The National tribune., 1897-01-07
SHERMAN'S MEMOIRS.


Continued from first page)
but enough was seen TO satisfy me that Gen.
Thomas was at last moving ON the center. L
knew that our attack had drawn vast masses of
tho enemy to our flank. and felt sure of the re-
suit. Some guns which had been firing on rs
all day were silent, OR were turned III differ
ent direction.
The advancing line of musketry- fire from
Orchard Knob disappeared to US behind q spur
of the hill. and could no longer be seen ; and it
was not until night closed in that knew that
the troops IN Chattanooga had swept across
missionary Ridge and broken the ensmy's GEN.
ter VI course. the victory was won, and pur-
suit was the next step
ordered ten. Morgan L. Smith to feel to
the tunnel, and it was found vacant, save by
the dead aud wounded of our own and the
enemy commingled. The reserve of Gen. JEFF
I. Davis was ordered to march at once by the
pontoon bridge across Chickamauga Greek, as
It's mouth, aud push forward for the depot
Gen. howard had reported to mo in the
early part of the day, with the remainder of
his corps (the Eleventh., and had been posted
to connect my left with Chickamauga Greek.
lie was ordered to repair an old broken bridge
about two miles up the Chickamauga, and to
follow Gen. Davis ut a. m and she Fifteenth
Corps was ordered to follow at daylight. But
Gen. Howard found that 10 repair the bridge
Sus
and we were all compelled to cross the Chicka-
mauga on the new pontoon bridge at it's
mouth. BY abont ii a. M Gen. JEFF. c. Davis's
DIVISION reached the depot just In time to see
it In hames. He found the enemy occupying
Two NILS, partially intEenehed, just beyond the
depot. These he soon drove away. The depot
presented scene Of desolaton that war alone
exhiolts-cornmeal and corn in huge burning
piles. broken wagons, abandoned caissons two
3S- pounder rfied guns with carriages burned,
pieces OF pontoous, balks aud chesses. ETC.,
destined doubtless for the famous in yasion of
Kentucky, and all manner of things, burning
and broken. Still, the enemy kindly left us a
good supply OF forage for our horses, and meal,
BEANS etc, for our men,
Pausing but short while we passed on the
road filled with broken wagons and abandoned
calssons, till night. Just as the head of the
column emerged from dark, miry swamp We
encountered the rear guard of the retreating
enemy.
THE FIGHT WAS SHARP,
but the night closed in so dark that we could
not move. Gen. Grant came d to us there. At
daylight we resumed the march, and at Grays-
vile, where good bridge spanned the Chicka-
mauga, we found the corps of Gen. Palmer on
the south bank, who informed US thai Gen.
Hooker was on a road still farther south, and
We could hear his guus near RinggoId.
AS the roads were filled witt, all the troops
they conid possibly accommodate, / turned to
the east, to fulfill another part of the gem
erai plan, viz, to break up all communication
between Bragg and Longstreet
we mad all sorts of rumors as to the latter but
II was manifest that we should interpose a
proper force between these two armies. / there
fore directed Gen. Howard to move to Parker's
Gap, and thence send rapidly competent force
to Red Clay. or the CouncIi-Ground, there to de-
stroy large section of the railroad which con-
meets Dalton and Cleveland. This work was most
successfully and fully accomplished that day
The division of Gen. JEFF. c. Davis was moved
close up to Ringgold, to assist Gen. Hooker if
needed, and the Fifteenth Corps was held at
Graysville. for anything that might turn Up.
About noon had a message from Gen. Hooker,
saying he had pretty hard fight at the mount
ain-pass just beyond Rnggold. and he wanted
me to come forward to turn the position. He was
not aware at the time that Howard by moving
through Parker's Gap toward Red Clay had
already turned it. So rode forward to Ring
gold in person, aud found the
ENEMY HAD ALREADY FALLEN BACK
to Tunnel Hill. He was already out of the
valley of the Chiekamaugs. and on ground
whence the waters flow to the Coosa. He was
out of Tennessee.
found Gen. Grant at Ringgold, aud after
some explanations as to breaking up the rail.
cSaPd Be- SG%sh %nshsa back To- dsno
was ordered to move slowly and leisurely
back to Chattanooga.
On the following day the Fifteenth Corps
destroyed absolutely and effectuaiIy the rail-
road from point halfway between Ringgold
and Graysville, back to the State line; and
Gen. Grant, coming to Graysville, consented
that, instead Of returning direct to Chattanooga
l might send back all my artillery wagons and
impediments, and make a circuit By the north
as far as Hiawassee River.
Accordingly, on the morning of Nov 90,
Gen. Howard moved from Parker's Gap to
Cleveland, Gen. Davis by way of McDauiers
Gap and Gen. Blair with two divisions of
the Fifteenth Corps by way of Julen's Gap all
meeting at Cleveland that night. Here an.
other good break was made in the Dalton &
Cleveland road. On the Goth the army moved
to Charleston, Gen. Howard approaching so
rapidly that the enemy evacuated with haste,
leaving the bridge but partially damaged, and
five carloads Of -four and provisions on the
north bank of the Hiawassee
Ito be continued.I