The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-05-08

immediate eye anda direction of Gen
Grant, were biding their time.
On Nov. "A, when Hooker was fighting
the great battle of Lookout Mountain ant
Sherman was. crossing the Tennessee
River and gaining. his position at the
north end of Missionary Ridge, these foul
divisions, with, the exception of Carlln 5
Brigade, which reinforced Hooker, re
manned i'll their works waiting the actor
of their comr9des,r upon their right ant
left. They heard, The roar of battle a
Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain
and at last saw H0Qkers victorious troop'
upon. the north slope Of Lookout
Heroism inspires heroism. These vet
eran soldiers, schooled in the arts of. wal
and Injured to its hardships and dangers
were wrought up to the highest pitch OF
enthusiasm, and were ready at any mo,
ment to assault Missionary Ridge. And
now, on the morning of Nov. 70, when
the Stars and Stripes triumphanty waved
upon the crest of Lookout Mountain, they
knew that their part in this great mill
tary tragedy was soon to be enacted.
But the day wore on. Noon came, and
still the order to move had not been given.
| l. was found that there was not Con-
federate soldier to threaten the right OF
Baird's Division, Hooker's army had
moved down from the slopes of Lookout
| Mountain into the valley and was moving
as he approached Chattanooga Greek
there was no sound of battle upon the
right of the Union line; but away to the
north. at Tunnel Hill, the conflict was
opened at an early hour The soldiers of
| the Army of the Cumberland could hear
the roar of the cannon, and knew that
! Sherman was hotly engaged. They could
see Confederate troops moving from their
| front to reinforce the troops engaged with
| Sherman.
From his position on Orchard Knob
| Gen. Grant could see certain movements
Of Sherman's troops. He could also dis
| tinctly see the movement of heavy rein
| forcements sent by Gen. Bragg against
! Sherman. Gen. Grant now decided to
further reinforce Gen. Sherman. Gen.
Bard's Division, on the right of Thomas s
line, was sent to report to Gen. Sherman.
He moved with alacrity, and was well
on his way when the order was counter
nianded. Gen. Sherman informed Gen.
Grant that he did not need additional
troops; that he had all the men he wanted.
But the movement of Gen. Baird's Dlyi-
sion was seen ut Bragg's headquarters.
1t had an immediate effect.
Gen. Bragg sent additional troops to
strengthen his right, and this was as well
known by Gen. Grant as by Gen. Bragg
himself. Everything was now done in
the open. Instead of reporting to Sher-
man. Nrbll. DsklTu IDTlIltu DI
the left of ten. Wood, and his division
now became the left wing Of Gen.
Thomas's army, with Gen. Sherman's
troops two miles further to the north.
Baird'S Division formed in two lines, Gen.
Turchn on the right, Col. Van Derveer i'll
the center and Col. Phelps on the left.
Gen. Sheridan finding that there was
no danger now from Confederate at
tack in the valley, moved his division
f1 ri hnP n tho front TO nrDlDuy the
line of battle on that of Gen. Wood.
The day wore on, and at last p. m.
arrived. An order was now issued to dlyl-
sion commanders to prepare to carry the
enemy's rifle pits at the base of Mission
airy Ridge, andjto report when they were
ready.
The signal for the assault was to be
the firing of six guns from Orchard Knob.
The formation for the assault was sub
stantialIy the same in all the divisions
two lines of battle with heavy skirmish
line in front, the tanks being strengthen
ed by formation IN echelon. This move
nent Of the Union troops, of course, at
| tracted the attention of the Confederate
commander and also the Confederate sol
diers. 8ii. ifH
1t was now 40 O'Clock in the after
noon. Hooker's advance, under Ostcr-
haus, had crossed Chattanooga Creek on
a temporary fo8tbridge, and had marched
upon and captured R9ssyille Gap. He had
been promptly followed by Gems. Geary
and Crnft with their troops, and they
were making their formation to carry the
Ridge. This could not be seen by Gen.
Grant, but lie felt sure that Hooker had
reached the Gap. Sherman lad been
earnestly engaged with the enemy for
more than eight hours at Tunnel Hill, and
Gen. Bragg had heavily depleted his CEN
ter TO strengthen Gen. Hardee on the Con-
federate right. ~,
Gen. Grant now decided that the mo.
ment had arrived for the Army of the
Cumberland to act. The signal guns were
fred by the batteries on Orchard Knob.
Instantly Gen. Thomas's four divisions
moved forward as one man. These 24,OOO
soldiers were animated by but one idea;
namely, assaulting and carrying the
enemy's works. At least 80 pieces of
artillery on Missionary Ridge opened fire
upon this long line of men. The batter
les were so posted as to give. direct and
crOss-fire on the assaiiants But the
rapid firing of this mass of artillery did
not stay the onward movement of the
troops.
As they approached the Confederate
rifle pits mt the foot of the Ridge, the
lines went forward at doubie-quCk. They
were irresistible The whole line of rifle
pits was full of armed men, but they were
no doubt impressed with the dauntleSs ar
dor that animated the Union troops. The
Confederate line broke. Those who We're
not killed or captured sought safety by
flight They struggled up the face of the
Ridge. The Union forces fire upon them
as they retreat. They finally reach the
crest and take refuge behind the Con-
federate works.
The Union forces had executed the or
der to capture the rifle pits at the foot Of
the Ridge. The Confederate artillery, well
posted and well served, belched forth
destructive fire along the whole line; the
rifle pits just captured were no protec,
ton to the Union forces. The impulse of
the National soldiers was to pursue their
retreating antagonists. Some of Sheri-
dams men had commenced to ascend the
hill. but were called back. They returned
to the rifle pit with considerable loss.
The men who bore the muskets were
filled with the terrible spirit of war. The
enemy was behind intrenchments on the
crest of the hill They had 30 pieces of
artillery for its defense; besides, their
trenches were filled with veteran soldiers.
The Army of the Cumberland, without
the aid of cannon, was determined to
carry those works with the musket Here
and there the men moved forward
Sheridan and Wood and Baird and
johnson all felt that the Ridge could he
carried. To remain in the rifle pits would
be destruction. To retire was not to be
thought of.
At last authority came for the line to
advance, and oEders were given to thar
effect. Every division moved forward
with alacrity. The ground over which
some of the brigades passed was more