The National tribune., 1906-12-06

MoUntains-Sbcrman's sad Mistake.
The Army of Tennessee Up Against an
Impossible Task-Gallant Assaults by
Ccrsc's. L0oniis's, Matfhies's and
Raum's Rrigades-FoUght 10 Stand
still.
ShermaD'S Crossing.
Sherman was to add to the spectacu-
lar events another quite as dramatic.
He had reached Gen. Hooker's head
quarters, four miles from Chattanooga
during the heavy rain of Nov. 90, whero
he had met Gen. Grants orders to make
his attack on the 21st. Only one dfvi-
sion that of Gen. John Z. Smith, was
in the position intended. Gen. Ewing
with his division was at Trenton threat
ening Bragg with a crossing of Lookout
Mountain and an attack upon his rear:
the other two were struggling thru the
rain and over the mud to reach Brown $
Ferry On the 21st Morgan L. Smith 5
and Ewings Divisions were gotten
across the river at Browns Ferry. pGt
Osterhaus was separated from them by
the breaking of the bridge. To replace
this division Gen Grant gave him Gen.
jeff c. DaViS'S Division from the Army
of the Cumberland. AS before stated,
Sherman put his division out of sight OF
the signal station on Lookout Mountain
behind the hills of Moccasin Point.
In the meanwhile Gen. Badly Smith,
assisted by Gen. James H. Wilson. had
had built in North Chicliamauga Creek
l16 pontoons These We're painstakenly
concealed from the enemy in bends OF
the creek, where they were completed
to the last detail and carefully prepared
for the voyage. The point selected for
the crossing was two and half miles
below where North Chickamauga Creek
enters the Tennessee from the west
side and little below the mouth of the
Chickamauga River entering from the
east. Gen. John NJ. Brannan, Chief OF
Artillery of the Army of the Cumber-
land, had secretly emplaced 40 guns
where they could sweep the ground
across the river and cover crossing IN
the event of resistance being offered.
To Gen. Jeff c. Daviss Division was as
signed the duty of supporting these
guns Everything was in perfect readi-
ness by midnight of Nov. %, and Giles
A. Smiths Brigade of Morgan L. Smiths
Division entered the boats on Chicka-
mauga Creek and floated quietly down
that stream until they reached the river,
over which they We're silently ferried,
and rushing up the bank succeeded in
capturing the picket post at that point.
The pontoons were Immediately sent
back across the river and the rest OF
the division crossed below the mouth
of Chickamauga River, Sherman being
with it. The whole operation was full
of intense anxiety, since it depended
for its success upon surprise, and it
was only too likely that Braggs sus-
picions had been aroused and that he
had prepared a startling resistance for
the first detachments that should cross.
One of the rebel pickets had escaped
capture, and it was feared he would
carry the alarm to camp. Fortunately
all remained silent in front and the
boats handled in perfect order soon
brought over John E. Smiths Division,
and by daylight there were 5000 men
on that side of the stream and facing
Mission Ridge.
The Sad Mistake.
Here came the unfortunate mistake
It had been expected that Sherman
would seize the north end of Mission
Ridge, which would place him on
Braggs right flank. This was possible
because the north end of Mission Ridge
was, at that time, unoccupied by the
enemy, the nearest force being the
right of Walkers Division, which was
one and a quarter miles further
away, with its right resting on
Mission Ridge In the darkness
Sherman had placed his men on
detached hills which had appeared to
be the end of the ridge, but which Were
separated from the ridge proper by a
deep ravine. Thru this end of the
ridge ran the railroad tunnel. The same
mists which had enveloped Hooker's
manuvers misled Sherman. At day.
light the steamer Dunbar came up from
Chattanooga to assist in the ferrying,
and the pontoons were quickly con-
verted into a substantial bridge, over
s4t. Ynff ~ no. x-icfc he
artillery and the horses were passed.
Gen. Sherman says that never during
the whole war did he see as quick and
effective pontoon work as was done in
this instance. and he gives high credit
TO Gen. Badly Smith. At 1 p. m.
Sherman marched from the river up on
the hills with his command in three
Gen. Morgan L. Smith was the column
of direction, and followed substantially
the course of the Chickamauga River
Gen John E. Smiths Division was IN
the center and Gen. Ewings on tho
right rear. Gen. Howard had come uI
from the position of the Eleventh
Corps behind Citico Creek with three
regiments Of Buschbeck's Brigade to
Join Gen. Sherman. Preceded by skir-
mishers. the columns pushed forward
thru the mists and the light driZzline
rain up the sides of the hill to the crest,
where they were halted and ordered Ia
fortify. Up to this time the surprise
had been complete and no resistance
was offered. BY 4 o'clock Sherman
was in complete possession of the hills
with his men busily engaged in forti-
Tying. The enemy's artillery opened
on him from Mission Ridge but did no
= damage, and some infantry which were
pushed forward in reconnaissance fell
back TO the top of Mission Ridge after
exchanging a few shots with Sherman's
skirmishers. The attack was renewed
q little later with more earnestness
and both Inusketry and artillery
mingled in the fight. The enemy was
finally driven off. but Gen. Giles A
Smith was severely wounded and COM
PEELED to go to the rear. Gen. How
ards three regiments were put in on
Gen. Ewing's right, and Howard re-
turned to his corps at Citico Creek
Gen. jeff c. Davis left one of his bri-
gades at the bridge-head, sent another
close up to Sherman, while the third
maintained a position between the two
A Cheering NightfalI.
The rain ceased and the clouds sped
away as night came on A sharp frosi
cleared the air, thru which the stars
shone brighter than gems With the
night came soul-cheering sights to the
soldiers in Chattanooga. To their left
up the river they saw Shermans bright