The National tribune., 1902-04-03
River about 10 miles above the point of
Lookout Mountain

River about 10 miles above the point o.
| Lookout Mountain.
Gen. Bragg's army occupied Missionary
| Ridge and Lookout Mountain. He had ex
tensive works for infantry and artillery OF
both ridge and mountain. He had line
of Notifications along the base of the ridge
extending across the valley to the noun
tain, with strong works around the point
of the mountain and extending along tho
west slope OF the mountain with Lookout
| Creek. In his front artillery was plant
ed at every favorable position, a heavy
battery being at the point of the noun
| tain, to lombard the city.
Bragg commanded the Tennessee River
above and below ChattnnOOga. The Mem,
rhis IL Charleston Railroad, passing from
Chattanooga westward, is built around the
point of Lookout Mountain about 30 feet
above the river 1t crosses Lookout Greek
and passes through Wauhatchee on its
way to Bridgeport. Bragg held this rail
road ut Lookout Mountain.
The Army of the Cumberland. com
manded by Maj.-Gen. George II. Thomas.
occupied the defensive works in and
around Chattanooga, except the division
of Gen. Jefferson G. Davis, which was
encamped about five miles north of Chat
tanooga on the north bank of the river.
Chattanooga was actually in a state of
siege. The Confederate line had been es-
tablished so near the Union intrenchments
that the "Yank" and the johnny could
easily converse with each other across the
Intervening space. At some points the
men on both sides obtained water from
the same stream, the water parties never
being fired upon by either side. This
truce was arranged between the soldiers
themselves.
Gen. Hookcr's command from the Army
of the Potomac occupied the country
t,.Itl trTn n
Wauhatchie and Raccoon Mountain. He
confronted the Confederate command
which occupied the line of works along the
west slope of Lookout Maintain.
From Lookout Mountain the COnfeder-
atcS could observe the movement Of troops
to and across the bridge at Browns Fer
ry.
Gen. Grant realized the importance Of
preventing if possible his plans in regard
to Gen. Shermans Corps from becoming
known TO Gen. Bragg. For this purpose
he directed Gen. Sherman to cause his
advance division to march from Bridge
port to Trenton, GA, and make demun-
Stration against Bragg rear for the pur-
pose Of creating the impression that the
Confederate position would be attacked IN
the rear.
Gen Ewing, with his command per-
formed this duty. He marched by way of
Shellmound and GordOn's Mills over Rae
coon Mountain. and on Nov. Is, Corse,
with his brigade, met and drove the en-
emy. LOomis's Brigade halted on the
summit and built extensive camp fires;
on the 18th Cockrell's Brigade made re-
connaiSsance down the valley, while
Corse's Brigade moved up the valley 10
miles, and met and drove the 9th Va.
through JOhnSOus Greek.
Corse camped in the valley. but posted
a strong detachment On Lookout Noun
tain. These operations were continued
until Nov. u, when Gen. Ewing with
drew, and that night camped within
Hooker's lines. The next day he rejoined
the corps at its camp northeast Of Chat
tanOOga.
To further disguise the movements Of
Sherman's Corps. the Twelfth Corps, un-
der Gen. Howard, which belonged to
HoOkers command, but was TO operate
with Thomas, was caused to cross the
Tennessee River and go into camp on the
north side, and while Sherman'S troops
were marching under cover Of the hills to
their camp above Chattanooga, the
Twelfth Corps in broad daylight, and in
full view of the lookout at Bragg's head
quarters, crossed the river, marched
through the town, and took position with
Gen. Thomas's army.
On the night of Nov. % the Second,
Third and Fourth Divisions of the Fif
teenth Corps were encamped north of
Chattanooga at place designated by Gen.
Grant But the First Division, com
manded by Gen. Osterbaus, had not been
able TO cross the river at Browns Ferry,
because of the bad condition of the pom
loon bridge, which was constantly broken
by driftwood in the river, which was ris-
ing rapidly.
Gen. Osterhaus was ordered to report to
Gen. Hooker and to cooperate with the
Army of the Potomac, and Gen. Jefferson
c. Davis was directed to report to Gen.
Sherman and cooperate with the Fif-
Leenth Corps.
at the request of Gen. Thomas, Gen.
Sherman loaned a number of teams to
haul the artillery Of the Army of the Cum
berland, many of their horses being dead
Dr. unfit for use.
The troops now all being at their proper
places, nothing remained to be done but
10 put this great fighting machine in mo-
tion.
ITO ha continuad