The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-04-24

forces of Thomas, Sherman, and Hooker
were in close communication; their lines
did not actually connect, but their OBJ
jective was the same, namely, Bragg 5
army on Missionary Ridge. The morning
was cold and raw; during the early hours
clouds and mists hung low and obscured
objects III the valley and on the high
ground.
Orchard Knob was the National head
quarters, occupied by Gems. Grant and
Thomas, with their staff officers. The sun
rose, the sky cleared, and the whole scene
was distinctly spread out to view. On
the right Lookout Mountain penetrated
the sky; upon its mighty peak waved the
National standard, while upon its northern
slope Rockers army was bivouacked be-
hind their trenches. Missionary Ridge, the
Confederate battle line, was only mile
away. 1t extended to the northeast, ter
minating at the South Chickamauga River.
This ridge, with steep and rocky sides,
rises 4UU feet above the plain. Gen.
Bragg's headquarters were plainly visible
on top of the ridge. The main Confederate
force, with extensive works and numerous
batteries of artillery, held this great de-
fenSiye position from ROssville Gap to the
railroad tunnel. At the foot of the ridge
strong breastwOrks We're occupied by the
front line of the Confederate army.
The Army OF the Cumberland, with four
DIVISIONS, occupied the Union center. They
held the line which they had wreSted from
the enemy Oh the afternoon of Nov. %.
1t was now well fortified, and ~ pieces OF
artillery were in position in the works.
Away to the left Sherman's forces could
be seen. They occupied the north end of
Missionary Ridge, and extended south
ward along a spur of the ridge to point
almost in front of the railroad tunnel.
On the evening Of the 18th Gen. Grant
had telegraphed to Washington: The
fight today progresses favorably. Sher-
man carried the end of Missionary Ridge,
and his right is now at the tunnel, and left
at Chickamauga Greek. Troops from
Lockout Valley carried the point of the
mountain, and now hold the eastern slope
and point, high up. Hooker reports 1000
prisoners taken, besides which u small
number have fallen into our hands from
Missionary Ridge"
On the morning of the 18th President
Lincoln replied as follows: Your dis
patches as to. fighting on Monday and
Tuesday are here. Well done. Many
thanks to all. Remember Burnside"
Gen. HaIleck telegraphed as follows:
81 congratulate you Oh the success thus
far of your plans. / fear that Burnside
is hard pressed, and that any further de-
lay may prove fatal. l know that you
will do all in your power to relieve him.
'tIis Oldul dpIlCu "
Wilcox, who was in the eastern part of
the Tennessee Valley: Fighting has been
going on here for two days; and, as soon
as possible, | shall send force up the
valley, sufficient to relieve Burnside, if
he holds out. If you can communicate
this fact to him, please do So.
These dispatches show the deep anxiety
felt by the President and the military
authorities at Washington for the safety
of Gen. Burnsde's forces at Knoxville,
and their reliance upon Gen. Grant to at
ford him relief.
Gen. Grants plan for the battle of Nov.
% was for Gen. Sherman to attack
Bragg's right flank, threaten his rear, and
make the greatest possible demonstration
of strength to induce Gen. Bragg to with
draw forces from his center; for Gen.
Hooker to move against Gen. Bragg's left
flank upon Missionary Ridge at Rossyille
Gap and force the fighting there, and for
Gen. Thomas, with the Army of the Cum
berland, to attack and carry Bragg's cen
ter at the oppOrtune moment.
AT midnight on Nov. "a, he instructed
Gen. Sherman to attack the enemy at
dawn, giving the information that Thomas
would also attack at an early hour. Gen.
Hooker was ordered to pursue and inter
cept, if possible, the Confederate forces
which retired from Lookout Mountain
during the night. He was TO move on the
4AOcSh hit AOdus tdpluIt IOSSNllle rap, anu
operate upon the enemy's left and rear
Gen. Thomas, who was with Gen. Grant
on Orchard Knob, was, of course, to re-
celYe his orders TO attack, when Gen
Grant should decide that the vital mo
ment had arrived.
The Army of the Tennessee was ready
for the conflict before the dawn of day
zen. Sherman and his staff examined the
entire line from left TO right. He had
seized, fortified and now held the north
end Of Missionary Ridge. His position
threatened the right wing of Bragg army
and Chickamauga Station, the base of
supplies for the Confederate forces.
Gen. Sherman's position was one of
great strength, and it had been well for
tilted during the night, but his right wing
was on spur of high ground detached
from the main ridge. This spur sloped
of gradually into the valley before reach
ing point opposite the tunnel. There
was deep valley between this spur and
the main ridge, through which the tunnel
passed.
In studying all the maps Gen. Sherman
had concluded that Missionary Ridge was
continuous hill; but he found himself
separated by deep gorge from the main
ridge over the tunnel, which was his chief
objective point The ground he had
gained was so important, however, that
he could leave nothing to chance and he
4ol tiheu inc DoSlllOn curing lHe nlSnt. Inns
spur Is about ZOO yards north of the
tunnel and about 800 yards west of the
main ridge, with very steep slopes to the
east and west 1t is a position of great
natural strength, both for offensive and de-
fensive operations.
Maj.-Gen. Patrick II. Cleburne was in
immediate command Of the troops occupy
ing Tunnel Hill at the time Gen. Sher-
mans forces reached the scene 1t is an
interesting fact that on the afternoon of
Nov. -, at the time Gen. Thomas made
his attack on Bragg's front line, Gen.
Cleburne was at Chickamauga Station EN-
barking his command in cars for the DUR
pose Of joining Gen. LongStreet in his at
tack on Gen. Burnside at Knoxville Gen.
Bragg at once telegraphed Clebune to
stop his movements, to recall all the
troops that had been started, and to move
up rapidly with his whole force He en-
camped for the night behind Missionary
Ridge. 1t was not, however, until q
O'Clock IN the afternoon of Nov. p that
Gen. Bragg realized the importance of
placing large force at and north of Tun-
mel Hill TO meet any attack that might be
made by Gen. Sherman.
zen Cleburne was ordered to report
with his division at Tunnel Hill. TO Gen.
Hardee, who would assign him his posi-
ton So 1t happened that the troess Of
both armies were at the same hour be-
ing hurried to this important point.
Gen. Cleburne arrived first. He took
possession of Tunnel Hill and hurried
small force across the gulch to seize and
mold the high ridge northwest OF the tun-
mel; but Gen. Sherman's forces rushed up
the western slope in such numbers that
they promptly dislodged the enemy and
al hos Il l.