The National tribune., 1893-04-13

GEN. r. p BUcKLAND.
of the day. Hooker, who was to move across
Chattanooga Valley in the direction of Ross
vile and engage the left of the enemy eon the
south end of Missionary Ridge, moved down
from Lookout Mountain OH the motning of tho
25th. He was delayed in his movement until
about o'clock in the afternoon, in consequence
of the destruction of the bridge over Chat,a-
nooga Creek where the road from Lookout
Mountain crossed it,
As soon rs possible the leading regiment OF
Osterhaus's Division (27tli MOI crossed on a
hastily constructed foot bridge. and advanced
brskly on the enemy posted i'll the gap in the
rear of Rossville with infantry and artillery in
position. The rest of the infantry of the
division were soon pushed across the Creek.
and Gen. Woods with the First Brigade was
ordered to take the ridge OH the right, while
four regiments of the Second Brigade (Coi.
Williamson commanding assembled tho steep
ridge on the left of the gap. 81:
The troops of tho First Brigade had to pass
through severe artillery fire, but executed
their orders without delay, as did also those Of
the Second Brigade. The enemy, seeing both
their fanks aud their line of retreat threat
encd. hastily evacuated the gap, falling back
toward the center Of their line. In executing
this movement they had to leave their artil-
lery, ammunition, several wagons, ambulances,
and large amounts Of subsistence stores.
While Gen. Osterhaus was pertcctiug an
rangements for the advance Of his division
against Missionary Ridge, Gen. Cruft, COM
mandng the First Division of the Fourth
Corps, assembled the southern slope OF the ridge
from the gap and engaged tho enemy. Oster-
haus'S Division was now advanced, overcom-
ing all the obstacles which nature and the
enemy had prepared to dispute their ascent.
They went up in double quick time, and the
skirmishers in front of the extreme left 4th
Iowa Inf pushed up to within SO yards of
the enemy before opening fire. The forward
eclelon Second Brigade) fired a salvo into the
terrified enemy, who at once fell back, hoping
to make good their escape. This was prevented,
however, by the formation Of the Union lines.
and finding escape impossible, they Instantly
obeyed an order from Gen. Osterhaus to lay
down their arms and his division took over
1000 prisoners, a larse number OF small arms
and one piece OF artillery.
In the meantime tie Assault in the center
by Thomass army took place, and after fearful
| fighting the SUNNI of the ridge was carried
| The enemy offered the most resistance on
Thomass left but he was speedily overcome
when he abandoned his works in front oi
Sherman, and by ~ o'clock at night was in
full retreat
On tho morning Of the 26th Gems Sherman
Palmer and Hooker were sent in
PURSUIT OF THE ENEMY.
Sherman followed directly in the track of the
fugitives; Palmer aud Hooker toward Ring.
gold by the Rossville road. At Chckamauga
| Station Shcrman's advance, Gen. JEFF Z. Dayis's
| Division, found the depot IN flames. with the
| enemy occupying two hills partially iutrenehed
! Just beyond the depot These were soon driven
| away, and the pursuit continued. The enemy
| were again encountered, and sharp fight
4 ~ -. .1nI k.r
| next morning the march WAS resumed, and al
Graysville Gen. Sherman found the corps o
| Gen. PALMER. Here Gen. Howard was sent to
/ Red Clay, where he destroyed the Dalton q
| Cleveland Railroad, breaking up communica
ton between Bragg aud Longstreet.
The Fifteenth Corps (that portion with Shcr
| NAM were held at Graysviie, aud on the fol
| lowing day was engaged i'll destroying the rail
/ road from a point way between Graysvillt
and Ringgold back to the State line.
Gen. Hooker was very much delayed on thu
| Goth in his march by a failure TO supply hin
| promptly with bridge materials to rebuild the
bridge over Chickamauga River destroyed by
| Bragg. He however. Oh the 9th pushed Oh
| toward Ringgold with 0Sierhaus's Division in
advance, reaching that place ust as the enemy!
rear WAS leaving. A little beyond Ringgold il
a narrow gap in Taylors Ridge Here Gle
| burne's DIVISION, covering the retreat. tool
position and attempted to check pursuit. Col
Cramer 18th NO. who had driven the enemy
| skirmishers through the town into the gap
| strengthened by ssirnlsners from tie 18th Mo.
| pushed the left Of his line well forward, and "a
the same time the 18th Ill. ad yanced rapid J.,
| from the extreme right over an open field TO
few houses in front, charging through 4 hail
| storm of balls aud gained tue position assigned
to them and held it, although the enemy poured
| into them n most murder0us fire from th'
| gorge in front and the hill on the right.
| The enemy then rallied strong force ant
! dashed from the gorge and down the hill, driv
ing back the skirmishers The assault wa
promptly checked by the 3D. 10Th, and 3Is
Mo-. who drove the enemy Immediately bacl
again. leaving their dead and wounded on tn
field, which was at once reoccupiea by line O
skirmshcrs.
While the enemy were ing this charg
in the center, Col. Williamson, who had mean
while almost reached the crest of the ridge
sustained similar assault by superior forces
After yielding a short time the forces unde
Col. Williamson rallied and soon possesse'
themselves Of a position on the ridgo in ad
vance of the one they had previously occupied
About D. III. the artillery had come up, th
enemy's guns were soon siIenccd, and an ad
vance along the whole Union line found th
enemy retrcatiDg at all points. The pursui
was not continued Gen. Hooker having give
orders not TO pursue any farther.
On the 3Oth Osterhaus's Division marche
from Riugg0ld and encamped near Chatta
nooga, Tenn.
The Second and Fourth Divisions of th
Fifteenth Corps participated in the march
the relief of Burnside at Knoxville, Tenn, re
turning with the other troops to tho viclnit
OF Chattanooga; thence into northern Aiabam
where they went into Winter quarters.
Gen. Sherman. in his official report Of til