The National tribune., 1902-03-20

! celpt OF this dispatch Secretary Stanton
made inquiry for Gen. Grant, who, with
his wife, had gone out, to call upon some
of their kinsfolk. In short time, how
ever, the General returned to the hotel
and met the Secretary, who exhibited
considerable excitement He showed Gen;
| Grant Mr.. Dana's dispatch. and stated
that the retreat must be prevented.
! Gen. Grant at once wrote an order as
| suming command Of the Military Division
of the Mississippi, and telegraphed it to
Gen. RoSecrans He then telcgraphed the
\ order of the War Department relieving
Rosecrans and assigning Thomas to the
command of the Department and Army
of the Cumberland He sent Gen. Thomas
a dispatch that he must hold Chattanooga
| at all hazards. and informed him that he
! tGrant would be at Chattanooga without
delay. Gen. Thomas Immediately tele-
graphed: I'VE will hold the town till we
starve.'
The next morning Oct. 90, Cen Grant
parted with Secretary Stanton and took
| Il railroad train for Nashville, where he
met Gov. Andrew johnson, who gave the
General most hearty public reception.
While at Nashville Gen. Grant tele-
graphed to Gen. Burnside. Admiral Por-
ter and Gen. Thomas, giving instructions
upon matters connected with the cam
paign. Gen. Grant reached Stevenson,
Z
met Gen. Rosecrans, who in a friendly
spirit gave him an account of the military
situation mt Chattanooga. Continuing his
journey, his train reached Bridgeport,
where he remained for the night. 1t must
be remembered that Gen. Grant was still
very lame and used crutches; he row had
two days of hard riding before him over
rough mountain roads. He left Bridge
port on the morning of Oct. 22, and ar
rived at Chattanooga the next evening be-
fore dark, and at once went to Gen.
ThOmas's headquarters, where he re-
mained until he established headquarters
of his own.
OF course, Gen. Grants arrival was not
unexpected: most of the general officers
called during the evening to pay their.
respects. Gen. w. Z. Smith, Chief En-
gineer of the Army of the Cumberland,
gave Gen. Grant graphic description of
the topography of the country and of the
preparations which had been made for the
relief of their army. He explained the
plans which had been discussed for seiz-
ing Browns Ferry and Lookout Valley,
and informed Gen. Grant that he had al
ready constructed the material for two
pOntoOn bridges. one for Chattanooga and
the other for Browns Ferry.
The night of his arrival at Chattanooga
Gen Grant telegraphed Gen. Halleck. an
nouncing his arrival, and requesting that
Mai.-Gen. William 7. Sherman be as
signed to the command of the Depart
ment and Army of the Tennessee, head
quarters in the field.
The War Department at once issued
the order as requested, and Gen. Sher-
man became a Department Commander
Oct %. 1868, while marching with the
Fifteenth Corps to the relief Of Chatta-
nooga.
Gen. Grant spent one day consulting
with Gen. Thomas and other officers and
examining the defenses of Chattanooga.
On the morning of. the 24th. in com
pany with Gen. Thomas. Gen. Smith and
his personal staff, Gen, Grant crossed the
Tennessee River and rode down through
the hills to Browns Ferry; before reach
ing the river they, dismounted and made
the examination on foot; as they ap--
poached the river they saw the rebel
picket post of abont % men at their sta
ton on the Opposite side: this was part
of the regiment of Col, William G. Oates
nately Governor, of Alabama), who was
guarding the ferry and valley. The pick
cts no doubt saw this, group of men, but
did not FIRE upon them,
Gen. Grant took in the situation at
once From Chattanooga to Bridgeport
by way of Browns Ferry was less than
30 miles. If he should seize and hold the
ferry and the country to Bridgeport, he
would shorten the, haul of supplies by
wagon road one half. and also secure the
use of the Tennessee River from Bridge
port to KeIly's Ferry, a point within
eight miles of 9Chattanooga. He decided
at once upon the plan of campaign, and
on that night, Oct. a. he issued the ne
cessarv orders.
This was his plan: Gen. Hooker. with
the Eleventh and Part of the Twelfth
Corps then in and around Bridgeport.
was on the morning Of Oct. 26 to cross
the Tennessee River 10 the south side
and march by way of Whiteside and Wau-
hatchee to Browns Ferry Gen. John
NJ. Palmer with his division was to cross
the river at Chattanooga, march by a
back road down to point opposite
Whiteside, recross the river and hold the
country in the rear of Hooker after he
had passed. Gen. w. +. Smith was as
signed to the command of 1000 men. To
this force was entrusted the duty of seiz-
ing Browns Ferry, attacking and whip
ping the guard stationed there, and of
LAYING n pontoOn bridge across the river.
This force left Chattanooga during the
night of Oct. 26 Gen. Smith with 220O
men crossed the river and marched 70
Browns Ferry. taking with him. all the
for bridge except the boats
Gen. w. Il. HaZen with 1.S00 men in
60 boats left Chattanooga Mt 3 o'clock in
the morning or the Zftn. lie toatcd past
the Confederate pickets at the base of
Lookout Mountain. and at ; O'Clock land
ed at Browns Ferry, surprised, attacked
and drove off the garrison. BY o'clock
Gen. Smith had crossed his force in boats, |
and by 10 o'clock, Oct. II, a pontoon
bridge was thrown across the river.
In regard to the assignment of Gen |
Smith to the command of these troops |
Gen. Grant has left this statement on
record:
'Gen. w. F. Smith had been so instru- |
mental in preparing for the move was
now about to make, and so clear in his |
Judgment about the manner of making it, |
that I deemed it but just to him that he |
should Lave command Of the troops de- |
tailed to execute the design. although he |
was then acting as a staff officer and was |
not in command of. troops"
Gen. Smith at once fortified his posi- |
ton at Browns Ferry. and made every |
for its defense against any |
force which might be sent against him.
Thus it will be seen that within five |
days from the day Gen. Grant reached |
Chattanooga the Confederate blockade |
had been broken, fhe Cracker Line" had |