The National tribune., 1906-11-29

have q clearer idea of Bragg's move
ments and possible intentions.
On the morning of Nov. % Gen.
Grant sent orders to Gen. Thomas TO
make a demonstration upon Orchard
Knob to secure definite knowledge of
Bragg's movements. Gen. Thomas in
turn sent orders to Gen. Granger, COM
manding the Fourth Corps. to form his
troops and advance from Fort Wood
upon Orchard Knob. Gen. Palmer was
directed to support this movement with
the Fourteenth Corps. and Howard was
ordered to mass the Eleventh Corps
behind Granger's center to act as cir
cumstances might require.
Then occurred one of the most spec
tacular and astonishing things in that
most spectacular and astonishing cam
paign. AS stated before. Chattanooga
seems like a great natural theater. and
somehow the events that took place
there We're unusually theatric and
scenic Nowhere else during the great
struggle were there such soul-filling
exhibitions of the ''pomp, pride and
circumstance of glorious war" For
two months Braggs army had been
looking down from the skyline OF
Mission Ridge and the beetling nights
of Lookout Mountain directly into the
camps Of the Union army, and day
after day saw drills, parades, manuvers
and reviews, which must have inter-
ested the watchers greatly as illustra-
tionS of the science of war as prac-
ticed by the Yankees. 1t must nave
been a fascinating sight for the simple,
untutored countrymen to see this blue
clad mass move out with military pre-
cision, with flags flying and drums
beating. and officers galloping about as
long as their horses We're able to gal
IOp. At that distance regiments seemed
like blocks of blue, and brigades as
broad azure lines which moved hither
and yon with Kaleidoscope, fascinating
mutations of positions and relations
on this bright November day they
stood idly by their guns on the COM
manding nights of Orchard Knob, Mis-
sion Ridge, Lookout Mountain, etc,
and saw a spectacle of quite unusual
interest and magnificerce. Some time
after noon Gen. Wood, commanding
the Third Division. formed it as If for
4 review in the open field before Fort
Wood. Then, in perfect order, with
every man in his place. exact intervals
between the regiments and brigadeS,
with flags flying, and officers at the
head of commands, Gen. Sheridan
moved his well-drilled division up to-
wards Gen. Woods right. The Four
teenth and Eleventh Corps came up
shortly afterward and took the posi-
tlons assigned them in order, and the
Confederates must have looked down
with an admiration which they could
1ot conceal upon the magnificent mill
tary pageant displaying itself before
their very eyes No shots were fired. no
suspicion seemed to be entertained that
il was other than the Yankees just
Showing off, The formation was
completed about 1870, skirmishers were
thrown out across the open field, and
heavy masses of infantry moved behind
them The sliirmishers at once an
nounced that they were not out there
for scenic effect by opening fire upon
the astonished rebel pickets. Gen.
Wood pushed directly forward across
the open field for the main crest of
Orchard Knob, his skirmishers falling
into line of battle as the force over
took them and the blue wave swept
over the rebel rife pits at the foot, up
the steep sides and over the breast
works at the top before the Confeder-