Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-12
BATTLES aid LEADERS o. The CIVIL WAR}Ml
How Grant turned Impending Disaster Into Brilliant Victory

duced and that he was about to fall
back On account of these indications
and reports Gen. Grant decided not to
wait longer for Gen. Shermans troops
to come UP. but to find out whether
Bragg was in fact Withdrawing, and
if so, to attack him at once. There
fore at IL o'clock on the morning of
the 23d he directed Gen. Thomas to
drive in the enemy's pickets and feel
his lines for the purpose of finding out
whether he still held in force. Thus
Grant was about to change his plans.
He was compelled to depart from his
original purpose, and was obliged to
call on troops of the Army of the
Cumberland to make the first offensive
movement.
Gen. Thomas ordered Gen. Granger
commanding the 4th Corps, to throw
one division forward in the direction
of Orchard Knob, with a second di
vision in support. to discover if the
enemy still remained near his old
camp.
Orchard Knob is a rough, steep hill
100 feet high, covered with a growth
of small timber, rising abruptly from
the Chattanooga valley, and lying
about half way between our outer pits
and the breastworks of logs and
stones. At its western base, and eN-
tending for a mile beyond, both north
and south of the hill were other rife
pits. hid in part by a heavy belt of
timber that extended about quarter
OF mile from the foot of the hill into
the plain Between this belt of timber
and our lines were open fields. in
which there was not tree, fence or
other obstruction. save the bed of the
East Tennessee railroad. on the plain
were hundreds of little mounds
thrown up by our own and the enc
myS plckets. giving it the appearance
Of an overgrown prairie dog village
Al noon Gen. Grant. Assistant Secre-
tary or War Dana. Gen. Thomas, Gems.
Hooker, Granger. Howard and other
distinguished officers stood on the par
apet OF Fort Wood facing Orchard Knob
waiting to see this initial movement
the overture to the battle of Chatta-
nooSa. At half-past IL Woods divi-
sion. supported by Sheridan marched
out on the plain III front of the fort.
1t was an inspiring sight Flags were
flying. the quick, earnest steps of thou
sands beat equal time The sharp com
mands of hundreds of company officers.
the sound of the drums. the ringing notes
OF the bugle. companies wheeling and
countermarching and regiments getting
into line the bright sun lighting up ten
thousand polished bayonets till they glis-
tened and flashed like a flying shower of
electric sparks-all looked like prepara-
tons for peaceful pageant rather than
for the bloody work of death.
Groups Of officers on Missionary Ridge
looked down through their glasses and
the enemys pickets. but a few hundred
yards away, came out of their pits and
stood Idly looking on. unconcernedy
viewing what they supposed to be prep
arations for a grand review. But at half
past | o'clock the advance was sounded.
Instantly Woods division, moving with
the steadness of a machine, started for
ward. Not a stragsler or laggard was
on the field. and. what was proba bly,
hardly ever before seen, drummers We're
marching with their companies beating
the charge.
Now the enemy realized for the first
time that it was not a review. His pick
cts fell back TO their reserves. The re-