The National tribune., 1902-03-27

Gen. Hooker reached Wauhatchie OF
the afternoon of the 2Sth. Gen. Howard
marched promptly sforward and JOINED
Gen. Smith at the ferry, while Gen. Geary
halting three miles south, cut off the rebe
pickets on the river below, who surren
dcred.
This movement took Gen. Bragg by sur
prise. With a greatly superior force he
felt that the advantages were all on his
side. and that he would soon Starye out
the garrison and force it either to retreat
or surrender. Gen. Bragg did not lose
any time in setting on foot an effort tC
regain his lost ground.
On Oct. 2S he sent Gen. LOngstreet with
his corps to attack the Union forces and
capture Lookout Valley. Gen. Longstreet
decided to make a night attack upon the
forces at Wauhatchie. He formed in bat
tie array near this place, extending his
line toward the ferry, three miles away.
The attack of Longstreet was vigorous
and determined. Gen. Geary, command
ing the Union forces, met the attack with
firmneSs. Gen. Hooker ordered Howard
Browns Ferry. Howard marched out
promptly, but was soon attacked by Long
streets extended line. Howard at once
faced his men TO the left, charged up the
hill and disodged the enemy. Leaving
a force to hold this position, Howard
marched forward to aid Geary. The bat
tie had now been raging for three hours.
During the darkness of the night it was
difficult to distinguish friend from foe.
The teamsters having charge of HOOker's
transportation became frightened and de-
serted the mules. The roar of battle was
too much for the nerves of the mules
they. like their drivers, became panic
stricken, broke their fastenings, and un-
dertook 10 reach place Of safety. For
tunately for the Union forces, this army
of frightened mules charged straight upon
the rebel line creating the impression that
it was charge of cavalry. Geary's firm
resistance, Howard's timely reinforce
ment and that unexpected charge of the
mules broke the Confederate line, which
retired to return no more. The battle was
over 10y 4 o'clock.
In this battle Hooker lost 416 killed
and wounded. The rebel loss was no
the field and 100 prisoners. Gen. Smith,
in his successful enterprise, lost one killed
and five wounded.
No further attempt was made by Gen.
Bragg to recover Lookout Valley.
The effect of this short campaign was
magical upon the question of supplies for
the army in Chattanooga. Large quauti-
ties of rations and forage had been ac-
cumulated at Bridgeport. These supplies
port to Kelly's Ferry and taken thence
by Hooker's army wagons TO Chattanoo-
go, so that the army was given full ra-
tionS within week after Grants arrival.
Gen. Hooker established his camp in
Lookout Valley, holding the country firm
ly from Browns Ferry to Bridgeport.
Gen. Smiths troops marched back to
their proper positions at Chattanooga, |
while Gen. Palmer remained for a time
at WhiteSida with his division
INSUFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION.
In short time it became apparent that |
the single railroad from Nashville could /
not supply the troops encamped south of
that city. The railroad track was in very
bad condition and the rolling-stock was
insufficient for transporting the needed |
supplies. The entire system of Southern |
railroads, from the Potomac and Ohio |
Rivers to the Gulf of Mexico, had been |
with a gauge of five feet |
while the Northern roads all had gauge
of four feet eight and half inches; ex- I
cept the Erie, the Atlantic & Western, |
and the Ohio Il Mississippi Railroads, |
which formed a line from New York to |
st. Louis, with a gauge of six feet.
This difference of three and a half |
inches in the gauge of the Northern and /
Southern railroad systems prevented the !
use of locomotives and cars of Northern
roads on the tracks of Southern roads,
Much of the rOlling-stock of The Southern
roads was destroyed by the contending
armies, thus severely crippling their roads
When the National forces captured
railroad they had to depend upon captured |
rolling-stOck for operating it until the de-
ticiency could be supplied by the purchase
of new locomotives and cars of proper
gauge.
The demands upon this railroad were
very great.
There were strong garrisons at all i'm
portant points between Nashville and |
Maj.-Gen. H. W. Slocum, commander
Of the Twelfth Corps, when he came west
with Gen. Hooker, was assigned the duty
Of holding the country north of Bridge
port. and protecting the railroad. He es-
tablished his headquarters at TullahOma.
and with two divisions of his corps per-
formed the important duty assigned him.
These troops, OF course, were dependent
fer supplies upon the Nashville and
Railroad. 1t therefore came
to pass that while every effort was put
forth TO provide this great army of men
and animals with food for fully a month
after. the capture of Browns Ferry. the
troops were on half TstiOns, and the horses
and mules Were provided with so small Il
quantity of grain and hay that the most
Oh lnem became unht for use.
At least 10000 horses and mules be-
longing to the Union army starved to
death during Bragg's siege of Chatta-
nOoga.
CROSSES THE TENNESSEE RIVER.
We left Gen. Sherman. Oct. q, at Bear
Greek Bridge, east of Corinth, with the
dispatch from Gen. Grant delivered by
CorDl Pike.
The order OF Gen. Grant to drop all
work on Memphis q Charleston Railroad,
cross the Tennessee and hurry eastward
with all possible dispatch toward Bridge
port, till you meet further orders from
me-" cOincided fully with Gen. Sherman's
views. He had already caused the Fourth
Brighten. Hugh Ewing, who had super
seeded Gen. COrse, to cross the river and
march to Florence, Ala.
Gen. Sherman Immediately issued orders
to carry out Gen. Grants instructions.
The Third Division, Brighten. John T..
Smith commanding, was, on Oct. ~, Or
dered to cross the Tennessee at Chicka-
saw Landing.
The Second Division. commanded by
Gen. Frank J. Blair, held the railroad
and demonstrated against a Confederate
force assembled in our front to embarrass
and delay our march.
The Third Division moved promptly to
the landing. One small steamboat and
one open barge were the only means at
hand for crossing the river. Gen. Mat
thias was assigned the advance, and be-
gan crossing the Third Brigade Oct 80.
at IL. Il. IN. The steamboat was used for
crossing the men, but the artillery and