The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-05-08
THE NATIONAL WASHINGTON D. c. THURSDAY

were made. and organized bodies were de
ployed to the right and left to clear the
, Ridge and relieve the pressure on those
who had not gained the summit. Regl'
mental, brigade and division commanders
!; gained the summit with the men who car
ried the muskets. There were no lag
CARDS; every man reached the summit
Who was not either killed or wounded.
I In 80 minutes from the time the sigma
guns were fred Missionary Ridge was in
possession of the Union forces. Hooker
ascending the Ridge at ROssyills with
Cruft'S Division, with Osterhaus and
Geary on the tanks, had driven the enemy
from their works. and at charging pace
had kept up the pursuit. The Confeder-
ates falling back to Join their comrades OF
the Ridge were met by Johnson's Division,
which had mounted the Ridge in time to
aid in their complete Generalization. All
the troops of the left wing and center OF
| Bragg's army that had not been killed OF
captured were now in full retreat.
! Gen. Bragg himself barely escaped. The
| Acknowledgements of Gems. Breckenridge
and Bate aud many other staff officers
were captured. Gen. Bragg, Gen. Bate
and other officers rallied a Confederate
| force to cover the retreat. -
Gen. Sheridan at once ordered Gen.
| Wagner and Col Harker to press the rear
guard with their brigades. They deployed
/ tutiT lIOOpS u INT IlshL lGll VI the
road leading to Chickamauga Station.
| Both brigades skirmished with the enemy
in this advance. Wagner's Brigade drove
the enemy from and took nine pieces of
artillery.
At point about one mile from Mission
airy Ridge, the enemy had arrayed heavy
force, and posted eight pieces of artillery
termined stand. Gen. Sheridan took in
the situation at once, and although night
was drawing on, he ordered an attack on
each flank. Col. Harker and Col. Opdycke
| led on the right and Gen. Wagner and Col.
Wood on the left.
| 1t was but a short time until the 26th
| Ohio and the 10Th Ind. carried the crest.
| The Confederate forces beat a hasty re-
treat, leaving two pieces OF artillery and
| many wagons.
Night came on, the moon rose In splen-
dor, the COnfederateS were in full retreat.
the day had been won, and Sheridan
halted and assembled his men. He re-
ceived orders to press the enemy, and
about midnight he pushed forward, at
tackled the foe, and drove them across
| Chickamauga Creek, capturing many
! prisoners, wagons and other material Of
war.
Gen. Sheridan reached the creek with
his division about o'clock OF the morn.
ing of Nov. 26. Gems. Which and Hazen,
oil W OOd S DIVISION. mounted the Ridge
about the same moment and cO-operated in
the assault upon the enemy's works, which
were handsomely carried. Which pur-
sued the retreating foe for n mile and a
half, and then recalled his men.
Gen. Grant had now reached the Ridge.
and meeting Gen. Which directed him
to reform his brigade on the crest. Gems.
Johnson, Wood and Baird reformed their
divisions. HOOkers command now having
no enemy before them, soon reached John,
sons right, and all halted except Oster-
haus. who continued his march until he
reached Gen. Rraggs late headquarters.
This great, victorious army, full of en-
thusiasm and highly elated at their sue
cess, were nevertheless weary and worn
after their tremendous exertions They
bivouacked for the night on the crest of
Missionary Ridge.
The disaster to the Confederate army
was so great that there was no thought
of an attempt to regain the lost ground.
1t is true that Gen. Hardee upon being
advised by Gen. Bragg that the Union
forces had broken his center and captured
the Ridge, caused Gen. Cleburne to form
strong line across the Ridge so as to
meet any attack upon that flank: but soon
the predominant thought of all Confed-
crate commanders was to Immediately
withdraw their army to some strong posi-
ton farther South.
Gen. Hardee ordered an immediate re-
treat across the Chickamauga, and by
O'Clock at night the entire right wing of
Gen. Bragg'S army had crossed that
stream, Gen. Cleburne's Division being
the rear guard of the rtreating army.
ITO be continued)