing 20
follow farther the march of Shcrnuu's army
from tie West, suffice il 10 say that De in per-
son was is Chattanooga Nov. - aud his troop
crs were GA their way thithcr. Grants forces
nov had the following positions assigned them:
Above was sherman. with his Western boys;
below Hooker, the Hercules Of the army, with
his battIcicstcd veterans; and Thomas, the
luyincih,c, eager 10 avcugc ChIcEamau-I, WAS
ia front Of Chattanooga. 10 will be Icmcm-
hcrcd that Bragg had requested Grant 10 re-
move all D0n-comLatants, as he was about 10
lombard Chattanooga. lie was nonrIn "a and
aslunudrd GA the morning Of the 25ih 90 find
Shrru4ns army on his right lauk. Comrades
viii remember Hooker had made bis success
iul demonstration on LUOhnnt Mountain, and
already Ls veterans Lad shouted lis victory.
Ou The 1El IA unusual movement was OBJ
served in the ouemy's camps, and an order was
given for a division Of the Fourth Corps 10
make n reconnaissance in the direction II
Orchard kuDa. Gen. lbos. j. Wood Division
WAS selected % be supported By Phil SHeTi-
dan's. Forming bis men on the slope, outside
OF the Qualifications, Wood advanced rapidly,
made .is Reconnaissance a stGrmiHg PARTY. car
Iicd the Knob and tho al AGENT works at the
point az the layonpt. and made the interior
lime UI rebel works uulrnH5le. So rapid aud
stgrm-iIEC WAS his advance that only about 30
were killed and wounded. Thus an important
position WIS gained. 50 unexpected aud rapid
was tie movement that an entire regiment, the
2-ih Ala. with Us cul0rs aud field aud line
officers, was cafturc4 and sent 10 the rear.
Grant ordered Wood 20 hold this position. Tho
night gf The 25g Of nov. was a busy one. Be-
fore dawn Of the gith The iutrenchments were
reversed, strengthened, and made improguahlc.
No doubt Bragg, on awakiug from his dream ~
easy victory, WAS not little startled 90 lad
sherman ou his right Hooker on bis left, and
Immediately before him the Eocl, of Clic.ga-
manga. HHt, as thc sequel shnHs. DE s...l hal
f.ijl iu the iUUregualle sides and inacer. bio
nights %. " Visionary Ridge. Between Sherman
aud tho cast end ~ The Ridge was a deep wall
icy, how deep hc did not know. but the steep
hili beyond was covered with trees. and across
the tops breast work Of logs and earth. thick
witt rebel soldiers. The narrow path leading
10 10 was CuLs.3cd by two guns. Behind,
stil higher bin b4.st.cd with guns. placed 10
throw a p.ungiug ere Ga tao FIRST, II taken.
Bragg hurled las forces against Sherman carly
boz the afternoon, aud there was q temporary
falling back of two OF J. T. Smiths reserve
Eiigadcs. causing report that SAeTmals left
had been r1pulsod.
lie awaited with great anxiety tie moving
OF Thomas ca the center but Grant held tho
troops Of Thomas ~ in wise Sherman SAYS:
Column after co.uun OF the enemy Was
streaming toward roe, gun alter gun poured It's
C0ucaAtTiC shot on as from every hIll and spur
that gave a view Of any part Of tho ground.
Hooker was now seen 10 move along tho Ross
vile road % assail the rebel lcit, and his aD-
ucagauce moving north on tho ridge Uas 90 bo
the signal for iae assault Of the center. Grant
learned That Hooker was coming, aud seeing
the rebel center weakening gave orders 20
Thomas 20 advance The division 81 Gran
gers Corps upon tho signal OF six guns was to
cross the wooded valley between Orchard Knob
aud Mission Ridge aud carry tie iHtrouchcd
lines ~ the base Of the Ridge and then halt
under the Aelicfthat the Ridge WAS too formid-
able 20 be carried. 10 is n bold rugged hight
towering 500 feet above Chattanooga, aud was
crowned with sklluiiy constructed line Of
defensive works, bTi.iliUg with bayOHcls and
1 buttIas-ea with famed batteries"
sherman saw the white line Of smoke aud
knew tie WtaTi. y-Waitcd movement was made
Grant orders Thomas forward on the center.
! Onward rush the heroes Of the Army OF the
Cumberland through shot and she'll they
gained the pits and swept them clear. ETgag
appears not 10 have suspected that men would
Oe mad enough 10 attempt TO climb that bold
ascent, rugged, steep and with fire like tho
laya-sfrcaIas Of hcsuyius rolling over It's rocky
side. But they did. Granger led his men TO
the mountain side aud with shouts they began
to clIMb-tg climb in q cataract OF Ere. Up
ward, upward they bore their torn banners
/ Grant aud Thomas stood side By side al Or
cAaTd Knob. Thomas said: j fear General,
they will never reach the top" Pulling The
smoke OF his cigar, the hero Of Viclssburr uui.
/ city said: give EN- time, General, give 'cn
/ time Sunset, and the brave Union heroes
/ had planted their standards on the crest of the
Ridge. The enemy was defeated aud his Glib
/ raltar carried no wonder that catching the
aiaT % shouts OF Changers men, those in the
+ valley responded with such cheers as only
4 EtrGug-luugcd sold icIs can give Bragg and liig
rebel lrgions had been beaten, the best army OF
I the rebellion save that 0f the East had been
4 broken, the most difficult position had been
taken. Tennessee was our own; the gateway
/ into the South was open. Here rs elsewhere
I ia the h3ttehClds Of the West, Illinois blood
was shed like water and the shouts all over
/ its FTarics were mingled with many sob OF
] bereavement.
] Illinois soldiers were present in great mum
/ bers, and never were they more willing 10 as
/ sumo the post Of honor aud peril. They were
/ the FIRST 10 lead sherman advance and the first
/ 70 suun0uut the crest OF the Ridge. The Illus
/ iIlous sHth lli. was among one Of the very first
] 10 leap the rebel brcastwUris aud captured aud
! sent 10 the rear many prisoners.
And now FOR Knoxville East Tenn. Burn
1 side, with 1900 fc!loW-sO,diers, was in peril
aud that was enough With rapid marches
i they went forward. Lougstrcet not wishing
/ 10 mix la with ShormaH's 'invincbes."
/ got; and Of our soj0urns hitler and thither up
aud down East Tennessee j propose 20 speak
la some future letter. Suffice il 10 say, before
close that the s9th III. points with pride 10 her
| connection with the Army or tho Cumberland
| both under the command Of "Old Rosy" and
| OF Pap" Thomas and she never turned her
back upon the enemy, but with her front always
toward the enemy, has no reason 10 discam
her title 10 merit and valuable service on every
field where engaged. She has q proud history.
| God bless her gallant veterans X. YoUNd,