The National tribune., 1897-11-04
A STRATEGIC POINT
Operations Around Chatta-
nooga-Fighting in the
Clouds.
BY COL LYMAN BRIDGES, CHIEF OF AR
Tn.LERY, FOURTH CORPS.
Continued from last ueck J

On the 22d of November Thomas or
dered brigade review in front Of Chat
tanooga, and on the day following he or
dered a division and corps review. At
p. ~, in perfect line of two corps, Fourth
(Granger's) and Eleventh (Howard's),
their line was ordered to advance one
mile, with Baird's and Johnson's Divis-
ions of Palmer's (Fourteenth) Corps in
reserve.
At bugle cali the line advanced as on
parade. The picket-line of the enemy
(about one mile from Fort Wood, Chat
tanooga) was captured, and the ad-
vance line held by the enemy since the
siege of Chattanooga was reversed and
made the front line of the Army of the
Cumberland, facing Missionary Ridge,
and Bridgess battery of Illinois light
artillery (Which had done good execu-
ton from Fort Wood, Chattanooga, dur
ing the advance was moved out upon
the front line Of Orchard Knob, which
was fortified and occupied All horses
were ordered to be sent back to Chatta-
nOoga.
BY willing hands working hard all
that night, all the front line was rapidly
intrenched and permanently held and
the enemy kept busy on this front until
the battle ended.
While this diversion of Thomas was
taking place and the attention of the
Confederate commander was riveted
thereon, Giles A. Smiths Brigade, COW
cred by the artillery of the Army of the
Cumberland, under Gen. Brannon, sta
toned on the north side Of the river,
supported by jeff c. Davis's Division,
of Palmers (Fourteenth) Corps Of the
Army of the Cumberland, filled the
boats of the pontoon bridges in North
Chickamauga Creek and crossed the
Tennessee River to the mouth of South
Chickamauga Creek. He captured the
rebel pickets at the north end of Mission
AIRY Ridge, landing his entire brigade,
and sent his boats back for additional
troops.
BY daylight on the 23d pontoon
bridge 1850 feet long had been built
over the Tennessee River, and Gen.
Sherman, with two divisions of 5000
men, had joined Smiths Brigade Gil the
east side Of the river and were we'll in
trenched. Sherman's troops, under Nor
gan l.. Smith, John 4. Smith, and Frank
=. Blair, supported by Davis's Division
Of the Army Of the Cumberland, having
successfully crossed the Tennessee, at
daylight Of the Oath seized and held
important foothills on the north end of
the Ridge.
Meanwhile Thomas had instructed
Hooker to carry the enemy's position at
Lookout Mountain. Hooker, finding
Lookout Creek so high from recent rains
that he could not cross without building
bridge, placed his artillery on Lookout
Creek opposite the fortified line of the
enemy at the southern base of Lookout
Mountain, where a continuous line of
breastworks had been constructed by
the enemy. He ordered heavy can
nonading to be kept up and a bridge
built.
Attracted by Hooker's continuous
artillery fire, the enemy rushed down
and filled their line Of works, to prevent
the advance Of Hookcr's troops and the
building of the bridge.
While this ruse was being PLAYED
Hooker sent Geary with two divisions
and Whitaker, of Crufts's command
up the creek to crossing about mile
above.
The enemy, watching the construction
OF the bridge and answering the artil-
lery, failed to observe the movement of
the troops through the woods up the
creek, which very heavy fog or clouds
OPPORTUNITY covered in that part Of the
valley.
They did not discover the advance of
Geary until he had crossed Lookout
Creek and had proceeded down the
right bank Of Lookout Mountain side of
the creek, where he surprised and drove
the enemy's pickets into their rihe-pits.
This position was covered in flank and
rear by Hooker's troops and the enemy
driven out.
The Confederates, finding that they
had been outgeneraled and outfanked,
| fled, panicstricken and routed. Hooker
concentrated his troops Oh the Lookout
Mountain side of the Valley, pressed
the scattering Confederates around the
edge of Lookout Mountain into Chatta-
nooga Valley, which gave us full posses
sion and control of the river roads and
railroads up to Chattanooga and the
possession of Lookout Mountain as we'll.
This successful battle above the clouds
was over on the evening of the Oath.
Grant having established his Head
quarters at Orchard Knob, issued orders
to Thomas for Hooker to march across
Lookout Valley to Rossville, at the
south end of Missionary Ridge, and to
attack the left flank of the enemy. He
also directed Thomas to send Howard
with the Eleventh Corps to report to
Sherman, who earl y Oh the 24th had met
with stubborn resistance in his attempt
| to turn the riphf flank If Rrooo az tba