The National tribune., 1893-03-23


About tis time 6 II. Bragg detached Long
street and sent him TO East Tennessee to attach
Rnrnside at Knexyille. Grant now determined
10 attack Bragg and only awaiting tht
arrival OF Sherman. who had been ordered Sept
% TO proceed immediately from Nlcksburs
to the hcli of RusecrauS at Chattanooga, t6
carry out his intentions. Shermans advance
reached Bridgeport about the l4th OF NoVen'
ber and crossed he river at that point. Moving
thence via Whiteside's. one division threatening
the enemy i'm the direction of Irenton Sher'
iiiau rerrossed The Tennessee River at Brown
Ferry and moved up the north bank TO near
the month of the South Chickamauga, where
he arrived Oh The 23i. concealing his troops
from the enemy until the proper time for
making a loG smen: On the south bank OF the
river.
Grants plan of battle was for Sherman to
attack the enemy's right flank. form line
across H. extend his left over South Chicka-
maura River, 80 as TO threaten or hold the rail-
road in Br==es rear. and TINS force him either
to weakrG iIs lines elsewhere or lose his eot-
nectiou with his base at Chickamauga Station.
Hookes Sr..s rs get From Lookout 10 Chat;a-
noora Hafl.v cruss rapidly to Rossville. south
of Brac='. ile on Missionary Ridge, form line
there arlosS the Ridge facing north, with his
right extending 10 Chickamauga valley, east OF
the Ridge: iiGus threatening the enemy's rear
on that flank and compelling him TO reinforce
this also Gen. Thomas, who occupied the
center. Was 10 assault with the Army OF the
Cumberland while The enemy was engaged with
the forces on his faEks
RATTLE OF MISSIONARY RIDGE.
The battle of Chattanooga, or Missionary
Ridge WAS orened on the afternoon of the 23d
of November 10y Gen. Thomas, who WAS directed
"to drive in the enemy's pirhets " and feel his
liaes. ior the purpose ol finding out whether be
still led ln farce. The booming of caHnon
from Fort Wood aud other points on the line
was the signal far advance. The rebel pickets
were quickly driven back upon the main
guard aird lhe main line reached and carried,
and the Ui.ion forces were soon IN full posses
sion of 0rehar knoh, thus securing line fully
one mile in advance of the one occupied ia the
morning
On the night of the 23d portion of Sher-
mans comiissd crossed In pontoons and made
q lodgmeni on the south bank of the Tennessee,
and by II N. the oath the pontoon bridges
were laid across the Tennessee and Chlcka-
mauga, and the remainder of Sherman's forces
crossed over and carried the northern end of
Missionary Ridge. Gen. Hooker from Lookout
Valley had carried the point of the mountain
and held the eastern slope. Carlin's Brigade,
of JohusOns Division uas sent across Chat
tanooga to report to Gen. Hooker. The cross
ing was effected by means of ferryboat pro-
vided for the purpose. and Gen. Carlin formed
a junction with Gea. Hooker the rough,
irregular slope of Lookout Mountain in time to
assist IN repelling in gallant style heavy
assault upon the Union lines.
On the morning of the 25th, at daylight, Gen.
Sherman opened the battle at his end of the
line. but up TO 3 O'Clock in the afternoon had
not been able to gain anything of decisive
importance. Hooker had passed down the
eastern slope of Lookout Mountain and over
the Valley, but was delayed until o'clock in
a. II, - of fha t-s.n-
ton of the bridge over Chattanooga Creek.
Meanwhile Gen. Grant. who had been waiting
impatenily TO hear from Hooker, and seeing
that Bragg was throwing forces TO support his
right against Sherman, gave Thomas an order
TO advance, and abOnt $40 p. IN. the Union line
began advance. moving steadily across the
Valley and toward the base of Missionary
Ridge.
The First and Third Divisions of the Four
teentb Corps participated in this assault. Gen.
johnson WAS ordered TO form his command in
two lines. his left resting against the right OF
Gen. Sheri6n's Division, and TO conform TO
his movements The division was formed. Gen.
Carlin Oh the right and Col Stoughton on the
left, connecting with Gen. Sheridan and facing
Missionary Ridge. The Third Brigade was
ordered 10 hold the forts and intrenchments in
and around Chattanooga.
The enemy occupied strong position in
front overlapping and extending great dis
tance 10 the right. while in the front and TO
the right and left batteries were posted so as to
have a cross Ere.
The skirmshers soon became engaged with
the enemy. who were sheltered behind their
rife pits and under CALLING fire moved for
ward, driving the enemy from his first line of
intreDehments. The division moved forward,
DotTith hstandiHg the steepness of the mountain,
drove the rebels from their works, reached the
summit. and amid loud and prolonged cheer
ing, planted the colors upon the enemy's boasted
stronghold.
Gen. Baird, who had been ordered to move
his division 20 the left to the assistance of Gen.
Sherman. who was then hotly engaged in the
vicinity Of Tunnel Hill. was ordered to return
TO the center and form his division on the left
OF the troops occupying that position, thus pro-
longing the lines formed by Gen. Granger's
Corps toward the left and partially filing up
the long interval between him and Gen. Sher-
man. just Gen. Baird had established his
line be received orders 70 move forward to the
edge Of the open ground bordering the foot of
Mission Ridge. within striking distance of the
rebel rife pits at its base. as to be ready at
given signal 10 dash forward and take those
pits. ia q short time the signal was given, and
Tnrchins Brigade pushed forward, under
orders not TO halt OH taking the rife pits,
but TO enueavor TO gain also the summit
Of the mountain. On returning to the
left of the line Gen. Baird found the first
line of roth the Second and Third Brigades
IN possession Of the rife pits and the troops of
The enemy which had occupied them in retreat
Up the mountain. Meanwhile Gen. Turehin
OF the T!Eht had passed the line of rife pits,
aud WAS well On his way TO the top of the
ridge IN r few moments an order was given
tof the whole line TO charge TO the top, and
Immediately both lines Ieaped forward with
shout. and rushed up the mountain side Soon
a.ter reaching tie crest Col. Phelps, command.
the Thine Brigade, WAS shot dead while form
ing ald directing his men. The struggle was
severe one. and during the night the enemy
abandoned his position and retired. On Thurs
DAY morning. the 26th. Gen. Baird made
reconnaissance as far as the Chickamauga in
his front. aud in the afternoon marched toward
RiEggol5, which place he reached Friday
morning, and Joined the other divisions Of the
corps. On Sunday, the 18th, he returned TO
Chattanooga.
PURSUIT OF THE REBELS.
On Nov. 70 the First aud Second Brigades of
the First Division, the Second in advance
moved out IN pursuit of the retreating
rebels on 4 road leading south of east, accom-
panied 6y The corps commander Gen Palmer
and after marching about seven miles the head
Of the column reached West Cbickamauga
Creek, Finding that the bridge had been de-
stroEea and the creek could not be forded, the
horses were made 70 swim over. while tenn
pofasy bridge was constructed. over which the
men passed. & march of one and half miles
brought the column to Pea Vine Creek, and
here again il was found necessary TO construc ct
temporary bridge for the men, From this
point Zen. AarIin advanced toward Graysyille