The National tribune., 1906-11-15

arranged plans. AS early as Oct. 13
Gen. Hooker had been ordered to con-
centrate his force for garrisoning the
river, taking possession of Sand Noun
tain and clearing out the rebels as far
as Lookout Mountain. In spite of all
urging, he did not begin the movement
for more than 10 days afterwards, al
leging that his wagons had not arrived
from Nashville, and this, altho he had
been ordered not to take any wagons
with him. Gen. Grant hurried on from
Nashville as soon as he could COM
plete certain vital arrangements there.
He was still suffering so much from
his accident at New Orleans as to be
unable to walk but this did not dimin-
ish his activity in work. He started
from Nashville on the morning of Oct.
81 and with his customary good luck
escaped a plot to kill or injure him.
Some one who knew of his going south
fixed a tie in the railroad with intent
10 derail the engine at a very danger
Gus place, but the train going north
ward broke this off. When he reached
Bridgeport, Gen. Grant made a rapid
survey of the country and its possibili-
ties, examining personally the railroads
and the unfinished branch TO Jasper,
with reference to its employment as 4
line of transportation. He then started
over the mountains on horseback for
Chattanooga. In many places the road
Was SO Ddu IildI ms morse tOulu HOI
carry him up, when he had to dismouIt
and make the ascent in the arms of mis-
staff. Chas. A. Dana sent the follow
ing dispatch Immediately upon their
arrival at Chattanooga:
Chattanooga, Oct. "a, 1863; 10 a. m.
Grant arrived last night, wet, dirty
and we'll. He is just going to pecon-I
noiter an important position which Gen
Smith has discovered at the mouth of
Lookout Valley and which will be oc-I
cupied from here simultaneously with
Hooker's occupation of Raccoon Noun
tain. This movement will probably
take place within three DAYS"
On the railroad from Nashville Grant
had met Rosecrans and talked the sit
uation over with him. He says that
Rosecrans was quite frank and full in
his statements and made a great num-
Der of valuable suggestions which Il
wondered he had not carried out" I'm
mediately upon Grants arrival at Chat
tanooga he, in company with Gems
Thomas and Smith, visited Browns
Ferry, listened TO the carefully
wrougilt-out plans, approved them and
ordered them carried into immediate
execution. The plans required the
from concentrating his entire force to-
defeat them.
Hnzen's Midnight Excursion.
Gen. Smiths plan, and he should
certainly be given credit for this much
of the work If no more, was surely
ingenious. Gen. Hazcn was to select
from his brigade so squads of "a men
each commanded by a First Lieutenant.
These were TO embark in as many pom
toon boats. each managed by the crew.
and float down the river in the dark
ness of the night, past the rebel senti-
nels lining the south side. until they
raapha1 t2rnvn'C Ferry Following the
pontoons were to be two fiat boats, one
carrying 40 and the other as men. The
distance floated, counting the bends in
the river, was to be about nine miles,
and the utmost stiffness had to be pre-
served thruout to avoid attracting the
attention of the pickets, never at any
time out of good pistol-shot distance.
HaZen's Brigade at that time consisted
of the 9Th KY, 93d Ohio, 5th KY, 1st
Ohio. eth Ind, 41st Ohio. 124th Ohio.
eth Ohio and 23d KY. The pontoons
upon arriving at Browns Ferry were
- &c steered ashore, the men in them
rush up the bank, overpower or drive
away the rebel force on guard there,
and take up a good position to resist
any attempt to recover the ferry, while
the crews of the boats were TO hastily
string them together and construct a
bridge across the river which the
rest OF Hazen's Brigade and Turchin'si
Brigade, with three batteries under the
command of Maj. John Mendenhall,
were 10 rush over and lend their help
to make sure that the enemy should
not regain his command of the ferry.
The preparations for the expedition,
such as building additional pontoons
and furnishing them all with row.
locks, oars and similar essentials, were
carried out admirably by Capt. Fox and
the Michigan Mechanics and Engi-
heerr. ~ho had already greatly distin-
Eufshed themselves by other very nec-