The National tribune., 1902-04-10

1.500 feet long; the other across South
Chickamauga River, 200 feet long. The
LAYING of the bridges had been planned
and the material for their construction
prepared some time before the arrival of
the Fifteenth Corps. All of this work of
bridge building was under the charge of
Brig.-Gen. W. f. Smith, Chief Engineer
on Gen. Grants staff.
As has been seen, Gen. Smith was Chief
Engineer under Gen. Thomas on Grant $
arrival at Chattanooga, and had been as
signed to the command of 4,UOO troops Tor
the capture of Browns Ferry. Gen.
Smith erected a steam sawmill, had logs
cut, hauled, sawed into lumber, and built
boats and pontoon material for the va
rious bridges required in this campaign.
Nature had provided a stream exactly
suited to Gen. Smiths purpose in secretly
assembling the boats for Shermans use.
That stream was North ChickamauSa
Greek, which empties into the Tennessee
from the north about three miles above
the mouth of South ChickamauGa. Into
this stream Gen. Smith lanched 1l6 pom
toOn boats, each having capacity TO
carry 30 or 40 men.
Gen. Giles A. Smith with his brigade Of
the Second Division and $50 detailed oars
men was assigned the duty Of bringing
these boats down the Chickamauga and
Tennessee to the place of crossing. Gen.
Smith with his brigade had the advance
of the corps. Under the direction and
guidance of Gen. W. L. Smith, the bri-
gade reached the point where the boats
were moored, about IL o'clock at night by
midnight everything was ready, the men
were in the boats, and the passage down
the streams was made with silence and
secrecy. Before reaching the mouth of
South Chickamauge, two regiments of sol
dierS were landed on the south bank of the
river, forming a skirmiSh line from the
Tennessee TO South Chickamauga, and
marching steadily down the river, soon
came upon and captured a Confederate
post of 20 men stationed in the fork of
the two streams.
Not man escaped to bear the news to
Gen. Bragg of this movement TO cross the
river.
Gen. Giles A. Smith soon landed his
brigade ON the south bank of the TcnneS-
see below the mouth of South Chicka-
mauga. selected 4 suitable position for the
defense, and at once began the construc-
ton of a line of breastwOrkS. Gen. Nor
gan l.. Smith, with balance of the Second
Division, was drawn up on the north bank
of the river, ready to cross.
The Third Division, commanded by Gen.
John l.. Smith, moved out of its encamp
ment precisely at midnight. What little
camp eQuipage and baggage he had, in
Guiding cooking utensils and mess chests,
were left behind with the servants and
small provost guard.
We arrived at the river a short time
before the Second Division had finished
crossing, but there was no unnecessary de-
lay. The boats were kept moving con-
stantly, and by daylight the Second and
Third Division of the Fifteenth Corps
had crossed the river and were actively
engaged in erecting formidable line of
earthworks, behind which the crossing of
the river could be defended in case of ne
cessity.
In the meantime, under the direction Of
Brighten. ]. N. Brannan, Chief of Ar
tillery ON the staff of Gen. Thomas, 10
pieces of artillery were brought to the
point of crossing and placed in position
for its defense. A part of these guns
were Thomas's batteries, but they were all
hauled by Sherman's teams, Thomas's
horses being unfit for duty.
While Grant and Thomas and Sherman
had every confidence of defeating Bragg,
they did not propose to neglect making ev-
cry preparation for the safe withdrawal
of troops across the Tennessee River in
case of disaster; consequently the bridge
over the Tennessee was protected by
heavy line of works on the south bank,
and great array of artillery on the north
bank; not gun of which, however, was
fired during the campaign.
As soon as daylight appeared, Gen. W.
Z. Smith began the construction of his
bridges. A more active scene never
presented itself to a military expert;
everybody seemed in motion; on the south
side the men were at work in the trenches;
on the river the ferry was in active opera
ton, while at the same time the construc-
ton of the bridge was being hurried; as
pOntOon boats were required for this work
they were withdrawn from the ferry, but
after daylight steamboat was sent up
from Chattanooga to aid in crossing the
troops.
Two divisions of the army yet remained
to be crossed, namely, the Fourth DiYi-
sion, Fifteenth Corps, commanded by Gen.
Ewing, and the Second Division of the
Fourteenth Corps, commanded by Gen.
jefferson c. Davis; besides the artillery
and cavalry had to cross the river, and
the wheels and horses must wait the com
pletion of the bridge. These various com
mands are assembling on the north bank
OF the river awaiting their turn TO cross.
sJen. Sherman was conspicuous figure
on the bank Of the river and on the bridge
during these operations. He was impa-
tient to. take up his line of march against
Missionary Ridge.
The pontoon bridge across the Tennessee
River was completed at 1920 Q. m. Nov.
"a At this moment Major-Gen. y. o.
Howard, with three regiments of infantry,
from Chattanooga, appeared on the scene
He had been sent TO form junction with
Gen, Sherman and welcome him to the
south bank of the river. Howard and
Sherman met on the bridge and shook
each other by the hand with much warmth
and cordially.
The bridge across the Chickamauga had
already been completed. The balance of
the troops, artillery and officers horses
were hurried over the bridge. The forma-
ton of the column was at once begun
Cen Morgan l.. Smiths Second Division
occupied the left, and was the column of
direction. Our line Of march followed,
substantially, South Chickamauga Creek
the center was Gen. John Il. Smiths
Third Division, in columns doubled on the
center at brigade intervals, in echelon, to
the Fight and rear My brigade was the
right wing Of the Third Division; to my
right was Gen. Ewing's Fourth Division
IN column at the same distance to the
right rear, prepared to deplOy 10 the right
line IN case the enemy should be encDun-
tered. The entire front of the corps was
covered by good skirmish line with sup
ports. The artillery accompanied their re-
spectiye divisions. The march began at
o'clock p. IN.
During the forenoon clouds gathered in
the SKY, and by the time this movement
commenced rain began to fall: the mist and
clouds hung low and actually obscured
Missionary Ridge. We could not discern
the Ridge ourselves, nor. could our move
ments be seen from Bragg's tower OF OBJ
seryation. Our line of march lay through
an open country.
As | rode at the head of my brigade.
could see the entire formation. The move