The National tribune., 1906-12-27

before Creighton was half way up the
slope. Creighton found himself un.
able to advance further in the face OF
the fire, and halted midway on the
Ridge Hooker brought up Cobham
and IreIand's Brigades to help out, ana
sent a message to Gen. Sherman lot
assistance. In the meanwhile, the bridge
at Red House having been finished,
Hooker's batteries rushed forward TO
his assistance, and a little before Il
o'clock six pieces went into position
and opened fire upon Cleburne, but by
this time the latter had secured all
that he was fighting for, having
given Bragg time to get his army to-
gethcr behind the Chattoogata Noun
tain. There was no occasion for fur-
ther defense of a position that could
be turned just as soon as Hooker could
reccnnoiter the ground sufficiently to
discover gaps on his flanks. Therefore.
at the first cannon shot Cleburne be-
gan to retire, but he did this very
skilfully. and Hooker was preparing
for a fresh attack upon the position
while Cleburne was slipping away for
Chattoogata Mountain, leaving only q
small rear guard to amuse Hooker and
fall back as he advanced.
Charles 4. DaDa's Report.
Chas. A. Dana sent the following re-
port of Hooker's fight at Ringgold to
the Secretary Of War:
"RinggOld, Nov. %, 1863: S a. m.
Yesterday the first great fault in
this admirable campaign occurred at
this place. Gen. Hooker arrived here
about 8 ii. m. with Geary'S Division,
Twelfth Corps, Osterhauss Division of
Shermans army. lately commanded by
Woods, and two divisions, Fourteenth
Corps under Palmer. The enemy were
drawn up in the narrow gorge, where
the railroad passes between Taylor $
Ridge on the right and White Oak
Ridge on the left, the two ridges being,
| in fact, but parts Of the same range of
| hills. IT was q very dangerous deiile
| to attack in front, and common sense
plainly dictated that it should be turn
| ed This could be done without diff
Guilty by way OF White Oak Ridge,
which can be past with ease in many
places, while Taylor's Ridge is sleeper,
tho infinitely easier to go over than
Missionary Ridge at Chattanooga
However. Hooker attacked in front
| by him last night in the loss of 500
killed and wounded where there was
no necessity of losing so. Having been
| repulsed in his first attempt, Hooker
tried to turn the position, but in TINS
/ blundered yet worse. for he sent his
troops thru the nearest gap in White
| Oak Ridge, not more than half a mile
distant from the gorge, where the
| movement was fully visible to the ene-
my, and where they had time to pre-
pare a destructive crossfire, which made
/ this attack quite as fatal as the former
Having thus failed in this flank move
ment, IN which the 18th Mo lost near.
lly all it's officers he sent Geary's troops
! again at the front, and finally carried
i IL by Geary's New York regiments. The
ltroops Of Osterhaus suffered most. i
! IS said that a rebel regiment laid dowi
/ its arms, and when the 18th Mo. came
near in consequence another rebel reSl
ment arose from the ground imme
diatcly in the rear and gave our mel
a fatal volley.'
Il Shcrman's Pursuit.
Acting upon the information and or
dcrs sent by Grant during the night o
Nov. 20, Sherman issued orders for hi
! troops to start in pursuit of the enem!
at daylight JEFF c. Davis was ordere'
& TO cross. the Chickamauga with his di
vision at o'clock in the morning AM
! follow Longs Cavalry. Howard was L
: throw a bridge across the Chickamaug;
, near Boyces Station, and the Fifteenth
Corps was to follow the Eleventh Corp
/ across the river. Sherman put himsel
: With this force to ascend the caster
bank of the Chickamauga and attacl
/. any force that Bragg might interpos
. to defend Chickamauga Station, wher
! he had been collecting immense supple
TO maintain his army during the Win