The Irish standard., 1895-09-28
THINKING OF ODDEN DAYS
"A Period Of the War Graphically
6. Told BY One Who
Served.
The Battle of Mission Ridge De
scribed by Gen. Henderson,
Of Nebraska.
Grant and Thomas and the Fall
of Mcpherson Depicted During
That Awful Struggle.

fore the Society OF the Army Of the Cum
berland thus sketched the battle of Chat
tanooga or Mission Ridge:
"Of the starvation siege Of Chattanoo-
ga, the coming to our relief and the open
ing of our cracker line by our brethren
|. from the Army of the Potomac, Of the
t:retort courteous" of our comrades Of the
Army Of the Tennessee, who, as we had
gone to their aid at Shiloh, came now
to our assistance here; of the appearance
on the scene of the great captain OF the
war, Grant, and his able and aggressive
lieutenant Sherman; Of the spectacular
battle of fighting Joe Hooker against that
gallant Confederate. Walthall amidst the
clouds that lowered about the front OF
lofty lookout, / fain would speak, but
passing time forbids.
"But how can / refrain amidst these
surroundings from repeating the oft told
tale of Mission Ridge? While the beleag-
ured army. foregoing, il not forgetting,
the pangs OF hunger, echoed the Language
Of Thomas in his telegram to Grant, "Wa
hold this place until we starye," it was
with right good will that it marched out
\ in front Of it's works on that beautiful
November morning, being ordered to
make a demonstration and relieve the
pressure on Sherman in his effort to take
Tunnel Hill, the right flank of the semi
circular natural defense, composed of Mis-
sionary Ridge, with it's crest from 500 to
800 feet above us, around to Lookout on
the left, with its proud head over 1000
feet above the town. It was crescent.
with defensive works erected with engin-
eering skill, bristling with guns and re-
flecting threatening lights as the sun
played upon the musket barrels and bay
Fonets in the hands OF skilled and brave
defenders. It looked like the curve Of
the cutting edge Of a huge sefmitar.
Our comrades Of the Tennessee were to
teach us how to fight and give an object
lesson to the men of Mill Springs, Shiloh,
Perryyille, Stone River and Chickamau-
Sd. Wc Wclc olA1APAT W lAeao " AS1"Ao'A
stration.' But for us--to demonstrate
meant to solve THE problem. su ~
"a feeling Of amity, almost of fraterni-
zation, had existed between the picket
lines in front OF Woods division for many
days. In the early morning of that day,
being in charge OF the left of our picket
line, received a turnout and salute from
the Confederate reserve as rode the line.
But the friendly relation was soon to be
rudely disturbed. My picEets, composed
Of the Nineteenth Ohio and the Ninth
Kentucky, became the line of skirmish-
ers.. Our troops being well out of their
works, we advanced with orr left resting
on Citico Creek, and I believe that from
these regiments came the first shots in
that glorious advance that resulted in the
taking Of Orchard Knob.
tBaird's and Johnsonis divisions Of
Palmer's corps and Sheridans S and Wood 8
divisions of Granger's corps, having "de-
monstrated,' were permitted to remain
during the night, all the day of the Oath,
and well into the afternoon of the 25th,
before they were again called upon. With
impatient joy bhey had witnessed the
stars and stripes raised on Lookout s crest
and heard the guns of Hooker on the enc
my's left The evidences Of the hard
fighting by Sheridan and the stubborn
resistance Bragg's right was giving him
were borne on every wind. The fanking
assaults upon the ridge were not achiev-
ing success. There must be another de-
monstratipn' by the center. Grant stands
on Orchard Knob, silently smoking the
Inevitable cigar He sees the heavy work
to right and left and that the waning day
is showing its lengthening shadows. The
center must again relieve the pressure
To Thomas goes the order: Take the rifle
pits at the foot Of the ridge. AT the six
gun signal from Orchard Knob advance
the lines to the attack Baird, Wood,
Sheridan and Johnson were quickly in
line in order named from LETT to right.
:Restlessly they await the signal. lis
well on to 4 clock. AT last the sharp
report, OF a cannon from the Knob. An
other! and another! and in quick success
sion the six have thundered forth the
order for the charge. q
ss 10 your feet and forward, men Of the
Cumberland! Take the rifle pits at the
foot of the ridge is the order.
How splsndtdly they respond! Adding
emphasis Ito their loud huzazsI in the
noise Of the light artillery on the plain
and sin TIE deep roar Of the big seige guns
in the forts of hattanonga The crest
Of the ridge throws its full weight Of
metal at the lines in blue. The nausketry
IRE from the pits Is full i'd their sfaesS.
But neither shot nor shell can stop that
.impefuous advance. On and on they go,
ing every obstacle. IL
he order Is obeyed. /.
sta,The rife pits are ours and their late
defenders our prisoners How the gray
Jackets hasten to the rear! We wonder
at their haste, !but soon understand 1t
when the guns of the Ridge depressed to