The National tribune., 1906-12-13

out in strong, steady voice of COM
mand: t.-F
Number one. fire."
The expectant gunner snatched the
pleted, and the sharp crash of the field
piece sent an electric thrill thru the
miles of blue hosts which had been
waiting for hours for that note. A
sweeping ripple of dazzling light ran
the length of the line as the men
Strengthened themselves into place and
brought their bright gun-barrels up to
right shoulder shift.
Number two, firei" called out Cor
don Granger, giving the pause neces,
sary to indicate signal guns, and the
blue line Strengthened itself into still
more perfect Dress
Number three, fire!'
Now. everyone knew for a certainty
that these were the long expected sig
nal guns. At NO. 4" there ran
along the line a ripple of preparation
for the start. In that superbly drilled
army, movements even of such great
bodies as divisions had attained the ac-
curacy and uniformity of company
manuvers. As the fifth gun pealed out
the whole line stood poised to step for
ward at the instant the sixth should
give the command of execution"
Number six fret called Granger
forward like a huge, azure, steel
crested wave, rolling over the brown
and green of the November fields. In
stantly the wide plain became a scene
OF sulphurous, stunning, deafening,
thunderous activity. The guns which
had been planted on the Orchard Knob
line opened out with sharp, ear-split-
ting crashes, punctuated by the deep
rolling boom of the heavy artillery of
Fort Wood and its fianking batteries
Bragg's go pieces Immediately in front
replied with a tornado of SHE'LL Shrek
ing in miles of flight tearing the limbs
from trees aGd throwing up clouds of
earth and water where they struck. The
dots of blue far to the front which in
dicated the Union skirmishers flashed
out little tongues of fire of spite and
hate at their butternut-clad enemies,
until the advancing line of battle came
up end absorbed them, and together
the whole mass swept forward towards
the red bank which marked the first
Confederate line at the base of the
ridge.
Thru this tornado of terror and death
the long line had moved with the pre-
cision of a parade, with not a straggler,
not man step behind his fellows
Here and there one dropt upon the scar
leaves or green spot, but the great
line moved on unbroken of front or
symmetry. Ihere was no quickening
OF pace under the scourging of the rebel
cannon until the rifle pits were neared
Iheh all the guns came down to a
charge bayonet, and there was n swift
rush before which the rebels behind tho
rifle pits actually quailed. They ceased
the fire they had opened as the Union
line approached, and seemed daZed by,
the mighty human surge against them
A large proportion of them lay down
behind the works, while a smaller num-
Der sought to escape by running back
up the mountain side. From Johnson's
Division on the far right to Baird's on
the left ran the full-throated Union
cheer as the rife pits were gained, and
the troops tasted their first sweet tri-
umph. The prisoners were hurriedly
collected and started towards the rear.
where they were not at all loath to go,
since Bragg's cannon were now being
depressed to fire their shell and shrap, |
mel into the captured rifle pits.
Mission Ridge rises about 500 feet |
perpendicularly above the plain, with a |
rather uniform slope of from 1900 to |
1900 feet from the crest to the base.
That is, 1t was something less than one
third Of a mile from the rifle pits, |
which had been gained. to the crest on |
which the rebel cannon bristled and
the Infantry stood In solid ranks-a
good easy range for both. canister and
musketry. Tho the slopes were bare
Of trees. they clustered with obstacles
projecting rocks. rolling stones, steep,
irregular sides, trunks Of trses, and ut: