The National tribune., 1893-01-26

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GEN. JOHN w. GEARY.
previously agreed upon, he ordered its execu-
ton. Gen. Smith was charged with the exc
cuton of the enterprise and was directed to
perfect all necessary arrangements.
The night of the 26th was fixed for the expe-
dtion from Chattanooga and was SO planned
as to require the most perfect cooperative
movements as means of success. The dis
lance from Chattanooga to Browns Ferry by
the river is nine miles, but across the peninsula
less than half so far. The river, after curving
round hill west of the town, takes course to
the southwest until it reaches the base of Look
out; thence northwesterly direction to Will
liams's Island. Browns Ferry, at which point
a pontoon bridge was to be thrown, is south
west from Chattanooga, and Con. Smith be-
lieved that it would be less hazardous to float
his boats and part of his troops, landing
them on the left bank Of the river, than to
transport them across the peninsula and
lay the bridge from the right bank. Each
course involved dangerous possibilities as, in
pursuing the former, his boats must pass the
enemy's pickets, occupying distance of seven
miles along the left bank of the river and land
under their fire; while the latter course might
fail of success because of the ability of the
enemy to concentrate sufficient force to pre-
vent the laying of the bridge Believing that
the boats could be foated so quietly as not to
be perceived by the enemy, and that even II
discovered concentration could not be made
at the place of landing, he embarked 1.500
men, under Gen. Hazen, and sent Gen. Turchin
with his own brigade, the remainder OF Haz.
ems and three batteries of artlley under Maj.
Mendenhal to take position in the woods above
the ferry, so as to be in readiness to move down
and cover the landing on the opposite bank,
and cross in support or cover tho other troops
in the event Of disaster. The expedition, in it's
plan and execution, was so brilliant a success
as to elicit from Gen. Thomas the following
notice:
ITO Brig. Gen. w. f. Smith, Chief Engineer,
should be accorded great praise for the in
genuity which conceived and the ability which
executed the movement at Browns Ferry.
The preparations were all made in secrecy, as
was also the boat expedition, which passed I'M
der the overhanging cliffs of Lookout; so much
so that when the bridge was thrown at Browns
Ferry on the morning of the 9th the surprise
was as great to the army within Chattanooga as
to the army besieging it from without"
Gen. Thomas at once gave instructions to
Gen. Hooker with regard to the advance of his
troops in cooperation with the movement
from Chattanooga. He was directed to leave
Gen. Slocum, the Commander of the Twelfth
Corps, with one division to guard the railroad
from Murfreesboro to Bridgeport, and to con-
ccntrate the Eleventh Corps and one division
of the Twelfth Corps at Bridgeport in readiness
to cross the Tennessee River. move first to
Rankin's Ferry, and afterward to Browns
Ferry These instructions were given at 2:3O
D. M on the 24th and Gen. Hooker promptly
replied that he would move by daylight on
the 27th
Early on the morning of the 9th Gen.
Hooker put his command in motion toward
Chattanooga. crossing on a pontoon bridge
which had been laid the day previous. He
advanced TO Whteside's and thence DETECTED
into Lookout Valley. At 9 p. m. the head of
his column had reached Wauhatchie and,
knowing that LOpgstreet then occupied ia
vored position, from which he could discern all
the movements Of Rockers troops while his
own were kept concealed, further advance was
made with caution. few hours after the
Judgment of Union troops at Browns Ferry
the additional force approached from Bridge
port, thus revealing to Bragg that the cooper
ative movements were designed to raise the
siege Of Chattanooga. At p. M, after slight
skirmish with the enemy, the troops halted
and went into camp about milo from Browns
Ferry, Gen. Gearys Division of the Twelfth
Corps, remaining at Wauhatchie, about three
miles distant, SO as 10 nOIu lDc IOdu ltduIHS W
Kelly's Ferry.
Pckets were thrown out from each camp,
and about midnight regiment that had ad-
vanced toward Lookout became involved in q
skirmish, and an hour later the roar OF mus
kerry from Geary's position gave evidence OF
an assault Gen. Hooker at once directed Gen.
Howard of the Eleventh Corps, to Immediately
send Schurz's Division to Geary's support. This
division had proceeded but a short distance
when it received the fire of the enemy from
the central hills, and in this emergency Tyn-
dale's Brigade was ordered to charge and the
other brigades to hasten forward. The rein
forcements failed to reach Geary, who mean
while had been heavily attacked. and for three
hours the contest ragged with intense fury.
About a. m. the ammunition of Geary's troops
became exhausted, and a limited supply was
gathered from the hospital and from the bodies
of the dead and wounded of both sides on the
field. A little later the enemy were driven
from the field precipitately that they had
not time to carry with them all their wounded.
Concerning this engagement Gen. Thomas
commanding the Army of the Cumberland,
said that "the repuse by Geary's command OF
greatly superior numbers who attempted to
surprise him will rank among the most dis
| tinguished feats of arms OF this war.
The total loss of Gen. Hooker in the engage
| ment at Wauhatcke was 420 killed, wounded
| and missing, of which number Geary 8 ID vision
| lost 33 Killed, NJ wounded anu SIX captured OF
missing. Total, 216
The result of these movements was the Sc
| curity of safe communication, by the re-
! opening of the Tennessee River, between
| Bridgeport and Chattanooga, and the defeat OF
Gen. Braggs plans, to force by starvation the
evacuation of Chattanooga. By sending Long
street with the greater portion of his command
against Burnside in East Tennessee Bragg was
left in no condition for aggressive movements,
| and was com nelled n content himself with
simply holding his position along Missionary
Ridge, across the Chattanooga Valley, and on
| Lookout Mountain.
| (To he ~onf;n,fedO